*Growl* Pass the ale.....

[WolfScoutHolger]

*Kicks in the door and drops his shotgun on the table and plops into a chair* Where's the ale? Some blasted whelp shot my spare barrel up during weapon drilling.....

 

Moving on... This is my first time posting on the board, but I've trolled here for quite awhile. I've recently returned to playing 40k after a 3 year absence due to lack of players in my area. Now suddenly there is a gaming club for 40k that sprung up down the street from my workplace and I'm getting back into hardcore playing again.

 

Space Wolves where the first army I ever played, and I think it's fitting to pull them out again for my triumphant return to the table. Having read the new rules I'm a little curious as to people's opinions on some of my old standby units.

 

Long Fangs..... Loved em when I played before. Ran 2 squads in Razorbacks way back when. Are they still as effective as they once where now that templates scatter? (I ran both squads with 2 Plasma Cannons and 2 Lascannons.)

 

Blood Claws. Can they finally soften people up with shooting before assaulting now that their pistols aren't rapid fire any more?

 

Yes I can use a search function. But I wanted to say hi, so I figured I'd toss a question in to beef up my post :)

 

*Kicks his feet up on a table and promptly falls back off the chair*

[Max_Dammit]

Welcome to the Fang, Read the SW rules, and the B&C rules

 

Now get off your back and get yourself a new ale and get me one to

[Bran Scalphunter]

Welcome to the Fang, may your battles be great and many. Ale's in the corner next to the roast orca and ice fiend, help yourself. Just make sure you bring me back some of the good stuff Whelp! :D

 

Alrighty then, since the introductions are done, I'll get to your questions.

 

Long Fangs, in my boisterous and violent opinion (no one said the Sons of Russ have to be humble), are very nice. A 5-man Pack in good cover can severely damage an opponent if used correctly. I find Blast Weapons far more reliable now that you don't roll to hit, so Plasma and Missile Launchers find there way into my packs quite often. Heavy Bolters are also good for culling large units... heh... Dakka Dakka Dakka! Razorbacks will make the Pack even more expensive but in my experiences, much more dangerous. An extra Lascannon and TL Plasma Gun from the 'Back can hurt the bigger targets while your Fangs target juicy targets. Of course, TL AC's are tempting... :)

 

Eh, I'm not too big with Shooting with Blood Claws. Sure, you're bound to drop a few mooks with the bolt pistols, but I prefer my Claws in a big ole' Crusader. Anything that survives the hail of fire from a massive tank gets chopped up by the Claws. And since I run a 15-man pack, I can stretch it out to engage a few units, protecting me from shooting and royally fething up his battle plans. ;)

[JEFF4i]

Lemme tell you, I learned 15 BCs with a WP in a LRC is saaaawwweeeeeet Anti-Infantry! Can easily decimate entire squads, easily. Something like 14 shots from the LRC, then eventually the assault of the Blood Claws? Pfff.

 

Ah, where are my manners? WELCOME BACK TO THE PACK BROTHER! This calls for ale!

[Vassakov]

Welcome back to the Fang, brother! Like Ale, skill sweetens with time and so shall you return triumphant once more!

 

As to your questions; the Long Fangs are hardy warriors, capable of bearing weapons that cause mass carnage upon the foe. However, they cost you much in points and so should be reserved for only the largest of battles. Ordinarily a Predator Tank will accomplish much the same role, for a lot less. However, the new rules for blast weapons and cover go some way to improving their use.

 

The most efficient way to use Blood Claws is with a Land Raider Crusader, it will ensure they reach the frontline (relatively) intact and may well decimate a unit or two itself. They can fire their pistols now and assualt - though the poor shots that they are, most will miss.

[Grey Mage]

Long fangs havent lost effectiveness.... devastators have gained alot. Most people wont say good things about them, but I think the good ol LF's are just fine, even with templates- remember its 2d6-4.

 

As for bloodclaws... yeah pistols can shoot them up first. Also, they get countercharge now... so +2 attacks when you make a leadership check after being attacked.... wether the model have to move or not.

[kittenofdeath]

well, blood claws can do some half decent shooting before running in and ripping things to shreds, (but then again, so can orks) grey hunters on the other hand are a far superior choice if you plan on laying in to anything with a bolt round or two, in my experience there is little that can match them in unleashing 12 inch death, and like grey mage said, everything but our venerable long fangs have counter attack (they shouldnt be in combat to begin with though) so standing and shooting a pack or two is quite the attractive option

[Vash113]

Welcome back to the Fang, it's always a pleasure to see an old wolf returning to the pack.

 

As to your questions I often take a unit of Long Fangs but only in larger games when I need a good lure. Most of the time I just pack in the troops and bum rush a foe, it's a very... simplistic strategy and one often underestimated but with the ability for all infantry to run in 5th and the way cover rules work now it can be devastatingly effective and not nearly as suicidal as it once was.

 

Blood Claws can shoot and do some decent damage, never underestimate Bolt Pistols, but I often find you shouldn't. The last thing you want is an enemy to remove the handful of models in the target unit that were in charge range and leave the Blood Claws suddenly standing out in the open and vulnerable. Only when your too close not to miss the charge should you fire their pistols before assaulting.

 

As for Assault Weapons I wouldn't suggest giving the Blood Claws anything but a flamer, their BS just isn't worth the expensive Melta and Plasma Guns but a Flamer always hits so why not? It can be good for weakening a superior foe prior to charging.