Govads in Hassassin Bahram list

I'd say the Haris mostly used on Assassin Bahram is the Asawira Spitfire Haris + 2 Muyibs (smoker and medic), so Govads go for the "expensive Core you want to advance with" thanks to their Veteran and Religious skills (kinda... Morat xD).

 

In my lists, Govads are usually to provide long-range firebase and Veteran buffer should my Lt. go down. Thus, I need at least 2 long-ranged weapons (ML, HMG, Sniper - exact composition depends on offensive potential and who the other team is).

While they can push forward, this effectively nullifies their effectiveness as LoL buffer*, though you might want to do that in some situations.

* what I mean here: even if you've lost your Lieutenant, the Veteran troops still provide you with Regular Orders. this is not as effective as Chain of Command skill (Farzan has such a loadout), but still, having 3-5 Regular Orders while in LoL is nothing to make icky faces about!

Thus, a defensive, base-of fire Core needs to be paired with offensive Haris (especially if they are to be in the same Combat Group: no way you can have enough Orders to operate with both Fireteams) - this means either a Muyib Haris, Asawira haris or a mixed Haris, depending on how far your points stretch (well, Asawira Duo is a possibility, but I can't really see the points when you can have a Haris).

A Govad Haris is, IMO, entirely a defenisve formation (again, at least 2 heavy weapons and the Haris Rifleman), paired with offensive Core (usually, Muyibs) or individual models.

 

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Keep in mind you can have a maximum of one Haris Fireteam at any given moment. Same with Core Fireteam - one is a max (there's no limit on Duo teams, but since in Hassassin Bahram only Asawira can form these, it doesn't really make a difference).
While there are no such limits on Triad or Enomotarchy Fireteams, those are available to very specific armies only, and HB isn't one of them.

...but you can field your Govad Team as a 3-man Core Fireteam, and Asawira Haris as 3-man Haris Fireteam. A technicality, but it makes the setup legal (still, a 3-man Core is still your single allowed Core).

Okay, having opened your list in the Army Builder and made it readable:
Hassassin Bahram
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GROUP 1 10
MUYIB Doctor Plus (MediKit) Rifle + Light Shotgun, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
LEILA SHARIF Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Shock Marksman Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 20)
MUYIB (X Visor) Spitfire, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 28)
MUYIB (Minelayer) Rifle + Light Shotgun, D.E.P. Antipersonnel Mines, E/Mauler / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24)
MUYIB Rifle + Light Grenade Launcher (Normal and Smoke Ammo.) / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 23)
AL-DJABEL Rifle + Light Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Viral CCW, Knife. (0 | 35)
GOVAD Lieutenant Rifle + Light Shotgun / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 21)
GOVAD HMG / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 29)
GOVAD Sniper Rifle / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25)
FARZAN (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 26)

GROUP 2 3
LASIQ Viral Sniper Rifle / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 25)
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
KAMEEL (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)

5.5 SWC | 299 Points

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it is definitely playable :) Well, almost: you can field the Muyibs as a Core (inc. Leila), but the Govads here can't be fielded as a Haris Fireteam. You lack the Govad with Fireteam:Haris ability, and he'd be replacing your Govad Lt.
Now, you're obligued to have a Lt. And I believe you can easily make one of your Muyibs (well, if you want to keep the loadouts as they are, the LGL guy). having Lt in your offensive fireteam can be advantageous at times (if the mission requires the Lt. to perform some specific task), but is also risky: he'll be in the thick of things, and there's a good chance he'll get killed at some point. Also, sometimes Lt's order is the one extra Order you need to take the last, crucial attempt at something, and revealing your Lt be damned.
With Farzan CoC, it isn't going to set you back, as CoC allows the model to immediately take over as the Lt.

