Alternatives to Sternguard Suicide Pods

[Excubitor]

Well, another consideration is which weapon you will fire more (if you get the chance). Plasma, with better range and more shots, will threaten more targets, while the melta is best for high-AV busting.

[minigun762]

What about a pair of dual MM speeders?

Cheaper than Sternguard and longer range makes landing close less significant.

[Grey Mage]

No offense taken, mostly I feel guilty, it's a ten man squad with loads of customized and unique units with by far the best paint job on the table. the way I normally run them these days (10 man, 6 combi-meltas, with the drop pod) comes out at 335 and while they usually get first blood, they don't usually make their points back. Unless my opponnant is so scared by their glorious apprearance that they dedicate their entire army to killing them on turn one.  At the end of the day I should probably just embrace the inevitable death of the vets as they serve their purpose on the battlefield quite well. But i struggle with putting that many points out their to die on turn one even in a 2000 point game.

Use a Dreadnaught instead, half the price and just as good if youre just trying to get first blood and draw some attention.

 

AC or MM with a heavy flamer, Im a fan of the assault cannon myself.