What makes us play Wolves?

[Prot]

Greets,

 

I was going to make this an entry in my blog, and then I realized it might be funner to have some personal feedback through the forum.

 

I asked this question of myself a year or so ago.... whenever it was I was, sadly, without a marine army for quite a while. My last big marine army would date me a while back when I was a mod for the Black Templar section.... a great army in itself. (As an aside I never tired of the odd Wolves player back then that would hop into the Templar forum and usually start some serious argument about which chapter was 'bigger'. Good times.)

 

Anyway after the last few months I found myself hopping around again, experimenting, but no other army stuck with me like Wolves. So I ask myself and you, why I and you play these guys?

 

I know some guys are definitely playing them for a competitve edge, but to be fair, a great deal of those people have moved on to one or another great flavour of the month.

 

So why Wolves? I have to be honest if the background doesn't appeal to me, I can't play it. About 10 years ago Wolves seemed almost too strong to me. But at this point in 5th edition, there are lots of big fish out there. But here comes the honest part, I used to hate the fluff.

 

So right now, in this era of the Wolves. I LOVE the background. I am particularly surprised by Graham McNeil's Thousand Sons which portrayed the Wolves in a very interesting light. I have to admit, I think it's Graham's best stuff in a while, perhaps even eclipsing Storm of Iron.

 

The backround in the codex is great too. I love the idea of riding Wolves the size of Cadillacs into battle. Most of the HQ are gerat too. To top it off the codex isn't handcuffed to Roboute's 'ideal' marine recipe book: codex astartes.

 

Ruleswise come second for me. These guys have units that are just plain fun,as well as a good blend of competitive builds. I think the TWC lists might be a little too frequent, but then again, so are Nob Biker lists. :tu: Rules wise my biggest let downs have been Bloodclaws, and some 'special' characters, but other than that.... nice variety.

 

Finally I think it's a great modelling opportunity. This release, and perhaps the Blood Angel release are my two favourite to date (yes, even above the Dark Eldar models too).

 

I never for a second considered Blood Angels (especially after facing them. :) ) and Dark Eldar certainly can be tempting, but I'm holding firm.

 

What about you? What brought you in? What keeps you here?

 

I think this is -my- marine army until Chaos sees Legions (if ever) or perhaps the Black Templar get a great new kit.

[Ranwulf]

Ragnar Blackmane.

 

First book I have ever read about 40K and helped me through tough times. The Hero was awesome, young, fierce, berzerker and of course, King's writing was top notch!

 

Weirdly enough, I started 40K with BA (at first, I didn't like the SW army looks). I still love BA, but I also love SW.

 

Thunderwolves? Awesome! Can I create my own heroic character and name him "Ranwulf"(It means Wolf Shield)? HELYEAH! Can I play with AWESOME Ragnar Blackmane? Oh dear god, yes.

 

In the end, I love both armies, and have a BLAST playing both.

 

Usually by charging someone.

 

Ran

[the jeske]

easy to paint , cheap , with very good selection of units and viable builds or even different unit set ups . Am not saying they are marines only better because it would not be true[both armies play in a different ways] , but SW do have a lot of the very forgiving factors any meq army has[ingoring Ld more or less, +3sv , counter attacks works in their favor too from time to time] .

[DV8]

Vikings in space.

 

 

 

 

I rest my case. (Rhyme unintentional but moderately amusing...I mean I'm giggling to myself...)

 

 

DV8

[Guest Triszin]

Viking werewolves in space.

 

 

 

 

I rest my case. (Rhyme unintentional but moderately amusing...I mean I'm giggling to myself...)

 

 

DV8

 

 

fixed

[DV8]

Viking werewolves in space.

 

 

 

 

I rest my case. (Rhyme unintentional but moderately amusing...I mean I'm giggling to myself...)

 

 

DV8

 

 

fixed

 

 

You also threw off the syllabic rhythm of the two lines.

 

Nevertheless, when I first entered this hobby 13 years ago, Space Wolves were my first army and that was how they were pitched to me. I was instantly sold.

 

 

DV8

[wolfpack]

here here...and I been playin em since before they got their own dex

[Marshal Wilhelm]

I asked this question of myself a year or so ago.... whenever it was I was, sadly, without a marine army for quite a while. My last big marine army would date me a while back when I was a mod for the Black Templar section.... a great army in itself. (As an aside I never tired of the odd Wolves player back then that would hop into the Templar forum and usually start some serious argument about which chapter was 'bigger'. Good times.)

