littlbitz Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Well, my head has been spinning and I gotta admit, I feel like a 10 year old kid waiting for the guy in the red suit to visit. My own Saga began with the Wolves in the early 2nd ed. Back then Wolflord Jon led my Great Company, and was a simple fellow, using the Old metal Space Wolf Terminator Wolfguard Sgt. My Wolf army back then was mainly a large unit of Termies, supported by 2 Dreads, 2 GH packs, and a BloodClaw Jump pack, oh and the most Dreaded Predator in the Chapter with Las cannons all around extra armor, ablative armor, smoke and a super charged engine that thing was simply feared every battlefield it visited. Then along came the 3rd edition. Using the appendix at the back of the rulebook I struggled. Then came the WD article with its "get by list" I was overjoyed. It was right around this time I attended my first GT (2000) Baltimore. I actually took 2nd place overall and was using an early version of what would become known as the "Rhino Rush". No I certainly don't claim to be the first to have used a Rhino rush in 3rd ed. but I certainly used them before they were a staple to many a Marine force. When the actual codex finally came out, I only made slight adjustments to my list, and for quite awhile joyfully pointed my Rhino transports in the direction of anything that would want to face my GreyHunter packs. Then it happened 3.5 came out and changed the rules for transports. The Rhino rush had been "nerfed" I stuck with my guns for awhile and attempted to simply adjust my tactics with mixed results. I decided I had to get to and assault my enemy in order for my army as designed to be effective. I started painting a brand new Space Wolf army, this one in Fortress Grey rather than the old Shadow Grey of my old Space Wolves. As I was painting and playtesting, I decided I needed a LandRaider Crusader to get my BloodClaws into combat. This worked. I figured if one was working then 2 would be better. Before I knew it, I was attending Tournaments with my own "Raider Rush" list. With 3 Cheap Battle Leaders, a Crusader with Bloodclaws, 2 Stock Land Raiders with GreyHunter packs a Speeder and a small scout pack and I was rockin' and rollin' again. This was short lived however as 4th ed. was right on the heels of 3.5 and with the new Rending rules and Tank hunters everywhere the LandRaiders were getting popped like Rhino transports. I decided a new set of rules would need yet another Space Wolf army, so I began to plan my next project, WolfLord Jon was placed in a Dreadnought, and the Great Company was taken over by WolfLord Thorgrimm of the Barren Hall. By this time between the 2 different color Space Wolf armies I had painted I had well over 10000 points of the pups running round. I began fielding all sorts of Armies. After dozens of different lists, I thought there had to be a way to get close to the enemy. I read the Space Marine codex and asked my friend if he would mind if I tried a Drop Pod in our next game. As I didn't own one, I used a "Party cup" as a proxy before I went and spent $100 dollars on a model I wasnt sure if I was gonna use or not. It worked, I really liked the Drop Pod, so I added a 2nd, and for quite awhile was content with using 2 Pods with GreyHunters and 2 Rhino Transports with BloodClaws. As time went by however I found my tactics were more and more revolving around my Pods and before I knew it?... I ordered SIX from Forge World and my Drop Pod army was born. This became my staple army all through 4th ed. Usually consisting of a Retinue in a Pod supported by 2 Grey Hunter packs in Pods, a BC pack in Pod and as many Bikers as I could squeeze into the list. Then of course it happened again, 5th edition came. The game changed dramatically (for the better I feel) with the new missions I couldn't depend upon 1 tactic to win the day. My all pod army just wouldn't cut it against Veteran Generals, and believe me I tried. Don't get me wrong, its still strong and a viable option, but not something I was winning tournaments with. I started toying more and more with a variation of a Footslogging list. Using my Bikers and Scouts to strike at the lines while some heavy support in the form of Dreads and a Pred held the line and my GreyHunters took objectives. This began working, and I have been tweaking my 5th ed. list ever since until its present form which was posted a month or so back in the Army Lists section and with a short battle report after I won a Tournament, showing that a codex nearly 10 years old could still cut it in this latest addition of the game. And now yet again I hear the calling. And its time to start another new Wolf army (making this next project my 4th Space Wolf army) To be continued (after dinner)... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiltedMarine Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 ::sniffling:: That's... that's beautiful, man. Pardon me a moment, I've got something stuck in my helmet optic. ::ahem:: Nice to hear the saga of a fellow grognard. I look forward to hearing which way you run from here. