Is bike spam a good idea

[IronDreddKnight]

So Ive been screwing around battlescribe again, designing different kill teams. And i thought about taking 5 bikes with 5 veterans, combat squad during deployment to split the bikes ans vets. Breaks away from the rule of 3 limitations. It solves the issue of mobility ive found DW suffer with.

 

But is going heavy on bikes a good idea? Whats youre experience with bikes?

 

I want to ask before i add more to my existing 12 bikes :)

[Prot]

I think the bikes are a 'good' option but not spammable because of the vehicle meta that exists (locally at least). 

 

I really felt like drop pods would have been very helpful for movement. But it's not like bikes are bad option. 

[Mobius0288]

I'd agree with Prot, there's a balance somewhere... I've been playing around with that myself. If bikes could be a troop choice, I would say yes, go for bike spamming. As it is now, they are more of an "excellent filler" when you need more bodies on the ground, but are worried about naked vet squads not putting out. Amazing as screens or pushing into opponent screens.

 

I personally don't use more than 2 units of 3, bare bones (storm bolter and chainswords). I could see an outrider with a battalion being viable as well, as long as you find a way to include a repulsor ex or a couple of mortis contemptors. The trick I think, to mitigating a lack of anti-tank output, is charging those vehicles as much as possible... but repulsors and knights would be that exception.

 

No, I don't think you'll ever need more than 12 bike models, between having a couple units of bikers and the option to throw some in a vet team. The other thing with the vets is, will the combat squaded vet team be usable or would you just be taking it so you can have some obj secured bikers? May not be worth the 80 pt tax or whatever it would cost.

 

I am specifically trying to build out a list with my blackstar and a drop pod to create a first turn push across the board, and it definitely requires bikes to pull off and support.

[GrinNfool]

I am a fan of bikers and generally try to include at least one squad sometimes 3 squads of 3 for the sgt SB, but I certainly think there is a limit on how many I would want.  To me if you want to use them just for the rapid response 3-4 bike squads are what to run to take advantage of that SB, it lets the squad output a good chunk of fire power, but nothing that can't be accomplished elsewhere for DW.  For as points heavy as DW is to build you are often better served spending points else where, be it a fortis aggressor/autobolt unit, or standard vet mixed kill team.

 

If SIA can ever be used in conjunction with BD again then bikers would become extremely good though.  Currently though  As far as combat squadding them out, wouldn't bother combat squadding a full 5 unit out ya you get ob sec but for 1 no biker sgt so bad LD and no extra SB, for 2 you aren't granting them any new rules, aside from being able to move through buildings like infantry.  When I combat squad out bikers usually I do it with a VV or 2, its a good place to hide a heavy thunder hammer, being majority T5, and then able to fall back shoot and charge. 

 

To me the main advantage of the bikers aside from mobility is that the sgt letting a 4 bike squad shoot at the same level as a 5 vet squad with SBs, while having mobility and superior stats for minimal point increase.  Losing the sgt loses one of the big things for bikers.  Basically ya bikers are nice and functional but have a critical mass, which is likely reached ~3 squads.

[IronDreddKnight]

Thank you for all your feedback everyone. Youve all given me valid points to consider.

 

I thnk if i tweak my load out fot the kill team as follows:

 

Veteran kill team

- sargent - stalker + chain sword

- biker x4

- vanguard veteran - dual pistols

- veteran x4 - stalker + storm shield

 

This grants them fall back and shoot and objective secure and majority T5. Although at the expense of a sargent and SB.

 

The stalker unit can hug cover and use its range while being difficult to remove with a 2+/3++ (in cover)

 

In this way i can at least test 3 such kill teams with models currently owned. To get a feel if theyre a good route.

 

Im hopeful of the return of BD+SIA whenever we get covered in PA, hopefully im ahead of the times lol.

 

On a final note, my anti tank is covered by 3 mortis dreadnoughts, supported by my WM. (i dont own any contemptors) and theyre backed up by 1-2 smash captains if im up against heavy armour.

[Mobius0288]

Bonus thoughts for the stalker guys... if ever you wanted more AT punch from your troops and you need more squads for "combat squading," you can do 3 stalkers and 2 missiles. You lose 6 SIA shots but gain the 2 kraks or frag missiles with the reroll 1's on mission tactics. I have at least one of those when I do a double battalion and it's super nice having some extra hit rolls across the map.

[Prot]

Bonus thoughts for the stalker guys... if ever you wanted more AT punch from your troops and you need more squads for "combat squading," you can do 3 stalkers and 2 missiles. You lose 6 SIA shots but gain the 2 kraks or frag missiles with the reroll 1's on mission tactics. I have at least one of those when I do a double battalion and it's super nice having some extra hit rolls across the map.

 

I use this very load out quite frequently in one squad.