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My question will be moot in about a month when the new SW codex is finally released, but I wanted to hear some opinions about adding bikes to a SW army. Mostly because I really want to paint up some bikes, but I also want o add some mobility to my SWs that doesn't depend on a Rhino or LR. I've been thinking about 4-5 Blood Claws lead by a chaplain to keep the costs down, although a Rune Preist's cover save would be a nice addition. Besides the fun of painting them, I like the flexibility of twin-linked bolters (which I'm hoping will somewhat compensate for the BC's inability to shoot straight) for adding a bit of shooty to my list, as well as the ability to rush into a melee to tie up a unit while my Rhino's are en route.

Anyways, any thoughts or tall tales to kill the time while waiting for the new Codex will be appreciated.

I haven't really used my bikes much, but I do have an attack bike that does pretty good for me. I equip it with a multi-melta, and hold it out of range for the first few turns. Then, I "sneak" it forward to tear apart any long range tanks. I'd get 2 more of them, but the new codex is coming out. So, I'll wait and see if I can still have them.

I think that there are Space Wolve bikes called Blood Claw Bikers. That's all I know

Space Wolves don't get Chaplains. Wolf Priests are different.

As for Blood Claw Bikers, I've never used them. Really expensive, and I'm not a huge fan of bikes. They might get a boost in the new book, but we'll have to wait for that one.

LOL.

I don't know about running units of Blood Claws, but if you can make yourself a dead 'ard WGBL by giving him a multi-melta and a bike if you want to go the beardy route. I've always thought this would make for a badass model using an attack bike with a standard SW driving and the WGBL standing in the sidecar hefting a MM.

Blood Claw bikers led by a character mounted on a bike is the best way to go for Space Wolves. It's an okay unit. I used to play 13th company, I had a Wolf Lord on a bike with two Fenrisian wolves and I also had a squad of Storm Claw bikers. I typically joined the Wolf Lord with the Storm Claw bikers. They were awesome and it offered the potential to build a beautiful squad that was very unique. They typically always were eventually destroyed as is the case with any small unit that is intended for assaults but they always dished out a lot of punishment. I love Space Marine bikers in general and this was my favorite biker unit. If the OP is the same person who built a fantastic Space Wolf army back during the early part of this decade (Celtic theme with Mastiffs from the old dark elves line for wolves) I know you can do something fantastic with this unit you aer proposing in terms of appearance and theme.

In terms of gaming prowess the unit is okay as I said earlier. I would definitely equip the character and Wolfguard pack leader with storm shields plus take some wolves. The wolves are basically abletive wounds. You will need to check the rules to see if you can turbo boost the bikers if they have Fenrisian wolves attached to the character... this could possibly be a point of contention. If you really want to add some punch I would field two independent characters mounted on bikes to join with the Blood Claw bikers. My first choice would be a Wolf Lord. The Wolf Lord is hands down a much better choice than a WGBL. My second choice would be a Wolf Priest with balks & healing potions... The ability to ignore an unsaved wound for an expensive unit (pointswise) is huge.

Good luck with it and I would love to see some pictures.

: )

G

Green Blow Fly wrote:Blood Claw bikers led by a character mounted on a bike is the best way to go for Space Wolves. It's an okay unit. I used to play 13th company, I had a Wolf Lord on a bike with two Fenrisian wolves and I also had a squad of Storm Claw bikers. I typically joined the Wolf Lord with the Storm Claw bikers. They were awesome and it offered the potential to build a beautiful squad that was very unique. They typically always were eventually destroyed as is the case with any small unit that is intended for assaults but they always dished out a lot of punishment. I love Space Marine bikers in general and this was my favorite biker unit. If the OP is the same person who built a fantastic Space Wolf army back during the early part of this decade (Celtic theme with Mastiffs from the old dark elves line for wolves) I know you can do something fantastic with this unit you aer proposing in terms of appearance and theme.