 

So why Wolves? I have to be honest if the background doesn't appeal to me, I can't play it. About 10 years ago Wolves seemed almost too strong to me. But at this point in 5th edition, there are lots of big fish out there. But here comes the honest part, I used to hate the fluff.

So right now, in this era of the Wolves. I LOVE the background. I am particularly surprised by Graham McNeil's Thousand Sons which portrayed the Wolves in a very interesting light. I have to admit, I think it's Graham's best stuff in a while, perhaps even eclipsing Storm of Iron.

 

The backround in the codex is great too. I love the idea of riding Wolves the size of Cadillacs into battle. Most of the HQ are great too. To top it off the codex isn't handcuffed to Roboute's 'ideal' marine recipe book: codex astartes.

 

I think this is -my- marine army until Chaos sees Legions (if ever) or perhaps the Black Templar get a great new kit.

 

Prot, you used to be civilised? What happened? *sniffs the air for taint of foul magicks with his Witch sensitive nose*

 

Oh and by the way, odd Wolf player is tautology, like naughty Deldar. Wolf players are odd by definition :woot:

 

The wolfwolfwolf thing used to grate me, but Space Wolves have certainly grown on me, perhaps like you'd expect from any other parasite? :verymad: :rolleyes: :pinch:

 

You also threw off the syllabic rhythm of the two lines.

Nevertheless, when I first entered this hobby 13 years ago, Space Wolves were my first army and that was how they were pitched to me. I was instantly sold.

 

A true son of a Saga teller :jaw:

[Jonas Stromclaw]

Truthfully, I must admit that I wanted to play Dark Angels first, just 'cause I liked their color scheme. Then someone actually told me about their fluff, so that was a no go. Then I heard about frost axes. Yep, frost axes are what sold me on the wolves, that and the viking thing.

[ORKILL]

I once wrestled a bear for a bar tab.....need I go further?

[CainTheHunter]

Back in the old days he only popular game here was that Fightmallet, where I had my wood elves army. I and another player decided that we should introduce 40k as well, but since everybody else was hesitant, we decided that we will just bring some models and start playing - after seeing that the rest of guys will join as soon. Having wood elves (it was shortly afer Ravaging Horded) I decided that I want something more CC oriented and I did not want any elves/spiky elves in space, though I though about harlequins for some time - they used to have their special list those days. Having read lots of fluff, codices and looked at the models, I noticed Space Wolves, but somehow I was a bit hesitant towards all armies with lots of vehicles and tanks, so I took the brand new 13th Company from the C:EOT, which was perfect at that time. Small elite CC army with no vehicles - easy and fast to paint, though my painting was not great for today's standards. Then the list became just as obsolete as harlequins and I shelved it for some time. When the new codex came out, I looked at what I already had, counted the options, given that I already had lots of HQ minis for various counts-as for my 13th company, and it was an instant decision to incorporate my old models into a full SW army :P

Ah, and made my choice initialy, were runes, axes and a lot of reckless, headstrong stubborness, I guess ;)

[Muller]

I'm Swedish, my ancestors were vikings, with the new models for the wolves the way I invision them was pretty close, so now all I had to do was to feralize them some more and give them proper beards and long hair.

 

Also, my first 40k novel ever was "Space Wolf", which is even now my all-time favorite 40k Novel, only rivaled by Double Eagle.

[Valerian]

Probably 3 reasons:

 

1. The whole Space Wolves backstory was revised in White Dwarf issues 156 and 157 (1992), and changed them from the same as every other Marine army to the new Viking based theme, which was very appealing to me at the time (and still is).

 

2. In 1994, after the production of the new 2nd Edition ruleset, which made the game much more streamlined and easier to play than Rogue Trader ever was, the Space Wolves got the first of codices produced - and it was great!

 

3. Later that same year a new freshman joined our university "Wargames Club", who was an excellent painter. He was working on building up his Eldar as his primary army, and sold me a unit of the old metal Wolf Guard Terminators and metal Blood Claws, that were perfectly painted. Those were my first Space Wolves, and the start of my first real army, after having been playing for about 5 years on borrowed minis.

