A Space Wolf last stand, how would they act?

[Border Prince]

How will a group of space wolves act when they are in a last stand situation?

Will they take cover and try to hold back the enemy as long as possible, or would they charge headlong at the enemy, howling like mad?

[Fellblades]

I would assume that they would throw themselves at the enemy, making sure they drag down as many as they possibly could while making an ending worthy of a saga in the Great Halls. Long Fangs might take a stand and blaze through all thier ammo first, but I'm sure even those old-timers would make a worthy end of themselves in hand-to-hand combat

[dietrich]

I think they would evaluate the tactical situation and determine how they'd do the most damage. SWs aren't crazed berzerkers. I think the GHs would likely hold out in cover, expend all their ammo, and then launch one last charge into the enemy ranks. BCs would just assault.

[Vassakov]

They'd make a worthy end of it, but do not confuse this with throwing their lives away. We don't waste warriors (though Blood Claws do admittedly suffer high rates of attrition). I suspect they would hunker down, using firepower to thin the enemy before counter attacking where the enemy line is strongest in order to inflict maximum damage.

[Dark Bjoern]

You should read the Lone Wolf graphic novel. I think that´s a good example what we would do.

[Dread Wolf Master]

this quote from that movie princess mononoke is how i would interpret it, even though it's a wolf talking about boars, i think the space wolves would probably behave in a similar manner.

 

"They are a proud tribe, even if their kin has fallen, the last one will charge blindly forward."

[Border Prince]

Seems like we all think the same: Take cover, use up all our ammunition, then charge your enemy head on trying to take as many of them with you as possible, while howling and screaming 'For Russ and the Allfather' at the top your lounges.

[JCarter]

Given the traditions of SW scouts and the WG who lead them, SW might attempt to exfiltrate and carry on a guerilla campaign.

[Scout Sniper]

They would fight from cover till the last Bolter shell is spent, charge the enemy and fight till all their blades are broken... and then inevitably Ragnar would turn up and kill all the enemy armed only with a bendy straw and a semi-believable storyline... God I hate the space wolf novels. :D

[Long Fang]

Just check out the cover of the SW codex.

 

Or maybe its just cos i was listening to it while reading this but....

 

Amon Amarth's

With Oden On Our Side

 

Finally the storm arrives

Out wait is at an end

Under dark winter skies

We make our final stand

 

For each of us, there are four of them

It matters not to us

We won't leave this field in shame

We are here to crush!

 

[x2]

Futile to resist

You know why we have come

Futile to resist

The battle is already won!

 

Our hearts are full of pounding rage

Our mind hard as steel

Right before the dying day

We will have you kneel

 

The snow turns red from all the blood

Severed limbs and heads

A sacrifice to one-eyed God

He will claim the dead!

 

Under the winter skies

We stand glorious!

And with Oden on our side

We are victorious!

 

No retreat, no remorse

Victory will be ours

Blood on steel, sacrifice

Victory will be ours

 

Under the winter skies

We stand glorious!

And with Oden on our side

We are victorious!

 

[x2]

Futile to resist

You know why we have come

Futile to resist

The battle is already won!

 

Maybe replace the word 'odin' with Russ/Emperor but you get the idea.

 

 

or a bit from 'runes to my memory'

 

We came under attack,

I received a deadly wound.

A spear was forced into my back

Still I fought on.

 

 

Runes vid

 

Long Fang

[Grey Mage]

It depends on the situation... for instance there is teh tale of our largest of kin, wolf gaurd Ranulf. He was tall, and broad, almost as large as leman russ himself and his terminator armor rests in the hall of heros.

 

He and his wolf gaurd covered a retreat through a mountain pass, holding back an ork waagh. During the escape he pushed a landraider into a pool of lava so that his brothers could cross and then held the top of the pass for hours upon hours. His fellow wolf gaurd died around him and he fought on. He held up something like 50 thousand orks for over a day before finally falling.

 

Once the space wolves had regrouped they returned in force and purged the orks everywhere they could be found, and in the pass where ranulf and his wolf gaurd had made his final stand the orks had errected a shrine to him. He fought so well and so long they honored him as a god, piling the bodies of his slain foes for yard upon yard around him and assembling their weapons in great carns.

 

Space wolves do not run howling at the enemy looking for death. No, they may try to break through the enemy lines, to rejoin their forces or to extract that they might return with the numbers and firepower needed, but the wolves know the longer you live the longer you fight and the longer you fight they more your foes die, and the more who are dead the fewer who may threaten your brothers. Live long enough and they may cease to threaten you.

[Max_Dammit]

It depends on the situation... for instance there is teh tale of our largest of kin, wolf gaurd Ranulf. He was tall, and broad, almost as large as leman russ himself and his terminator armor rests in the hall of heros.

 

He and his wolf gaurd covered a retreat through a mountain pass, holding back an ork waagh. During the escape he pushed a landraider into a pool of lava so that his brothers could cross and then held the top of the pass for hours upon hours. His fellow wolf gaurd died around him and he fought on. He held up something like 50 thousand orks for over a day before finally falling.

 

Once the space wolves had regrouped they returned in force and purged the orks everywhere they could be found, and in the pass where ranulf and his wolf gaurd had made his final stand the orks had errected a shrine to him. He fought so well and so long they honored him as a god, piling the bodies of his slain foes for yard upon yard around him and assembling their weapons in great carns.

