Just Another Hunter Bug

Reinforcement time!

For what was originally intended as a sidebar of allies, as well as a tidy-up of unpainted and elderly models from the back shelf, my Mantis Warriors have managed to mass over a thousand points surprisingly fast. Partly, it's seeing them getting massacred in every battle they've yet deployed in. What can I say? I'm a sucker for an underdog.

Stylus hooked me up with some cheap extra bikes last autumn, courtesy of a Conquest magazine somebody he met at a tourney didn't want. Putting the squad up to six seemed like fun, as did adding the attack bike to either add heft or soak wounds, depending.

The old Space Marine Biker model is showing its age these days, it doesn't have as much detail as modern kits. Kind of chunky and static in its pose, too, although that works for Space Marines riding on Judge Dredd sized motorised armchairs, which these very much are.

All the same, I wanted to mix it up a little, so one guy got his leg pulled off and reposed so he could be leaning and shooting. This means his base goes sideways compared to the other bikers, and I'm now left wondering if there's some kind of shenanigan this might be good for. Blocking up a narrow corridor? Can't see how it helps, really, but I may surprise myself some day.

I also modded on some assault weapons. Melta and Plasma are always helpful, and I'd rather take them on smaller bikes than slapping a Multimelta on the Attack Bike. Poor old multimeltas, they have a bad press these days. Great range and damage, but too expensive and swingy compared to other anti-armour. I'd much rather have a cheap Heavy Bolter on the trike, keep it inexpensive rather than paying for something that works best standing still on a fast attacker.

With six bikes total plus the attack trike, the original Sarge can be freed up to be a biker Captain if he wants. Or two squads! Or have all six and split them in deployment or midgame! Flexible, powerful, bikes are perhaps still a little expensive for what they can do. But with White Scars strats and Assault Doctrine, the kind of squad that can make an opponent very nervous. I look forward to seeing how they do later this week...