 

Over the years since, I've collected 4 full armies, but the Wolves are my first and most well loved of them all.

 

 

Valerian

[Lord Howland Greywolf]

I always has a spiritual connection with wolves (I still do in fact, I'm a furry). So it was only natural that I went with them. Only thing is, when the new codex came ouot and everybody donw my LGS started playing them they lost a little of their magic. So I moved onto guardsmen, hence why you hardly see me here these days.

[Sven Bloodskull]

Because i like playing with an army that shares my view of drinking :tu:

 

Sven Bloodskull

[CainTheHunter]

Because i like playing with an army that shares my view of drinking :tu:

 

Sven Bloodskull

 

Agreed, if all things go bad, we can always drink together with our plastic toy soldiers ^_^ Somebody said before that all SW players are a bit odd :P

Btw, I am strongly inclined to name my first son Ragnar, but I am having a difficult time explaining this to my missus....

[Iron-Daemon Forge]

I started my Space Wolves army last year as the army fit with a lot of area in the hobby for me.

 

As a lot know, I like my Iron Warriors & they will remain my all time favrout force. There highly converted & I put a lot of time.

 

With the Space Wolves, they are one of the most convertible army, conversions alway being my main strength since I started the hobby 14 years ago (all armies I pick/use are first & formost on models & conversion). Game wise they are brillaint, I like useing a lot of tanks & my 1500pts list everthing pretty much mobile, no static units. Background great as well, I got both Space Wolves omnibus I read both in a week as I was really hook on the story. Like wise the Thunder of Feris Audio cd I listen to time & time again.

 

Also before I forget you got a great deal of freedom painting wise, as long as there Grey armour then your good to go ^_^ For me I went for the Dark Grey armour as I am not a fan of bright colours that all.

 

While with the release of the new codex I like it that there a lot of list going. I'm already trying to gather stuff so I can make my Logan Wolf Wing force for exsample, going to try get them for Christmas. Just in the past I would tend to collect a army to 1500pts list, only changing units after a few games. But with the release of Space Wolves, Orks, etc... there a lot more I want to add & go beyound. Just was never a fan of buying units if I was never going to use them.

But as said like it there so much going for the new codex. Might also be looking that a 13th company theme force around Wolf Guards as well in the future, though that will be 2x Wolf Guard armies, both are/will be complete diffrent.

 

On top that, as said there I been in the hobby for 14 year, so a lot of the older Space Wolves, though I never collected it is some of the models that alway stood out & the army overall along with Chaos Marines back in 2nd ed.

 

Also I wanted to try somthing new for this year tournament session. See if any other army can match my Iron Warriors which I use for 5 year solid, collected for 10 years. So far in two tournament the Space Wolves done pretty well, just need to get my dice check :tu: Just got the Throne of Skulls in less than three weeks.

 

So as it is the Space Wolves have reach as my second favrout army. Also bare in mind I am Scottish, so food & drink a big part here.

 

IP

[VonDrakenstorm]

I discovered the wolves with the novel and I loved it.

 

SM are basically monk warriors and in the middle of that, SW are a pack of beer drinking badasses.

 

They are just a lot cooler thar the other chapters.

[Requiem of the Wolf]

I started playing wolves back in 3rd. The sagas...the feel,the lore and the fluff all resonate within me. The tales of the Wolf Lords,the Wolf Priests and those Wolves that have carved their names into legends,never fail to bring a joyful tear to my eye and a howl of victory bubbling up in my throat. In addition to that,I am a Odinist,so that resonates with me perfectly as well.

 

Some times,you stumble upon your home...and you could never honestly imagine yourself anywhere else. The Fang is my home..the Wolves and the people who play them are my siblings and friends. I could ask for no better company.

[Sgt. Aardappel]

For me, it's the awesome amount of personality you can give this army.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... And Vikings in Space.

[Lord Ragnarok]

1. I love wolves

2. I love Techno barbarians (SW's, klingons etc...)

3. Color of their armor

4. Love play style. Great at CQB short range shooting and CC, but not the best at just one of them but the best at doing both)

5. Background....Anti Authoritarian ways... Especially love Logan for engaging in Imperial forces in battle when he thinks they stepped over the line.

 

 

----------

Prot, Question...what didnt you like about their background previously? I don't think it has changed that much.

