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Really, what are it's uses? From what I understand you get +1 strength, +1 initiative and -1 ap on the charge, but after it's just a stick.

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
Really, what are it's uses? From what I understand you get +1 strength, +1 initiative and -1 ap on the charge, but after it's just a stick.

Just a stick?! Have you been hit by a red whippy stick? It hurts, man. It hurts bad.

Shock and awe. Shock and awe...

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
Really, what are it's uses? From what I understand you get +1 strength, +1 initiative and -1 ap on the charge, but after it's just a stick.

That's a unfair opinion of the "power stick". I prefer to think of it turning into a power sword with ap4 after the first swing.

I'm also not saying I would ever model my guys wielding it. But come on, it not just a stick.

It can be useful if strength is needed along with an I boost and you expect to win on the charge.

Well it is better than a power sword on the charge, so if you have a unit where the ability to inflict maximum carnage as soon as possible is desirable, a lance could be good. Things with a higher initiative could cause fewer enemy to survive to strike back, for instance.

okay okay okay fine, It's just a spear

But seriously, could you give me some examples where it could go? I myself was thinking about putting one on a biker sergeant or command squad, so would that be good?

Out of curiosity, where does it say it gives +1 initiative. The breakdown on pg 61 doesn't mention it.

Oh? whoops must have heard wrong

Winning on the charge basically. If you can combine it with furious charge (with BA for example) you could be looking at S6 AP3 on the charge. Basically perfect for wrecking MeQ, and any non-2+ save MC.

Well if it doesn't, it should... "Power stick" without it a boost to initiative, doesn't have a whole lot going for it.

The power lance has two real purposes, the first is when it is used on all models in a squad to make a sweeper unit, with the goals of causing a large amount of wounds to either destroy or break a squad, or at least reduce it's size so that it is manageable. The second use is with a squad with Hit and Run, where you can easily charge every turn and get the most use out of the weapon. While truth be told it is a far narrower weapon than an Axe, Sword or Maul, it does still have it's place.

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
okay okay okay fine, It's just a spear

But seriously, could you give me some examples where it could go? I myself was thinking about putting one on a biker sergeant or command squad, so would that be good?

Death Company are disgusting on the charge with spears. They hit like a hive tyrant. Each one of them.

 -Loki- wrote:

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
okay okay okay fine, It's just a spear

But seriously, could you give me some examples where it could go? I myself was thinking about putting one on a biker sergeant or command squad, so would that be good?

Death Company are disgusting on the charge with spears. They hit like a hive tyrant. Each one of them.

Vanguard vets. DS and annihilate a squad with little retaliation.

Hmmmm what about a bike squad?

Give it to a unit with hit and run.

You could put it in a vanilla bike command squad with khan, so they all get furious charge and hit and run.
It'd be a bit expensive though

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
okay okay okay fine, It's just a spear

But seriously, could you give me some examples where it could go? I myself was thinking about putting one on a biker sergeant or command squad, so would that be good?

Guard blob, give sergeants power spears, hit at initiative value and str 4 on the charge. 15 str 4 AP 3 close combat attacks is pretty damn terrifying. Stick them on vanguard vets, hit at initiative 4 at strength 5. Mainly units with enough numbers to likely kill or route the enemy on the charge. They are like boosted power swords on the charge, but after that they are like mauls without the strength bonus. This is how I view everything

Axes: Slow units, or units that are likely to charge terminators
Mauls: Good for killing high toughness guys (marines can wound a T6 MC on a 4+), vehicles, and anything with a 4+ save (since you will punch through the armour anyway and wound on a 2+)
Swords: General purpose, useful on marines as long as you don't go terminator hunting.
Spears: Do you have a lot of power weapons? I mean a lot. Can you wipe out a unit on the charge if you could hit at +1 strength? Then take power spears. Also they look badass

What exactly are you supposed to use as a "power lance" on a model anyway?

 Noisy_Marine wrote:
What exactly are you supposed to use as a "power lance" on a model anyway?

Something that looks like a spear or a lance?

It's not hard to convert.

 -Loki- wrote:

 Noisy_Marine wrote:
What exactly are you supposed to use as a "power lance" on a model anyway?

Something that looks like a spear or a lance?

It's not hard to convert.

Just cut the head off a weapon.. the resulting shaft is your power lance :p

It can be very powerful for units that need/can wreck stuff when charging. Arm 10+ Death Company with Power Lances and watch them DESTROY on the charge with 5 (if armed with pistol too), Str 6 AP 3 attacks on the crage, each. Plus if they use their JP they have Hammer of Wrath.

 Tiger9gamer wrote:
okay okay okay fine, It's just a spear

But seriously, could you give me some examples where it could go? I myself was thinking about putting one on a biker sergeant or command squad, so would that be good?

assault units with more then 1 power weapon slot open . For example sm honor guard . It rises the chance of such units killing stuff in a one turn charge . Could be ok for DC , maybe with a2 lances 1 hammer set up] . If chaos had workable chosen or terminators they could use them too.

Vanguard Vets. Use them to quickly finish off a wounded gunline after you deep strike them in. Let also aren't bad on a bike squad's Sergent for the a similar purpose.

Also, everything is nasty on Death Company. Everything.

Rough Riders, nuff sed.

30 Man Death Company.

30 Power Lances.

6 Hand Flamers.

Guess how much this will hurt?

 BlapBlapBlap wrote:
30 Man Death Company.

30 Power Lances.

6 Hand Flamers.

Guess how much this will hurt?

Somewhere between a giving birth and a direct hit from a crossbow in the genital region?

 BlapBlapBlap wrote:
30 Man Death Company.

30 Power Lances.

6 Hand Flamers.

Guess how much this will hurt?

Guess how much that will cost?
And how fast it will die to a few battle/plasmacannons

but yeah, SM honour guard or vanguard vets = win


Von Chogg

 Deadshot wrote:

 BlapBlapBlap wrote:
30 Man Death Company.

30 Power Lances.

6 Hand Flamers.

Guess how much this will hurt?

Somewhere between a giving birth and a direct hit from a crossbow in the genital region?

Throw in passing a kidney stone the size of Andorra while going through heroine withdraw, and you might be around halfway there.

So, as far as I can tell, Power Lances are good for units with stuff like Furious Charge and other such rules that aid when you assault a unit, but when you lose a lot of momentum after the initial charge.