[Navos]

Hey all. I need your input on the above unit. Sternguard are currently my favorite unit fluff wise, and very versatile in a fight. These ranged masters can take down a variety of targets, but I am confused at some of the setups I've seen.

First off, is it a good idea to maximize the squad size for cost?

Second, why take combi weapons?

Finally, would it be a good idea to give the sergeant a close combat weapon when the entire point of this unit is for ranged combat? It seems to defeat the purpose of taking these guys instead of a normal tactical squad.

Thanks for all your help.

[lemon-green]

Well they have bass 2 attacks, so getting into combat isn't always a bad thing for them so the CCW isn't such a bad idea especially as they'll generally be drop podded in quite close up to the enemy.
Which leads to combi weapons, with there good BS plus the drop podding in theres a good chance they'll be presented with the rear of some armor, this is when things like combi melta's etc can come in handy, just there to take advantage of the situation and can cause a real un seen hassle for enemies.
Those are my thoughts on the matters.

I'm not sure on what the ideal size for squads is.

[Tech-Commander Archive]

I personally have had a lot of success fielding a full squad with no upgrades. I just set them on the line and Kraken bolt things until they come into range of more dangerous ammos.

But I suppose that if you were to drop pod them, giving everyone combi-plasma or combi-melta weapons they could make for a pretty effective scrubbing agent. Bye bye necron warriors/nidzillas/russ hoard etc.

[Wargamer]

Since I usually Drop-Pod my Sternguard, I find the inclusion of Combi-weapons a very useful feature.

My squad consists of 5 Sternguard, with a Power Fist, Combi-Melta and Combi-Plasma in there. They also ride a Drop Pod (with Locator Beacon to guide in the second wave Vanguard unit). Comes to about 205pts.

Expensive? Very. However, they can do a fantastic amount of damage used right. I find a small, Drop-Pod formation of Sternguard is great for taking out isolated units; land them behind a Dreadnought, or indeed just about any vehicle, and the Combi-weapons should take it out. Alternatively, pick off isolated units (Broadside squads, Thunderfire Cannons, Lootas, etc) with a brief torrent of Bolter fire.

10-man "vanilla" squads can work, but they are pricey for what they do and if Drop-Podding they'll need Combi-weapons / Power Fists / Melta Bombs for vehicles... assuming they're not blown apart after landing.

[Sardis Varrn]

I have just recently started using them in 10 man squads with no upgrades, I find that they are fairly cheap for their versatility/effectiveness especially in a take all comers list. If you take Pedro Kantor they become a real pain as they now are scoring units and if they are within 12" of him they get +1A, giving them 3 attacks each making them harder to move off an objective!

[The Buddha]

I would go for a 10man Sternguard squad as it becomes very hard to kill. Stick them in a drop pod (this is what i do anyway) and deep strike as near to a tank or squad of terminators (or any other heavy armoured object) and unleash my 10 rapid fireing combi-plasma or melta guns. Then if you haven't rapid fired, charge in (only if its a tank or a weak infantry unit) and destroy with your power fist!

[TheCleavelord]

I take 20 Sterngaurd and Pedro Kantor, both my squads have 2 meltaguns and the sergents have power weapon. also another good tactic is to take a librarian and use gate of infinity and this can bring those nasty vengance rounds in range and if the librarian is an epistolary then you can also use force dome giving the sternguard a 5+ invunerable save ;D. I myself have used this tactic and it has won me alot of my games.

[pikeZ33]

I take Sternguard to represent my Ordo Xenos. It's actually cheaper to purchase two Deathwatch conversion packs and a tactical squad box than buy two boxes of Sternguard. It also makes for interesting fluff and game pieces. Like everyone else, I take Kantor with my Sternguard.

would it be a good idea to give the sergeant a close combat weapon when the entire point of this unit is for ranged combat? It seems to defeat the purpose of taking these guys instead of a normal tactical squad.

As to the CCW on the Sergeant, you can replace either the bolt pistol or boltgun in the load out. Replace the bolt pistol, not the boltgun, with a power fist, and sergeant can still fire different ammo types with the rest of the squad.

Second, why take combi weapons?

I would generalize the use of Sternguard into two groups:
(1) Kantor and bolter sternguard. Everybody has pretty much exhausted all the good points for using the Sternguard like this. I put this unit in a drop pod and can consistently kill an MC every round. The game my friend played his FW Eldar avatar for the first time, my sternguard squad iced the thing before he could move it. Same deal with a Ctan.

(2) To answer your question about combi-weapons (I'm surprised no one has said this yet): People use Sternguard with the new Salamander's HQ choice because there is no limit to the number of combi weapons you can take with this squad. They use Sternguard to spam combi-flamers or combi-melta weapons.

[Gearhead]

Even with Prdro I keep a pair of Combi-meltas in my Sternguard Squad. What's the one thing they can't deal with easily? Heavy Armour (Hellfires usually work fine for me on 2+ save targets). So I stick a pair of combi-meltas in there to make opponents think twice before sending any armour over that way.

Wargy's setup might work better on deepstriking Sternies where the plasma rapid-fire can do its work more easily, but the above setup works fine for me to latch onto an objective.

[limpchickeninabizkit]

Is it worth it taking Lysander with them? His bolter-drill ability wuld make them more accurate and add some decent punch in CC...