8th Edition - Chaplain and Company Veteran Bikers

[Psykic_scribe]

I have never been a great fan of Biker Squads, and I am probably still not enthusiastic for a gaming role.  However, having browsed the new Index with Characters, Ancients and Company Veterans, I thought that this brings an opportunity for a few models with lots of BT bling!

 

I am not making this a WiP blog.  I will just get on with the build with the bits now in hand and paint until final photos, but here is my plan:

 

- Character: Chaplain on Bike, with rosarius and several tomes of reading matter

- Character: Company Ancient on Bike, with power sword and Astartes Banner (which will need to be mounted to a sheath on the bike)

- Character: Company Champion on Bike, with m/c power sword and combat shield

 

- Veteran Sword Brethren on Bike, with lightning claw

- Veteran Biker, chainsword on his back and holstered pistol

- Additional Veteran Biker, with meltagun

- Additional Veteran Biker, with BT power axe (maybe a magnetised option for a power fist?)

 

I have run out of bikes at this stage, so foregoing the third additional biker and apothecary.

 

Warmed up to the idea that characters are with rather than joining units, but it's not going to be easy to hide 3 characters behind 4 veteran bikers!  This is much more of a cabinet cluster than a battle unit.  However, comments and guidance appreciated.

[Quixus]

Hiding from shooting shouldn't be a problem:

V  =  V
|C C C|
V  =  V

At least if the bases are still 25mm wide and 50mm long. The three characters are base to base and each veteran touches one of the outer characters' bases so that both the = and the | distance are smaller than 2" =50,8mm.

 

Due to the rounded corners it should be even easier to accomplish.

 

No matter where the enemy stands a veteran always is the closest model.

Edited June 29, 2017 by Quixus

[Acebaur]

You don't even have to do that, Company Vet's can intercept shots for characters and they have two wounds to help with that. Also I'd probably use an apoc over an ancient, especially with all the multi wound models in that unit.

 

Finally, unless you don't have the option for a combi, there is basically no reason to take a standard special weapon because the bolter part is only 2 points more.

 

I was thinking of a similar squad but running Chap, apoc, champion and 3 bikers with lances(because it's cool and I already made the arms for them) and 4 combi plas. Lots of wounds, lots of ways to kill stuff :D

[Psykic_scribe]

@Acebaur, 

Those lances will look like a cool squad.  

Great idea with the combi-melta - as long as it hits first time.  Then again, bikers don't often get a second shot if they need to keep moving? 

 

 

FYI, SydonianDragoon404 has just posted photos of some great bikers with lances in his Fortis Crusade - sets a high benchmark !

Edited July 1, 2017 by Psykic_scribe

[Acebaur]

@psychic scribe, combis can now be fired every round, not just once. You can even fire both the bolter and combi part at the same time at a -1 to hit!

 

Also I personally think that plasma is a better choice for them as it's more versatile than melta.

 

If you want to see some great Lance bikers check out Firepowers as well. Mine aren't painted yet but you still see them if you go directly to my photobucket since they borked my crusade thread with their new terms of service

[SydonianDragoon404]

Thanks for the compliments scribe! I would like to put my two cents in here regarding company veteran bikers. They aren't going to be soloing nasty monsters or other elite combat units. I've played the unit I posted up in my Fortis Crusade's thread twice, and both times I've noticed that they have some rather interesting capabilities. Mobility, durability, and actually the firepower from their twin boltguns can really do a number on T3 infantry. 2 wounds, that mobility, and the rather large footprint of the bikes means that they can keep up with your transports and keep them safe. You would rather enemies charge them than your transports, and they'll hold up just about anything aside from the deadliest elite melee units for at least a turn. I'll be looking at adding an apothecary here very soon.

[Psykic_scribe]

Thanks for some very useful notes, guys.   I'm going to be pushing a few neo magnets on to these bikers.

[davvol]

And don't forget that bike veterans without any special weapon can take two chainswords and have 4 attacks each!

[Psykic_scribe]

WYSIWYG? Just imagine feet on the handlebars and a chain sword in each hand! :)

[Othniel's Blade]

Machine Spirit Rider.

[davvol]

WYSIWYG? Just imagine feet on the handlebars and a chain sword in each hand!

I've already converted couple of them. One chainsword in the hand, other holstered on bike or waist.

[Stemplar]

So, stupid question ... what's the best way to get hold of power lances and power mauls?

[SydonianDragoon404]

Power lances, I looked all over for. It seems like there aren't any 3rd party companies that make them, so you have to get creative. Grey Knight Halberds, other cavalry figure lances, I used the Sigmar wing dude javelins/spears as lances.

[Metic]

I converted Power lances using Power axe handles and Bretonnian lances. Easy to do, hardest part is actually finding the lances.

 

http://i.imgur.com/59d4qJf.jpg

[Stemplar]

I'm inspired!!! Power nails and power lances going on a full squad of vet bikers with an apothecary on a bike as well.

 

Am doing my best to find lances, because they look awesome, but power nails look pretty cool too, and are much easier to find.

 

Edit: mauls... not nails. Damn you autocorrect.

Edited July 7, 2017 by Stemplar

[Acebaur]

:lol:

 

Techmarine: "Welcome to the armory brother, what will be your weapon of choice in the coming battle?"

Biker SB: "Hmm not sure, what's this right here?"

Techmarine: "Ah yes, the mighty power nail, used extensively by the chapter Carpenterairus, with it no picture shall go unhung!"

Biker SB: 

[Othniel's Blade]

Deep down, you know there's a Magos somewhere seeking out the STC for the simple metal nail, because the feral world he was born on destroyed even that tech millennia past.

[Quixus]

I see your power nail, and raise you a power cheese grater. Not only can you destroy the Enemies of mankind with it, you can also make instant raclette.

[Stemplar]

Ahhh, you will never see it coming, the Power (finger)Nail. Grown for years and hardened by battle, it is 12 inches of clear-coated terror that can punch through greenskin flesh and Chaos armour alike.

[Drac0]

Ahhh, you will never see it coming, the Power (finger)Nail. Grown for years and hardened by battle, it is 12 inches of clear-coated terror that can punch through greenskin flesh and Chaos armour alike.

 

Don't forget the poison rule, for the Power (finger) nail has been through the darkest corners of the galaxy, in some cases, even beyond the rim. xD

[Vel'Cona]

I'm surprised noone here has mentioned Storm Shields for your Company Veteran Bikers.  Would look pretty amazing with the Power Lances, too!

[Acebaur]

I used to run SS on my old biker command squad and it was pretty effective. Now I'm not sure that they are really necessary because they now have 2 wounds and with the new AP system they will almost always get a save.  Combine that with their T5 and the ability of the Apoc to bring them back to life on a 4+ or just straight up heal wounded ones and I don't think the SS is the best option. Instead I think a combi weapon is going to be boss for them because they can fire it and their twin bolters now. That's a fair amount of dakka.   

[Psykic_scribe]

I will be going for the Dakka.

 

Putting the nails levity aside for a moment, melt-a bombs and a shaft make a good start for a maul.

[Stemplar]

So with a power lance in one hand and a combi weapon in the other... who's steering the bike?

[Marshal Wolfhart]

The power of the machine spirit. And ZEAL!