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The Other Great Companies


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So, we have Grimnar and Blackmane in the codex. Further, we have a series of books about Ragnar's crazy adventures on his path to lordship.

 

In the codex, we also have a couple of pages briefly describing the other 'current' (circa 999.M41, presumably) Wolf Lords and giving little blurbs about their Great Companies. It isn't much to go on, and it's really just an attempt to give a little flavor to the various Great Companies. Still, I wonder...

 

Do anyone of you model your armies on one of these other (non-Ragnar/Great Wolf) Great Companies mentioned in the codex? I'm talking heraldry at the least, but maybe even acknowledging the little play style blurbs in the codex. Even if you don't, I wonder how you might imagine building the other Wolf Lords using the Wolf Lord entry in the codex. There isn't much to go on fluff-wise, and they won't measure up to named characters with their special rules and whatnot, but how would you do it if you wanted to field any of the other Wolf Lords?

 

(I ask because I'm struggling to decide between starting with SW or BA, but I think that fluff concerns are pulling me inexorably toward SW. You can tell much better stories about Great Companies and their exploits than you can about the ad hoc task forces of codex chapters, imo.)

 

I apologize if this post is a bit disjointed; it's late, I'm tired, but I cannot sleep... so I come to B&C.

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Even before the current dex I patterned my wolves off of harald death wolf's army( I liked the badge!). Most sw I've seen over the years just make up their own wolf lords. You can always say a current wl died and your lord is the chosen successor. I even do that with my own.... Alarik Silvermane.

A LOT of Wolves here in the Fang pattern off of non-Grimnar/Blackmane companies; Mostly I see Deathwolf and Morkai companies, as well as the 13th, but there are just as many, if not more, personal wolf lords (no small amount attributed as "lost" companies).

 

Myself, I started this game very young and didn't think that far ahead, simply going with Ragnar (b/c that's how all the models were painted in the codex). If I could do it over, I'd go with a personal wolf lord under the Spirit Wolf emblem, with a company demeanor to support many scouts and small-numbered packs of GHs for blitz and silent strikes.

 

I've always wanted to see a player do a suitably iconic Ironwolf or Krakendoom company. Far too ambitious for me to consider personally, other than perhaps dedicating a pack of Hunters to each company.

As you can see by my avatar I am of Krakendoom stock. I use it both in heraldry but try to fit it into the game as often as I can with using lots of rhinos and razorbacks (Of the heavy bolter kind, not las-plas), as well as bikers just as described in Mr. Dooms blurb. I also try to use "Ship-like" units to enhance the naval aspects of the Great company with for example Speeders as well as thinking of using a Caestus if I ever get around to buying it.

 

For Krakendoom himself I use him as a counts-as Logan for a Terminator army which I imagine is the elite boarding party alá Space Hulk which his Great company is famous for after all.

So, we have Grimnar and Blackmane in the codex. Further, we have a series of books about Ragnar's crazy adventures on his path to lordship.

 

In the codex, we also have a couple of pages briefly describing the other 'current' (circa 999.M41, presumably) Wolf Lords and giving little blurbs about their Great Companies. It isn't much to go on, and it's really just an attempt to give a little flavor to the various Great Companies. Still, I wonder...

 

Do anyone of you model your armies on one of these other (non-Ragnar/Great Wolf) Great Companies mentioned in the codex? I'm talking heraldry at the least, but maybe even acknowledging the little play style blurbs in the codex. Even if you don't, I wonder how you might imagine building the other Wolf Lords using the Wolf Lord entry in the codex. There isn't much to go on fluff-wise, and they won't measure up to named characters with their special rules and whatnot, but how would you do it if you wanted to field any of the other Wolf Lords?

 

If I did a known Wolf Lord, it would be Engir Krakendoom - his heraldry is boss! I also like that it is but one colour, which makes a thing more striking, imo.

 

He is a Wolf Lord, so he'd probably get much love from me.

In Terminator armour, with a SS arm, a Claw arm, and Frost blade arm. I probably wouldn't bother with a gun, because his main skeeyulz are in mêlée.

Then a version of him on Foot [in power armour] on Bike and on Thunder Wolf. His fluff doesn't especially mention TWC, but TWC are obviously very cool and sometimes fluff takes a time to catch up.

If I were going for a themed force, he'd not take the TWC, but riding on a land ship.

 

His Great Company would have harpoons [Marauder spears] as decoration on land ships but also as weapons.

I think Levitas did chain-glaives for his TWC, and I think that is very appropriate as a 'modern' harpoon. The GK Halberds [which are really glaives or something like Nagintas] might also work for power weapons and frost blades, though they might need a bit of Lupine loving to make them the real McCoy.