 

Space wolves do not run howling at the enemy looking for death. No, they may try to break through the enemy lines, to rejoin their forces or to extract that they might return with the numbers and firepower needed, but the wolves know the longer you live the longer you fight and the longer you fight they more your foes die, and the more who are dead the fewer who may threaten your brothers. Live long enough and they may cease to threaten you.

 

Would love to know the source of that story brother.

[Thorgad]

2nd. edition Space Wolves Codex. There's even rules for Ranulf. His legend is probably what inspired me to take up the mantle of the wolf-lord.

[Bjorn Wulfsen]

Like has been said. The wolves arent beserkers. They are controlled weapons of destruction unless taken by the wulfen.

 

In a situation where exfil or re-inforcement was not possible. I believe they would look at the field of battle. Decided a final line of retreat that best suited their numbers and then perform a fighting withdrawl. Once at the position of the last stand they would use the enemies numbers against them and make them pay dearly for every wolf that falls.

 

The 2nd ed story of Ranulf is the scene i see. Only on a larger scale.

 

The only time i could see the wolves making a rush directly into the enemy lines would be to provide time for an extraction of innocents or important personel. That or if there was no suitable defensive position. In which case i think they would take the fight to the enemy once they have exhausted their ranged abilities.

[Vash113]

Ah yes good old Ranulf, an account on his tale can be found in the Space Wolves: A Comprehensive History and he was indeed from the 2nd Edition Codex.

 

Also the last stand depicted in the story "Even Unto Death" from the Bringers of Death Short Story Anthology is a good indication. The Wolf Guard and their Lord fought their way from their Drop Pod to a large hill in the center of the embattled clearing and there stood their ground to the very last with the advantage of height and slaughtered all that came before them until they were at last overrun.

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

or the Visions of Heresy collection.

 

the Alpha Legion has sprung their space borne assault on the Wolves, and the Khan's WHite Scars have reported they must abandon the Wolves to their fate and leave for Terra...the Alpha Legion ships outnumber and outgun the Space Wolf fleet. Upon hearing the communique that the Khan and his forces are leaving, and his mission is to lead the ALpha Legion as far from Terra as possible, Russ...

 

he simply shrugs. he will teach the alpha legion that a wounded, cornered wolf is the most dangerous wolf of all.

 

 

wolf lord kieran

[Bran Scalphunter]

Grey Hunters and up, like you've all said but...

 

Blood Claws will leap upon the enemy, snarling and howling to Russ and the Emperor, calling on them to watch as they slay and to bear witness to their deeds. Even when every one of their wolf brothers is dead, the Blood Claw will fight on, his inner Wulfen clouding what little judgement he had left. Only until every foe is dead, their bodies torn and tattered by fang and claw or until he himself is dead will he fight.

 

Of course, that's not counting 13th Company... heh... imagine a cornered Wulfen. ;) :) :devil: Carnage Factor of NINE THOUSSAAAAAND! :devil:

[Grey Mage]

*nods* Ive been attempting to get a 2nd edition codex, wich is where that story is from. Until I can purchase one Im left to read from a pdf. The fluff is very detailed, well worth the cost.

[Leif Weregeld]

I think it depends on the situation, in open battle we conduct a fighting retreat to favorable terrain hold till all amunition expended and then charge into close combat to sell our lives as dearly as we can. the other option I see is a besiged force of wolves waiting untill dark, seperating into packs and assaulting as many different spots on the line to disrupt and destroy the enemy in as wide an area as possible. They target supply dumps, HQ's and othe vital assets and basically rampaging in the enamy camp untill they all are hunted down and destroyed.

[Decoy]

Perhaps I've spent too much time in the Warp, but my 13th would assault headlong, no matter the odds. Nothing like watching one Meltagunner run down three five-man Blood Angels squads after taking out a Land Raider. Hehe.

 

As for regular wolves, I think it's pretty much been said. Guerilla warfare (AKA Commisar Cain, Death or Glory book) or tactical retreat.

[Bran Scalphunter]

Perhaps I've spent too much time in the Warp, but my 13th would assault headlong, no matter the odds. Nothing like watching one Meltagunner run down three five-man Blood Angels squads after taking out a Land Raider. Hehe.

 

As for regular wolves, I think it's pretty much been said. Guerilla warfare (AKA Commisar Cain, Death or Glory book) or tactical retreat.

 

Hey, Decoy's back!

 

*runs over to Decoy, gives him a massive bear hug, then shoves a keg of ale the size of a small orca into his hands*

 

So Decoy, you've returned to the realm of the living from the Warp. Pray tell, how's it out there in Boston errr... I mean Bostongeddon? ;) I hear the muties and hive gangers are getting pretty riled up, perhaps a chance for an old Wulfen like you to sharpen his claws? :cuss

[Grey Mage]

He always cycles through eventually, alot of the old gaurd do. BBSR is one of the few I havent seen here in over a year, and of course depthcharge.

[lunchb0x]

Sir, there is a flaw in your question.

 

Space wolves do not understand what a Last stand is, We only stand what an epic battle is. The songs that will be sung in its honor! The very premise of a Last stand, is as foreign to us as moisturizer and scarves. We do not see a last stand, we see an opportunity for greatness!

[Jarl Kjaran Coldheart]

actually, i know what a scarf is...it is an clothing item worn by dark angels.

 

wolf lord kieran

[lunchb0x]

actually, i know what a scarf is...it is an clothing item worn by dark angels.

 

wolf lord kieran

 

 

AN ALE FOR THIS MAN!!!!!