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All units in Drop Pods, all units having some benefit from Chapter Tactics. I've found Command Squads with five flamers are effectively discount Sternguard kitted for a similar role. The Librarians take the Pyromancy Primaris for theme and to boost the anti-infantry alpha strike of either the Sternguard or Command Squads, and I'm not fussed about them dying as I should get First Blood 99% of the time to balance it out. I had 150 points spare and thus took the small Tactical Squad for an extra melta unit I can more comfortably drop on turn one, as well as putting melta bombs on each of the Sternguard and Assault Squad Sergeants. By the by, can melta bombs on Sergeants be master-crafted due to the Salamanders Chapter Tactics? There's an odd number of drop pods as well. Comments and critiques welcome!

Salamanders 1850

HQ
Librarian
Librarian
Command Squad w/ five flamers, drop pod
Command Squad w/ five flamers, drop pod

Troops
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (5) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, drop pod

Elites
Sternguard (5) w/ meltabombs, two heavy flamers, drop pod
Sternguard (5) w/ meltabombs, two heavy flamers, drop pod

Fast Attack
Assault Squad (5) w/ meltabombs, two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ meltabombs, two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ meltabombs, two flamers, drop pod

With that much Melta you really should be taking Vulkan instead of those two Libbies. I personally think you overdid it trying to work in the CT as well. You are never going to never that many Flamers I imagine.

Hmm maybe you're right, personally though I've found a master-crafted combi melta plus a meltagun destroy most vehicles I need taken care of (except those pesky Wave Serpents) early on even without the re-rolls from Vulkan.

You think I have too many flamers? I agree it probably is too much, but I guess my meta comes a bit into play here; I face mostly foot-slogging lists, the most vehicles I see in a list will usually be three or so. The idea is to absolutely eviscerate any and all infantry the enemy have on the first turn, which is certainly possible with so many twin-linked flamers and heavy flamers. It makes the vehicles that are left over much less threatening.

Aside from dropping a Command Squad, the two Librarians and taking Vulkan instead, what else do you think I should to my list? I think with the points left over, plus taking the meltabombs off the five Sergeants, I can take another 5-man Tactical Squad with a combi-melta, meltagun and drop pod. Would that be better?

EDIT: How about this;

Salamanders 1850

HQ
Vulkan He'stan
Command Squad w/ five flamers, drop pod

Troops
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (5) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, drop pod
Tactical Squad (5) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, drop pod

Elites
Sternguard (5) w/ two heavy flamers, drop pod
Sternguard (5) w/ two heavy flamers, drop pod

Fast Attack
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod

Actually come to think of it, I'd be tempted to try and fit two Ironclads in Pods. They still have Heavy Flamers (albeit without the CT) but they will help you tarpit things you can't deal with. I'm thinking primarily of the Khorne Poodle list.

 Godless-Mimicry wrote:
Actually come to think of it, I'd be tempted to try and fit two Ironclads in Pods. They still have Heavy Flamers (albeit without the CT) but they will help you tarpit things you can't deal with. I'm thinking primarily of the Khorne Poodle list.

If I swap the Sternguard squads out I can take a pair of Ironclads in Drop Pods, the only problem is I can't afford the heavy flamers on the DCCW arm, though I do get the master-crafted meltagun thanks to Vulkan.
I was actually planning on taking them at first but want to have only Infantry in the Pods, but I agree that yeah they are probably better here.

Salamanders 1850

HQ
Vulkan He'stan
Command Squad w/ five flamers, drop pod

Troops
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (5) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, drop pod
Tactical Squad (5) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, drop pod

Elites
Ironclad w/ drop pod
Ironclad w/ drop pod

Fast Attack
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod

I then have 10 points to spare to perhaps give each of the five man Tactical Squads melta bombs?
Only problem is now I feel like I have too much melta lol.

If I want a bit more extra flamers, an extra Ironclad, and still enough melta to go around, how is this for an alternate list?

Salamanders 1850

HQ
Librarian
Librarian
Command Squad w/ four flamers, drop pod
Command Squad w/ four flamers, drop pod

Troops
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod
Tactical Squad (10) w/ combi-melta, meltagun, multi-melta, drop pod


Elites
Ironclad w/ drop pod
Ironclad w/ drop pod
Ironclad w/ drop pod

Fast Attack
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod
Assault Squad (5) w/ two flamers, drop pod

I think this is the best balanced list personally. Three Ironclads in Drop Pods is hard for anyone to deal with, they each have a meltagun, and I still keep my pseudo 'Sternguard' units in the Command Squads. What do you think?

Ironclads only benefit from Vulkan's MC Meltas. The flamers on them don't work with CT unfortunately. Also, Ironclads have to be within 6" of their melta to be effective. This means two things. Enemys can bubblewrap their Mech pretty easily and their will be in enemy Melta range. Personally, I wouldn't use them, but it's your army

In the older lists, you won't really need the Heavy Flamers on the Sternguard. Yes, you might land them near templates, but any smart enemy will limit the number of hits he's going to take and Sternguard come with Cover-ignoring ammunition already. It's only S4 compared to S5, but it's not "that" much better. But it's your points, so if you have 20 points extra go for it.

3 Assault Squads might be too much. They only have S4 flamers and only 5 men in a pod. That's almost 6 easy KPs with the oppurtunity to kill/weaken 1, MAYBE 2 enemy squads the turn they land. They aren't very durable and you can almost do the same with Tacs. The tacs WILL be 20-25 more expensive with Flamer/Combi-Flamer, but at least it has a second agenda. Scoring.

Saythings wrote:
Ironclads only benefit from Vulkan's MC Meltas. The flamers on them don't work with CT unfortunately. Also, Ironclads have to be within 6" of their melta to be effective. This means two things. Enemys can bubblewrap their Mech pretty easily and their will be in enemy Melta range. Personally, I wouldn't use them, but it's your army

Ironclads are defensive units, not offensive. When they drop in they force the opponent to deal with them instead of your squishy Troops or else they will tarpit something for the entire game.