Are Roughriders Sweet?

So I scanned through the Gaurd codex a couple times over the weekend in preparation for helping bojoseph make a list and the Rough Rider entry caught my eye.

The are 8 pts a piece and get to move as cavalry, and for the bargain basement price of 2pts a model can be equipped with an explosive tipped hunting lance.

The lance basically gives them extremely furious charge, where they get +2 str, +2I and ignore armor saves.

For 10 pts you would have Str 5 I5 powerweapon wielding models with fleet and a 12" charge.

Now if the enemy holds they revert to sucky gaurd stats, and if they do run away you are likely to get shot to pieces the next turn, but it seems like a 100pt unit could almost always earn it's point back. Thoughts?

Is it not just a one use lance (ie only applies to 1st charge of the game)?

Really depends on the game plan. For an IG gunline no, but maybe for a mech list (though IG suck at that too..) Either way you would have to do multiple units imo as they are one hit wonders.

The models could be ace! While digging thru the Empire range of minis for the upcoming campaign I thought the Engineer RoboHorse would make for nice Roughriders. I've seen some Cadians on Marine Bikes for substitutes as well. Forge World has some beautiful Krieg Riders also.

I think they are pretty awesome. I had two units in my guard list i played around with. They can break a pretty hard core assault unit on the charge and are cheap at the same time. their movement also helps them be on the spot when you need them.

Massively under utilized in my opinion, perhaps the model is the problem (price/availability/aesthetics).

I have never played guard. But i do know that a unit of RR will hurt anything when they charge. I do believe its a use once lance too. They trick is not to take to many, and the take up hellhound slots. Just for a reference most list i see have 1 8man squad or 2 6man. They are defiantley worth their points IMO.

Here are those Cadian Rough Riders

I had two 6 man squads in my list. Although from play tests I was considering increasing to 2 8 mans.