[Bloodcuddler of Khorne]

So, I just finished Chaos Rising and decided to try and whip up some special rules for the Blood Ravens. Let me know what you guys think. Anything I should add, take out, change, etc.

I haven't had a chance to come up with special characters yet, sadly.



GENERAL BLOOD RAVENS

-The Secret Order

Librarians must be upgraded to Epistolaries to count as an HQ choice. Epistolaries provide access to Command Squads as if they were Space Marine Captains.

Non-Epistolary Librarians are instead a 0-1 Elite choice. They may be taken in a squad of 1-3, in which each Librarian acts as a seperate Independent Character.

-Knowledge is Power. Guard it Well.

The Blood Ravens are known for hoarding information, and this includes what they learn about their enemies. Thier extensive study gives every Blood Ravens model Preferred Enemy, applying to any enemy. However, the one thing more important than acquiring this information is protecting its secrecy. If any non-Blood Ravens force is allied with a Blood Ravens army, they lose this benefit, as they refuse to reveal the secrets they've learned to outsiders that might be watching.



FACTIONS

(WARNING--DAWN OF WAR II: CHAOS RISING SPOILERS)

The Blood Ravens are in the middle of a civil war within the chapter. As far as the rest of the Imperium is aware, a faction lead by Captain Gabriel Angelos has gone renegade and turned on their own chapter. The truth, of course, is far more sinister....

When fielding a Blood Ravens army, you must decide whether your army is aligned with Captain Angelos or Chapter Master Kyras. Each faction gets additional special rules.


ANGELOS BLOOD RAVENS


-Derosa's Debt

For saving her planet from both Tyranids and the forces of Chaos, Governor Derosa of Meridian owes a debt to Angelos's most trusted brothers that she feels she and all of Meridian will never be able to fully repay. While she herself is no warrior, she is willing to dispatch what Imperial Guard under her command she can whenever Angelos is in need. The Angelos "renegades" are in no position to turn down such a generous offer.

An Angelos-aligned Blood Ravens force may include a single Imperial Guard Infantry Platoon as a Troops choice. This does not count toward compulsory Troops necessary on the Force Organization Chart, but does take up one of the 4 slots of optional Troops choices available.

While the Blood Ravens deeply respect Derosa and appreciate her assistance, they are still Space Marines, and her troops are still mere Guardsmen. The Platoon Commander may only issue orders to other members of the Infantry Platoon, never to any actual Blood Ravens.


-Crusade Against Chaos

Despite their renegade status, Angelos's are the true loyalists, and refuse to let their chapter fall to the influences of Chaos. When up against a Chaos force, any Blood Raven squad that would have the "And They Shall Know No Fear" rule replaces it instead with the "Fearless" special rule.




KYRAS BLOOD RAVENS

-Chaos Conspiracy

While most of the chapter is unaware, carefully selected members of the Blood Ravens are slowly but surely being turned to Chaos by the Chapter Master and his minions.

Any non-vehicle squads make take Icons of Chaos, as described in the Chaos Space Marine codex (although these would not be displayed on the models, of course, as they need to keep their true allegiances secret.) Any Honor Guard squads are required to take an Icon. Librarians or psykers of any variety may not take the Mark/Icon of Khorne.

Any squad that does not include an Icon has 1 less Ld. While they are unaware of the extent of the corruption within their chapter, they can't help that nagging feeling in the back of their minds that something fishy is going on here....


-Forces of Chaos

Kyras Blood Ravens may take a single unit of Possessed as an Elites choice, as described in the Chaos Space Marines codex. This unit must remain out of direct line of sight from any friendly Blood Ravens non-vehicles that lack an Icon of Chaos at all times, unless locked in close combat.

They also have access to Lesser and Greater Daemons as described in the Chaos Space Marines codex, but replaces "Champions" with "Sergeants" for the purposes of summoning Greater Daemons. Only Sergeants of squads including an Icon of some kind can be sacrificed to summon a Greater Daemon.

