Rune Priests

[Netza]

I have been playing 1500 and 2000 point games lately with 2 to 3 hq choices. I only run one rune priest. I want to use at least 1 more because they are obviously the best hq choice. But it just doesn't seem right to me fluff wise. I can't see more than one rune priest in an army especially in such a small force. I have a competitive army but I always try to keep my armies balanced and fluffy. I know its not that big a deal, should I just get over it?

[Ranwulf]

If you care a lot about Fluff you can always make one of the Rune Priest a Master of the Runes. This guy could be the master of the other Rune Priest.

 

Oh, and using two Rune Priests are fairly good idea.

 

I specially like Njal, and my own fluffy rune Priest Torin.

 

Ran

[Netza]

Yeah, that sounds good. I can see that. Actually, Right now I'm working on a rune priest in terminator armor to set him apart from my power armored one.

[Valerian]

I have been playing 1500 and 2000 point games lately with 2 to 3 hq choices. I only run one rune priest. I want to use at least 1 more because they are obviously the best hq choice. But it just doesn't seem right to me fluff wise. I can't see more than one rune priest in an army especially in such a small force. I have a competitive army but I always try to keep my armies balanced and fluffy. I know its not that big a deal, should I just get over it?

 

In the original fluff, every Great Company had 2 Rune Priests, a Master and a Skald. A Skald would spend a full year with each GC, learning their traditions, sagas, and heroes, before rotating to the next Company to apprentice under a new Master.

 

Valerian

[Orphus]

I have been playing 1500 and 2000 point games lately with 2 to 3 hq choices. I only run one rune priest. I want to use at least 1 more because they are obviously the best hq choice. But it just doesn't seem right to me fluff wise. I can't see more than one rune priest in an army especially in such a small force. I have a competitive army but I always try to keep my armies balanced and fluffy. I know its not that big a deal, should I just get over it?

 

You could make one RP use more offensive powers while one acts as a support. Give them personalities to match etc :lol:

Say the Termie prefers one aspect of psykic learning so to balance it out your wolves requested an additional RP or whatever...

 

EDIT: BTW, what were your other HQ choices?

[d@n]

Fluff wise spacewlolves have alot of heroes so i dont see a problem in using all your hq slots as rune priest if you so desire. the runes priest join whatever company the great wolf tells them to so if grimnar thinks whatever mission your army is going, is in need of alot of rune priest then he will allocate your wolf lord as many rune priests as is needed.

[Sturm Moonwolf]

I usually run 2 Rune Priests, but I own 5 of them. My favorite is one that has a combi-flamer for kicks, lol. I like to think of it as a combi-froster.

[old git]

I've used Njal and 3 other RPs before now, a sort of Council of the Runes thing. Depends on whether you're going offensive close combat or offensive firepower, obviously this set up favours supporting the second option.

[Aeddon]

In the original fluff, every Great Company had 2 Rune Priests, a Master and a Skald. A Skald would spend a full year with each GC, learning their traditions, sagas, and heroes, before rotating to the next Company to apprentice under a new Master.

 

Valerian

Source? I ask because IIRC in both 2nd and 3rd edition codicies it says that the Rune Priests were a part of the Great Wolf's Great Company.

 

To the OP ~ The Great Wolf can assign his priesthood where ever he deems they are needed. So he could actually assign two, three or four Rune Priests to the same group. Would it happen often...probably not but hey, it's your call in the end.

[Valerian]

In the original fluff, every Great Company had 2 Rune Priests, a Master and a Skald. A Skald would spend a full year with each GC, learning their traditions, sagas, and heroes, before rotating to the next Company to apprentice under a new Master.

 

Valerian

Source? I ask because IIRC in both 2nd and 3rd edition codicies it says that the Rune Priests were a part of the Great Wolf's Great Company.

 

To the OP ~ The Great Wolf can assign his priesthood where ever he deems they are needed. So he could actually assign two, three or four Rune Priests to the same group. Would it happen often...probably not but hey, it's your call in the end.

 

White Dwarf 156 (and copied later to White Dwarf 244). In the original revision of the Space Wolves in WD 156, the Rune Priests were in the Great Companies; it was the Wolf Priests that were known to only answer to the Great Wolf himself. In WD 157, which had the army list and special characters, Njal Stormcaller was a part of Ragnar Blackmane's company. In 2nd Edition, all of the 3 types of Priests were assigned to the Company of the Great Wolf, but it appeared as though each were then attached to a Great Company on a fairly permanent basis.

 

Here is the entry on Rune Priests from WD 244, which was released along with the 3rd Edition "mini-dex". This entry is almost exactly the same (a few edited changes) as the original WD 156 article:

 

Rune Priests

 

Rune Priests are selected from those Space Wolves who show traces of psychic power. They are carefully screened to make sure their souls are untainted by the dark powers, then their spirits are strengthened by many tests, hardships and rituals. They must be utterly strong, secure enough in their faith to resist the whispered temptations of Chaos that all psykers must face. If they come through all the tests then they are deemed worthy of becoming a Rune Priest and are taught how to wield their awesome psychic energies for the good of their battle-brothers. If they fail, they die.

 

The Rune Priests have the gift of the Sight granted to the Emperor's chosen. By their gift of divination they chart the Chapter's future, and by their knowledge of the sagas they fix the Chapter's past. The Space Wolves keep no written history; their records are committed to the memories of the Rune Priests who learn all the sagas of the old days. These are recited on the Chapter's feast days and during the Festival of the Wolf Time that commemorates the Chapter's founding. This is held every twelve Great Years.

