Magna-Coil Bike
The Magna-Coil Bike is a type of Grav-Vehicle used by the Leagues of Votann. The favoured ride of the Hernkyn Pioneers, the bike is fast, manoeuvrable, and capable of navigating the most difficult terrain or bodies of water. They replaced the Squat Trike from old lore.
Overview[edit]
Although resembling more like a street cleaner, this vehicle is a form of a Jetbike in a tricycle format. Judging from its name, it seems that the bikes utilize magnetic coils to generate electromagnetic lift, akin to real-world MagLev trains that use magnetism to hover in place. So rather than actually generating true anti-gravity, the Magna-Coil Bike uses electromagnetic repulsion as its form of transport.
The bike itself is pretty big and heavily armed. Either carrying an Ion Beamer, or a HYLas Rotary Cannon as its primary weapons whilst having a Magna-Coil Autocannon as its standard-issue secondary weapon. By functionality, it resembles more like a Harlequin Voidweaver than an actual Jetbike due to its heavy armaments. A Heavy Jetbike per se.
The bike is ridden by either a single Hernkyn Pioneer or with an added gunner. These guys serve as scouts for their forces in the League; they are rugged survivalists who set out in small, self-reliant bands to adventure and prospect on behalf of their Kin. Hernkyn leave their Kindred for decades at a time, forging out into the dark spaces beyond. In many galactic cultures, such explorers are seen as shameful or rebellious, but for the Leagues of Votann it brings a high honour (Not to mention, loot). This is because they serve a great purpose to the Votann, for their discoveries and insights ensure that when the Hernkyn finally returns to their Ancestor Core upon death, it will be benefited with new enriching data and knowledge. Besides this role, the Hernkyn also locate potential trading partners for their Kindreds, mark navigable void-channels, scout viable regions for settlements, and most importantly of all locate new resources to be exploited.
To achieve all this, however, the Hernkyn has to make great personal sacrifices. It is not easy for the family-focused clones to spend such extended periods of times away from their Hold, and the ever-present danger that they may never return to their Ancestor Core. That such souls are still willing to undertake these scouting expedition is yet another reason they are held in high regard in Kin society. To that end, they are equipped with the finest scout ships manned by the finest Voidmasters. They also make use of Pan Spectral Scanners to mark out natural resources the Kin would prize, using powerful claim-beacons to alert the Cthonian Mining Guilds to their presence.
In battle, Hernkyn serve as the armoured cavalry of Votann forces. They are extremely sturdy, highly mobile, and pack a tremendous amount of firepower. Hernkyn Pioneers are equipped with plenty of intelligence-gathering and scanner equipment, allowing them to serve as effective scouts as well. Wearing lighter variants of Void Power Armour than the rest of their kin, they are true frontiersmen. Hearnkyn Pioneers themselves - like their bikes - are heavily armed; carrying Autoch Pattern Bolt Pistols, Bolt Revolvers and Bolt Shotguns.
Crunch[edit]
Tabletop-wise, they are the objective secured-heavy hoverbikes with a scout move and fly. M12" T5 W3 body with a 4+ Void Armour save. Each bike packs a decent shooting package with shotguns, pistols, and grenades, all resolving at strength 5, Ap -1. However, the real meat will be the Autocannons (24" 3 shot, S 7, AP -1, 2 damage) and the option to upgrade one in every three models with one of two special weapons as an add-on: the 9 shot rotary cannon (24", Strength 6, Ap -2, 1 damage) or the 2 shot Ion Beamer (18" strength 7, Ap -2, 2 damage, beam). Alternatively, you can equip a model with wargear that grant the Searchlight, Comms, or Scanner keywords and an appropriate benefit.
All in all, probably the best datasheet in the book. They offer a lot of utility which is always nice, they are fast which the Leagues of Votann lack, and they can be outfitted in a number of ways depending on the army build you are going for. Obsec is just a cherry on top.
Gallery[edit]
Forces of the Squats/Leagues | ||||||||
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Command: | Brôkhyr Iron-Master - Einhyr Champion - Guildmaster Kâhl - Living Ancestor (Grimnyr) - Squat Warlord - Votann | |||||||
Troops: | Brôkhyr Thunderkyn - Brotherhood Heavy Weapons Team COG - Commissar - Chthonian Beserks - Hearthguard Hearthkyn Warrior - Hearthkyn Salvager - Ironkin Mole Mortar Team - Tech Priest - Theyn | |||||||
Vehicles: | Cyclops War Machine - Colossus War Machine Land Train - Leviathan - Magna-Coil Bike - Rhino Squat Bike - Squat Trike - Tunneling Transport Vehicles Hekaton Land Fortress - Sagitaur ATV | |||||||
Flyers & Bombers: |
Iron Eagle Gyrocopter Overlord Armoured Airship | |||||||
Artillery: | Heavy Quad-Launcher Thunder-Fire Cannon | |||||||
Heavy Ordinance: |
Goliath Mega-Cannon | |||||||
Spacecraft: | Automated Barge Drone - Automated Bombing Drone Automated Fighting Drone |