Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

In the Armylists forum, I posted a thread for a 750pt army, and included a bike mounted Command Squad, with the following:
Command Squad
Melta Bomb
Company Champion
Power Sword
Bikes

In total, this gives me a 240pt 5 man unit with T5, FNP, and the ability to turboboost - I considered this unit great value for money for both its durability, the tactical options and punch it can deliver.

Interestingly enough however, I seemed to get a very polarised responce, some saying this was great, others saying it was a waste. So whats the oppinion from you guys? I'm hoping to eventually get a consesus on this!

I've never used a Command Squad before so I may not be the best person to dish out advice, but there's my thoughts.

The squad is a bit of a waste. You've got a seriously tough unit, but no weapons that can really harm anything. A single power weapon won't be killing much MEQ, and a single Melta bomb isn't going to be very effective against armour. If I were to run a Command Squad on bikes, here's how I would do it.

Command Squad - Bikes, 2 x Storm Shields, 2 x Meltaguns, Powerfist - 280

For an extra 40 points, your unit is now a lot more survivable thanks to the shields, and can take on armour or MEQ/TEQ thanks to the Meltaguns and fist.
Plasma Guns could also be a good choice thanks to relentless and FNP.

Don't overestimate their durability (storm shields or not) and you are good to go.

Else, they will bite off more than they can chew (for the points invested).

If you are going on 300 points, IMO a regular full bike unit is preferable.

But more importantly MIKEtheMERCILESS, what else is in the list?
It's quite useless looking at them on their own.

@unbeliever87: I disagree about it being a unit that can't deliver much hurt - this is what it delivers on the charge:
- 5 Rapid firing twin-linked bolters
- 12 WS4 attacks
- 4 WS4 Power weapon attacks
- 4 WS5 Power weapon attacks (note the Champion has a powersword in his cost, the other power sword is for the Apothicary)

So assuming I can fire and still charge (which given the 18" move and assault is very likely), that gives me the ability to kill 4.7 MEQs or 12.6 GEQs. Not too shabby!

While for anti-armour, we're looking at 4 Krak Grenades and a Melta Bomb; while Monsterous Creatures, Dreadnaughts and Landraiders won't worry much; everything else has something to be scared about - and with their speed, I should be able to decde who they're up against...

@Sanctjud: Here's the link to the list:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/278779.page

The apothecary can't get any gear, only vets get extra stuff

It puts out decent damage, but not really enough to justify the price. I have tried to come up with a good bikeCS myself, and so far, they never match the price for what they do

I think they're good so long as you don't splurge points on them, and use their mobility to pick their battles. I like the idea of using a pair of meltaguns, and you can put those on guys with stormshields because they aren't getting the extra attack anyways. Theres no need for a lot of storm shields, probably only 1 or 2. As an alternative to melta, you can pick up a thunderhammer or two, which will help you bring down anything without a WS, so long as it didn't move 12", and can be used to shake down a land raider.

Let your captain do most of the anti-meq/teq with a relic blade and maybe a thunder hammer/powerfist in the command squad, then just have the rest of your guys swing their 2 CC weapons around. Also the champion is a steal.

Lets put it this way: Do you want one squad on fairly large bases that an Earthshaker or Battlecannon round will wipe out in one shot?

at 750 points a command squad is going to be a MASSIVE chunk of your army

are you running bikes as troops? that would be the entire army right there

i don't even consider command squads under 2000 points for my list because they are just a huge points sink.

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:@unbeliever87: I disagree about it being a unit that can't deliver much hurt - this is what it delivers on the charge:
- 5 Rapid firing twin-linked bolters
- 12 WS4 attacks
- 4 WS4 Power weapon attacks
- 4 WS5 Power weapon attacks (note the Champion has a powersword in his cost, the other power sword is for the Apothicary)

A tactical squad on the charge has pretty much the same firepower and assault capabilities. You're paying 240 points for a unit that can kill 4.7 MEQs on the charge...colour me unimpressed.

You make a good point about being able to choose what to assault most of the time, but sometimes you don't have a choice.

unbeliever87 wrote:

MIKEtheMERCILESS wrote:@unbeliever87: I disagree about it being a unit that can't deliver much hurt - this is what it delivers on the charge:
- 5 Rapid firing twin-linked bolters
- 12 WS4 attacks
- 4 WS4 Power weapon attacks
- 4 WS5 Power weapon attacks (note the Champion has a powersword in his cost, the other power sword is for the Apothicary)

A tactical squad on the charge has pretty much the same firepower and assault capabilities. You're paying 240 points for a unit that can kill 4.7 MEQs on the charge...colour me unimpressed.

You make a good point about being able to choose what to assault most of the time, but sometimes you don't have a choice.

I concur, I dont think trading the extra maneuverability for killing 4 or 5 MEQ's in a charge is that great. Could be because of differing perspectives...you might see killing 4 or 5 as a good chunk, but if i'm spending in the mid or high 200 points on something...it's wiping out any squad it comes into contact with first round. (bar some)

And a command squad in anything below 1000 points is a big point sink... like fielding a land Raider in combat patrol. I support friendly play and unique thinking, anything above 1500 i'd say go for it and go hard. Strategically speaking I dont think you're getting the right bang for your buck here.