Monday, 17 October 2011

Raven Guard Squad Colours

I'm having a bit of a conundrum when it comes to choosing the shoulder trim for my raven guard. Index Astartes states that the shoulder trim colour denotes what squad type the marine is in. (Red for Assault, Green for Tactical, Yellow for Devastator).

However, GW has painted all their Raven guard with the red shoulder trim. This may be to show that they are 3rd Company led by Captain Shrike.

(Slightly off topic Imperial Armour 8, they describe Shrike as the leader of the 1st Company Veterans, and Aajz Solari as the Captain of 5th, even though in Index Astartes, which was his first appearance, he is described as leader of the 2nd.  In short nothing adds up!)

When it comes to squad markings, company formation and named heroes, I am slightly OCD and like to get as much "right" as possible. I'm finding this a bit of a headache with Raven Guard as the small pieces of background on them are contradictory.

So far I have only painted Assault marines, (with the red trim) and I don't have any tactical squads in my list, so therefore I am thinking of giving the devastators a yellow trim and sticking with tradition.

The next complication is what company to make my army and who will lead it? I'm going to have to go with one of the 5 Battle companies as I want both Assault marines and Devastors. (Raven Guard companies are supposed to be highly independent in the GW fluff, rarely fighting alongside each other. This is again contradicted by the forgeworld material, which has a strike force assembled from all of the companies)

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Raven_Guard states the following:
  • First Company: Unknown

  • Second Company: Captain Aajz Solari

  • Third Company: Captain Kayvaan Shrike

  • Fourth Company: Captain Aethon Shaan

  • Fifth Company: Captain Corvane Valar


  • (It seems to follow the GW and Black Library fluff as opposed to the forgeworld material).

    If there's anyone out there with any knowledge/material that I may have overlooked then feel free to point me in the right direction!

    Sunday, 16 October 2011

    2000 Point Battle

    Today I played a 2000 point game against an Ork list with lots of boyz, dreadz and kanz. It lasted a good few hours and was played on a smaller 4'x4' board.

    I used the following army list:

    HQ 
    Bjorn the Fell-Handed
          Venerable Dreadnought; Plasma Cannon

    Bran Redmaw
          Wolf Lord in Terminator Armour; Storm Shield, Chain Fist, Wolftooth Necklace,
          Saga of the Bear (attached to Aesir Pack)

    Jorek Stormgaze
           Rune Priest in Power Armour; Chooser of the Slain

    Elite
     The Wolf Guard
          Torgarl Mjodbane; Combi-Meltagun, Power Fist (attached to Lupus Pack)
          Arjac Rockfist, The Anvil of Fenris; (attached to Jotun Pack)

          Kjel Wyrmslay; Combi-Meltagun, Chain Fist
          Alarik Icehowl; Combi-Plasmagun, Wolf Claw
          Svorlrik Thunderfang; Pair of Wolf Claws
          Hengnir Scar-eye; Storm Shield, Power Sword
          Olaf Keenblade; Assault Cannon, Chain Fist
          Drop Pod

    Mjol Onn-ax
          Lone Wolf  in Terminator Armour; Storm Shield, Thunder Hammer

    Troops
    Aesir Pack
          8 Grey Hunters; Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
          Drop Pod

    Lupus Pack
          8 Grey Hunters; Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
          Rhino

    Jotun Pack
          8 Grey Hunters; Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
          Drop Pod

    Heavy Support
    Vanir Pack
          6 Long Fangs; 5 Missile Launchers
          Razorback, Twin-Linked Lascannon

    Total Cost: 1996 points

    Although I lost the game, it was a bloody affair. The highlight of the battle had to be when Arjac destroyed 3 Kans in one round of combat. They exploded killing another 23 orks, winning the combat!