WG Bikes

[LoneSniperSG]

I've got four bikers that I'd like to make into WG bikes (and to also stand-in as TWC for the time being).

 

I'm meaning for this pack as a whole to either lead the bike charge, or split them up into bike pack leaders and an escort for any HQ's on bikes. Any ideas on how to arm them? I know I want a meltagun for sure..

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

The combimelta/Pf combo is great on bikers, perhaps even better than on foot sloggers because you'll get into melta range quicker on a bike.

 

Thing is - if you run them as one pack, you'll want to equip them differently than if you were to run them as pack leaders. Having the meltagun/PF combination on the whole pack gets horribly expensive (one of those buggers weighs in at 76 points). I've started using wolf claws instead of power fists, mainly because I can save some points, and because a power weapon striking at initiative is quite useful to have - more so than a power fist, in those packs.

 

If you really want to run them as one pack, you'd want them bare bones except for one or two with special weapons. The problem is, a WG biker costs more than a TWC model, and the only advantage he gets is one point higher LD, as opposed to the plentiful disadvantages - no rending, half the number of attacks, no fleet, only 1 wound (and some more which I probably missed).

 

If you want to run them as stand ins for TWC for the time being, I'd suggest looking up the thread on equipping TWC Here

 

If you then want to use them as squad leaders again, though, you'll probably have to convert them back (or not equip them in the first place and use them as count-as) becaue the equipment you want on WG pack leaders is very different, and mostly not available to thunderwolf cavalry.

[LoneSniperSG]

Alright then, let's call them pack leaders and escorts for now then. TWC will come in its own time for me.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

How many packs of bikers do you want to end up with?

 

If you use bikers at all, I'd suggest using 2 packs of about 4 and an attack bike. Much bigger makes the unit hard to maneouver, and smaller means it takes too little firepower to eliminate them. And each pack needs either a chacter leading it, or a wolf guard leader. I like having both.

 

How you equip the bikers depends on how you equip the rest of the swiftclaw pack. I tend to grab a melta and multimelta on the attack bike. A combimelta on the WGPL means that in almost all cases, pointing that squad at a tank results in said tank being blown sky high. Having a power fist in the pack also comes in rather handy sometimes (but as I explained above, I don't do it any more in favour of a wolf claw), but I think that it's better to avoid getting yourself into a situation where you need a power fist in the first place, and only point them at "soft" targets such as IG infantry platoons, heavy weapons teams, fire warriors, crisis suits and so forth. Despite their 4 attacks on the charge, these bikers really aren't combat troops. They're tough enough, though, to enable your grey hunters to close the distance unmolested.

 

If you run them differently, I'd suggest just getting a frost blade or the WGPL, and perhaps meltabombs just in case. Frost blade gives you a pretty decent chance to dispatch MEQs, and against IG you might as well have a power fist because you still wound on 2+.

[Bulweih]

My WG bike packleader has a hammer instead of a fist, because I like the look of it better plus the special rules of said hammer come in handy at all times for me at least.

The second one might get a fist, but I'm still unsure about that.

[LoneSniperSG]

How many packs of bikers do you want to end up with?

 

If you use bikers at all, I'd suggest using 2 packs of about 4 and an attack bike. Much bigger makes the unit hard to maneouver, and smaller means it takes too little firepower to eliminate them. And each pack needs either a chacter leading it, or a wolf guard leader. I like having both.

 

That's about the size of it. One pack is 3+Attack bike, with a PW, multi-melta, and meltagun, the other 4+attack bike and has a PW, Heavy bolter and flamer

 

I face mostly MEQ stuff, primarily it's Eldar or Marines, and occasionally something softer

[MaleOpener]

Combi~melta & power fist ( and sometimes meltabombs ) are the standard WG setup for me.

 

This only changes when I take WG in TDA.

 

Never tired a WG bike pack yet, and I'm guessing its because of the fluff. Only blood claws ride bikes, in that regard.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

I don't recall reading that only swiftclaws operate as biker packs. Given how little regard the Wolves have for conventions and rules, if a bunch of wolf guard decided that it is a good idea to careen across the battlefield at breakneck speed, who'd stop them?

[LoneSniperSG]

No no, he's thinking of Skyclaws I think. They only use Jump Packs, and the odd WG leader or hero will also jump around with them when needed.

 

I really don't think SW have any problems with bikes.

[Wildfire]

You should really take a look at littlbitz's reports to see how he uses his bikers. He's probably the foremost B&C authority on bloodclaw bikers.

 

In general, I would certainly not use 4 WG bikers. At most, you can split off 3 to biker squads, which will leave one easy kill point hanging around. You won't even be able to use it as an escort, as single-model units can not be joined by ICs. And honestly, why would you want to use 50+ point models for escorts when you could use perfectly good bloodclaw bikers for half the cost? I'd convert 1-2 of those models into Wolf Lords or Rune Priests to accompany the BC Bikers instead.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

You won't even be able to use it as an escort, as single-model units can not be joined by ICs

 

That's the first time I've heard that... can you point me to the place where it says that in the rule book?

[LoneSniperSG]

You should really take a look at littlbitz's reports to see how he uses his bikers. He's probably the foremost B&C authority on bloodclaw bikers.

 

In general, I would certainly not use 4 WG bikers. At most, you can split off 3 to biker squads, which will leave one easy kill point hanging around. You won't even be able to use it as an escort, as single-model units can not be joined by ICs. And honestly, why would you want to use 50+ point models for escorts when you could use perfectly good bloodclaw bikers for half the cost? I'd convert 1-2 of those models into Wolf Lords or Rune Priests to accompany the BC Bikers instead.

 

omg.. I've already sto-.. er.. taken so much inspiration from Littlbitz... I drooled over his article in WD.

