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Why do bikers have bolt pistols? It seems like such an odd thing to have they are relentless aren't they so they could fire their rapid firing twin linked bokters instead? And than they have the option to change their bolt pistol for a chain sword that makes even less sense! Can anyone help me understand what they are trying to say about the bikers

Because every Marine is issued with Power Armour, a Bolt Pistol, Frag and Krak grenades.

In second edition bikes were vehicles so their mounted weapons had a limited firing arc, whereas the rider's sidearm didn't. Also in second, having a sword allowed you to parry in close combat but a pistol didn't so trading in a pistol for a sword wasn't a strictly inferior option.

Because in order to take special weapons, like grav-guns, they need their pistols to exchange for that weapon. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to have special weapons according to RAW.

 Zewrath wrote:
Because in order to take special weapons, like grav-guns, they need their pistols to exchange for that weapon. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to have special weapons according to RAW.

This is the answer you were after OP.

Still seems pointless cause you can't get a +1 attack ever and if it is from second edition than someone dropped the ball hard

Stalked21 wrote:
Still seems pointless cause you can't get a +1 attack ever and if it is from second edition than someone dropped the ball hard

It is pointless, and it IS a remainder from 2nd edition, as Razmei said. The model was made to have a bolt pistol on it, so to cut down on confusion, and because it will never really come up, it was added to their profile.

As for Zewrath/Rippy. As the rules are written NOW, yes, you have to swap out the bolt pistol for a special. There's nothing stopping them from removing bolt pistols and just allowing models to take an additional weapon. They would just have to change a couple of words.

Well... just to provide entertainment...

Bike squad wargear:
Power armour
bolt pistol
heavy bolter (attack bike only)
Frag and krak grenades
Space marine bike

Options: up to two space marine bikers may each take one item from the special weapons list...

Special weapons: a model can replace his melee weapon or boltgun with one.... wait... what boltgun? What close combat weapon? They don't have them!

But, let's check out that space marine bike entry. 'Space marine bikes are fitted with a twin-linked bolt gun'

Well, not the same thing but what ever....
Or... did I just successfully invalidate every bike based army by taking the rules literally as written?

The Chaos codex bikes are much better and well written compared to the Space Marine codex. Chaos bikers work out marginally cheaper, have close combat weapons AND bolt pistols for the extra attacks AND have flexibility with where the special weapons go.. on bike OR swapped with bolt pistol / CCW

Agreed chaos bikers look overall better to me it just sucks that they can't have skilled rider cause I roll 1's like no tomorrow I once suffered 5 wounds to a termite squad and rolled 4 1's at once it made me want to throw away that dice cube

 Wulfmar wrote:
Or... did I just successfully invalidate every bike based army by taking the rules literally as written?

That was exactly the problem when the SM Codex was released, so they added this Errata: http://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/Errata/Warhammer_40000/Space_Marines_EN.pdf

Page 174 – Bike Squad, options
Add the following option to this list.
'Any model may replace his bolt pistol with a chainsword......free'

Stalked21 wrote:
Agreed chaos bikers look overall better to me it just sucks that they can't have skilled rider cause I roll 1's like no tomorrow I once suffered 5 wounds to a termite squad and rolled 4 1's at once it made me want to throw away that dice cube

Back in the 3.5 chaos codex they could. Back when Chaos actually had options. My Emperor's Children bikers used to blast through terrain all the time with little worry. It was fun because few people expected it.