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Dark eldar jetbikes come with twin-linked splinter rifles, while the riders of the bikes have splinter pistols. The rule in the BRB states that a jetbike may fire 1 weapon per rider that it has. Does this mean that the rider and the bike are ostensibly considered seperate for the purposes of firing? ie, the bike can fire it's gun, and the rider fires their own pistol?

I believe I'm reading that correctly, as it wouldn't make sense to even arm riders with the splinter pistol if they couldn't fire it in the same turn as firing the twin-linked rifle. There is absolutely no situation in which it would be tactically sound to fire the pistol only, since the rifle is twin-linked and they have the relentless USR.

Based on this information, I have to assume that it means the rider can fire his own weapon, and the bike itself can fire 1 weapon per rider at the same time. Thoughts?

BetrayTheWorld wrote:
Dark eldar jetbikes come with twin-linked splinter rifles, while the riders of the bikes have splinter pistols. The rule in the BRB states that a jetbike may fire 1 weapon per rider that it has. Does this mean that the rider and the bike are ostensibly considered seperate for the purposes of firing? ie, the bike can fire it's gun, and the rider fires their own pistol?

No. The bike is not a rider. The rider has the option to fire his pistol, or to fire the bike's guns.

Yes, that means there is little point to the pistol. It's been that way since 3rd edition.

removed due to reading comprehension failure on my part.

clively wrote:
A splinter rifle is a rapid fire weapon. You can't shoot a rapid fire weapon and still assault.

Bikes are relentless.

Yes. Relentless means they can fire the rapid fire weapon and still assault. Which either makes the pistols completely worthless, or is intended to mean that the bike can fire at the same time as the rider.

The way the BRB reads, it sounds as if riders are considered separate entities from the bike for shooting purposes(pg 45):

Each bike or jetbike in the unit can fire one weapon for each rider on the bike. Thus a space marine attack bike with a driver and a passenger in a side car can fire two weapons.

I'm leaning towards agreeing with you insaniak, but the ambiguity of the wording, paired with a gear loadout that would never make sense in that situation leaves a little doubt.

Where are you seeing ambiguity in the wording? They can fire one weapon per rider. They have one rider.

The pistol still works as an extra CC weapon in assault. Marine bikes have bolt pistols and CC weapons and Ork Warbikes have Sluggas and Choppas in addition to their twin-linked bike weapons. Do Reavers get some sort of set CC weapon along with their pistol?

Wilytank hit the nail on the head. Dark Eldar Reaver jetbikes come armed with splinter pistols and close combat weapons. These items in addition to a high initiative and combat drugs make Reavers mediocre at close combat should they ever find themselves in it.

insaniak wrote:Where are you seeing ambiguity in the wording? They can fire one weapon per rider. They have one rider.

Because it says the "Bike" fires. Read literally, and considering the rider a separate entity from the bike, one could argue that the rider has not yet fired. Is it a stretch to read it this way? Perhaps, sure. But the wording does leave room for this interpretation.

Wilytank wrote:The pistol still works as an extra CC weapon in assault. Marine bikes have bolt pistols and CC weapons and Ork Warbikes have Sluggas and Choppas in addition to their twin-linked bike weapons. Do Reavers get some sort of set CC weapon along with their pistol?

I hadn't considered that part. This does indeed provide a modicum of usefulness for having the splinter pistol when paired with their CC weapon.

BetrayTheWorld wrote:

insaniak wrote:Where are you seeing ambiguity in the wording? They can fire one weapon per rider. They have one rider.

Because it says the "Bike" fires. Read literally, and considering the rider a separate entity from the bike, one could argue that the rider has not yet fired. Is it a stretch to read it this way? Perhaps, sure. But the wording does leave room for this interpretation.

Only if you assume the bolded. Why would you assume that? There's no rules basis for doing so.

For BtW- What rigeld said is correct... Are there two different profiles? One for the rider and one for the bike itself? If not then you can't make the assumption you are wanting to make...

Beast wrote:
For BtW- What rigeld said is correct... Are there two different profiles? One for the rider and one for the bike itself? If not then you can't make the assumption you are wanting to make...

I don't particularly disagree with you in that regard, and was willing to let this thread die. But for argument's sake:

the entry under Jet Bikes in the BRB says the "Bike or Jetbike" may fire one weapon for each "Rider". Bikes and Jetbikes are not units in and of themselves, they are wargear. In the case of DE, the unit that has them is called a "Reaver". The "Reaver Jetbike" is specifically listed as it's wargear.

Now, I KNOW that the above argument isn't correct. But based on the fact that the wording draws a distinction between the rider/s and the bike, and goes on to say that the BIKE may fire a weapon, I don't think it's a stretch to see how a noob like myself might get confused. I do appreciate you all clearing this up, but I've determined that the primary reason that this isn't worth arguing is because of the section of the BRB that this wording is listed in. It's listed under the "Bikes and Jetbikes" unit type. So it was really a redundant argument because the unit type of the rider is jetbike, so I was just confused and made a noob mistake.

My bad, and I hope I've effectively communicated how I came to think that to begin with.

Carry on. Nothing more to see here. lol

BetrayTheWorld wrote:
Bikes and Jetbikes are not units in and of themselves, they are wargear.

They are also, in the conext of the rules you're looking at, Unit Types.

A Reaver Jetbike is a Jetbike. The rules covering jetbikes will refer to Jetbikes... because they are the rules for Jetbikes.

As above. That section is all about Unit Types, so it is saying Unit type: Jetbike can fire one weapon per rider, NOT that the jetbike is separate from the rider

I understand that, and basically said the exact same thing 3 posts above. Was easy to misread as a noob though. Thanks for clearing it up again.