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.

So, it isn't going to be super competitive, but I'm hoping it will at least be fun to play. I'm going to make a few weapon swaps, and some of the models are only partly built, so there's flexibility. That said, I'm not looking to buy more bikes until White Scars get something more in the codex department. How can I tweak what I've got into a functional force? For context, I'm going to run Scouts and Tacticals, maybe a few Devs, and AssCan Razors as the rest of the army. I may add a jump Chaplain and Assault squad. For now I just need to lock in the HQ and Elite/Fast bikers.

Here's what I have to work with:

8 grav-gun bikers (remember 7th?)
4 bike sergeants with swords
2 bike librarians (1 unfinished, 1 with sword)
1 bike apothecary
1 bike chaplain (the classic)
1 bike captain with thunderhammer
1 Khan on Moondrakken (Jetek Suberei model)
enough parts to make a few more riders, but no extra bikes
3 attack bike sidecars
3 scout bikers

I'm assuming I'll rework the grav guns into two small melta units, as that seems to be the hotness right now. That's 4 meltas and 2 combis, leaving two bikes that can join another squad. The three power sword sergeants are resin, so I'd rather not mess with them. I could add the two remaining grav bikers to them and switch out hammers, claws, fists... what's a good combo? Those 5 could run as... what? Company veterans on bikes? Should I convert an optimized Champion or Ancient to add an extra dimension? How good is that banner buff?

I feel like I'm close to something worth putting on the table without picking up any new kits... what would you do?

To be blunt, if you have shooty bikes you're better off as Ultras. Putting that aside, Scars key combat ability is to fall back and charge again.

To maximize that benefit without straying into territory better suited to another chapter, I'd suggest gearing the bikes towards MSU skirmishing assault units.

Support them with long range shooting *vehicles*. Your bikes surge forward to harass enemy units and pin them in place. On your turn, you fall back, shoot with your tank support, then charge again.

Maybe take a Dread or Two to support the tanks that lag back. Armour saturation, fire support, but can also hit and run to protect the tanks.

I think grav bikes still have a place. In general the hotness is plasma, but that assumes you are in a re-roll bubble and always overcharging. Grav is better (IMHO) when unsupported. So if you have a lone bike squad harassing stuff off in left field, it can work. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone advocate melta in a while. I still field it, and it works. But they price it like it’s still one-shotting Land Raiders, and it’s not.

Scout bikers put out a lot of light dakka for their points. They also have a fun stratagem that meshes well with your CT.

I think all the CC weapons have a place. It depends on what you need done and how many points you want to sink into them.

I have moved to playing my WS as Salamanders instead.

Rerolls for shooting and wounds are pretty good Hunting traits I suppose!

But if you stick with WS, remember, they can also advance and fire Assault weapons normally with the FAQ, so Melta-guns are worth a look.

Hmmm. I might consider a split with some Melta / Fist squads and some Flamer / Power Sword squads. Maybe squads of 5 or 6.

A couple casualties on approach, fire / charge. A couple more casualties fallback / fire support / charge again... maybe live to do it again.

Great thoughts... Thanks. I think I'll covert one squad to plasma and leave the other grav for now, just to see how it works. I've got a list shaping up that I need to run points for...

Okay, here's a rough draft of a list that uses all of my bike models with a few modifications. Again, not super competitive, but hopefully fun and fast, and not entirely un-fluffy despite some tanks, Scouts, and Devs.

Battalion + Outrider, 120 PL, 1967 Points, 9 CP

In general, the Jump Chaplain accompanies the Assault Squad to make use of the White Scars "Fall Back and Charge" option. Khan, the Chaplain, and the Veterans roll around maximizing the "Advance and Charge" option. The Captain, Librarian, and various Bike squads roam around using the mobility to optimize range and target selection for special weapons and psychic powers. The Scouts are for board control and character sniping, the Devs are for ranged AT, and the Razors provide cover and extra Dakka.

I think it may be light on AT, and I have the points to go with meltas on bikers instead. Otherwise I could add more bodies or wargear with my extra points. Finally, should I drop either the LSStorm (I love that model!) or the Bike Chaplain in favor of an Apothecary and/or Company Ancient on Bikes? Would they add more to the BikeStar than the Chappy?

Thanks!