White Scars Biker Dreadnought image - Warhammer 40K Fan Group

They use them, they're a Codex chapter and there are plenty of painted ones in the Codex

However, they generally do play a different role to Dreads in other chapters, working more like linebreakers in drop-pods or else holding the firebase at the command post

By that logic you could call the Salamaders non-codex

the GW codex does show some unlikely examples, but Dreads are in the army list for White Scars since they can use the standard SM lists...

It's not that they don't use certain troops -ever-, it's just that they prefer certain tactics. If the mission calls for a strong defensive firebase then the WS have that capability, although they'd usually choose a fast attack if that's a viable option it doesn't mean they can't do other things.

Again, I'm only making a point about this because players should be able to build whatever army they like - if you want your WS force to have a strong shooty firebase component with Dreads, it shouldn't be "against the background"... maybe an unusual force, but then there are plenty of unusual missions in 40k. The chapters and legions have different 'flavours', but those should add variety rather than restricting it

Wait wait wait. So that's only your assumptions? Making a decision because "players in theory can build whatever army" - that's not serious. Yes, I really saw how some people paint noise marines into green or "preparing" berserkers for slaanesh army - these models may look good, but this is not serious and it conflicts with the lore. Such models can't be used for a game.

I do not play board games, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't players come for a game with a codex?

Back to the Scars - they do not posses any dreads because it contradicts with their ideology. That's what official sources state. Bring me yours to prove I'm wrong.

The Salamanders don't use use Landspeeders or have a lot of Scouts, so you'd expect a Land Speeder Storm to be right out of the question...

And yet, in the Tome of Fire series they make use of one, and it makes perfect sense in the situation. It's even neatly explained in with the background - it's not a commonly used unit, but they keep a couple in reserve for training and rapid response missions, and since the gravity is all over the place in the Time of Trial there are opportunities to use them forrescue missions of trapped civilians (a very Salamander thing to do).

I'd say that if all White Scars were that cluastrophibic then they'd be pretty had up in meetings... you gotta go into the command bunker at some point...

When the background says "almost never", that's not the same as "never", and you'll find that GW is very careful to always put the "almost" in.

As far as a situation where the WS need a firebase... hmm... 'Nid invasion, holding a city, hammer-and-anvil tactic (firebase is the anvil and the bikes are the obvious hammer) to break the back of an enemy, luring Ork Kult of Speed bikers into a canyon to out-manouvre them...

Those may not be their first choices of assignments, but they're prepared to do them if that's what needs doing. THAT is the difference between Codex Astartes and Variant chapters - Codex chapters can go outside their specialties and are still capable of being normal marines, where Variant chapters (excluding BA since they try to follow the Codex as closely as they can) will be seriously disadvantaged if caught out of their element

It is highly incorrect to compare landspeeders and dreads. And especially to make any far-reaching conclusions. That fact that Salamanders use bikes means nothing. Bike is just a light vehicle: fast, cheap, numerous, easy in production and operation. Every legion had them. In most cases for reconnaissance purposes. But exactly WS made extreme use of them, building their whole battle doctrine on using mostly fast vehicles. So there is no wonder that other legions/chapter uses them here or there.

As to the dreads in WS army, there is no room for "almost never" - they just Do. Not. Posses. Dreadnoughts. They appreciate freedom above everything. And when the death comes, warrior's spirit must be free, which is impossible if he will be entombed alive inside the metal bawx.

It's just like with the librarians in nowadays World Eaters legion or any other Khornate army - they do not have any and will never do. Without exceptions.

yeah, but then there's the Eldar - they build the Infinity circuit so their dead can wander in a "mini paradise", yet they will build Wraith constructs if they need to.

It's the same ideology at play - every once in almost never, a White Scars veteran might be mortally wounded but want and need to fight on... in which case a Dread lets them do that. It's another kind of "heroic sacrifice", something all SMs do.

Again, there needs to be room for "almost never" or the SMs don't work. SMs need to be able to do anything, be anywhere, win any fight by any means necessary, otherwise they're not SMs. They are the balancing force in 40k that lets all the other apocalyptic stuff stay as an eternal apocalypse instead of becoming a post-apocalypse at some point. The second that SMs "can't" do something, the Imperium loses and that is the beginning of the end for Imperial fans/supporters/players.

40k isn't supposed to be able to be divided into neat "these guys do this, those guys do that" bundles - it's a universe where anything can happen: you'll never get a Khornate psyker but you might get a Khornate warrior beating a psyker into opening a portal; WS usually ride bikes but they can fight without them; Orks like hitting things but some of them like shooting and "taktiks" and wearing camo; Eldar and Dark Eldar hate each other but they'll work together if they really need to... without those kinds of bordeline cases, 40k isn't 40k.

That said, this has gone on long enough - let's agree to disagree and everyone does their hobby how they like, and if you see a White Scars dread model you can pray that the player on the other side of the board rolls a 6 for AP

You conduct senseless parallels. There is certain rules which clearly state that WS do not posses any dreadnoughts. Any further discusions are needless. WS's "mortally wounded veteran" most likely would demand to blow his body apart rather than entombing inside the dreadnought.

Indeed, speaking about hobby, everyone is free to do whatever he wants. But WS dread will be useless ingame. If I will ever see WS dread, it will be standing on the shelf, together with slaanesh plague bearers, nurgle noise marines and khornate psykers.

You conduct senseless parallels. There is certain rules which clearly state that WS do not posses any dreadnoughts. Any further discusions are needless. WS's "mortally wounded veteran" most likely would demand to blow his body apart rather than entombing inside the dreadnought.

Indeed, speaking about hobby, everyone is free to do whatever he wants. But WS dread will be useless ingame. If I will ever see WS dread, it will be standing on the shelf, together with slaanesh plague bearers, nurgle noise marines and khornate psykers.