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117042 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorgrim Blackwolf Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 That was a very moving journey Littebitz and I hope my saga is as long as that one day, since I only started playing in early 4th edition. I am currently running a mech list with GH and BC's in Rhinos supported by dreds etc with good results, as like you my drop pod army was rumbled by veterans. But after a few test games with the new codex, I am seriously considering a footslogging list too. My vision for my overall army is to have three full sized Great Company and Logan's Chapter Command. One company would be Ragnar's (Drop pod), another would be my own guy (Mechanized) and finally Bran Redmaw (Power armoured horde). I currently have most of one great company. Now I just need the money and the paitience to paint all that grey.... Cheers Thorgrim Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117070 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfran Morkai Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Now I just need the money and the paitience to paint all that grey.... Cheers Thorgrim Ah brother, let me introduce you to the wonders of an airbrush! What a great tale, I hope that the fire that has burnt inside you continues in the newest batch of Claws Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlbitz Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 I have spent some time with the new Codex, making lists and pouring over the new rules. I think lots is going to change, and for the better. Like the new IG and Orks, this new codex seems written so that we can build effective armies in a variety of styles. I have been play testing my new list using the new rules, and I gotta say I am liking it. For HQs I am going to use 2, my new WolfLord, Erik Master of the Hunt will be on a bike with a Wolfclaw, Storm shield, and the Saga of the Bear. I was using a Frost Blade, but I wanted to shave a few points and since I have the Storm shield I don't benifit with an extra attack anyways, so I opted for the "cheaper" re-roll weapon. In a test game the other night, I rushed him towards a basic Marine Tactical Squad in order to prevent them from rushing an objective I had a Pack sitting on near the games end. He was able to weather the storm of thier fire without so much as suffering a wound and then proceeded to Charge in Kill several Marines and win a combat. Not such a great feat for a WolfLord, but considering that was his 3rd seperate engagement in a 6 turn game, not bad... Now I was seriously considering Logan Grimnar, as he suits my play style (I love Wolfguard) but I think he is going to be fielded alot, and a serious influx of "Wolf-wing" armies are going to pop up everywhere. So, I am going to stick with my own creation for awhile longer... I did take a 2nd HQ, again a bit different from what I've been reading is going to be popular. Seems the Rune Priest, and Njal are going to both be popular. I decided instead to go with the Wolfpriest. Thats it, just a Wolfpriest with no extra Wargear other than what he comes with as standard. I will typically go for Infantry as his Prefered enemy, but will leave other options open depending upon my opponent. In my Test games what he does for my BloodClaws pack is absolutely amazing! I cannot say enough about this combo, it has been working wonders. And he is Cheap! I really think he is going to be the unsung hero of the new codex. The other Characters will over shadow him for a bit, but man you will be missing out. He is really a bargain (even if his stat line is terrible) I stopped with just the 2 HQ choices. I was tempted to toy with 3 or even 4 but it becomes cost prohibitive very fast, and I really wanted to have a beefier army than what I normally play with my Wolves. The Core of my new Army are the Greyhunters (2 Packs). As I posted before my packs used to be 7+1 with an assortment of Powerfists, Plasma pistols, Power weapons, led by a Termie WG with Combi-weapon and Fist or Claw. Good packs both, and I really thought I would miss them with the changes of the new Codex. My new configuration is packing a full 10 Grey Hunters led by a Wolfguard in each pack. Originally I was playing with a Plasma based squad with a Termie with Assault cannon and a Melta based squad with a combi melta Termie. both with just Power weapons. The Packs worked well enough in my practice games, and with the addition of 3 Grey Hunters to each pack I haven't even noticed the loss of the Runic Charms. I did have some concerns over getting charged by a Dread or other High toughness or Armor walker/beast so I have changed my configurations to reflect this. The 2 Packs are now as follows: GH pack x10 with 2x Plasmaguns, 1x Plasma pistol, Standard, Mark of Wulfen, and TDA Wolfguard with Assault Cannon and Chainfist GH pack x10 with 2x Meltaguns, 1x Plasma pistols, Standard, Mark of Wulfen, and TDA Wolfguard with Assault Cannon and Chainfist These 2 packs work very close together so as to support one another, the one Assault Cannon was so good, I made the needed changes to add a second. These 2 Packs are rock hard! I do have to say though in my last game, my one MoW GreyHunter took somewhere in the neighborhood of 16-18 attacks, and NEVER wounded, I do hope the "Curse of the Wulfen" hasn't turned my Grey Hunter into a Village idiot instead of the Melee monster I hoped he would be. The BloodClaws I already touched on. GreyHunters in most cases are gonna be the favored unit, but with a Wolfpriest, these