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Interesting new Fluff from Codex


Valerian

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I haven't seen anyone else mention this yet, but the new codex provides a new insight into the size of the Great Companies, which is an oft-debated subject here in the Fang.

 

In the section that describes each of the current Wolf Lords, Ragnar Blackmane is said to command approximately 200 Space Wolves in his Great Company, which is second in size only to Logan Grimnar's (his personal Great Company, not The Company of the Great Wolf, that Logan commands in addition to his GC).

 

Based on this, I think that it is safe to assume that the whole Chapter lies somewhere between 1,500 - 2,000 men.

 

 

On a separate, but related point, the name for the Wolf Lord of the 13th Company was changed from Jorin Bloodfang, to Jorin Bloodhowl. I wonder if it was a typo, or someone forgot to change the name after writing about Sven Bloodhowl's Great Company.

 

 

Looking forward to the reaction in the Fang after throwing this grenade....

 

 

Valerian

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Well that pretty much just confirms previous estimates that put an average full strength Great Company size at about 200. A little less perhaps if Ragnar's is "second largest" but probably moderately close to previous estimates and still well above the strength of your average Codex Chapter.

 

The number of typos is starting to sound irritating though, particularly the lack of Frost Blades for Terminator Wolf Lords. <_<

Well, the size for a Great Company fluctuates a lot because of combat attrition. Unfortunately, I've still got some way to go... damn.

 

As for the Frost Blade thing, it's either a balanceing thing (as C:SM do not have Relic Blades in TDA) or a typo. Either way, not amused at all.

TDA wolf lords may not be able to take frost blades since, as vassakov said before, Codex: SM commanders in TDA can't take relic blades. It seems really dumb to me since Terminator armor isn't even close to as good as it was in 4th addition and frost blades and relic blades are favorite options for commanders.

It's good to know the size of Ragnar's great company as that means I've nearly finished :D . Hopefully this will settle some of the debates we've been having around the Fang and the fluff I read shows that all the great companys have different MO's for waging war so there's something for everybody.

 

Cheers

 

Thorgrim

It's good to know the size of Ragnar's great company as that means I've nearly finished :D . Hopefully this will settle some of the debates we've been having around the Fang and the fluff I read shows that all the great companys have different MO's for waging war so there's something for everybody.

 

Cheers

 

Thorgrim

 

Exactly, under 200 is the typical size but they could obviously vary, I don't think anyone's going to pull you up on it particularly, and please don't tell me they mentioned the number of Land Raiders and stuff a la Ultramarines in the SM dex, because I will be running six of them in my great company during apocalypse battles.

Don't worry Mikal, that type of organisation stuff is for the boys in blue - not us :D !

 

It just mentions a bit about the wolf lords of the 12 companies and how they like to wage war e.g. Bran Redmaw = very bloodthirsty, CC orientated etc. I think Phil Kelly wanted to show that although all the great companies like to get close for CC etc, we all have different methods of getting there.

 

Cheers

 

Thorgrim

Don't worry Mikal, that type of organisation stuff is for the boys in blue - not us :D !

 

It just mentions a bit about the wolf lords of the 12 companies and how they like to wage war e.g. Bran Redmaw = very bloodthirsty, CC orientated etc. I think Phil Kelly wanted to show that although all the great companies like to get close for CC etc, we all have different methods of getting there.

 

Cheers

 

Thorgrim

 

Thank you for dispelling fluff fears, because fluff comes first for me. I think I shall create my own lord to "fill in" for the Iron Wolf (His name escapes me)

I would expect the Frost Blade thing to be a typo or a copy-paste error. I also think the lack of Relic Blades for Terminator armored Captains is a typo, it makes no sense, Terminator Armor is less effective for the most part than Artificer armor and not even really cheaper. So it's not like it's a balance issue, which just leaves typo... ugh. Gonna make my plans for my Wolf Guard Battle Leader a little troublesome. Especially since regular Wolf Guard in TDA can take Frost Blades it almost has to be a stupid typo, that would just be lame if GW honestly meant for Lord's and Bodyguards to be unable to take TDA & FB but regular Wolf Guard can.

 

Anyway I liked the fluff bits on the various Great Companies, it's nice to see some other GC than Ragnar's get a little attention.

I'm going to be honest, I always figured that the companies were much bigger somehow. I dont' knkow why but it made sense to me to have them outumber a normal chapter by at least 4 to 1 overall... though the overall listing does not take into account scouts, priests, lone wolves and the like I don't think. Frankly though, I think limiting the numbers was a bit of bad fluffing since it takes away from the "Nobody really knows how many wolves their are, and they don't really keep close track of that.' feeling.

