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Here is a little unit I put together, tell me what you think. Note this is not a competitive idea, more like casual plus.

5 stern guard w/ 2 grav guns, and 2 combi grav
Captain w/ storm shield, combi plas
Drop Pod

Comes to about 170 for the stern, and about 115 for the Cap.

The idea is to pod these guys down within salvo range and pop whatever needs popping. I figure grav will work best for this, for obvious reasons. A melta isn't very good against troops, while a grav threatens both tanks and troops. The captain seems strange, but he's just there to be a meat shield, and add his plas shot to the mix. I went with plas mostly because I ran out of grav gun bits, but a conversion later on is possible. I skipped out on Arty because I figure if he has that then the ap 2 will get levelled t them, forcing an invul anyways, but then what happens when the cap dies and those ap 2 wounds go onto the stern? They die without an invulnerable anyways, so if I skip that AA then maybe they'll try to use small arms fire? Thoughts on that?

I know grav has better platforms in bikes and cents, but I don't want to do the common thing and I'm not looking for a Death Star, more or less just a decent Drop Pod threat that I can use in every game and get results. I know the good ol tacs w/ melta or even stern plus melta is technically better at popping AV from pods, but grav really seems like the best option here for what I want.

What say you Dakka?

I find that Combi-Flamers work better on the Sternguard. Just my opinion.

Yeah but then how do you pop AV? I hummed and hawed about going with flamers too, because yes, that kicks butt against soft stuff, but then the tanks... The same reason I decided against melta, what if I need to pop troops? I guess the special ammo works then, but I'm not really blown away by the ammo on its own.

What about giving the cap an Auspex? I'm already dropping into salvo range, would a -1 to cover be that big of a bonus? Once the cap shoots his combi he's pretty much a bullet sponge.

What tactics are you running? Who is your warlord? Why can't they tank the shots?

It's more effective to run a Command Squad rather than Stern if you're just trying to use Special weapons. I wouldn't use Sternguard unless your using them for their ammo or you already have a command squad and you want another special weapons team.

Combi-flamers... why on Stern? They have ignore cover bullets that they can use at a safer distance. If you want flamers, just run assault squads. Either way, I wouldn't use flamers, that's coming from a Salamanders player. Flamers are great when you need them. But when you don't, they fall short. Bolters act like a TAC weapon, save the weapon slot and add a melta/grav instead. Preferably melta for Imp Knights.

2 cents.

Hmm, maybe I am overthinking it. A command squad would work just as well, albeit without the fancy bullets. Stern just seem like more of a threat, more commanding of the enemies attention because of their special ammo.

I always run IH tactics, and I usually only run 1 HQ unless it's a larger points game. So yeah in small games I would be dropping my warlord in with the unit, otherwise I run a Chapter Master with gear to flavour. No bikes.

I guess I wanted stern because they seem like the sort of thing people would really want to kill. If there is a cheap unit back there that can actually threaten most things on the table, either via special weapons or special ammo, kind of a distraction as well as a pseudo suicide squad.

Really I guess what I want to know is, how well this unit work and what can I do to make it better while still adhering to the basic concept outlined in the OP?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also, I guess the captain in there is kind of a jerk move, after all they are gonna get to fire their guns after that drop, so the meat shield idea is really just to try and keep them there longer. I suppose he's optional. But I do like the idea of a drop unit actually surviving past the turn they arrive...

There really isn't point of a meat shield unless you're expecting Interceptor or if you want them to survive more than 1 turn.

If you deep strike in their face with a single pod, or several for that matter, they will aim for the pod(s) most of the time. If you deep strike in 4-5 gravguns that will fire another 3-15 more grav shots the following turn, they will aim at it. So for getting their attention, it will do so. I'd even argue it'd grab their attn. more than stern. Stern are only scary when they are afraid of the special ammo. (So TMCs and a few other things). After their combi's are blown, most people will assess their potential and ignore them.

No one really ignores 5 special weapons in a single squad. This is where throwing a meat shield pays off. So be careful of the counter charge. 5 command squad members and a captain dies relatively fast. Also remember that command squads have 3 attacks each. 2 from profile and 1 additional for CCW and pistol. IIRC, they are the only marines in the codex that come with both CCW and pistols stock.