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Is it worth taking a special weapon with Rough Riders, in general? Let's assume a full squad of Rough Riders; does a single melta or plasma provide any real utility? I can maybe see the plasma adding a bit of punch, but I'm unconvinced. Anyone have any experience of using/being on receiving end?

Hrm...how expensive is it? I don't think I've ever seen anyone take a special weapon on a RR squad, but it's at least worth investigating.

If you shoot a plasma gun, you can't charge. I would definitely not bring a plasgun. The melta might be OK, but is in my view too unreliable at BS 3.

Valid; that's why, after all, folk use them with vets. Plasma's the Ig standard 15, melta's 10. Hmm.

Why not give them a flamer so they can soften up the target before they charge?

Yeah, a very real possibility. It's more that I was trying to work out if there was really any reason to use either of the other two (I'm discounting GLs for the purposes of this too)?

wilsmire wrote:Why not give them a flamer so they can soften up the target before they charge?

Risk of making the unit flee out of assault range before the charge takes place, flamer template is shorter than charge range, flamer can't shoot if you fleet, it loses you a hunting lance. There is some benefit to taking a flamer, but there are also good reasons to avoid it.

Remember in 5th you can charge a unit if you just shot and killed it's transport...

They have the charge range to pull this off. It's not a high percentage tactic, but when it works it's awesome!

Don't the riders get relentless for being cavalry or something which lets them shoot the plas and assault? Forgive me if I'm wrong I don't know IG at all really, but I always thought they worked like bikes.

Gandair wrote:Don't the riders get relentless for being cavalry or something which lets them shoot the plas and assault? Forgive me if I'm wrong I don't know IG at all really, but I always thought they worked like bikes.

Bikes get relentless, cavalry don't. The rules for various unit types are explained in the main rulebook. Other major differences include that bikes move 12" and assault 6" while cavalry move 6" and assault 12", cavalry can run but bikes can't, and bikes can turboboost but cavalry can't.

I would say no to flamer for the reasons above, and a Plasma stops you from charging. If you can get 2 Melta guns, it might be worth it, but i see RR's as more a countercharge unit, and the hunting lance in combination with the 12" charge is what gives them the "oomph" in their counterattack. I'd try it for a few games and see what happens, but looking at it on paper seems like not the best idea.


On the other hand, you might find yourself close enough to pop a transport and then assault- if cavalry moved 12" and charged 6" it would be much more viable to take a melta gun/s, but thats life eh

I have been using RR in my list for a long time now and I have tried them in various loadouts, never once have I liked having a special weapon in the unit, for multiple reasons.

First, plasma is right out because you can't charge with it.

second, they have fleet, and I use it a lot. Pople now that they are fragile, and a stern look at them can kill half the squad. I maximize their movement 90% of the time with a fleet roll, most often with a Run, Run, Run order issued. With this they reliably can go 22" in one turn for the assault, which is what they need, IMO, not a melta or flamer shot prior to attacking.

third, if you want them to be able to kill a vehicle, give the Sgt meltabomb for 5 points. Instead of taking away a lance for a lone, BS 3 shot.

finally, I use 6 of them, at 65 points they are cheap and effective. Giving them a gun just ups their cost, which is self defeating IMO.

I think the best use of RR is with a psycher squad.

Inflict 25% casualties on a squad which should be an easy task for an IG army, then use the psychers to drop their leadership to 2. They will then fail their morale check on anything but a 2. Fleet the RR within 12" of where they will be after they fail their morale check and charge them after they fall back. The enemy squad will then be destroyed unless they pass a leadership test with their reduced leadership stat of 2

Even at BS3, melta wouldn't be too bad a selection for a relatively mobile unit that can then tie up the unit they just broke out of their metal box. Keep their shooting on the tail end of the shooting phase, and you can decide if you want to take that one last crucial chance to break a box before it gets to your lines.

Is it a great pick? Maybe not, but if you have the points, it doesn't seem to be too bad an investment on paper...

Wow, this is really, really interesting stuff. I'd thought about using RR as a clean-up crew with a Banewolf, but I'm loving the ideas here - especially with a PBS, as that's next on my list of cool stuff to make (well, that and next scratch build superheavy).