I'm not sold on the Group #2 as it is. Merely a Sniper and two extra Orders for him. Sure, Lasiq can be PITA when she hits. But if it is her who gets hit, the group doesn't really get more to offer, save for Regular Orders you'll have to move over to the Group #1 to actually use them.
Not to mention, even if the Group #2 isn't much, it is still a Two Combat Group List, and as such it is vulnerable to Strategic Command Point Use that'll cost you 2 Regular Orders if oyu move first. MO a tradeoff not really worth it.
You want a nasty Group 2? Sack the Lasiq, get one more Kameel Minesweeper and a trio of Ghazi Muttawi'ah.
Personally, I'd swap the Govad HMG for a ML (it is more useful in ARO, covers your need for an AP weapon, and with the advancing Muyib Core and al-Djabel to feed with Orders, you're not going to have much Regular Orders in group #1 to be spedning thme on spraying the Govad's HMG!).

So, it ends looking kinda like that:
Hassassin Bahram
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 10
LEILA SHARIF Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Shock Marksman Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 20)
MUYIB Doctor Plus (MediKit) Rifle + Light Shotgun, D.E.P. / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
MUYIB (X Visor) Spitfire, D-Charges / Pistol, Knife. (1 | 28)
MUYIB (Minelayer) Rifle + Light Shotgun, D.E.P. Antipersonnel Mines, E/Mauler / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 24)
MUYIB Lieutenant Rifle + Light Grenade Launcher (Normal and Smoke Ammo.) / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 23)
AL-DJABEL Rifle + Light Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Viral CCW, Knife. (0 | 35)
GOVAD (Fireteam: Haris) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 22)
GOVAD Sniper Rifle / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 25)
GOVAD Missile Launcher, Light Shotgun / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 30)
FARZAN (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 26)

GROUP 2 3 3 3
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
KAMEEL (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
KAMEEL (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)

5 SWC | 299 Points

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Now, I'd also consider downgrading al-Djabel to an oridnary Fiday (and getting the 4th Ghazi Muttawi'ah), primarily because I feel al-Djable isn't that much more effective than a regular Fiday. But that's just me.

Remember, however - those are only my takes and opinions on the subject. The real answer can be reached only by playtesting the list, preferably several times against various opponents.... and given how most of us tend to change their lists every game, I ca't say it is likely anyway :P

 

There was some good Govads discussion here:

https://forum.corvusbelli.com/threads/govads-and-kameel-in-hassasin.977/

 

Here is one I have been tossing around. I like the HMG because it gives such a long range punch that other HB weapons do not have (spitfires).

Hassassin Bahram
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 10
GOVAD (Fireteam: Haris) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 22)
GOVAD HMG / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 29)
GOVAD (Number 2) Rifle + Light Shotgun / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 22)
GHULAM Lieutenant Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 12)
GHULAM Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 17)
GHULAM Missile Launcher / Pistol, Knife. (1.5 | 17)
GHULAM Rifle + Light Shotgun / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 12)
LEILA SHARIF Hacker (Killer Hacking Device) Shock Marksman Rifle, D-Charges / Breaker Pistol, Knife. (0 | 20)
AVICENNA Combi Rifle, Flash Pulse / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 27)
NASMAT Electric Pulse. (0 | 3)
AL-DJABEL Rifle + Light Shotgun, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Viral CCW, Knife. (0 | 35)

GROUP 2 4 6 4
BARID Hacker (Killer Hacking Device UPGRADE: Lightning) Rifle + Pitcher / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 16)
RAFIQ REMOTE Rifle + Light Shotgun, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 16)
FANOUS REMOTE Flash Pulse, Sniffer / Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
KAMEEL (Minesweeper, Repeater) Electric Pulse. (0 | 8)
DAYLAMI (CH: Limited Camouflage, Inferior Infiltration) Light Shotgun, Panzerfaust / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 8)
DAYLAMI (CH: Limited Camouflage, Inferior Infiltration) Light Shotgun, Panzerfaust / Pistol, Knife. (0.5 | 8)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)
MUTTAWI'AH Chain Rifle, E/Marat, Jammer, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, Knife. (0 | 5)

6 SWC | 300 Points

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That's one nifty use for the N2 Govad, @theGricks :)
Though you have to make sure a Doc (or at least Doc's Nasmat) is at hand, otherwise it is kinda pointless, i believe.

Still, I'd rather prefer a 2nd heavy weapon, personally.

