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Well, the ''gets hot'' rule is fun, you never know how many guys need to make armor saves. But hey, this is 40k.

Get's hot is almost a non-issue for marines. There's a 1/6 chance for "gets hot" and then a 1/3 chance of death. That's 1/18. If you're really concerned about that statistic, go play a game without dice.

Really plasma vets do have their uses. if you're ever playing versus Tyranids or other high toughness good armor creatures, then plasma shines. Otherwise melta is just better as it insta-gibs T4 (like Paladins), is great versus armor (tanks) up close, and versus everything BUT what plasma is good against the hellfire rounds are great too.

However I really don't ever use Sternguard in a drop pod. I use them in Razorbacks (because even without razorback spam, razorbacks are still worth 40 to 75 points) and usually field 2 squads of sternguard (bolter, melta, 3x combi-melta) and two squads of tactical marines (7x regular, flamer, combi-flamer, ML) (7x regular, melta, combi-melta, ML) combat squaded (ml, 4x regular sit on objective) all piled into 4x razorback (2x TL Las, 2x Las/Plas) and move forward. Everyone goes for whatever target they can do best at, and it works pretty darn well for me.

I prefer combi plasma on my sternguard, especially if I know im going to use vengence rounds alot.
Im already ignoring their saves, and getting hot, so I may aswell wound a 2+ too!

Plasmaguns

Lots and lots of Plasmaguns

This my current 2,000 point Deep Strike/Drop Pod List. I use it in either a Normal Games or Planet Strike. It also makes a good core for one of my APOC List. I don’t always Deep Strike Captain and the Honor Guard because of the inability to Assault the Turn I arrive. I usually drop the Dread and the Melta armed Sternguard. This allows the Plasma Armed Sternguard to take an Objective later. I know they cant hold it, but they can deny it.
I do have a Kantor version of this list using C: SM, but I have to change the Honor to a VV and loose the Dread.
I am thinking of adding a 3rd Sternguard, but I am not sure how I am going to equip them at the moment, I was thinking going with Flamers and using the LotD Figures for it.

2000 Pts Blood Angels Roster

1x Captain in Power Armour, 155 pts (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Iron Halo; Power Armour; Jump Pack; Lightning Claw x2; And They Shall Know No Fear; Descent of Angels; Independent Character)
Honour Guard, 305 pts (Chapter Banner; Equip with Jump Packs; And They Shall Know No Fear; Descent of Angels; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Blood Champion (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Combat Shield; Power Armour; Jump Pack; Bolt Pistol; Chainsword; Power Weapon)
o 1x Sanguinary Novitiate (Blood Chalice; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Jump Pack; Bolt Pistol; Chainsword; Feel No Pain; Furious Charge)
o 3x Honour Guard (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Jump Pack; Lightning Claw x2)

Sternguard Veteran Squad, 370 pts (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Special Issue Ammunition; Bolt Pistol x9; Combi-Plasmagun x7; Plasma gun x2; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Sergeant (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Special Issue Ammunition; Combi-Plasmagun; Power Fist x1; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Drop Pod (Storm Bolter; Drop Pod Assault; Immobile; Inertial Guidance System)

Sternguard Veteran Squad, 370 pts (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Special Issue Ammunition; Bolt Pistol x9; Combi-Plasmagun x7; Plasma gun x2; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Sergeant (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Special Issue Ammunition; Combi-Plasmagun; Power Fist x1; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Drop Pod ((C:BA, pg. 32); Unit Type: Vehicle (Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Storm Bolter; Drop Pod Assault; Immobile; Inertial Guidance System)

1x Blood Angels Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought 280 pts (Smoke Launchers; Extra Armor; Magna-grapple; Blood Talon with Storm Bolter; Blood Talon with Storm Bolter; Blood Talons; Automatic Shielding; Fleet; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Lucius Pattern Dreadnought Drop Pod (Inertial Guidance System)

Assault Squad, 260 pts (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x7; Chainsword x9; Infernus Pistol; Infernus Pistol; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Descent of Angels; The Red Thirst)
o 1x Sergeant (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Combat Shield; Melta Bombs; Lightning Claw x2; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Descent of Angels; The Red Thirst)

Assault Squad, 260 pts (Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x7; Chainsword x9; Plasma Pistol; Plasma Pistol; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Descent of Angels; The Red Thirst)
o 1 Sergeant (Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Combat Shield; Melta Bombs; Lightning Claw x2; And They Shall Know No Fear; Combat Squads; Descent of Angels; The Red Thirst)

Total Roster Cost: 2000

If your going to put the sterngaurd in the droppod I'm assuming your running a suicide unit. If that is the case you don't want to take extra men, as it is just more points used up in the suicide attack, so just give the guys combi-melta or combi-flamer depending if they are going to be anti tank or anti infantry.

Although i don't really see the point of sacrificing the sterngaurd to get one tank or infantry unit honestly, they work pretty great as an all round unit. May favorite ways of using them are takeing 10 of them, and put them in a rhino for a fairly sturdy unit for all round purposes/. or take 5 give 2 heavy bolters or multi meltas, and put them in a razorback for heavy support, or contesting an objective.

I Try not to Suicide them, I hate the Concept of Suicide Troops.
Usualy I try to put them on a flank so only part of the army can get at them. If I miss the chance, I miss the Chance to pop rear armor, they will be my face on turn 2 anyways. either that or Fire into Vehicle Squadrens