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I'm looking to expand my Space Marines and will more than likely go with Sternguard or Bikes next. I'm not trying to put together a stomp-everything-mega-overpowered list, but I don't want my teeth kicked in either. I really like bikes in all forms (SM, Chaos, Orks, Jetbikes). The thought of an all bike (or close) army rolling across the table is very appealing. I also am tempted to use Kantor and scoring Sternguard. I love the rules and veritility and have some ideas I really like for modeling and painting them. Do they only work in Drop Pods or would Rhinos also work? The primary goal is to enjoy the hobby aspect first while still having a decent shot at at least being semi-competitive. The bikes are currently at the top of my list because my Tau could really use a Captain on a bike and a couple of squads as allies. Any thoughts/advice/reality checks would be appreciated.

Both are great. It seems to me that stern guard are a LOT more killy, but bikes are both more mobile, and tougher.

I think the general consensus is that sternguard in rhinos get a high threat index, until their rhino gets blown up in your deployment zone and they spend the rest of the fight hoofing it around the field. Less bad for them now that they get to shoot their rapid fire weapons at 24" after the move, but still not great. Ususally people like to use them as big, expensive, but reliable hunter killer missiles. They Pod in, kill a threatening target, then soak up the shooting of a good chunk of your opponents fire the next turn.

The speed of bikes means that they can be very clutch, giving them 2 plasma and a meltabike gives you a decent amount of AT, gives you a lot of anti MEQ, and being able to rapid fire and still assault aint bad niether.

what does the rest of your model count look like?

This topic has been posted and commented on a few times this past week. Search the forum for a more indpeth discussion.

 hazal wrote:
This topic has been posted and commented on a few times this past week. Search the forum for a more indpeth discussion.

agreed. it just comes down to what your army is lacking. how do you feel about the rest of your armies capacity to deal with big AV14 things?