All vehicles also have access to the Daemonic Possession upgrade, as described in the CSM codex, for the same point cost.

-Honor Guard

Kyras is known for sending the Honor Guard to enforce his will for him. Kyras-aligned Blood Ravens may deploy an Honor Guard squad without a Chapter Master present. This Honor Guard squad may count as the compulsory HQ choice, but does not take up a Force Organization Slot if at least one other HQ choice is taken (in other words it can either be your HQ by itself or counts any HQ choice as if you took a Chapter Master.)


-Power from the Warp

A Librarian or Epistolary with a Mark of Chaos can take an additional psychic power, chosen from the list available to Chaos Space Marines, at the point cost for a Chaos Sorcerer. They still have the same limits to psychic powers used in a turn.

A Sergeant for a squad with an Icon of Chaos may be upgraded to an Aspiring Sorcerer for 20 points. It replaces its boltgun (or close combat weapon, if it lacks a boltgun) with a Force Weapon, and may take a single psychic power chosen from the Chaos Space Marines list, at the point costs of a Thousand Sons Aspiring Sorcerer.

 

[Blueberrypop]

I love the powers from the warp. Oh hai I'm a good aspiring sorcerer seeing how be can be in an assault squad.

 

[Bloodcuddler of Khorne]

I was having some trouble coming up with something good enough for the Kyras faction to balance out Angelos's being able to take an Imperial Guard platoon. Maybe something specifically involving Ulkair.... hmm....

 

[Bloodcuddler of Khorne]

Ok, did a bit of thinking and this set of special rules is probably better overall.

Blood Ravens 2.0


GENERAL BLOOD RAVENS

-Librarians

Librarians must be upgraded to Epistolaries to count as an HQ choice.

Non-Epistolary Librarians are instead a 0-1 Elite choice. They may be taken in a squad of 1-3, in which each Librarian acts as a seperate Independent Character.


-Ordo Psykana Psyker Squad

120 pts

If a Epistolary is chosen as an HQ choice, you make take a single Psyker Squad. Only a single Pyker Squad may be taken by a single army, even if you have multiple Epistolaries. Due to the secretive nature of the Ordo Psykana, the Epistolary is the only Independent Character that may join them.

WS 4
BS 4
S 4
T 4
W 1
I 4
A 2
Ld 9
Sv 3+

Unit Composition: 3 Psyker Marines

Wargear:
Power armour, Force weapon, Frag and krak grenades, Psychic hood

Dedicated Transports:
Drop Pod, Rhino or Razorback

Options:
-May include up to 7 additional Pysker Marines for 40 points per model.
-If not give a dedicated transport, may have Jump Packs at 25 pts per model
-If not give a dedicated transport, may have Space Marine bikes at 35 pts per model

Each Psyker Marine has the Smite and Machine Curse psychic powers, and are limited to one psychic power per turn as usual. They must all use the same power each time.


-Knowledge is Power

The Blood Ravens are known for hoarding information, and this includes what they learn about their enemies. Thier extensive study gives every Blood Ravens model Preferred Enemy, applying to any enemy.


-Chapter Masters

In general, Chapter Masters are not available to Blood Ravens. See Kyras rules for an exception.


FACTIONS

(WARNING--DAWN OF WAR II: CHAOS RISING SPOILERS)

The Blood Ravens are in the middle of a civil war within the chapter. As far as the rest of the Imperium is aware, a faction lead by Captain Gabriel Angelos has gone renegade and turned on their own chapter. The truth, of course, is far more sinister....

When fielding a Blood Ravens army, you must decide whether your army is aligned with Captain Angelos or Chapter Master Kyras. Each faction gets additional special rules.


ANGELOS BLOOD RAVENS


-Derosa's Debt

For saving her planet from both Tyranids and the forces of Chaos, Governor Derosa of Meridian owes a debt to Angelos's most trusted brothers that she feels she and all of Meridian will never be able to fully repay. While she herself is no warrior, she is willing to dispatch what Imperial Guard under her command she can whenever Angelos is in need. The Angelos "renegades" are in no position to turn down such a generous offer.

