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I want to put some sternguard in a pod as a "kill unit x, then be a distraction in my opponents lines" type of unit for some SM allies for my Guard. I've always enjoyed the concept of pods and putting some kind of "do everything special forces unit" in there to wreak havoc on my opponent while my tanks move up on him. I'm just not sure with what loadout to go with. Any advice from experienced players here?

Some loadouts I was thinking of-

5x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta
Pedro Kantor

I was thinking about bringing Kantor because he makes the Sternguard scoring, and that could make the unit more valuable as a distracting force, or if an opponent ignores them can score an objective for a turn. Also if they kill one vehicles with the meltas and theres another one nearby, they could easily destroy it with Kantors PF along with the krak grenades.

5x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta
Vulkan He'Stan

I really like Vulkan's stats, he is a beast. He could easily tank hits and make the squad that much more resilient and annoying, along with being able to get re-rolls on my combi-meltas.

9x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta in Combat Squad 1
1x Heavy Flamer + Vulkan in Combat Squad 2

This takes even more advantage of Vulkans abilities to be just a beastly unit. Expensive though. Worth it? I just would have to choose where I put the pod very carefully to make sure I will have both a vehicle AND and an infantry unit to shoot at to use the heavy flamers from Vulkan and the Sternguard.

Thoughts?

 ultimentra wrote:
I want to put some sternguard in a pod as a "kill unit x, then be a distraction in my opponents lines" type of unit for some SM allies for my Guard. I've always enjoyed the concept of pods and putting some kind of "do everything special forces unit" in there to wreak havoc on my opponent while my tanks move up on him. I'm just not sure with what loadout to go with. Any advice from experienced players here?

Some loadouts I was thinking of-

5x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta
Pedro Kantor

I was thinking about bringing Kantor because he makes the Sternguard scoring, and that could make the unit more valuable as a distracting force, or if an opponent ignores them can score an objective for a turn. Also if they kill one vehicles with the meltas and theres another one nearby, they could easily destroy it with Kantors PF along with the krak grenades.

5x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta
Vulkan He'Stan

I really like Vulkan's stats, he is a beast. He could easily tank hits and make the squad that much more resilient and annoying, along with being able to get re-rolls on my combi-meltas.

9x Sternguard
3x Combi-Melta in Combat Squad 1
1x Heavy Flamer + Vulkan in Combat Squad 2

This takes even more advantage of Vulkans abilities to be just a beastly unit. Expensive though. Worth it? I just would have to choose where I put the pod very carefully to make sure I will have both a vehicle AND and an infantry unit to shoot at to use the heavy flamers from Vulkan and the Sternguard.

Thoughts?

When you say "A vehicle AND an infantry unit", I assume you realise you can't hit both unless the vehicle and infantry uit are placed in a particular way.

As for what to bring; it's down to you.
Combi-stuff is expensive. I personally prefer bare-bones Sternguard, their specialist munitions let them take are of most things.

Also; Sternguard score without Pedro anyway.

Edit:

Also if they kill one vehicles with the meltas and theres another one nearby, they could easily destroy it with Kantors PF along with the krak grenades.

Assuming it's not in the same turn, or it's a squadron, but the opponent has time to move their vehicles.

I'd bring ten Sternguard and combat squad them when you land. Half with combi weapon and the other half stock.

The good old "well that depends".

<edit> Assume unit of 10, make sure Sgt keeps bolter, you decide if you want any special CC weapon.

Killing troops?
Add ~3 combi-flamers.
Drop pod with the missile launcher.

Killing Heavy troops?
Stock Sternguard is fine.

Killing Vehicles?
Add ~3 combi-meltas.

Not sure?
Add 2 combi-flamers.
Add 2 combi-meltas.
Combat squad

My 2 cents, seems to work for me.

Cool thanks guys, any comments on taking Kantor or Vulkan with them?

Best sternguard build i have seen and used is:

10 sternguard, 2 heavy flamers, 3 combi-melta, melta bombs on serg, in a pod.

When they land, you combat squad them up, flamers in one squad, combi's in the other.

Meltas can then pop a vehicle, while flamers can roast infantry.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you take vulkan, or pedro, its best to not attatch them to the sternguard themselves.

Pedro should definately go with an honor guard squad since he makes them really good.

