Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

How should they be equipped/used in a match?

I'm thinking of giving them a sarge with a PF for anti tank and combi-flamers for anti horde.

Are storm bolters worth getting for all of them?

As far as I can tell don't give them stormbolters. They loose their special ammo if you do. (If I'm wrong please let me know. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE)

Aside from a few tricky combis here and there, their normal special ammo seems to be the way to go. If you plan on dropping them onto tanks, maybe some meltas or combi meltas. If not, then special ammo all the way...

Oh and don't forget to vote for Pedro if you're using Sternguard...

It depends they can most certainly get their points back easily.


Here is my favorite set up for sternguard

10 man w/ 10 Combimeltas ( go to the P& M forum there are several excellent threads on how to make combimeltas)

w/ Drop

It comes out to 335 but remember these guys are a fantastic strike force.


I like to couple them with a Librarian in Term ARmour w/ Vortex and Gate or Nullzone.

Vortex is excellent as its brutal with Sternguard at STR 10 and a template.

I'm starting some Imperial Fists, so I was thinking of maybe doing a Lysander + Sternguard vets combo.
His bolter special rule + their special ammo should get good results, but I'm also tempted to run him in an assault unit. Thoughts?

I'm using sternguard with a Kantor Droppod list.

two units sternguard, consisting of:

10 sternguard
Droppod
Powerfist
2x combi-melta, 1x combi-plasma, 1x plasmagun, 1x HF

One is supported by Kantor, the other by a TDA/SS Epistolary with nullzone and either Avenger or vortex.

Grt. Pim

Mad Rabbit wrote:I'm starting some Imperial Fists, so I was thinking of maybe doing a Lysander + Sternguard vets combo.
His bolter special rule + their special ammo should get good results, but I'm also tempted to run him in an assault unit. Thoughts?

Drop podding sternguard + lysander is a unit I've been wanting to play around with. Lysander makes the sternguards initial strike with bolters deadlier and adds a beefy combat character that will make someone think twice about assaulting them.

Tons of combi-melta's + vulkan is a fun way to run a squad as well.

PRoeske wrote:I'm using sternguard with a Kantor Droppod list.

two units sternguard, consisting of:

10 sternguard
Droppod
Powerfist
2x combi-melta, 1x combi-plasma, 1x plasmagun, 1x HF

One is supported by Kantor, the other by a TDA/SS Epistolary with nullzone and either Avenger or vortex.

Grt. Pim

There really isnt any point taking special/heavy weapons with sternguard. You already pay a large number of points for their special ammo, which can deal with most things in most situations. The one thing they cant deal with normally is vehicles, but this can be delt with by giving as many as possible combi-meltas, which still let them use their special ammo. Instead of the plasma gun, heavy flamer and combi-plasma, give as many as possible combi-meltas.

I have had great luck with the following setup:
Pedro with 9 sternguard, 5 combi melta, drop pod
10 Sternguard, champ w/pf, 5 combi melta, drop pod
Ironclad w/ melta and flamer, drop pod
Venerable w/ autocannon and flamer, drop pod
Tac squad w/ flamer and missle launcher, sgt w/pf, drop pod

The rest is a mix of scouts, attack bikes w mm, and whirlwinds/predators/vindicators... ...my record vs all comers is 7-1-1 with that combination.

Sorry to anyone who wants to change their weapons, I completely understand if you want to make your Sternguard rubbish, but SPECIAL AMMUNITION ALL THE ING WAY !!!!!!!!!!!

MC

Mmm...Pi wrote:As far as I can tell don't give them stormbolters. They loose their special ammo if you do. (If I'm wrong please let me know. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE)

You can't use the special ammo with stormbolters, only normal bolters. Other than that fact, I have nothing to contribute. DA can't take them :(

Rico.

The trick with sternguard is you need 1 a big enough squad to make sure what ever they are shooting at dies and 2 enough other threats on the board that your opponent cant focue fire your sternguard to death.

True, but I would still take them irrespective of whether they'll get shot to pieces or not, they're just so good at what they do.

MC

extermikator wrote: Sorry to anyone who wants to change their weapons, I completely understand if you want to make your Sternguard rubbish, but SPECIAL AMMUNITION ALL THE ING WAY !!!!!!!!!!!

I disagree. If you are using them as Scoring Devastaors (with Kantor) then two Plasma Cannons makes them a real force holding the home objective. On the offensive a pair of Melta/Plasma Guns will often inflict more damage than Special Issue ammo anyway...

I use sternguaurd in tow ways, as lyracian said. I make mini scoring dev squads for rear objectives. 2 plasma cannons, as stated, do wonders with 3 special round bolters at holding down a rear objective, and 3 combi meltas on those bolters make armor rushes a non issue.

10 Sternguard with 5 combi meltas and a pf champ are just beast. No need for special weapons - take those in a different squad.

Lyracian wrote:On the offensive a pair of Melta/Plasma Guns will often inflict more damage than Special Issue ammo anyway...

But then you're essentially paying to get rid of the special ammo that you payed points to get hold of in the first place.

Lyracian wrote:I disagree. If you are using them as Scoring Devastaors (with Kantor) then two Plasma Cannons makes them a real force holding the home objective. On the offensive a pair of Melta/Plasma Guns will often inflict more damage than Special Issue ammo anyway...

Its all about points cost. Its just not worth paying 35pts for a models that costs 26pts in the rest of your army, especially when they get such good abilities anyway.

I'm with Mekboy on this, the whole point of Sternguard is their special ammo. Hope this helps people

MC

I could possibly see swapping in a heavy flamer for the squad, On the drop if you are combat squadding that template has the ability to net more wounds than a single bolter. its a price hike though and will be situational. Risk vs. reward though it could be the extra wounds you were looking for against what you dropped in on. Also this isn't really accounting for what combat squad 2 might be doing.

Regwon wrote:Its all about points cost. Its just not worth paying 35pts for a models that costs 26pts in the rest of your army, especially when they get such good abilities anyway.

You have to look at the cost of the Squad as a whole not a single model that is unrealistit I can not buy ten of those 26pts Models and make them a unit.

For Example I could take any of the following as a firebase for about the same cost -
181 Points buys 6 Devastors with 3 Plasma Cannons & Signum
175 Points buys 10 Tactical with 1 Plasma Cannon & Flamer
170 Points buys 6 Sternguard with 2 Plasma Cannons & Special Ammo

Tactical: Score, More Ablative Wounds, 11 Attacks in HtH, Only one Hvy Weapon
Devastors: BS 5 (on one) & Most Plasma, 7 Attacks in HtH, Can not score (ever)
Sternguard: Can support Plasma with Bolters at 30" or Poison or Ignore Cover, 12 Attacks in HtH, can score (with Kantor)

For me Sternguard offer the most versitility.

Sternguard have got the advantage with versatility, but they can get killed awfully easy, as they will always be up close and personal. This can lead to people taking Devestators, as they can sit back at the back of the board and snipe at tanks and MCs.

MC