Wednesday, July 20, 2011

BA Sternguard List


Ok, so I'm willing to admit I have a problem......I was reading a post on Dakka regarding the viability of a Sternguard list and I simply couldn't help myself. So at first I was playing with a standard SM list in Army Builder but I couldn't get something I really wanted. I could make the Sternguard score and get some decent support to the list but I just couldn't make one I was happy with. Then I had a thought!

"Blood Angels have Sternguard too"

Well that could be fun so this is what I came up with as a rough draft (this is not my Nova Army):

HQ

Librarian-100
Sanguine Sword & Shield of Sanguinius

Honor Guard-260
4 Power Weapons, Chapter Banner, Razorback w/Heavy Bolters

Elite

9 Sternguard-275
3xCombi-Melta, Rhino

9 Sternguard-275
3xCombi-Melta, Rhino

Sanguinairy Priest-50
Power Armor

Troop

5 Assault Marines-130
Melta, Razorback w/Heavy Bolter

5 Assault Marines-130
Melta, Razorback w/Heavy Bolter

5 Assault Marines-130
Melta, Razorback w/Heavy Bolter

5 Assault Marines-130
Melta, Razorback w/Heavy Bolter

5 Assault Marines-130
Melta, Razorback w/Heavy Bolter

Heavy Support

Dreadnought-120
2xAutocannons

Dreadnought-120
2xAutocannons

Dreadnought-120
2xAutocannons

So this list is designed around the speed of the Razors and Rhinos to deploy my units where they need to be and use my Autocannon Dreads to open up enemy transports to give my Sternguard targets. The Sternguard are hell on wheels in a lot of situations and they are supported by the Honor Guard who can put a dent in most units in CC. It's got 11 Vehicles (3 Dreads and 8 Transports) and 50 Marine Models. I think it's solid.

I am considering a few tweaks but I like it as a rough draft. Thoughts?
Posted by Hulksmash at 5:00 AM
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Comments (16)

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Tau2007's avatar

Tau2007 · 714 weeks ago

Hey there,
When do we get the GK All Terminator List? I'm eagerly awaiting it!

:-)

Cheers,
Tau2007
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L'Etat C'Est Moi's avatar

L'Etat C'Est Moi · 714 weeks ago

I think this would be quite the nasty list to face. The continued viability of armored transports allows you to dictate how units meet in the game, not to mention that they are fast, giving you maneuverability. Plus lets not forget there is some hard hitting stuff in there. My one worry is Killpoints. It would seem that the 5 man assault squads are asking to get targeted in those games.

In terms of regular marines, what is your thoughts on the viability of sternguard in drop pods as an armies core? The idea of an all drop pod army led by Pedro seems enticing, but clearly has some slight issues.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
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Hulksmash's avatar

Hulksmash · 714 weeks ago

I personally don't think drop pod sternguard are a good idea. Someone reserving ruins your day and it divides your forces. With all the deployment options most armies come with nowadays I don't like to force myself into a single type of deployment.
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Lyracian's avatar - Go to profile

Lyracian 59p · 714 weeks ago

Why not just give the Sternguard two actual Melta guns? I know they would lose special ammo but the extra damage potential seems worth it.
2 replies · active 714 weeks ago
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Hulksmash's avatar

Hulksmash · 714 weeks ago

I pay points for the ammo, I'm intending to use it :) I had thought about it but in the end dropped the idea.
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inquisitor_dunn 51p · 714 weeks ago

For 5 points each I take the meltas. I'm running double meltas and even dropped the bolter on my sargent. I found it is best to play Sternguard aggressively. their biggest asset is the 12 inch double tap and the base 2 attacks. So you are either shooting close and being assaulted or using the meltas and assaulting them.

Special ammo is nice but you will find yourself looking to use the meltas and combi-meltas more often. I think of the special ammo as a bonus and not the feature.

Of coarse my experience is tainted as of lately. I have been using Lysander in a 10 man unit and using them as a hammer unit.

Lysander
10 sternguard- 2x meltas, 2x combi-meltas. sarg with pair lightning claws
Drop pod.

Gets peoples attention.
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Xaereth's avatar - Go to profile

Xaereth · 714 weeks ago

Looks like a solid list. Since you said it's a 'rough draft', I'm assuming you want a little feedback. :-p

A couple thoughts:

-1 priest isn't going to be enough to cover this army, or even the majority.

-Heavy Bolter Razorbacks are interesting- I guess I wonder if you'll miss the ability to shoot out of your vehicle for the sake of a Heavy Bolter though. A FlamerBack or two might be extremely useful (and no extra cost to upgrade), especially against armies like Tau or Orks, where you'll be at a severe disadvantage with *only* shooting and a little mediocre close combat ability. You could go either way, just worth thinking about.

