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I like the heavy flamer option that Sternguard bring, but with ASM getting two flamers in a 95 pt drop pod, I just don't see it being necessary anymore. A couple combi-melta's in one combat squad to bust open a transport if necessary while the other bolters it to death is great. Tigurius is still a very powerful combo with a couple of squads of sternguard in pods. I've yet to see a Riptide or Wraithknight, Tervigon or other big MC survive very long having to re-roll saves against poison rounds. Although I love the new model of the heavy flamer, I just don't see it being necessary with the new ASM squad pod load-out.

The HF has always been the weapon I thought it might be worth giving up the special ammo for. While not perfect, it synergizes well with most of the ammo options.

It ignores cover.
While not poisoned, It is S5. So has a chance to wound most things
While lacking the range of the kracken bolts, it is AP4, so has something in common
It's not cutting through 3+ saves like the vengence rounds, but between the S and the number of targets, it should force a good number of saves.

It's an assault heavy, so fits in the aggressive, on the move nature of sternguard. You get the wall of death to deter being charged. Because let's face it, if you are in double-tap range, you are in charge range.

If all you are taking sternguard for is a drop pod flame unit, sure, go with the assault marines. But ignore cover is only one of the many services they offer.

I love my salamander Sternguard.

I build my list with 3 sternguard groups. 5-10 depending on the rest of the list. I keep them bare with a drop pod. Then I squeeze in as many combi-meltas as I can for Master-crafted Special Ammo. The sergeant always has the MC'd Bolter. Generally I squeeze in 3 Combi-Meltas which makes it amazingly expensive, but it gives me 4 MC'd bolters and 6 red-shirts (basic SG's) to soak up wounds.

Everyone has been talking about sternguard, Lotd and ironclad but no one has yet mentioned vanguard. In the new codex , their base 10 men is 40pts cheaper then the sternies and they come with heroic intervention.

What do you think about this loadout

(325)
vanguard veterans
-10men (190)
-3 melta bombs (15)
-3 lightning claw (45)
-4 storm shield (40)
In a DP (35)

 Senortaco wrote:
Everyone has been talking about sternguard, Lotd and ironclad but no one has yet mentioned vanguard. In the new codex , their base 10 men is 40pts cheaper then the sternies and they come with heroic intervention.

What do you think about this loadout

(325)
vanguard veterans
-10men (190)
-3 melta bombs (15)
-3 lightning claw (45)
-4 storm shield (40)
In a DP (35)

Unfortunately, I just don't see Vanguard being remotely as useful as Sternguard in most applications.

This is highly dependent on the rest of your list and what chapter tactics you are running, but Heroic Intervention is pretty terrible now that it's been nerfed, especially for the price you pay, and you still have to worry about about actually getting them into combat.

The price you are paying for the risk just isn't efficient or worth it IMO. I could possibly see taking them in a Ravenguard detachment with jump packs getting to use them in both the movement and assault phase but that's about it.

At least with Sternguard or LoTD, I'm going to reliably kill something with them -- Vanguard, not so much. This is even more the case when facing new codex's such as Tau and their crazy combined overwatch.