Questions for a chapter using Space Wolves rules.

[he_plays_guitar]

I've been toying with an idea of a Space Marine chapter based around the Celtic mythology of humans housing an animal spirit. Essentially, the idea would be that every space marine (or every squad, haven't decided yet) would have their own animal spirit, and would decorate and embellish their armor as such. For example, bear belts, wolf pelts, teeth and claws as jewelry, feathered capes, fur capes, skins, furs, bones, spiritual warpaint, paw prints and claw marks painted on the armor, and other representations of the animal spirits that live in their bodies. I know alot of the Space Wolves models would lend themselves nicely to that effect, but I'm not too familiar with the Space Wolves Codex so I thought I would ask the professionals :-) I'm not trying to create a successor chapter, I know that it's not possible, but I'm just wondering if the Space Wolves Codex would allow me the best representation of my idea. I would definitely appreciate comments and suggestions! Thanks!

[Max_Dammit]

Its your army so do what you like, You can do the same with the normal SM dex or any other dex, you first need to find what your play stile is like if you take this approach, you can always use SW models even for a non SW chapter so that shouldnt be your focus, But if you like the SW codex for its rules than we'll be more than willing to help with info and ideas :)

[Niiai]

Well I think it sounds like a good idea. The SW codex meets your idea thematicaly and pragmaticaly.

 

I particular like the idea that the wolf guard squad would be looking like some strong big animal and would then be splitt up to lead the lesser animals. I would sugest artic animals though, not tigers and snakes.

[S. Bloodhowl]

I agree with Niiai, the space wolves rules are a lot more animal oriented that the normal SM

[Grey Mage]

Besides, we get this question every 2-3 weeks, so its not likely that people will be shocked at your "audacity" :). Theyre a pretty good fit really.

[Gerwulf]

I'm one of those nasty guys who despises players who want to use another codex just because they think it fit's their army better than the current existing codex. They just usually are drawn to the power hype around a new codex.

 

That being said, I think your idea is absolutely great and I wouldn't mind at all playing against your army! From how you describe your army, I think the SW codex would fit it very well, although as mentioned before, it really depends on your play style.

 

Edit: oh, there is an online store, selling awesome celtic themed shoulder pats and shields. I can't remember where though, but I can find out if you want.

[Niiai]

Gerwulf if that was true he would go for the blood angels codex.

 

And I don't think ouers is "the best" but it is realy easy to play and at least not, it is very easy to se how it works.

[Max Oh Noah]

I could see this go really well like having terminators as bears, grey hunters as wolves, maybe wolf scouts as foxes. I don't think anyone would have a problem with it as long as it was themed that way.

[Niiai]

Or wolf scout ravens. :) Skyclaws could be ravens but ravens are smart loners I recon.

[Gerwulf]

Niiai, I probably wasn't clear enough. I wasn't accusing him of doing it. I think coming up with your own chapter and taking the codex that fits best is an awesome idea and shows a lot of creativity.

 

What I was talking about is for example chaos players taking Space Wolves to play Khorne Berserkers without making an effort to come up with some believable fluff.

[he_plays_guitar]

To Max oh Noah, I really like the idea of bears as terminators, grey hunters as wolves and wolf scouts as foxes. It ties into my idea that "like spirits" would band together to add to their strengths. For example, the bears as naturally biggest and strongest would tend to do better in battle and live longer, eventually getting terminator honors and such. Niiai, I like the skyclaws as ravens idea too. I was already leaning in that direction. Gerwulf, I would love to hear more about the celtic themed shoulder pads, if you have any more information I would LOVE to get the website name, I'll try to do some google searching tonight and see if I can come across some.

 

To be clear, I'm not trying to steal a codex to make a better playing army, I was first interested in the physical space wolf models themselves because they represent the ideas I had pretty well, and wanted to know if the current users of the codex (you guys :-) ) had any input. I too hate the idea of one army playing another codex just because. I have a friend who has played blood angels for awhile, didnt like the old codex so he used a chaos codex, then settled on the space marine codex, and now that the new codex came out for Blood Angels, he is switching back to blood angels again. But to each his own I suppose :-)

[Gerwulf]

Don't worry about taking the codex. I shouldn't have mentioned that bit anyway, since it didn't apply to you.

