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picked up an attack bike for my ravenwing today. I think the MM is the obvious better choice (which generally means the twin linked bolters are doing nothing) but I'm wondering if the Hvy Bolter will become a better choice with the new codex. Does anybody here take the HB over the MM?

Is there a way to magnetise it? Then you can have both.

Was actually planning on fitting a MM to mine when I add one to my bikes.

Seeing as Heavy Bolters are likely to have the same stats and that you want to be up close anyway with Bikers, I don't even know why the Multi-Melta just isn't standard and then adding 10 points to the Attack Bike...

SM have tons of bolter/heavy bolter options versus infantry and the like. Wasting a T5, 2W, 3+, 4+ jink, Relentless platform than can move 12" minimum on a heavy bolter could almost be considered a crime.

isn't that a problem though.....the fact that it's almost mandatory? I wonder if GW will address this at all in the new codex. I have my landspeeder equipped with MM and typhoon rockets, and unfortunately I have the DV bikers so 2 plasmas instead of meltas (need to get the converted somehow as I'm tired of losing expensive bikers to "get's hot"). I should probably wait for the new DA codex before buying a full RW battleforce to see what the formation actually requires (assuming it will become one...most likely). Already burned by the wraith host formation as I have 2 wraithlords from the old Iyanden army box. The RW battleforce would bump my RW up to 18 bikes (2x6 plus Libby and 5 man command sqd), 2 ABs and 2 LS.

Personally I think the MM is a lot better on the bike. Land speeders with missiles though the HB is great. Really the main problem with that attack bike is that it is not very great compared to a speeder.

 Xenomancers wrote:
Personally I think the MM is a lot better on the bike. Land speeders with missiles though the HB is great. Really the main problem with that attack bike is that it is not very great compared to a speeder.

It's swings and roundabouts really though. You can charge in with the attack back, something you can't do with the speeder.

 General Kroll wrote:

 Xenomancers wrote:
Personally I think the MM is a lot better on the bike. Land speeders with missiles though the HB is great. Really the main problem with that attack bike is that it is not very great compared to a speeder.

It's swings and roundabouts really though. You can charge in with the attack back, something you can't do with the speeder.

Bikers also benefit from CT. Land Speeders get Iron Hands and Astral Claws bonuses, but that's about it.

 General Kroll wrote:
Is there a way to magnetise it? Then you can have both.

Yes there is. Ill post how i did it soon.

Ugh. Sorry.


Just under the blade in front of the driver is a small nail head. I cut it from the nail using some stronger wire cutters. I used super glue to glue the head down to the handles the Marine is holding.



Glued to the gun is the rare earth magnetic I used. Its stuck to the knife. This ‘sticks’ to the nail head and I can swap out the guns. It doesnt line up perfectly but gets the job done.

 jason1977 wrote:
Ugh. Sorry.


Just under the blade in front of the driver is a small nail head. I cut it from the nail using some stronger wire cutters. I used super glue to glue the head down to the handles the Marine is holding.



Glued to the gun is the rare earth magnetic I used. Its stuck to the knife. This ‘sticks’ to the nail head and I can swap out the guns. It doesnt line up perfectly but gets the job done.

Looks a sensible way of doing it mate. I'm in the process of working out how and if I want to mount my Libby to a bike, I'm very tempted to give him an attack back so he can stand on the sidecar casting spells well some minion drives for him. Of course in the rules this would count as a single bike. But I think it would look good. It's either this or I will have him dismounted from a single bike on a 60mm base.

Not sure which option I prefer yet.

 Zewrath wrote:
SM have tons of bolter/heavy bolter options versus infantry and the like. Wasting a T5, 2W, 3+, 4+ jink, Relentless platform than can move 12" minimum on a heavy bolter could almost be considered a crime.

I'd like to dispute that. I use a little unit Iike to call the Holy Bolter Bunker. 3 Attack Bikes plus a Chaplain on a bike with the Primarchs Wrath. Comes in pretty cheap and does a few wonderful things. First off it puts out a ton of shots. Secondly it is very mobile, especially with the right CT. Outflanking them is great fun because suddenly S5 just got a whole lot scarier. Good fun shredding rear AV with bolt rounds can be had there. Also the Chaplain keeps them on the board with his zealot usr, and while some will argue he is wasted here because obviously a BS 5 Captain would make better use of the PW, the Captain needs more than just a chainsword and has to pay accordingly. Also, no rerolls in CC. You could argue the merits of the Chaplain, but that's it own argument. When I field the Holy Bolter Bunker I am never disappointed. If I get to shoot with them all game then perfect, if they get caught in CC the chaplain at least makes it a good fight! They can even win the right fight, and can usually handle mop up duty. The Chaplain also is handy for splitting off and joining other units for more combats. He loses an attack thanks to the PW, but then again the relic isnt really a must and I sometimes don't bring it along, but that's a rare occurrence. I imagine you could come up with other, and probably better combinations but I have to say, they get gak done.

Could I say the same of 3 MM bikes? Yes, I probably could. There is no point trying to argue with a multi melta, it pops tanks. Yet really isnt there plenty of options for delivering melta? If you want to Melta something why not just use a pod and marines, or a dread? You can rely on that DPA melta just as well. You're wondering what I'm getting at and it's this, multi melta works fine on attack bikes, but it works on every other unit too. The heavy bolter doesn't. In fact I'd go so far as to say that a full squad of attack bikes is probably the only unit you should put heavy bolters on. For 135 points I challenge anyone to find a better way to run heavy bolters.

Before anyone says it I will!

Don't run heavy bolters for 135 points. Derp.

Additionally when talking about jinking, I can only imagine snap firing 3 multi meltas must be annoying. Snap firing 3 heavy bolters doesn't bother me too much though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, no!

I'll pay the 10 extra points for the gun and keep the option thanks.