In terms of gaming prowess the unit is okay as I said earlier. I would definitely equip the character and Wolfguard pack leader with storm shields plus take some wolves. The wolves are basically abletive wounds. You will need to check the rules to see if you can turbo boost the bikers if they have Fenrisian wolves attached to the character... this could possibly be a point of contention. If you really want to add some punch I would field two independent characters mounted on bikes to join with the Blood Claw bikers. My first choice would be a Wolf Lord. The Wolf Lord is hands down a much better choice than a WGBL. My second choice would be a Wolf Priest with balks & healing potions... The ability to ignore an unsaved wound for an expensive unit (pointswise) is huge.

Good luck with it and I would love to see some pictures.

: )

G

Thanks! Full points for a thoughtful, helpful, relevent, on-topic post.

I'm not too surprised that they rarely survive the game, but that's great to hear confirmed they get a bit of use beforehand. Right now my first turn or two is all about getting my Rhinos full of hairy goons into head-thumpin' range of my enemy. Meanwhile, my enemy throws everything they've got at my lightly-armoured Winnebago's of Doom, and then laughs evilly at the rather exposed (and very surprised) SWs who have another turn of humping across No-Man's Land towards all those guns. A bit daunting, really.

So bikes give me some flexibility; an additional target which is a more immediate threat. They can hang back and shoot with twin-linked bolters, charge a large unit of shooty troops to keep them from harassing my Rhinos, or even threaten any advancing armour. I was thinking of the Wolf priest for the leader (good call on the potions, that could save me 30pts per round), with melta bombs at the very least for the afore-mentioned armour harassing.

And yeah, these are Haggis-scented SWs. Bike pics to come in the next few months... http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/240539.page


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Armandloft wrote:I haven't really used my bikes much, but I do have an attack bike that does pretty good for me. I equip it with a multi-melta, and hold it out of range for the first few turns. Then, I "sneak" it forward to tear apart any long range tanks. I'd get 2 more of them, but the new codex is coming out. So, I'll wait and see if I can still have them.

Sounds like a good idea to me, thanks.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Death By Monkeys wrote:LOL.

I don't know about running units of Blood Claws, but if you can make yourself a dead 'ard WGBL by giving him a multi-melta and a bike if you want to go the beardy route. I've always thought this would make for a badass model using an attack bike with a standard SW driving and the WGBL standing in the sidecar hefting a MM.

Hehe, yeah, that'd be great! Years ago I wanted to mount a rune Priest in a sidecar with a long spear. I was going to model the sidecar like a celtic chariot. I may have to revisit the idea...

Much appreciated!

I'm looking forward to the wolf cavalry riders units rather than the bikers... and the wolf riding leader that makes wolves troop choices.

Hmmm... tough call. Animals have always been a bit of a week spot for GW scupltors. If they're up to the standard of the last plastic Cold Ones, then groovy. If they're sculpted like the sabre-tooth muppets from the ogre range, well, not so much...

I've seen what the hero wolf cavalry model looks like... and its not a disappointment at all...

What is your avatar Masstiff?
The chaos warhounds were pretty cool models IMO.

I play 13th company and I use bikes but I'll just wait unitl the new codex for SW come out....

There is a saga/mark for 13th company you can give the bikers.

Scalp wrote:I've seen what the hero wolf cavalry model looks like... and its not a disappointment at all...

Sounds intriguing. Right now I'm planning on getting the Dark Angels boxed set with the 6 bikes, attack bike and LS. The wings will fit my theme perfectly, and at $108 CDN it's a much better deal than I could get just the bikers for. But if the wolf looks THAT good, I may reconsider...


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penut the butter wrote:What is your avatar Masstiff?
The chaos warhounds were pretty cool models IMO.

That's a dirz Alchemist clone, from a game called Confrontation by Rackham. Excellent rules, and fantastic models. You can see full pics here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-14074-2265_Alchemists%20Of%20Dirz.html

And you're right, the latest chaos hounds are pretty good.