Space Wolves: How many are there?

[Valerian]

Or, it might just mean that Bran's Great Company is a close 3rd to Ragnar's 2nd, while the rest lag somewhat behind in success, popularity, and thus also, size.

 

Either way, the information in IA11 is consistent with the order of magnitude that many of us have been supporting all along, with all Great Companies numbering more than 100 Marines, with the largest Great Companies at just over 200.

 

Valerian

 

 

What do think of the "up to 200" wording is it a limit set by the wolves or some other factor such as initiate production rate or just the number he happens to have at the moment?

 

What would you put the average great company at?

 

I doubt the "up to" 200 warriors is an intentional self-imposed limitation, but probably just reflects that Great Companies typically don't get beyond that size. I'd surmise that the de facto upper limit to Great Company size is due to the realities of nearly constant warfare combined with the "trickle" of adaquate initiates/replacements that survive the Test of Morkai, and all of the other factors that weed out all but the strongest, most agile, and genetically acceptable candidates. I'd guess that if more Fenrisian youth were suitable, and/or the enemies of mankind (including humans) were to relent for a period of relative peace, then the Great Companies would swell to a great host.

 

V

[eyeslikethunder]

while the rest lag somewhat behind in success, popularity

 

There does seem to be a suggestion that the popularity of the WL has a effect on the size of his Great Company in the latest codex. But I find no indication for this in the Ragnar novels. A fluff update probably. I wonder how SW goes about changing GC. Revoking his oath from one WL and taking up one with another WL sounds logical.

 

How acceptable is this? revoking a oath must have some shame.

 

Are the WL's bribing the best SW's to join them ?

 

Can you do this when become a BC or through out your career?

 

what do you think V?

[Valerian]

while the rest lag somewhat behind in success, popularity

 

There does seem to be a suggestion that the popularity of the WL has a effect on the size of his Great Company in the latest codex. But I find no indication for this in the Ragnar novels. A fluff update probably. I wonder how SW goes about changing GC. Revoking his oath from one WL and taking up one with another WL sounds logical.

 

How acceptable is this? revoking a oath must have some shame.

 

Are the WL's bribing the best SW's to join them ?

 

Can you do this when become a BC or through out your career?

 

what do you think V?

 

I thought I had remembered some bit of fluff in the 3rd Edition "mini-dex" that dealt with the topic of success, popularity (for lack of a better term) and the correlation with GC size, but I cannot find it.

 

Perhaps until one of us finds a reference for it, we should just assume that success means less of a given Wolf Lord's Marines are lost as casualties, while at the same time the Great Wolf would allocate additional recruits to them as a reward. Combined, these two factors would be enough to explain why some Great Companies are rather larger than those that might be struggling, rather than the breaking of oaths and voluntary movement of packs from one Lord to another.

 

Valerian

 

What would you put the average great company at?

 

I'd swag the average at about 150 Marines, with the smallest at just over 100, and the largest at just over 200.

[eyeslikethunder]

I thought I had remembered some bit of fluff in the 3rd Edition "mini-dex" that dealt with the topic of success, popularity (for lack of a better term) and the correlation with GC size, but I cannot find it.

 

Perhaps until one of us finds a reference for it, we should just assume that success means less of a given Wolf Lord's Marines are lost as casualties, while at the same time the Great Wolf would allocate additional recruits to them as a reward. Combined, these two factors would be enough to explain why some Great Companies are rather larger than those that might be struggling, rather than the breaking of oaths and voluntary movement of packs from one Lord to another.

 

Valerian

 

I also felt there was some sort fluff in this direction but cant find it quickly if I do I will add it

[eyeslikethunder]

For me the intriguing thing is different compositions of the Great companies.

 

Erik Morkai .....

His great company boast a great deal many Wolf Scouts

 

 

 

Bran Redmaw

More Space wolves bearing the curse of the wulfen serve along side Bran Redmaw than in any other Wolf lord

 

Gunnar Red moon favours his Long fangs

 

These are elements you do do start with but are what BC's develop into later in their careers. So what is the process of developing a large stock of these? Suggestions

[Jaguen]

hello my first post so all the material I read, I believe that every great company there an estimated between 150 to 2000 space wolves. in that case is not exactly how it would know the exact number. Being the case that many companies not only follow their leader but they will explore the space with a wolf guard, so I prefer that the number of wolves space is between 2400 to 10000 excluding the 13 th company

[eyeslikethunder]

I thought I had remembered some bit of fluff in the 3rd Edition "mini-dex" that dealt with the topic of success, popularity (for lack of a better term) and the correlation with GC size, but I cannot find it.