- Honor Guard + claw (instead of the extra attack) is statistically better in almost every situation worth calculating, especially with that banner in there.

-In a super-shooty army, you only have 12 TL S7 shots at range. Sure, you could mess with Dark Eldar (who can't :-p) with all those bolters, but... how do you intend on ruining IG armies with 14 AV12, 3 of them being Vendettas? Not quite enough long range, or not enough melta... you pick which one you need/want more haha.

Or maybe I'm just dumb, figured I'd give you some feedback though. Overall I like the feel of this list though- 18 Sternguard is 18 more than I've ever seen across the table from me with BA :)
4 replies · active 714 weeks ago
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Hulksmash's avatar

Hulksmash · 714 weeks ago

I like feedback :)

So I'll do it in order:

-I have 2 priests. One is basically for the Sternguard (the IC one) and the other is part of the honor guard and runs with the standard squads most times.

-I had considered the Flameback and think 1-2 of my vehicles might get that upgrade, I've got some awesome conversions I like for them. I'm one of those players who doesn't mind getting out so that's not to much of a worry.

-Good call on the claw....I'm slightly torn though cause I've got a bitch thought on how I'm going to build the unit to make them truly stand out and lightning claws don't look as cool but even if I don't go shield I'm considering the switch.
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Hulksmash's avatar

Hulksmash · 714 weeks ago

-Regarding my ranged game I'm thinking it's enough. The defining reason for that though is the fast vehicles. That allows me to dictate the pace of the game, especially against guard. 3 Vendettas are naturally the target of the Dread's which have a solid chance at keeping them from shooting. Honestly I'm more worried about the 6-8 AV12 w/2-3 AV14 since that AV14 normally comes with weapons that have me picking up entire units.

I think the list just looks like fun and the Sternguard do give me the ability to adjust to a lot of extra situations which I love. I think most people, when they play BA's, don't think of Sternguard just because they're thought of more as a standard SM unit. Hell, I did the same thing at first but I think they fit better with BA's since you can take Dreads in another slot without using an HQ spot.
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inquisitor_dunn's avatar - Go to profile

inquisitor_dunn 51p · 714 weeks ago

God if I could get dreads in another slot without using a HQ would rock.
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Xaereth's avatar - Go to profile

Xaereth · 714 weeks ago

Heh, I guess it would all depend on who got first turn- if the Vendettas can stunlock the Dreads before they themselves are stunlocked...

Skillful use of terrain FTW :-p

If you build this army and take it to a tournament, you should do batreps for it :)
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keith's avatar

keith · 714 weeks ago

<looks around> Did you finish all the Bugeater batreps?
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
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Hulksmash's avatar - Go to profile

Hulksmash · 714 weeks ago

It's nearly finished. I just get distracted when I'm at home where I have to work on it :)

My ass beating will be up soon for all to see along with my analysis of how I could have at least made it a game with the list I was running :)
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whitedragon's avatar

whitedragon · 714 weeks ago

Hulk, can the honor guard run a few plasma guns? After having run Havoc Spam, I notice having a few extra s7 shots that you can pop off is always a good thing, and the honor guard get the FNP that makes the "Gets Hot" less dangerous.

2nd, I would swap some razorbacks for Rhinos, so that your guys inside can shoot their special weapons without having to disembark. The Rhino is like your forcefield! Then (if I remember right), you could use the extra points to upgrade the remaining Razors to Las-Plas or AssCan or whatever to have a little more bite.

And final comment, Space Marines get typhoon landspeeders and they are always appropriate even if I don't really like the model/concept.
1 reply · active 714 weeks ago
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GreySeerZ's avatar

GreySeerZ · 714 weeks ago

I second landspeeder typhoons. My current biker list has 9 of these babies, and the ability to pump out 18 St 8 shots and 24 St 6 shots a turn is ridiculous. I'm actually struggling to write lists now where I don't include them, as they are truly horrifying. The fact that they also fit snugly behind rhinos, vindicators, razorbacks, predators, etc. and all gain a 4++ cover save (half of their speeder is below the top of the vehicle) while still being able to full fire is awesome. BTW, my bike list has gotten into the top 5 for the past 5/6 local tournaments I've entered it. I have yet to try a major GT as the paint job on half is horrendous, and buying all those speeders means the other half isn't even painted yet :/. But yea, I plan to one day fix them all and get them going (was thinking relictors just cause I like their fluff), but we'll see...
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Byte's avatar

Byte · 714 weeks ago

Sternguard are beasts.

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