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I've heard stories of the usefulness of jezzail teams and I see them in a lot of people's lists but when I work out the math, I can't see how they don't just suck.

100pts of jezzails gets me 5 bases.
At bs3 they hit on 4+ unless the target is outside 18" in which case it's 5+ without taking cover or other modifiers into account. Assuming we target something T4 or less:
<18" - 5 shots, 4+ to hit, 2+ to wound = 2.08 wounds before saves.
>18" - 5 shots, 5+ to hit, 2+ to wound = 1.38 wounds before saves.

Where is all the uber I've heard about?

Jezzails do well against high cost targets like knights or monsters. Back in 7th there were plenty of quality targets - in 8th, not so much.

7th edition also = +1 to hit large targets. Now... not. Also, stanks used to be toughness 6 large targets with a 1+ armour save. Jezzails were the bane of stanks.

They don't do much appart from WIPING OUT SCARY HEAVY CAVALRY!!!!!

The above post is what I'm talking about. 1.38 wounds, per turn before saves, on average doesn't exactly "wipe out scary heavy cavalry". For 10pts less I can field a WLC and do at least as much if not more than the jezzails.

I guess what I'm asking is: what niche do they fill that isn't filled equally well or better by other similarly priced units?

Every time I have taken jezzails in a list I end up regretting it for the exact reasons you mention....

Needing 5's to his is just horrible. Sure when they do hit they do some damage, but I dont think I have ever had them make their points back.

Honestly, they are also easy points for the enemy if the have any type of scout...

bloodaxegit wrote:They don't do much appart from WIPING OUT SCARY HEAVY CAVALRY!!!!!

who kind of got nerfed in 8th.

still good, but not the power houses they once were