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I don't have anything concrete, but a thought just struck me - the most valuable use of cavalry in combat situations after cavalry charges were found to be obsolete and wasteful, was as part of resupply columns.

What if Rough Riders changed their role from hard hitting assault troops (a role which, like real cavalry against gunlines, they are terrible at) to some kind of synergistic support squad? An extremely fast moving squad that gave tangible buffs to guardsmen that they got into range of (like a 6" bubble or something). To give them something like an extra shot that turn (ammo resupply) or FNP (medic corps).

Thoughts?

The ammo thing sounds really cool to be honest. It's allows them to almost a mobile version of the ammo dump terrain piece you can buy, with potential additional options. It'd be even cooler if they could carry a vox-cast array that allows a command squad to count as if they were in the rough rider's position when it came to giving orders/

 Grimskul wrote:
The ammo thing sounds really cool to be honest. It's allows them to almost a mobile version of the ammo dump terrain piece you can buy, with potential additional options. It'd be even cooler if they could carry a vox-cast array that allows a command squad to count as if they were in the rough rider's position when it came to giving orders/

For which I could very easily see as part of a formation of 3+ squads of Rough Riders who gained a rule named something like Clarion Vox Network and had a larger bubble in which all squads inside receive an order as opposed to just 1 squad.

Sounds like a neat formation benefit. That said, I'd rather see rough riders be solid combatants before worrying about them throwing bullet boxes at troops. To those ends, I really like the idea of letting them assault out of normal reserves (an actually "the cavalry have arrived!" style charge). It would make them easier to deliver, and it would mesh well with a gunline style of play. It's also an alright counter to various armies that can pull off scary turn 2 charges. They'll still probably get those charges off, but at least you make them pay for it with a countercharge.