 

Engir's GC has Swiftclaws, so I'd have to get used to playing with them.

The guy who did the Ravenborn [a Celtic 'Space Wolf' force] made the Attack Bike into a chariot for his Lord and used it as a TWC. That could also be on the cards.

 

Basically, I am a fan of using my imagination.

White Scars can use C:BA, Templars can use C:SM or C:SW, Marines can use C:CSM, etc.

For instance, Templars have 'Thunder hoof cavalry'. But today I am using C:CSM. So my Marshal on TWC is actually a Daemon Prince with Wings, the Sword Brethren are Berzerkers and a special seige breaker unit are Plague Marines - the extra protection and loss of initiative are due to them having armour in between Terminator and Power armour, but it was never perfected by Mars.

 

I'd even be happy to use Ragnar to represent Engir.

 

Oh, and Dark Elf Corsair cloaks and other marine-life would be on the models, in addition to some wolf goodies.

 

Some people feel what is written is to be adhered to like a law, but I am happy to use it as a platform. The hobby is about us, after all!

I'm getting a Space Wolf army together now (my second after CSM), and I'm going with Bjorn Stormwolf. While his fluff suggests he's all bikes and Vindis, I decided to take it a slightly different route. I'm making his forward assault team in Drop Pods with some TWC.

 

I'm also making the man himself with the below set-up, which hopefully represents his loud, obnoxious self enough:

 

Wolf Lord in TDA

Chainfist x2 (nice and loud!)

Belt of Russ

Saga of the Bear

 

He'll be joined with some TDA Wolf Guard, and hopefully be sturdy enough to get into melee with everything, and shred it to pieces.

 

If I ever get this army expanded to Apoc levels, I'll likely add the bike squads and Vindis then (along with some Leman Russes in true, old-school Wolf fashion.

I am building my company around that of Kjarl Grimblood. I was practicing (when I had my stuff with me) painting the firewolf to put on stuff, and made a few decent attempts. I always take flamers in blood claw packs so that they may rightfully take their place in the company, and because they don't have to roll on BS 3 :( .I take heavy flamers on wolf guard and such, anything that burns or is hot since the fire wolfs' breath melts the winter's snow. Thats about it, since there isn't much else offered, and I write my own fluff to fill in the blanks. In fact, I've got a short story going here in the forum thats the backroumd for my army.
I'm also a Bran Redmaw guy, wulfen on just about everything that can have it! I've halted building my GC though, waiting on FW to put out the next IA book to see what kind of things will be possible for Redmaw's GC.

Remember talking ideas (and got the avatar from you). Next IA book you say!

I fell in love with Ragnar back when he was first revealed in White Dwarf 157 (January 1993), and slowly started to collect a Blackmane Great Company. GW eventually started producing those special metal shoulder pads for each type of pack, and also the shoulder pads with Ragnar's company symbol. I just loved how those pads give extra depth and detail, and thus every single model (around 100 at last count) except for the Scouts have them. I feel fortunate that the designers have continued to treat Ragnar well, and his rules in this edition are the best yet. All I need is for GW to get off of their butts and start Finecasting some updated versions to replace some of their ancient special characters.

 

I like the other Wolf Lords just fine, but if I had it to do over again, I'd have made the same choice. It's Ragnar all the way for me.

 

Valerian

I went for the longest time with my Great Company shoulder badge just showing black because I couldn't pick a Lord. Guess I was the 13th company.

 

I liked Engir, but his play-style didn't fit my play-style. Bikes are not my style, even though water & the sea are my element. Edit: And I like his emblem obviously. HA

 

Eventually I decided on the Great Wolf. He is everything that the Space Wolves mean in the Grim Dark Future. We fight for good, but do it on our own terms. Good-Chaotic alignment- isn't that how they do that in D&D? I also like that he is a beloved leader. It fits well with my strength of leadership qualities. And a few heroes in the right spot? Heck ya!

I'm also a Bran Redmaw guy, wulfen on just about everything that can have it! I've halted building my GC though, waiting on FW to put out the next IA book to see what kind of things will be possible for Redmaw's GC.

Remember talking ideas (and got the avatar from you). Next IA book you say!

You're welcome! ;)

I have been using the wolf howling at the moon (Great Wolf) shoulder pads for my Wolfwing, mostly because I like the look of them. But I do have my own wolf lord, Finvid Gunderssenn who acts as a Grimar counts as when I actually use him. Otherwise he becomes a WGBL in higher point games.

 

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