rough riders?

Here is a question, as we come closer to this years battle for missions is it a feasible choice to add in a unit of rough riders. They can really pack a punch and have a wide range to the assault but are the flexible enough to be used in my army. Do they have a place?

Now the thing i struggle with is the utility of the unit after they get off that first round of combat.

Pros:

• All power weapon attacks on the first round of combat- that is up to 10 power weapons that is some good punch as well as psychological combat
  
• Calvary special rule means that they get a 12'' assault and fleet so that means they have the range to get that punch in- 6 inch move, 6 inch run, 12 inch assault= 24 inches to get to you or the distance of a storm bolter
• They have some sweet models, planning on converting cold ones and putting catachans on them
• They can have the mongul special character to get rage and furious charge plus fearless
• Can take 2 meltas or plas-guns

Cons:

• Power weapon hits on WS 3 and S of 3- this means who really will be hitting?
• Calvary special rule doesn't effect movement- 6'' isn't that impressive which means at best they might do well to support a real CC beast but got no ability to just move there without going into CC
• No extra toughness- I don't know why they don't get a wound or at least some extra toughness like any biker squad but they don't so thats T-3
• Need the Mongul special character added to make the squad worth while- no special rules but Calvary and only 5 units
• Only 2 meltas or plasmas

So they seem pretty balanced depending on how you see them. They are just guardsmen on horses that are slow mules. The problem is they seem to be neither side. Usually a unit finds its utility in its specialty, an example is that an Ogryn is useful as a CC character. By no means is he the best at what he does but he does do it better and is equipped to do better than the regular guardsmen. On the other side you have someone like Vets which survive to shoot like space marines. Their utility is that the shots more than likely will hit the target. They aren't the best but compared to guardsmen they are good. Then you might ask, what is the utility of the guardsmen and that is the most important part of the game. Wounds. 40k in my opinion is based around the Wounds score on characters because that more than any other stat helps determine the outcome of a battle. If you put out more you most likely win. This is an interesting idea that i want to develop in full later so that will have to wait till next post. But like i was saying guardsmen are your defense- they hold the line, they hold the objectives, they take the punches. They are the meat shields and played like that they might not go far (unless a powerfist gives them a good uppercut) but they will do their job and last for the win.

So this specific model is so weird because its built like a guardsmen that is supposed to just be alive as a meat shield and possible million of shots but it also has the equipment and special rules of a CC dedicated character. What in the world are we to do?

Well this my friends is what i think they are for-They are the true epitome of road bump. In most IG lists there is a need for guardsmen to be used as road bumps to stop the crazy squad of CC monsters that is storming down the field at your big gun to stop you before you punch a hole in them. However regular guardsmen won't cut it if they truly are CC beasts because chances are even if you charge them they have the gear to tear that squad apart before they even hit. That being said the calvary does exactly what a calvary should do. Flank the model to the side in CC and then stalling them a turn before falling back. The long pointy sticks should take out a few models and hopefully by then your big guns will be ready to mow the rest down.
So for the points of 11 per model which pays for a twelve inch assualt and one turn of power weapons you get a squad of guard to take some punches.

Are they worth it though? depends on how you play them! lets get out there are try!