More Bike rule horrors: close combat

[El Capitan]

How exactly do we constitute bikes and close combat? Should bikes just make hit and run attacks? Will this mean charcters will dismount and leave their bikes behind to get more CC attacks?

Perhaps bikers could make a charge into combat if going at combat speed and remain locked in? Or more realisitically slow speed (and more sympathetic to the rules). What we dont need is charcters dismounting bikes and charging into combat (altough it could be fair to say that a dismount constitues an entire Move so they can make flying leaps off bikes...cool yes but this is war not Die Hard.

[James 40K Champ ***]

I thought we'd said they could charge in at combat speed, its only 15".. less than jump pack troops.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Also what happens when enemy troops charge a bike thats still moving, after they have sucessfully passed initivite test, and had a round of comabt, when the bike comes to move away, do they just get ripped off?

[LukeG]

Hit and run attacks are specific special attacks that have to be initiated. While you can put a cap on speeds and a threat of collisions for if you go too fast bikes are subject to normal close combat like an open topped vehicle with the exception that they can initiate them.

The real question here is 'should open topped vehicles be allowed to fight like bikes'.

[James 40K Champ ***]

You missed the point luke, everything you mentioned is a given, the 'except they can initiate them' is the important bit.. but how do they do it..

obviously it would be silly to allow them to make a charge move at fast speed, so where do you draw the line.

[Yarlen Fireblade]

Don't you guys even read the rules?
You do own a copy don't you?

Something to the tune of:

Riders on trikes, bikes and skimmers may make hand-to-hand combat attacks at other models as they pass them during their move.
Use normal HtH rules, except that each player may only roll one Attack Die no matter what their model’s Attack characteristic is, and no matter what the models are armed with.
The biker is considered to be charging and to have a better Initiative for the purposes of tie-breaking — also, no parries may be made by either model.
A rider may make only one hit-and-run attack each turn in this way, and may not shoot in the same turn in which such an attack was made.

And yes, infantry in or on open topped vehicles may also make hit & run attacks against infantry.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Yes of course we know that, thats a hit and run attack, which ive been using like that.

But what we are wondering is about how bikes can CHARGE, for SUSTAINED combat, or if they can do it at all.

In a hit and run, your not even in contact by the end of the phase, but what if you want to remain in combat.. thats what were trying to work out rules for.

[Yarlen Fireblade]

jamesb15uk said:

Yes of course we know that, thats a hit and run attack, which ive been using like that.

But what we are wondering is about how bikes can CHARGE, for SUSTAINED combat, or if they can do it at all.

In a hit and run, your not even in contact by the end of the phase, but what if you want to remain in combat.. thats what were trying to work out rules for.

I suppose if the bike were stationary or if you came to a stop at your intended target then you'd use the standard close combat rules, otherwise it's a hit & run attack.

[tturen]

Yep, makes good sense.

[James 40K Champ ***]

Sounds about right, so the only way to charge on a bike, is using slow speed.

And any charges on bikes are broken off the next turn if the bike was still moving.

[El Capitan]

So basically slow speed for charging bikes going on Yarlen Fireblades comment.
If the bike chooses to ride off again then the model fighting it gets free attacks.
If charging a bike then you get a full round of combat but the bike is free to move off unless it was at slow speed in which case it becomes engaged.

Open top vehicles can only fight if charged and can always just drive off, its more of a case of the crew swatting the attackers off.

[LukeG]

Isn't slow speed 8"? That wolud make it perfect for conventional combat.

[El Capitan]

No its 10"

[LukeG]

Still physically possible, M6 is normal and no-one questions hormagaunts charging 18" without splatting against a wall at that speed.