tdemayo Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Now that Bikes can no longer Jink and fire (other than snap shots), they seem less useful as a special weapons platform. On the other hand, Jink now confers a 4+ cover save (3+ for White Scars), and I do not recall seeing any wording that prevents assaulting after a Jink move. So does that mean, it is now even remotely useful for bike squads to rush forward, jink save, and then charge? Or should they remain geared for shooting, but be prepared for greater fragility and casualties? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyCrow Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 IMHO, they can perform effectively in both, but I'd upgrade the sergeants with a melee weapon instead of a combi-weapon. They're still the best platform for grav guns and the regular bikers still can't get melee weapons. Truly, they should be regarded as just a more mobile Tactical squad :) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3698515 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaz431 Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Chaos bikes get CCW and specials, just no grav. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3698520 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdemayo Posted May 27, 2014 Author Share Posted May 27, 2014 Nurgle bikers with a powerfist seem like they would benefit from the new jink. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3698588 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectricPaladin Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 I'm curious to see if Blood Angels bikers will get CCW options... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3698594 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyberos the Red Wake Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 T5, Scout, bike movement, and Relentless are still pretty good, better than a generic tactical on foot. Skilled Rider lets you ignore terrain tests IIRC so you can still hide in cover to avoid AP weapons without testing and you will be able to leapfrog from cover to cover more easily than infantry. I'd say shooting is still better than assaulting so no reason to default to assault just because you lost free jink. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3698769 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fibonacci Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Unless someone is shooting at your marines with anti-tank weapons there is no reason to jink anyway. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3699147 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyCrow Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Yeah, and it's okay to lose a few Marines to Anti-Tank fire if you really need to shoot at full ballistic skill. But, our Marines are going to take anti-tank hits :p Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3699171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azash Posted May 29, 2014 Share Posted May 29, 2014 The primary predator of my bikes were hell turkeys. Now that the weapon is a 45 degree firing arc off the front that's huge. Basically I was rushing up to get in combat but since we can get behind them we should be able to rely on shooting. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3700247 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdemayo Posted May 29, 2014 Author Share Posted May 29, 2014 I had a lot of trouble with Tau. They had so much high strength firepower that bike squads would just melt under the torrent of str 5+ shots. A 3+ save means little if you're taking 10-12 wounds on a small squad. Granted, this will be the case whether jinks is 5+, 4+, or 3+.. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3700468 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebaur Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I don't think bikes could ever be a dedicated assault unit, at least not compared to something like say TDA or Honor Guard. Being limited to only 5 bodies(taking a command squad) limits their survivability. That said I think they can be a great assault support unit. Take a command squad with all PW, apothecary and champ. That is a 5 man squad with 4 PW's, FnP, T5 and the movement of bikes for 210 points. Put a chaplain in there for re-rolls and extra attacks and they can be a good clean up or first charge unit to support your other troops. Obviously White Scars do it best with Hit and Run but it can work with any list. Using them in this fashion I think power lances can be a good choice. On the charge where you will deal the most damage you get +1S to make the most of your few attacks(the Chaplain can also help with this). You'll kill 2 extra MEQ because of the extra S of the lances compared to power swords(4.6 vs 6.6). Running the chaplain with them bumps them up to 9 MEQ kills (including his own). So they can definitely hit hard enough to make a difference in the combat but you can't rely on them to be an on their own deathstar unit. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3706444 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axagoras Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 well i have been using 3 biker chapter masters to good effect for a while now. The new edition doesnt change much/ Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3706640 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azash Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I don't think bikes could ever be a dedicated assault unit, at least not compared to something like say TDA or Honor Guard. Being limited to only 5 bodies(taking a command squad) limits their survivability. That said I think they can be a great assault support unit. Take a command squad with all PW, apothecary and champ. That is a 5 man squad with 4 PW's, FnP, T5 and the movement of bikes for 210 points. Put a chaplain in there for re-rolls and extra attacks and they can be a good clean up or first charge unit to support your other troops. Obviously White Scars do it best with Hit and Run but it can work with any list. Using them in this fashion I think power lances can be a good choice. On the charge where you will deal the most damage you get +1S to make the most of your few attacks(the Chaplain can also help with this). You'll kill 2 extra MEQ because of the extra S of the lances compared to power swords(4.6 vs 6.6). Running the chaplain with them bumps them up to 9 MEQ kills (including his own). So they can definitely hit hard enough to make a difference in the combat but you can't rely on them to be an on their own deathstar unit. I would disagree. We have no great assault unit that can take all comers even assault termies with TH/SS will get tar pitted by gaunts or boys and struggle. Also the phases in the game are not stand alone edifices that happen completely independent of each other. A bike units ability to rapid fire TL bolters before assaulting far surpasses the meager firing you would get from any other assault unit. In fact it means on the order of 2+ more models removed before firing possibly more depending on your target. Then we add in the bikes additional HoW attack which it always gets (unlike jump pack infantry) which means 5 bikes will net you 26 attacks in one round of shooting and assault. The T5/3+ insures survivability in most cases. Like most of our assault units they are good against certain things. Outside of there element they will flounder easily. Against horde units the mobility, shooting, t5,HoW, and assault means they are blob wipers. They also excel at taking out smaller units of mid range infantry. The complete opposite of the TH/SS termies. No they are not a death star nor should they be. However they have the mobility to be in the right place at the right time to make them an effective assault unit. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3707262 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebaur Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Azash, it sounds like we agree more than disagree. :lol: I guess what I meant was that they would have some trouble in combat against a hardcore CC unit like Hammernators or Honor Guard. Otherwise I agree with your points. This makes me want to model up some awesome Lance bikers! ;) Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291525-did-bikes-just-become-primarily-assault-units/#findComment-3708391 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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