 

The cult of Russ is old, dating back to the time of the first founding and predating the establishment of the Adeptus Terra. To outsiders, its rituals seem primitive and almost heretical. They stress the power of Russ almost as much as the divinity of the Emperor. At the core of the faith are many prophecies concerning the Space Wolves and the natives of Fenris. Central to its tenants is the belief that the forces of evil will gather and return under the leadership of a resurrected Horus to destroy mankind. It is the duty of the Space Wolves to prepare for this last day, to be ready for the final battle. The Cult Of Russ teaches that the spirit of every warrior who dies bravely in battle joins the Emperor and strengthens him to fight this final battle. This is a grim, savage religion with the power to stir warriors to feats of great heroism.

 

A Rune Priest begins as a Skald. He is expected to learn the tale of a company's history, starting from its earliest days to the present. Every Great Year he will be assigned to a new Company to learn its sagas. Once he has learned the tale of each company he will be sent to whichever Rune Priest needs an apprentice and his training in the deeper mysteries begins. He learns to carve runes from the fangs of a wolf and is taught how to cast the Runes Of Divination. His armour is covered in runes of power which help focus his energies and allow the Rune Priest to focus his psychic powers in combat. As he progresses, he learns the sagas that tell the tales of the Chapter's Wolf Lords and heroes right back to the time of the First Founding. He will grow in strength and power until eventually he may replace the old and failing Rune Priest. At every Wolf Time festival, great contests of saga-telling and psychic duelling are held to determine if a new High Rune Priest will be chosen. He is the leader of the Chapter's Rune Priests and advisor to the Great Wolf.

 

Many Rune Priests are psyber-linked to ravens. These creatures are known as the Choosers of the Slain by the Space Wolves, after their distant cousins seen circling over the battlefields of Fenris. The link allows the Rune Priest to see with the animal's eyes and control their actions. The ravens are freed to gather information from far and wide, and can also be used as messengers. The ravens are also used to observe the aspirants as they wander the land of Asaheim during the Blooding.

 

A full Rune Priest is an awesome sight. They are giant, weatherbeaten men, about whom hangs an aura of mystical power. Their armour is covered in ancient runes first carved by Russ himself, and when their powers are used these runes glow with balefire, focusing the Rune Priest's psychic energy. They are often cowled with the hides of a great white wolf and lean on the mighty oak runestaves that are seen as their badge of office. These staffs are made from wood taken from trees raised in the soil of ancient Earth back in the days when trees still grew wild upon that planet. They are highly prized treasures which gradually absorb the psychic imprint of their owner, becoming ever more closely tailored to his mind. It is said that if the Rune Priest lives to a great age his staff becomes a living part of him, and after his death the staff lives on, preserving something of his thoughts and powers.

 

Valerian

[Aeddon]

Thanks Valerian, that was a great bit of fluff!

[Starkhan Fellblade]

I'm not sure if i should open a new thread for this or if there already is one but I am going to use a rune priest in termi armor in my army and i don't particularly like the model that GW has. Can people post pictures of any conversions for a rune priest in termi armor it would be appreciated. I could use some ideas and insperation.

 

Thanks,

Starkhan

[Growler67]

You could start a thread titled something like "Show me your Rune Priest" to get a faster response than you miht in here with your request. Post up your reasons for wanting it as you have and it will draw what you need faster than having to sift through various "Search" results to maybe or maybe not find what you are looking for.

 

Seeking creative inspiration can be a difficult things sometimes, I get it. However, this might be the quickest way to get the best results. Maybe if there were a collection of subsections for the different "Units" in the Modelling section, AND if people would post their pics up there things would be a bit easier. Just thinking and typing out loud now :D

[Starkhan Fellblade]

You could start a thread titled something like "Show me your Rune Priest" to get a faster response than you miht in here with your request. Post up your reasons for wanting it as you have and it will draw what you need faster than having to sift through various "Search" results to maybe or maybe not find what you are looking for.

 

Seeking creative inspiration can be a difficult things sometimes, I get it. However, this might be the quickest way to get the best results. Maybe if there were a collection of subsections for the different "Units" in the Modelling section, AND if people would post their pics up there things would be a bit easier. Just thinking and typing out loud now :D

 

 

Thanks for the tips i think i will start a thread

 

Starkhan

[Aeddon]

Forgeworld has a SW TDA set that would work pretty well.

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-4000...ERSION-SET.html

[Starkhan Fellblade]

nice find!

 

Starkhan

[Netza]

Thanks Valerian, very helpful!

[Valerian]

Forgeworld has a SW TDA set that would work pretty well.

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-4000...ERSION-SET.html

 

A word of warning, however; those were made years ago, and were designed to be compatible with the older plastic Terminators. The newer ones are bigger, so these torsos are not quite the same, and the FW resin shoulder pads will not fit over the arms from the Space Wolves' terminator pack sprues until you shave the upper arms down quite a bit.

 

Valerian

[Starkhan Fellblade]

Forgeworld has a SW TDA set that would work pretty well.

 

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-4000...ERSION-SET.html

 

A word of warning, however; those were made years ago, and were designed to be compatible with the older plastic Terminators. The newer ones are bigger, so these torsos are not quite the same, and the FW resin shoulder pads will not fit over the arms from the Space Wolves' terminator pack sprues until you shave the upper arms down quite a bit.

 

Valerian

 

 

Thanks for the warning I think i will have to skip them then. That will save me some money though!

[Netza]

I converted a rune priest in terminator armor with the fw set. The shoulder pads aren't as difficult to fit as I thought they would be. But the torsos are a lot less bulky than the new ones. You can definitely see the difference. I'll post pics soon.