Vulcan should go with a command squad to gain FNP and give them some bump in melee.

Eihnlazer wrote:

Pedro should definately go with an honor guard squad since he makes them really good.

Vulcan should go with a command squad to gain FNP and give them some bump in melee.

Can you please elaborate?
How does Pedro make Honour Guard really good?

How does Vulkan give the Command Squad "a bump"?

Command squads have access to an apothecary, giving vulcan fnp on top of a 2+/3++, meaning he can tank plasma and small arms fire all day for his command squad. Also a 3 attack base master crafted digital weapon at str6 ap3 is nothing to sneeze at, giving them some close combat punch and ensuring that nothing short of terminators will want to assault them.

The pedro comment i disagree with. His gun meshes so well with a plasma or naked sternguard unit that NOT running him with them in a pod is awful. Yes, honor guard go to 3 attacks each. But so do sternguard, and the stern retain the ability to shoot REALLY well. I run him with 6x stern with 3x combi plas in a deathwind pod. They can usually nuke anything they shoot at on the drop, and with a bunch of attacks, assaulting them isnt a great prospect.

Now for a purely allied detachment? 10x sternguard with 4x combi melta in a pod. Drop in, combat squad and nuke 2 tanks. Or put 20 poisoned 2+ shots into a wraithknight, or riptide.

 th3maninblak wrote:
Command squads have access to an apothecary, giving vulcan fnp on top of a 2+/3++, meaning he can tank plasma and small arms fire all day for his command squad. Also a 3 attack base master crafted digital weapon at str6 ap3 is nothing to sneeze at, giving them some close combat punch and ensuring that nothing short of terminators will want to assault them.

The pedro comment i disagree with. His gun meshes so well with a plasma or naked sternguard unit that NOT running him with them in a pod is awful. Yes, honor guard go to 3 attacks each. But so do sternguard, and the stern retain the ability to shoot REALLY well. I run him with 6x stern with 3x combi plas in a deathwind pod. They can usually nuke anything they shoot at on the drop, and with a bunch of attacks, assaulting them isnt a great prospect.

Now for a purely allied detachment? 10x sternguard with 4x combi melta in a pod. Drop in, combat squad and nuke 2 tanks. Or put 20 poisoned 2+ shots into a wraithknight, or riptide.

I can somewhat understand the Vulkan idea.
I don't have my 'dex with me right now, but I imagine he's cheaper than a Chapter Master with the Shield Eternal and such?
Mind, I suppose his passives are worth it too?
I don't do Salamanders, so I don't tend to care a whole lot.

Honour Guard can be 4 attacks basic if you buy the banner. It's really, really nice. It confers to all models in the unit, too.

But I don't feel Pedro would help them that much.

Sternguard are very effective IMO. I very rarely find that they are not worth their points, but that's 1 in every 30 or so matches, due to horrid rolling. (We're talking 2 hits out of 20 shots, followed by double 1s)
I quite like this melta-nuke tank thing... I might try it myself.

I think that setup sounds really good, and since combis only last for one turn it melds nicely with UM chapter tactics, drop the stern turn one and pop tactical doctrine and now your melta's re-roll 1s anyway.

Pedro gives all friendly crimson fists models within 12 inches +1 attack, not including himself and not stacking with the chapter banner. So you can skimp on that with the honor guard and either save points or go for the standard of the emperor ascendant.

Combi plasma is the only weapon that has decent synergy with the hellfire rounds,;which appear to be the most common choice.

I've been thinking about getting back into running drop pod marines, but I've having trouble loving the stern guard, at least on paper. They are just so expensive, and they die just as quick as tac marines and don't score as well. Poison is all well and good, but most things you'd want to use it on have 2+ saves, so a stern guard squad is going to put what, 2 wounds on a Riptide for a squad that costs just as much as it? They do seem like grim death on carnifexes, but so are a lot of things. Their ability to take on any kind of infantry does seem like their greatest advantage, so perhaps run them just as is. One plus is that with Ultramrines you can get rerolls on your snapshots right? making them pretty nasty to assault.

how about this then: Tigirius + 5 Stock Stern in a pod, with some annoyance-only Scouts to fill the troops requirement.

that brings a powerful unit to bear, as not matter which discipline you choose to roll, having it in the middle of your enemy's lines has got to make a difference