A vanguard can be absolutely OP
My first character was a vanguard (imported Shep though, so I started at level 30). After using the advice of some answers in this questionthis question, I quickly became an unstoppable killing machine while playing hardcore difficulty. Here's what I did:
- I maxed out my biotic charge for the most single target damage I can get.
- I maxed out nova for the boost to power cooldown and increased radius/chance of not expending shields.
- I carry around the minimum weapons requiredminimum weapons required to maintain 200% recharge rate.
- For the rest of my skills, it went into assault mastery and fitness, primarily focused on boosting power damage where I could and increasing barrier strength where I couldn't.
- For my armor, I wear the -30% power cooldown +30% power damage armor.
With this setup, I can literally none stop charge + nova until everything on the battlefield is dead. Balled up enemies don't even have time to blink before they are completely destroyed.
Against the special enemies, I tend to be a bit more careful and rely more on my allies for ranged damage, but generally for enemies such as a brute, instead of doing a Nova right after the charge (and thus leaving yourself vulnerable), I prefer to do a quick dodge to the left/right first.