An Angelos-aligned Blood Ravens force may include a single Imperial Guard Infantry Platoon as a Troops choice, with all of its options available. This does not count toward compulsory Troops necessary on the Force Organization Chart, but does take up one of the 4 slots of optional Troops choices available.

While the Blood Ravens deeply respect Derosa and appreciate her assistance, they are still Space Marines, and her troops are still mere Guardsmen. The Platoon Commander may only issue orders to other members of the Infantry Platoon, never to any actual Blood Ravens.


-Nowhere To Run

Despite being the true side loyal to the Imperium of Man, the actions of Captain Angelos and those who serve him have made them renegades until they can prove otherwise. This makes victory the only option--to fail in their mission would be just as bad as, if not worse than, whatever wrath the enemy might visit upon them. Any Blood Raven squad of the Angelos faction that would have the "And They Shall Know No Fear" rule replaces it instead with the "Fearless" special rule.


-True to the Emperor

While their situation may be grim, the Blood Ravens of Gabriel Angelos know that their crusade against their Chapter Master is the true will of the Emperor. The Emperor's approval subtely boosts their morale, allowing them to reroll failed Leadership tests. This includes psychic tests, but their psykers still suffer from Perils of the Warp wounds even if the result is rerolled. If both the original and reroll result in Perils, only the first result is suffered.


-Purge the Heretic!

The Blood Ravens of Angelos will not allow the enemies of Man to escape their righteous fury! Their Initiative is treated as 1 higher for the purposes of performing a Sweeping Advance.



KYRAS BLOOD RAVENS

-Chaos Conspiracy

While most of the chapter is unaware, carefully selected members of the Blood Ravens are slowly but surely being turned to Chaos by the Chapter Master and his minions.

Any non-vehicle squads may take Icons of Chaos, as described in the Chaos Space Marine codex (although these would not be displayed on the models, of course, as they need to keep their true allegiances secret.) Any Honor Guard squads are required to take an Icon. Librarians or psykers of any variety may not take the Mark/Icon of Khorne.

If a non-vehicle squad of Kyras Blood Ravens do not have an Icon or Mark of Chaos, their Leadership is reduced by 1. They do not know what is really going on within the chapter and still believe they are fighting for the Emperor, but the subtle corruption all around them has slowly begun to chip away at their will....

In addition, Kyras Blood Ravens have standing orders to let fleeing enemies escape. This is usually disguised as allowing the enemy to lead them to their stronghold so it can be purged, or allowing a reduced threat to be studied, or some similar excuse. In reality this is to reduce casualties to Chaos forces, or to prevent harming hidden traitors within the enemy's ranks. Blood Ravens of Kyras may not perform Sweeping Advances.


-Ulkair's Gift

The Great Unclean One may still be trapped upon Aurelia, but he still bestows his blessing upon those within the Blood Ravens who have sworn themselves to Chaos. Any Blood Ravens with a Mark or Icon of Chaos lose "And They Shall Know No Fear" due to their treachery, but gain Feel No Pain.


-Forces of Chaos

Kyras Blood Ravens may select forces from the Chaos Space Marines or Chaos Daemons lists as Allies, as if these armies were Daemonhunters or Witch Hunters, with the same Force Organization limitations.

They also have access to Lesser and Greater Daemons as described in the Chaos Space Marines codex (outside the Allies limits), but replaces "Champions" with "Sergeants" for the purposes of summoning Greater Daemons. Only Sergeants of squads including an Icon of some kind can be sacrificed to summon a Greater Daemon. This can never allow them to take multiple Chaos Marine Greater Daemons.

If any of these are taken, all squads with the option to take an Icon of Chaos must do so.


-Honor Guard

Kyras is known for sending the Honor Guard to enforce his will for him. Kyras-aligned Blood Ravens may deploy an Honor Guard squad without a Chapter Master present. This Honor Guard squad may count as the compulsory HQ choice, but does not take up a Force Organization Slot if at least one other HQ choice is taken (in other words it can either be your HQ by itself or counts any HQ choice as if you took a Chapter Master.)

