BARC Speeder any good ?

[ChuiSaoul 8]

I started to play one week ago with my roomate using the clone war core set. After three game, I am really asking my self if the BARC speeder is really worth all is points. I feel like it's supposed to be a quick speeder and not a tank, but with a movement of two with the weapons he is not faster then a trooper units. On the other and when I see how much my roomate droideka are doing for the same cost I feel like, I do not get enough for my points. Am I just bad or is there something wrong with that unit ?

[T70 Driver 1,344]

The BARC is bad but we really have no other choice right now as it's the only other unit we have to support the Clones. Once the Saber comes out I doubt you'll see the BARC on the table. Until then we've just got to suck it up and try to make it work.

[Alpha17 2,853]

I think the general consensus is that the BARC isn't quite worth its points.  Some people like it, other can't wait to dump it as soon as possible.  I'm in the later camp.  The BARC really has to work to earn its points back.  Other than surge to hit, it doesn't really have anything going for it, and adding the car only compounds the problem.  All I can tell you is to try and use it as a flanker/get fire support shots, and don't feel obligated to bolt on the side car. 

[CT-4661 "Abbi" 25]

They did well as flankers with the rocket launcher on one and the ion gun on the other in my first game with them last night. But of course that's just one anecdote, and says little or nothing about how they'll perform long term.

[allistorpreist 171]

Keep in mind I am a newer player, grain of salt. It is still a bit too early to tell, but the base costs as much as two imperial speeders, but doesn't quite have the same firepower or durability as the imperial equivalent. The heavy weapons having a notable cost and slowing the bike down doesn't do it any favors. With a linked targeting array and no weapon upgrade it seems like it could be a decent flanker. It is the best choice when you don't have a choice, but it certainly is not blowing my socks off. It feels like it is an inch from a really good unit, but right now it is just the choice you have.

[FastWalker 205]

Pretty much what others have said here.

Sadly, its currently the only way GAR can have 9 activations. 

Keep BARCS cheap and keep them back until turn 3 or 4. Then pounce. This usually means obligatory move + Aim + Dodge per turn until both sides are in the scrum of things.

The only up side with a BARC is attaching RPS-6 rocket launcher and not restricted with Cumbersome. Point tax is too high -- Core+RPS-6 = 78 pts VS BARC+RPS-6 = 99 pts. You might as well have an RPS-6 on a core unit and deal with Cumbersome. 

Another upside is zipping past your opponent and winning Breakthrough scenarios. 

[arnoldrew 1,712]

14 hours ago, allistorpreist said:

Keep in mind I am a newer player, grain of salt. It is still a bit too early to tell, but the base costs as much as two imperial speeders, but doesn't quite have the same firepower or durability as the imperial equivalent. The heavy weapons having a notable cost and slowing the bike down doesn't do it any favors. With a linked targeting array and no weapon upgrade it seems like it could be a decent flanker. It is the best choice when you don't have a choice, but it certainly is not blowing my socks off. It feels like it is an inch from a really good unit, but right now it is just the choice you have.

It's definitely more durable than the Imperial Speederbikes, but other than that I agree with you.

[Alpha17 2,853]

2 hours ago, arnoldrew said:

It's definitely more durable than the Imperial Speederbikes, but other than that I agree with you.

Only if your defense die roll average or greater; if your red die are like mine, and take weeks off, it's certainly not any more durable than the bikes. 

[allistorpreist 171]

6 hours ago, arnoldrew said:

It's definitely more durable than the Imperial Speederbikes, but other than that I agree with you.

The red dice are slightly better than the white dice with a surge, but the advantage is countered by the resilience damage that the Barc can suffer from that the Imp Speeders ignore by being two separate people. That and one less total wound. IMHO of course, I haven't seen barcs on the table so this is all hypothetical. I think if the bikes had Armor 1 they would have a lot more pop and feel more worth the value, but like I said, the surge tokens or some other clone shenanigans may completely change my mind. 

[Lochlan 1,034]

28 minutes ago, allistorpreist said:

The red dice are slightly better than the white dice with a surge, but the advantage is countered by the resilience damage that the Barc can suffer from that the Imp Speeders ignore by being two separate people. That and one less total wound. IMHO of course, I haven't seen barcs on the table so this is all hypothetical. I think if the bikes had Armor 1 they would have a lot more pop and feel more worth the value, but like I said, the surge tokens or some other clone shenanigans may completely change my mind. 

When bikes take 3 wounds, they automatically lose half of their offensive power. BARCs only have a small chance of that happening to only 1 of their weapons, and the other Damaged Vehicle effects aren't as debilitating as that. And even though they have less total health, with the Red defense die it will take on average one more hit to kill them than it takes to kill bikes. So they are definitely (slightly) tougher, but I still think they aren't very good. But I don't like bikes either, so yeah. 

Edited November 20, 2019 by Lochlan