[Wildfire]

You won't even be able to use it as an escort, as single-model units can not be joined by ICs

 

That's the first time I've heard that... can you point me to the place where it says that in the rule book?

 

I asked for a page reference in another thread, and got this reply:

 

pg 48 2nd sentence.

"They cannot... blablah... or units that always consist of a single model."

 

Unfortunately my books are packed away, so I can't find it myself.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

I don't think that rule applies in this case. As an example, it mentiones monstrous creatures and vehicles.

 

And WG don't "always" consist of a single model - until just before the game, it consists of many more models that you split off. In fact, the unit always consists of at least 3 models because that's the minimum requirement for the squad size. When the game starts, they may consist of only one model, but that doesn't fit my definition of "always", like monstrous creatures and vehicles (unless they're vehicle squadrons, but they specifically include those in the "no joining" rule) always consist of only one model per squad.

 

Arguing that ICs can't join single wolf guards also implies that once any unit has been shot down to one member, it cannot be joined by an IC, which is not the case.

 

Mind you, I'm not promoting using a WG on bike (which in an of itself is already hideously overpriced) as a bodyguard for an IC - for that same price you can buy 3 swiftclaws who are just as tough, and have 3 wounds together, all I'm saying is that if you really wanted to, you could do it (although I see no reason for wanting to do so).

[Wildfire]

Hmm. I'd have to look at the wording to decide, and my books are inaccessible.

[LoneSniperSG]

Mind you, I'm not promoting using a WG on bike (which in an of itself is already hideously overpriced) as a bodyguard for an IC - for that same price you can buy 3 swiftclaws who are just as tough, and have 3 wounds together, all I'm saying is that if you really wanted to, you could do it (although I see no reason for wanting to do so).

 

It's starting to seem like WG are totally useless outside of being pack leaders.

 

If so, that sucks, 'cause I have a lot of them built.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

It's starting to seem like WG are totally useless outside of being pack leaders.

 

Not entirely. WG terminator squads are quite useful, and bare bones termies are actually cheapter and slightly better than codex marines (although this is balanced by the fact that TH/S termies are hideously expensive). But terminators with wolf claw and storm shield are absolutely devastating - they can take the power weapon hits, and they don't lose their attacks because they've already struck.

[WG Vrox]

It's starting to seem like WG are totally useless outside of being pack leaders.

 

It's not a matter of being totally useless, the issue is are they worth their points. A WG biker pack is an expensive venture and one that comes in near the bottom of most people's choice for "value for the points". Let it be said though in the right list backed up by the right HQs a WG biker unit can be a deadly unit indeed. However, for the player learning to play a biker squad I highly suggest starting out with a Swift Claw Biker unit joined by a WG biker.

 

Once joined to a Swift Claw Biker pack the WG biker is well worth his 80ish points and in my opinion a required addition considering his boost to both their leadership and weaponry, the SWB in return protect your 80ish point model with their numbers.

 

As littlbitz has demonstrated the ability to break off a HQ biker and attack a separate unit is invaluable. So if you want to keep that tactic as an option, it is best to have a WG biker joined up with the SWB pack so you don't have to worry about their headstrong nature.

 

I've got four bikers that I'd like to make into WG bikes (and to also stand-in as TWC for the time being).I'm meaning for this pack as a whole to either lead the bike charge, or split them up into bike pack leaders and an escort for any HQ's on bikes. Any ideas on how to arm them? I know I want a meltagun for sure..

 

With that said, what is the best build for 4 WG biker unit that will be joined by a HQ.

 

WG SMB CM

WG SMB CM MB

WG SMB CM MotW

WG SMB CM/TH

 

Even this modest unit comes in at near 300 points, for which I would rather have 3 decked out TWC.

[Hear da Lamentation]

I agree with what's been posted. It's nice to have the additional powerfist, but the expense of a WG biker is so high the main reason I use him (bearing in mind I would always have an HQ in my unit) is so that I can split off that HQ if needed (as per Littlbitz' great advice). The firing potential of the bikers is great, but it all goes to waste without a leader as they have to charge the nearest unit, so unless your leader is completely nails (a la bikerlord) it's not a bad idea to have 2 leaders in there anyway ... and you get the ability to have a powerfist and combimelta (which is my preference.)

 

I personally wouldn't go for a unit of WG on bikes ... just too expensive.

[Sigmund Hammerhand]

I've been thinking though... how about getting some WG on choppa style bikes, heavily converted and so forth, maybe with bits of terminator armour here and there to make them look properly badass, and then have them count as thunderwolf cavalry?

 

Riding overgrown poodles with an inferiority complex to battle has always seemed rather... ludicrous to me. Add to that the fact that it's prohibitively expensive to get a full squad of TWC, and I'm seriously considering that idea...

[Hear da Lamentation]

Sounds nice.

 

I loved that post with the guy (apologies I can't remember your name) who converted some 4 wheel buggies to act as landspeeders. They looked awesome .... and for a fluff reason, I think the buggies are much more "Wolfie" than speeders.

[LoneSniperSG]

Sounds nice.

 

I loved that post with the guy (apologies I can't remember your name) who converted some 4 wheel buggies to act as landspeeders. They looked awesome .... and for a fluff reason, I think the buggies are much more "Wolfie" than speeders.

 

That reminds me of around when I started. I wanted to take an Ork Warbuggy and make it into a Space Wolves attack bike. The end result? The Warbuggy is now terrain in our group. I got lazy.

 

I'm going to have to try that WG bike leader in my next game. I love using bikes, but I've always been shaken a bit since ours are STILL WS/BS 3

 

You'd think Swiftclaws would have aged a bit and gotten some shooting skills before they were allowed on bikes.