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I am trying to make long-ranged Ironstriders viable but was unable to do so because of the fact that they are really tall and surprisingly squishy,
so I started experimenting with some ideas on how to make them not stand out like a sore thumb being a giant target for everything able to penetrate AV11.

That's where I considered Ironstrider Cavaliers formation: Dragoons have 5+ saves from their special rule and can act as a mobile "shield" for the Ironstriders.
I think that 2 squads of 2 Dragoons with radium jezzails covering 3 Ironstriders could work well due to the fact that they can shoot through other units in that
formation without penalties while enemies would have to kill Dragoons first or take shots at Ironstriders with 5+ cover save (due to rule for shooting through intervening units)
They also get re-rolls of to wounds hits for a nominated target - would be decent at playing mind games or taking out a prority targets (psykers, cc monsters etc.)

The downside is that they have to arrive from reserves, though they start rolling for the whole formation on turn 1 (Could be also a benefit come to think of it - they can't be killed if you don't have first turn) and the fact that I don't know how viable jezzails actually are.

Would sniping Cavaliers formation work? What are your thoughts about that?

EDIT: Sorry for my forgetfulness - Ironstriders are equipped with autocannons.

Seems that you're wasting a bit of firepower by mixing weapons, if they're re-rolling wounds the Ironstriders' Lascannons are probably wounding on 2's anyway, and even then they can only kill one at a time.

If you can find a way to Outflank them I can see it being ok, but I wouldn't get my hopes up too much for them.

In all honesty Ballistari are just not effective. I've got 4 of them and 6 dragoons and every time the dragoons just do better. Don't get me wrong they're not bad for a squishy autocannon platform, but they're too expensive to justify the Lascannon upgrade. For 75pts for a single lascannon I can field an entire squad of vanguard. Then comes the problem it competes with the Dunecrawler for the Heavy support slot which the Dunecrawler has better weapons and can preform the Ballistari's job far better and packs an invul save to boot.

Seems that you're wasting a bit of firepower by mixing weapons, if they're re-rolling wounds the Ironstriders' Lascannons are probably wounding on 2's anyway, and even then they can only kill one at a time.

I seriously have a problem understanding. Mixing weapons? You mean Ironstriders with autocannons and 2 squads of Dragoons with jezzails? Is formation making them fire at the same target every turn? I can't find it in rules concerning formations.

Don't get me wrong they're not bad for a squishy autocannon platform, but they're too expensive to justify the Lascannon upgrade.

Agreed. I was unclear in my post, sorry. Ironstriders arrive with cheap autocannons option, I misused "sniping" word - it was supposed to indicate that Dragoons have radium jezzails upgrade (getting them on sniping duty), but Ironstriders still come with autocannons to fulfill more of a heavy support role. Sorry for not clarifying that from the beginning.

Then comes the problem it competes with the Dunecrawler for the Heavy support slot which the Dunecrawler has better weapons and can preform the Ballistari's job far better and packs an invul save to boot.

Indeed. Dunecrawlers are very cost-effective, but having 4 of them already in my army I simply refuse to have a full board of just Vanguards and Dunecrawlers. Talk about repetitiveness

 Kandela wrote:

Don't get me wrong they're not bad for a squishy autocannon platform, but they're too expensive to justify the Lascannon upgrade.

Agreed. I was unclear in my post, sorry. Ironstriders arrive with cheap autocannons option, I misused "sniping" word - it was supposed to indicate that Dragoons have radium jezzails upgrade (getting them on sniping duty), but Ironstriders still come with autocannons to fulfill more of a heavy support role. Sorry for not clarifying that from the beginning.

Then comes the problem it competes with the Dunecrawler for the Heavy support slot which the Dunecrawler has better weapons and can preform the Ballistari's job far better and packs an invul save to boot.

Indeed. Dunecrawlers are very cost-effective, but having 4 of them already in my army I simply refuse to have a full board of just Vanguards and Dunecrawlers. Talk about repetitiveness

Ah well in all honesty If you want more Variety run Normal Dragoons in 3 man squads with the Taser lance, they're surprisingly cheap and are rather effective Tank hunters. Another thing I like to do is have them ram them into blob units and watch as they usually end up sweeping them thanks to Crusader adding the D3 to my total.

Plus FW just released the Secutarii Peltasts and Hoplites that can add a bit more flavor and chaos to the mix. I'm probably snagging about 4 ea of both since the Hoplites are walking haywire and the Peltasts are gonna be fun.

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/resources/PDF/Downloads//Secutarii_Titan_Guard_Download.pdf

Hoplites shields look sick. I thought also of making my army "modular" so I could just change couple of units for others - 2 squads of 2 Dragoons with 3 Ironstriders and a squad of Rangers with 2 arquebuses cost the same as Imperial Knight Warden with icarus autocannons. That way I could change on the fly between sniping "scalpel" and big metal lump of condensated "screw you!"

 Kandela wrote:
Hoplites shields look sick. I thought also of making my army "modular" so I could just change couple of units for others - 2 squads of 2 Dragoons with 3 Ironstriders and a squad of Rangers with 2 arquebuses cost the same as Imperial Knight Warden with icarus autocannons. That way I could change on the fly between sniping "scalpel" and big metal lump of condensated "screw you!"

Same here I honestly hate the Vanguard heads so I've mag'd the right arm on all my skitarii so I can swap between whatever weapon I want at the time. Honestly it's pretty easy using a 1x2mm mags I'm just forced to use the ranger full sleeves. Did it for my Dragoons and Ballistari too purely because they're just too damned tall and flimsy.

I have had a lot of success running them in pairs each with a Cognis Autocannon, gives you a decent amount of firepower that can be directed at multiple targets. My army currently consists of x12 Dragoons with Lances and Serpentas (4 squads of x3) which goes a long way in insuring my Ironstriders survivability because they are terrified of the all the Dragoons charging them.