[LPetersson]

I'm Danish, I love beer, my ancestor's were vikings and I do viking re-enactment (Wanna see my big chopper? ;)), so yeah, for me it's largely the viking theme.

 

I love the fluff, and if I didn't I wouldn't play them. I also love the way they are the closest thing to 'good guys' in a distinctly dystopian future where there aren't any real good guys.

That is quite important to me

 

 

Btw, I am strongly inclined to name my first son Ragnar, but I am having a difficult time explaining this to my missus....

 

If you can't persuade her then try to get a compromise by adding it as a middle name :blush:

[CainTheHunter]

I'm Danish, I love beer, my ancestor's were vikings and I do viking re-enactment (Wanna see my big chopper? ;)), so yeah, for me it's largely the viking theme.

 

Hmm, there is actually quite a large percentage of re-enactors/ARMA/SCA people among SW players :blush:

 

 

If you can't persuade her then try to get a compromise by adding it as a middle name ;)

 

That's a good idea, actually ;)

[Prot]

Ragnar Blackmane.

 

First book I have ever read about 40K and helped me through tough times. The Hero was awesome, young, fierce, berzerker and of course, King's writing was top notch!

Ran

 

- Oddly enough that's the one piece of background I haven't read. I've heard a lot of mixed feelings on it. But I do own it so maybe it's time to read it.

 

 

My last big marine army would date me a while back when I was a mod for the Black Templar section.... a great army in itself. (As an aside I never tired of the odd Wolves player back then that would hop into the Templar forum and usually start some serious argument about which chapter was 'bigger'. Good times.)

 

So why Wolves? I have to be honest if the background doesn't appeal to me, I can't play it. About 10 years ago Wolves seemed almost too strong to me. But at this point in 5th edition, there are lots of big fish out there. But here comes the honest part, I used to hate the fluff.

 

Prot, you used to be civilised? What happened? *sniffs the air for taint of foul magicks with his Witch sensitive nose*

 

 

- It was a big attraction to me at the time (Templars). I really enjoyed the 'crusade' feel. Are you suggesting the Wolves aren't civilized? Not only did I use actual cutlery today, I even have fresh underwear on!

 

 

 

I once wrestled a bear for a bar tab.....need I go further?

 

^ best answer award. :P

 

 

1. I love wolves

2. I love Techno barbarians (SW's, klingons etc...)

3. Color of their armor

4. Love play style. Great at CQB short range shooting and CC, but not the best at just one of them but the best at doing both)

5. Background....Anti Authoritarian ways... Especially love Logan for engaging in Imperial forces in battle when he thinks they stepped over the line.

 

 

----------

Prot, Question...what didnt you like about their background previously? I don't think it has changed that much.

 

Ragnarok- I never thought of Wolves as Klingons... interesting. The Anti-Authoritarian ways to me is a big one. They hold truth, and their own values very high. I'm reading Horus Heresy (First Heretic) and can't believe how some of these Legions just play follow the leader.

 

The background question?

Well I don't mean the actual history of the chapter, I mean more as in how it was portrayed. Do the Wolves engage in a spirited, social, drinking atmosphere for relaxation? Sure. Do they exhibit feral tendencies on the battlefield? Yup.

 

The problem I have is it seemed for a lot of writers to become the defining ingredients of a Space Wolf which I thought was total ork dung. It seemed for a while every short story had a SW marine trying to drink himself into oblivion and then stagger to battle with half witted remarks. I just think for writers 'phoning it in' this became too frequent, and over used. Kind of similar to how some writers would just treat all 10,000 year old Deathguard marines as 'space zombies'.

 

Into the Abyss (?) by Graham McNeil is a good example. The portrayal of the Space Wolves character was pretty.... poor. Then within a short time, I thought McNeil did a good job of redeeming himself (and more) with A Thousand Sons. Where he took the symbolism, and personality of the Legion, and went in a different, (much better) direction with it.

 

(I'm dying to see what Abnett has done!)

 

The current codex has them portrayed pretty much the way I imagine them anyway.

[Lord_Azoth]

Always liked how they look, different from the other SM, I´m a veteran fantasy player..so SW allow me to make some fantasy SM, some space vikings..

I love how SW show their indivisuality opposite the rest of marines... and because I could make awesome conversions with an unlimuted kind of bitz