guys are worth everybit of thier points. My biker packs, I swear by these guys, they are my fast movers. They contest, harrass, confuse and destroy. I am convinced that players that don't like bikes either 1. just don't care for the Play style that they confer, or 2. They just don't know how to use them effectively. I know in my current 5th ed. lists (Old and new codex) my Army couldn't work without them. They have however taken a bit of a hit. I tried to offset this originally by taking a powerweapon instead of a fist in the pack. figuring the pack itself could only take one weapon, I may as well go cheap and take the one with more attacks. Each Biker pack also has a Wolfguard with it, and they each had a Frost blade. Again my fear of getting stuck in combat with a high armor walker or Deamon gave me pause. The packs worked fine as I had them configured (both packs also tote Melta bombs), but I just felt naked without any Fists. I am currently planning 2 packs of 3+1 with Melta bombs, and the Wolfguard has a Powerfist. The packs are a little small for my tastes, but I had to give a couple up to take the extra Wolfguard to give me enough for the second Assault Cannon (had to pay for that gun too). Hopefully they will be enough. The Long Fangs, even though people were telling me to go with Missile launchers I stuck with Heavy Bolters. I just thought Missile Launchers would attract alot of attention from the enemy and a group of Heavy Bolter guys might go a bit unnoticed. I have to say I am more than pleased. 15 str. 5 shots a turn at anything that came within 36"?! even Terminators were affraid! Between the 2 large GreyHunter packs the bikes the drop podding WG and the Scouts etc, etc, noone has even had time to think about attacking my Fangs. So far they have just been shooting at will destroying a Razorback, whittling down tactical squads, killing 5 Terminators in 1 game as they tried to advance on thier position, took the cannon of a Vindicator with a side shot, it just goes on and on. These guys are good. Oh, and Cheap! Speaking of Cheap and Wolfguard. I have decided that with this new codex and the loss of the Runic Charms, its better for me to go cheap with my Wolfguard Termies and take more of them, spreading them throughout the army. I did decide to take One Drop Pod. With the new Drop Pod assault rules, I thought some Termies dropping in on the enemy in turn 1 would be a good thing and add to my opponents confusion on dealing with me. Originally I was planning 4 Termies with 2x combi-flamer and 2x combi-mg in pod. Nice and cheap. After a couple of practice games I have found 4 Termies with 4x Combi-melta to be much better. In my last game this Pack dropped in, destroyed a Vindicator and then recieved a charge from those Ultramarine cc Vets, and killed SIX with thier Powerweapons before they themselves died. Well worth thier points for the havoc they caused. Again though I felt a little naked so I have changed the pack a little bit, The Wolfguard pack in a Drop Pod is now six Wolfguard Strong, 4x Termies with 4x combi-mg, and 1x chainfist, and 2 powerarmored WG with bp and ccw. That leaves the Wolfscouts, I'm just not sure how to equip these guys. I have exactly 100 points for the Pack, that is enoug for 5 Scouts with Meltabombs. They have worked fine like this and I will probably keep them this way until I just get fed up with it and exchange them for more bikes... Thats pretty much the list for now. I am still playtesting and really want to try out some of the other goodies in the Codex, I'm sure I'll post more ramblings when I have done this. Thanks for letting me ramble on... Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117180 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedMoon Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 well those are very good thoughts indeed brother. i to am thinking of a squad of terminators in a pod lol and i share the love of the grey hunters lol Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117186 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanger Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I was pondering about a 13th Co style list like you describe too. But I'm planing to give the Fenrisian Wolves a try. They look like cheap harrasement units, that can help my GH and BC squads with CC support, provide cover saves and are a fast moving unit. Altough without any weapon upgrade they lack the punch altough this may be ofset by their numbers. I'm still in the brainstorming phase as without the codex, I just throw ideas around based on the rumours and info posted on various message boards. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117205 Share on other sites More sharing options...
clanfield Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 nicley down lilbits you got me thinking very cool Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117298 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natanael Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Yeah great thinking. It's nice to read your saga =D Now I have to give my own list a little more thougt :P Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/178930-where-ive-been-and-where-im-going/#findComment-2117325 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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