Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I have been wanting to try out a bike command squad that can be set up with either Grav or Plasmaguns.
So I am looking for some recommendations.
Apothecary? Should I go offensive or drop one gun for this guy?
And what should I give a captain to compliment this squad?

Thanks.

On bikes you are almost always better off with grav over plas.

Personally, I’d take a apothecary. I can see arguments either way though.

You are going to want to be able to tank wounds with your captain. How far to go depends a lot on how many points you are willing to spend. Artificer armor is a given. Either a storm shield or the shield eternal is another strong recommendation. After that, you want something to kill people with. I’ve had mixed results with the teeth of terra. A thunder hammer or the burning blade are good (expensive) options. A relic blade is your budget answer, or even a humble power weapon.

You could give him some sort of shooting option, but I’d rather have the CC one. Might be worth giving him an auspex.

apothecary increases the entire units survivability by 33% at the cost of 1 special weapon/storm shield.


If you plan on attaching a character or 2 he is a must buy since the more guys in the squad the more points efficient he becomes.


If you just want a nasty ranged unit thats not horribly expensive and you dont care if it dies, then leaving them all vets with a special weapon is a good idea.

I have never understood why people choose a TH over a powerfist. 5pts for concussive? I would rather use the pts somewhere else.

I say for a "cheap" bike capitan go with AA, SS, axe. If you want to spend more SE and swap the axe for a PF or if you really just like it, the hammer.

Bal4eva wrote:
I say for a "cheap" bike capitan go with AA, SS, axe. If you want to spend more SE and swap the axe for a PF or if you really just like it, the hammer.

If you're running a captain with a SS, then it's not worth using a power axe - just spend the extra 10 points to upgrade to a PF or a Relic Blade, since you aren't benefiting from the two weapon rule anyhow. You're already spending 150+ points on him, might as well give him the tools he needs. Unless you're making a "bargain" captain without a storm shield, in which case you can rely on his 4++, and keep his price at about 145 points.

I do agree about the thunder hammer not being worth it compared to the PF - better to spend those 5 points on an Auspex and buff your command squad's grav guns when shooting at stuff in ruins (or just give a tac squad some melta bombs).

Thanks for the replies.

I am thinking I am going to go:

Apoth,
4 Grav or Plas (they are going to be magnets because options are fun)

And the Cap will be AA, SS and PF (how he is going to actually steer the damn bike is mystery for another day).

Warlocke wrote:
(how he is going to actually steer the damn bike is mystery for another day).

Trust in the Emperor to take the wheel!

I run dual command squads, 4 grav, 1 apothecary on bikes. Khan leads one and a regular captain leads the other. My captain uses bike, stormshield, powerfist and both he and khan are 150pts. If I know I'm playing FMCs/MCs I'll pay for shield eternal instead of regular SS.

Concussive is worth it I believe. Its also an infinitely cooler weapon.