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Okay, I'm finally updating my Marines to 5th and the new SM codex. I have some nifty bitz left over that I would like to use to customize a unit. I'm thinking of adding a Sternguard Veteran unit to my list, but I'm not sure how to equip them.

Here is what I'm considering:

Sternguard Veteran Unit (10 Marines)
1 x Vet Sgt with power weapon and bolt pistol
7 x Sternguard Vets with Storm Bolters
2 x Sternguard Vets with Heavy Bolters

- Do the Storm Bolters and Heavy Bolters count as 'bolt weapons' for purposes of the Special Ammunition?
- I'm not sure if the Storm Bolters are worth the points.
- I've read posts where people have suggested taking combi-meltas. I'm not sold on the points for a one use weapon. Any real good reason to take these? Did they change combi-weapons in 5th?

Any suggestions and/or advice is appreciated.

As far as i can tell from RAW it says bolterguns and combi weapons. now that they refer to bolters as boltguns in the codex from a RAW perspective they can't have special ammo. A HB has a different and would be made useless by the ammo distances and a SB is not a boltgun. Only one way to take sternguard combi-weaps. at 5 points each that's 50 for the entire squad and truthfull you would rather have then rapid firing specialized ammo than fighting in CC so giving the sgt a PW. Mine go in a drop pod with 6 combi-meltas and 4 combi-flamers. Combat squad and make the enemy split fire to try and take them down.

Put it this way.. look at the sternguard specail ammo page 63 of the SM dex.. lets take the vengeance rounds.

You shoot a storm-bolter with the vengeance round and you use the profile of : 18" str 4 ap 3 rapid fire, gets hot!

These specail ammo rules replace the standard profile of the weapon.

the special ammos only work with combi-bolters and normal bolters. Storm bolters and heavy bolters can't use the ammo.

For the reasons stated above there is no need to use heavy bolters or storm bolters with your sternguard, the guns they have are better anyway.

The reason for combi-meltas is that using them en-masse means that sternguard can realistically threaten anything. Their special ammo means that they can kill infantry, whether heavily armoured or in cover, and MCs. Using combi-meltas means that they can also easily destroy vehicles. Sternguard are best used at close-medium range, where they can make best use of their guns, so combi-meltas fit this bill perfectly.

Regwon wrote:For the reasons stated above there is no need to use heavy bolters or storm bolters with your sternguard, the guns they have are better anyway.

The reason for combi-meltas is that using them en-masse means that sternguard can realistically threaten anything. Their special ammo means that they can kill infantry, whether heavily armoured or in cover, and MCs. Using combi-meltas means that they can also easily destroy vehicles. Sternguard are best used at close-medium range, where they can make best use of their guns, so combi-meltas fit this bill perfectly.

And if you play salamanders then even better. Nothing like hosing down that super expensive nob biker squad with Str8 AP1 shots that reroll misses.

Special Ammo, I believe, is just for regular boltguns.

Now what I have seen here, and elsewhere, is giving a small Sternguard a couple of special weapons (meltaguns usually) and either combi-meltas or combi-plasmas, as well as a drop pod.

It's a small unit that enjoys the possibility of deep striking to take out some big nasty and/or expensive unit that would otherwise be a truly horrible thing to deal with normally. Land Raiders, MC's, and anything else that's well armored or enjoys a high Toughness value.

Small unit size ensures a relatively low point cost, and less chance of losing it to a bad deep strike. A suicide unit of sorts.

Not that a Stormbolter/Heavy Bolter unit isn't bad, per se, but you'd almost be better off, putting a unit of Terminators with Assault cannons on the board instead.

If you want some heavy weapons in a more static squad I'd reccomend 2 plasma cannons. They work together with most of the special ammos the sternguard use. I can also second the idea of melta-combis.

I have a 10man squad with 2 plasma cannons and 4 combi meltas and most enemy units, both infantry and vehicles, tend to keep clear of them so I can use them as a psychological threat.

Well, I'd play Sternguard as a shooty unit making use of their special ammunition.
One Vet should get a power fist, not a power weapon, as power fists are Dreadnought insurance.

If you are running vulcan in your list 2 heavy flamers, some combi meltas and mounting in a drop pod make for a nasty combo as well.

Meph

wuestenfux wrote:One Vet should get a power fist, not a power weapon, as power fists are Dreadnought insurance.

No dread goes near a squad full of combi meltas :-) But I can agree somewhat. Having a PF among them makes them less of an initing target for CC-units. But it costs as much as one extra model in the unit, and I'd rather take that.

If you're worried about the points cost of the Combi-Melta's just use five of them to to start. Even a Land Raider needs some luck to not be destroyed by five melta shots. Taking 10 should guarantee a kill though. It's just too much AP1.

I like 2 heavy flamers, 8 combi-meltas, and combat squad them.

Agree with Spellbound, 2 heavy flamers, combimeltas, combat squad them or if you wanna get real fancy, put them all in a drop pod with some special character like TIGURIUS, MASTER OF THE WAAAAAAARP, and drop them in someone's face to really get some killy action.

mullhead wrote:As far as i can tell from RAW it says bolterguns and combi weapons. now that they refer to bolters as boltguns in the codex from a RAW perspective they can't have special ammo. A HB has a different and would be made useless by the ammo distances and a SB is not a boltgun. Only one way to take sternguard combi-weaps. at 5 points each that's 50 for the entire squad and truthfull you would rather have then rapid firing specialized ammo than fighting in CC so giving the sgt a PW. Mine go in a drop pod with 6 combi-meltas and 4 combi-flamers. Combat squad and make the enemy split fire to try and take them down.

In the army list it says that Sternguard are armed with boltguns, so yes, the rules state that Sternguard have Special Issue Ammunition. Both because they have Boltguns, and because they have Special Issue Ammunition (below Boltguns on their Wargear list). Additionally, the Special Issue Ammunition rules specify that the category 'Boltguns' includes "boltguns that are part of a combi-weapon". Neither Storm Bolters nor Heavy Bolters are Boltguns, nor have Boltguns as component rules, and therefore are not affected by the Special Issue Ammunition rules.