 

Perhaps until one of us finds a reference for it, we should just assume that success means less of a given Wolf Lord's Marines are lost as casualties, while at the same time the Great Wolf would allocate additional recruits to them as a reward. Combined, these two factors would be enough to explain why some Great Companies are rather larger than those that might be struggling, rather than the breaking of oaths and voluntary movement of packs from one Lord to another.

 

Valerian

 

I also felt there was some sort fluff in this direction but cant find it quickly if I do I will add it

Armies of the imperium says that intiates are given a mission by the Great Wolf normally to raid the lair and steal an artifact of one the great companies. The great Companies each set out to stop them. No weapons are allowed but injuries are common. With the Initates joining as blood claws the great company they successful against.

 

This would favour weakened companies as they would be less able to defend themselves.

[archangel23]

From what I read in the "Battle of the Fang" book there were 2000 or more Wolves present during the Great Wolfs funeral Pyre. Granted that is set in M32, but it gives you an idea. Not to mention the wolf like creatures in the boles of the Fang. As for my opinion on the matter I believe there are around that many now. As with most GW fluff it is never really clear except for Codex Chapters.

 

Russ did say he would reorginize his Legion. I cannot remember the source though. However, it would be just like the Primarch to do it in his image and how he thought it should be. I just wish I still had my 2nd edition Codex. Not allowing Imperial Orginizations to Fenris without being agreed too would make it hard for anyone to find out for sure. I say 2000 or so with a contingant of native fenrisians to use as cannon fodder. :wallbash:

[eyeslikethunder]

Just over 2000 sounds about right

 

Although I suppose that would be with the loss of most the defending great company.

[Marshal Rohr]

Bran Redmaw had a little over 200 in IA 11.

[Grimtooth]

From what I read in the "Battle of the Fang" book there were 2000 or more Wolves present during the Great Wolfs funeral Pyre. Granted that is set in M32, but it gives you an idea. Not to mention the wolf like creatures in the boles of the Fang. As for my opinion on the matter I believe there are around that many now. As with most GW fluff it is never really clear except for Codex Chapters.

 

Russ did say he would reorginize his Legion. I cannot remember the source though. However, it would be just like the Primarch to do it in his image and how he thought it should be. I just wish I still had my 2nd edition Codex. Not allowing Imperial Orginizations to Fenris without being agreed too would make it hard for anyone to find out for sure. I say 2000 or so with a contingant of native fenrisians to use as cannon fodder. :P

 

That number from Battle of the Fang does not include the decimated defending Great Company. I also do not think it includes the Wolves left on Gangava to kill off the corrupted Wolf Brothers unless they made it back in time for the funeral rites on the plateau.

[eyeslikethunder]

That number from Battle of the Fang does not include the decimated defending Great Company. I also do not think it includes the Wolves left on Gangava to kill off the corrupted Wolf Brothers unless they made it back in time for the funeral rites on the plateau.

 

 

Well lets say they were there to be conservative as there is no way to be certain

2000/11 is 181+ space wolves per great company does match up well with the 185+ given in Epic by Armies of the Imperium and both Ragnar (C:SW) and Brans great companies(IA11) being just under 200

 

 

 

 

 

185 is a great company from AOI containing each of the following Grey hunters, Wolf guard, Long fangs and Blood claws in the lowest quantities possible

[spjaco]

From what I can gather I would propose that the Great Wolf has a company that is somewhere in the neighborhood of 300-400 Wolves. Ragnar is second with between 200-250, each Great Company after that has on average 150-200 Wolves.

 

For instance when I could field my company (Ragnars - what can I say I am a sucker for fluff), it would typically have Ragnar, a pair of Wolf Priests an Rune Priests, a lone Iron Priest, 20 Wolfguard, 36 Long Fangs, 100 Grey Hunters, and 60 Bloodclaws. and 20 Wolf Scouts.

 

But that is just me.....