 

Also, I plan on using a frost blade for my TDA lord regardless of what the book says. The way I see it the whole thing is a typo at best and poor design at worst. Either way there is no reason to listen to the rule unless your in tournaments, and I hate tournaments of any sort.

I don't know why but Ironwolf has always been my favorite wolf lord, based on name alone, followed by Krakendoom and Redmaw. I think I'll make my great company based on Bran Redmaw, because I like the name and it reminds me of Bran Stark, who is my favorite character from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series, because he is sort of like a wulfen, without the genetic modifications and technology, or working legs.

Well fluff wise it still doesn't limit the size of the Chapter that much. Even if you use an average of 175 that still comes out to 2100 fighting men in the Chapter and that doesn't consider all the ancillary staff, the Great Wolf's Company and of course the Lost Companies. Heck you could probably double that number if you consider all the Lost Companies wandering around at any given time, perhaps more, perhaps less.

 

Of course just cause Ragnar's is second largest now doesn't mean it usually is or that others don't approach the size of his Company when freshly reinforced from Fenris. Still quite a bit larger than your average Codex Chapter even on a bad day.

I dont have the money, nor do I have steady hands, (PTSD meds keep me calm, but I get muscle twitches) so I came up with my own great company, and paint his symbol. The symbol is a black V over yellow with a horizontal blood red on the lower half of the shoulder pad. V for the Wolf Lord, Named Vidar (When I figure out the Saga I will expand it.) and the blood red lower half is in memory of the Fallen Heroes of Fenris.

 

Also I paint mine in a darker gray, more of a darker codex Grey, as I have never liked the 3rd baby blue color. I do however use a mix of codex grey and space wolves Grey as the highlights, seems to work well.

I'm sorta disappointed. I always liked to imagine the wolves as being over 10,000 strong. But it's really confusing since that would mean the wolves have gotten alot smaller since the heresy. During the heresy there would have been at least 7000 space wolves and the wolf brothers would have only taken away 1000. I know the chapter's been almost wiped out on occasion but the sheer amount of geneseed they should have stored and recoveredshould have made up for that. Seems way too small to me.
I would expect the Frost Blade thing to be a typo or a copy-paste error. I also think the lack of Relic Blades for Terminator armored Captains is a typo, it makes no sense, Terminator Armor is less effective for the most part than Artificer armor and not even really cheaper. So it's not like it's a balance issue, which just leaves typo... ugh. Gonna make my plans for my Wolf Guard Battle Leader a little troublesome. Especially since regular Wolf Guard in TDA can take Frost Blades it almost has to be a stupid typo, that would just be lame if GW honestly meant for Lord's and Bodyguards to be unable to take TDA & FB but regular Wolf Guard can.

 

Anyway I liked the fluff bits on the various Great Companies, it's nice to see some other GC than Ragnar's get a little attention.

 

 

what is really, REALLY pissing me off about this is that Wolf Guards in Terminator armor can carry a Frost Blade...

 

WLK

Just remember that the new pups not have Company , when one Great Company arrive to the Fang after to one campain they recruit a new pups for fill the ranks of the loose troops and this boys are the new blood claws of this Company. I think that to reinforce all Companies when arrive the amount of troops must of being very great
On a separate, but related point, the name for the Wolf Lord of the 13th Company was changed from Jorin Bloodfang, to Jorin Bloodhowl. I wonder if it was a typo, or someone forgot to change the name after writing about Sven Bloodhowl's Great Company.

 

Which 13th Company though?

 

As I understand it every lost company is placed in this category - alongside Bulveye's original 13th company.

which is second in size only to Logan Grimnar's (his personal Great Company, not The Company of the Great Wolf, that Logan commands in addition to his GC).

 

Wait, so Grimnar's got two companies? Or do you mean as Great Wolf (elected from the other Wolf Lords) has things like Rune, Iron and Wolf Priests attached to his Great Company?

which is second in size only to Logan Grimnar's (his personal Great Company, not The Company of the Great Wolf, that Logan commands in addition to his GC).

 

Wait, so Grimnar's got two companies? Or do you mean as Great Wolf (elected from the other Wolf Lords) has things like Rune, Iron and Wolf Priests attached to his Great Company?

 

Correct little brother, he's got his original great company from before being elected Great Wolf and then the The Company of the Great Wolf, which is basically all the headquarters (wolf priests, iron priests and rune priests), elite (dreadnoughts and wolf scouts), administration and training elements.

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