 

I like the idea of bears as terminators, grey hunters as wolves, but I would make wolf scouts cougars or panthers. Have you ever heard of the Vampire Earth series? They have a similar concept, the bear attuned soldiers are the tough shock troops, the wolf attuned soldiers are the mainstay of the army and the panthers are the solitary scouts (not actually sure whether it was Panthers or some other cat like animal).

 

Luckily I found the link:

http://www.sciborminiatures.com/en_,shop.p...der_pads_01.jpg

 

The pads are kind of special, so they may or may not fit your needs. Also, I think the celtic shields would fit the Terminators if you go that way, and maybe spears instead of power weapons or wolf claws.

[he_plays_guitar]

Wow. Those are some B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. shoulder pads. I really like them, they're super decorative though so I may reserve them for the special troops, or perhaps veterans. I like the shields too. Thanks a bunch for recommending them, I love them. I like the idea of using spears too, it would add a little more uniqueness to the look of the army. Thanks for all the input, I'm doing some concept sketches in my free time so I'm getting pretty excited, I'll be able to put this project in motion soon!

[Niiai]

Well it is apparentr that your army is a themed army, but it would make sence if it is good as well.

 

What sice point are you using? We could try to come up with a good army list that includes skyclaws, scouts, wolf guard and grey hunters. Do you plan on using blood claws as well? (They are not so good IMHO.) It would just be bad to come all that way and having your models decorated just to die horible.

 

I am trying to picture a dreadnought as a mammoth.

 

PS: Gerwulf, I do not think panthers fit within his theme. But I would sugest lynx's. :D

[he_plays_guitar]

I usually play around 1500 to 3000 point non apocalypse games with my buddies, it would be helpful to have a list. I dont know about having bloodclaws, I'm not too familiar with the codex so I'd have to study it a little and see what suits my taste. Ha, now I can't get the picture of a wooly mammoth dreadnought out of my head! I kind of like it!

 

By the way, what do you think of the name Beast Lords? I'm trying to come up with a suitable name for the army.

[Grey Mage]

Beast Lords is interesting, but reminds me of a bad 90's tv show.

 

How about the Wrath of Annwn?

[Niiai]

Beast Lords does not sound very good. It is very pragmatic and not to cool, it seas: "This is my theme for the army and they are all beastlords."

 

Your oponent will pretty soon understand what is the theme of your army once they are on there, so the name should eather be something cool you want to assosiate the army with like "Wrath of Annwn." Son's of Rus, like the wolves sometimes are called, has a reference to somebody named Rus so you want to know who he is.

 

You could also call it "Aurora" but then I think you should use some artic colour patterns.

 

-|-|-

 

For the army list I would suggest a good mix of units so that you can really enjoy the modeling.

 

1 Wolf Priest (? theme) with some sky claws (ravens) with a powerfist: 250 points ish

 

1 Rune Priest (? theme) with some grey hunters (wolfs), banner, p fist, plasma gun rhino (perhaps some amfibian with a rough skinn, like a toad?) 200 ish

 

2 Razor back (2 predatory reptile?) + melta grey hunters: 230 ish

 

6 Long Fangs (? theme) with rocket launchers + lascanon rasorback 230 ish

 

5 wolf guard to split up (bear theme), 1 with cyclon missile launcher 230 ish

 

1 group scouts (foxes? or a bird of prey) with melta and boltguns 80ish

 

1 Dreadnough (mammoth) inn a drop pods 150 ish

 

That is 1370 although it is a rough estimate and probably it will go over that.

 

It gets you 7 rocket shots and a twin linked lascannon, 2 twin H. Bolters, 6 Meltas, 1 Psycic hood, 1 sueside dread, and 3 troops all in all to capture objectives. The Skyclaws are a good counter unit. No major tanks but you get to play with 3 razorbacks, 1 rhino and 1 drop pod for your themes.