 

Agreed, Govads are better at Long-range fire support or haris full defense. Don't try to use them as an assault team, that job is for Muyibs.

 

Well, Govads can pull the assault role. No problem. They have similar weapon pack as Ghilim, and I've used a Ghilim team as a n assault force more times than I care to count. The HMG is there, the Rifles are there, and the MSV L1 surely will get helpful should they run into any Mimetic / Camo / Low Vis target.

We do have options who are better suited to the assault, close-in role in Bahram, true (Muyibs & Asawira), we don't really have units better suited to the long-range fire support role as a Fireteam (Lasiqs are, sadly, underperforming due to their design limitations, Ghilim can be outfitted in a similar fashion to Govads, but are IMO essentially a cheaper option there, with all the pros and cons of it. Ayyar, while excellent on their own, aren't a Fireteam).

But, as Duncan Idaho said in Dune, "Killing with the point lacks artistry, but don't let that hold your hand when the opening presents itself.". Govads might be not the most capable of out offensive fireteams, but if that's what you have available in the place where you need it, do not let that fact hold your hand!

 

Govads are pretty good as active turn hunter killers too. With MSV1 a linked HMG really tears through even tough targets, and with rifles and shotguns they can take out stuff at close range effectively.

 

I have used Govads as active turn hunter killers a LOT. That range limitation on Spitfires has come up a good deal more than I enjoy. Its nice having an HMG either in a ghilim core, or Govad haris.

 

Assault role is moving forward towards the opponent DZ, Govads are awesome for active turn killing, but HMGs/Snipers/ML need 16"+ for good range, you can use rifles and shotguns, but we have better options for that.

And for personal preferences, i don't like to push too much my 4-5 men links too much, it's really easy to lose a entire fireteam to WBs with templates... at least Muyibs have mines for protection.

 

The biggest problems Govads face is that the sectorial has Muyibs. Muyibs are one of the best links in the game. Govads are a very good link, but you have to want to run them. They don't fill a role that can be done better by Muyibs, or cheaper by Ghilim. Their MSV1 is nice, and Vet1 is nice but both are situational. Number 2, and Dogged are always good. My Govad lists are for when I just want to run some cool, coated models.

 

We've started playing with more terrain rules in our local meta, including a lot of low-vis zones. I was struggling with a reason to take Govads over Muyibs for awhile, then I put my Briscards on a table with a lot of low-vis zones...

In isolation, I'd still probably take Muyibs, as their wide-ranging kit is just too good. However, given my meta shift, there's a box of Govads waiting for assembly now... On a more general note, terrain rules are pretty fun and encourage you to take oft-overlooked things like Govads for MSV1 versus low-vis zones and unlinked MLs for Saturation zones and the like.

 

Sounds like a critical lack of low-vis zones to me! But yes, in general if Corvus said: "We are dropping either Govads or Muyibs from the sectorial. YOU MUST CHOOSE." I would rather keep the Muyibs.

 

The few times we rolled up a low-vis scenario (20x20 being the main mission system in my meta), the advantage MSV L1+ troops had tended to make the game.
Which at least once included a Govad Core for me.

Nevertheless, it is still rather situational...

 

Yeah, Govads have a big problem called Muyibs. The weapon range of the govads maybe are too large. The shorter is the HMG or the Snipper Rifle, but the Snipper Rifle don't represent a big trouble for so many troops. Any HI without wounds can easily ignore the Snipper Rifle or confront the rolles almost unharmed, even if they loose. In a sectorial army where almost everything is relative expensive and fragil, a not really cheap long range ARO fire team isn't easy to put in our list, because the "real weapon here is the Missile Launcher, and that is a lot of SWC and a lot of points if the fire team have five members.

If you play a single game for a unique scenario you cann think about use the govads, because probably they are the best tool in your army, but not when you try desperately face the mayor quantity of rivals in a ITS Tournament. Without terrains conditions in the visibility or something like that, the advantage of the govads over the others coreoptions are almost none. For ARO resistance we have muyibs. For cheap ARO we have ghulams.

It is a pitty, but I almost don't use my govads, and this is sad because the miniatures are so pretty...