Kyras Blood Ravens may also take Honor Guard Captains, who act with the Chapter Master's full authority. These are statistically treated exactly like Chapter Masters, they simply have a different name. They are not required to take a Mark of Chaos, but have the option. Honor Guard squads taken with the Honor Guard Captain must still take an Icon of Chaos, whether or not the Captain himself has one.


-Power from the Warp

A Librarian or Epistolary with a Mark of Chaos can take an additional psychic power, chosen from the list available to Chaos Space Marines, at the point cost for a Chaos Sorcerer. They still have the same limits to psychic powers used in a turn.

A Tactical Squad Sergeant for a squad with an Icon of Chaos may be upgraded to an Aspiring Sorcerer for 20 points. It replaces its boltgun with a Force Weapon, and may take a single psychic power chosen from the Chaos Space Marines list, at the point costs of a Thousand Sons Aspiring Sorcerer.


-Blissful Ignorance

If a Kyras-aligned force does not include any Chaos-related upgrades or squads, then they represent a force of Blood Ravens that are ignorant of what is happening within the Chapter and still loyal to Chapter and Emperor. Not knowing just how deep the corruption within the Blood Ravens runs, and being deployed away from it's subtle grim feeling, gives them significantly more confidence than their brothers.

Without any Chaos forces on their side, Kyras Blood Ravens recieve +1 Ld (negating the usual penalty) and may reroll any failed Ld test. This includes psychic tests, and may even be used to prevent Perils of the Warp. Unfortunately, their psykers believe that the Emperor is staying the Warp's wrath, not that the Daemons of the Warp might simply have plans for the Blood Ravens....




THE INQUISITION

Gabriel Angelos has a history with the Ordo Malleus and has earned their trust, so much so that one of their Inquisitors, Mordecai Toth, gave him the Daemonhammer "God-Splinter," which he still wields to this day. However, the Imperium is unaware of Chapter Master Kyras's fall to Chaos, marking Angelos as a renegade, and a target for the Ordo Hereticus.

If using the rules for including Inquisition forces, Angelos-aligned Blood Ravens forces may only include Daemonhunters, while Kyras-aligned Blood Ravens may only take Witch Hunters.




SPECIAL CHARACTERS

I want to make all the DoW 2 characters Special Characters, but I'll get around to that later. Given the open-ended ending for Chaos Rising, I wanted to have Tarkus, Thaddius, Avitus, Cyrus, Jonah Orion, Martellus and Apollo Diomodes each have two versions available, one Pure and one Corrupt, probably with only one special rule different between the two versions for the sake of sanity. Angelos and Davian Thule would be Angelos-faction only, while Kyras, Apothecary Galan and the Great Unclean One Ulkair would obviously be Kyras faction only. I'm also considering making a few up for both factions, including a Kyras-faction Captain who is unaware of the Chaos corruption and gives bonuses to non-Chaos Blood Ravens (and thus giving that rout a point.)

Of course, if any of you get bored enough to beat me to that part, I won't complain at all ;-)



What do you guys think?

 

[DeusImperator]

This list looks really nice.

For Avitus, I think he should be a Devastator squad special leader with a heavy weapon and better ballistic skill buff.

 

[MidnightSun]

I think that the squad leaders could be like Wolf Guard, so you can give 'em Terminator armour and then attach them to squads (Only squads of their 'Type', you can't have Cyrus leading a Devastator squad). Tarkus should have some kind of damage-soaking up rule, Avitus needs something like the Dire Avenger's Bladestorm to represent Focus Fire, Cyrus should have more special rules than the others, and Thaddeus should have something like an improved Furious Charge (Maybe the Blood Claws 'Reckless' rule, after all, that was an ability in the game...)

Midnight

EDIT: I'm doubtful of having Ulkair as a character though, surely the Inqusition would notice if a Chapter Master had summoned a Greater Daemon. Release the GK!