Harald Deathwolf's company

[Highland Piper]

Long story short I played Space Wolves since 2nd edition, sold everything in 2005 starting up again this year. My old army was pretty standard and well rounded and not themed at all.

 

This time around, after reading a description of the companies in the codex, I decided I may want to build Deathwolf's company.

 

My thoughts on the company:

 

The codex says it is mostly lupine, yadda yadda yadda. So if figured I would focus on HQ & Elites that can take Thunderwolves, Thunderwolf Cavalry, Swiftclaws and Skyclaws. Grey Hunters & Blood Claws in Drop Pods, Long Fangs in Razorbacks. Wolfguard would be split between the blood/Swift/Sky Claws and Terminators.

 

So I'm looking at swift moving units to engage in assault while using Grey Hunters and Long Fangs as support.

 

Too bad there are no stats on Harald Deathwolf himself.

 

I really would like to know how you would theme Harald Deathwolf's company and how you would field units.

 

Cheers!

[Highland Piper]

Browsing and searching through the forums I've found several good posts. Mostly concerning Skyclaws. I find it very unusual that Wolf Guard can take Jump Packs but can not be assigned to Skyclaws the way they can with Swiftclaws and Bloodclaws. This is fine as I was wondering how to play my Wolf Priest as they can not take Thunderwolves. There seems to be some disagreement between whether or not to take a melta gun or not. I think for the most part I will field them as Anti-personnel and give the Wolf Priest a Combi-Meltagun.

 

 

HQ: Wolf Priest in Power Armour (1#, 145 pts)

1 Wolf Priest in Power Armour, 145 pts (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fang of Morkai; Power Armour; Wolf Amulet; Wolftooth Necklace; Jump Pack; Crozius Arcanum; Combi-Meltagun; Acute Senses; Counter-attack; Fearless; Independent Character; Oath of War)

 

Fast Attack: Skyclaw Assault Pack (10#, 220 pts)

9 Skyclaw Assault Pack, 220 pts (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Chainsword x9; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Berserk Charge; Counter-attack; Headstrong)

1 Skyclaw w/ Mark of the Wulfen (Unit Type: Jump Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Jump Pack; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Power Fist; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Berserk Charge; Counter-attack; Headstrong; Rending in CC only)

[Wulfebane]

Found a snag in your plan.

 

Any model given MotW is unable to use any other form of CCW as the "teeth and claws" supersede any other wargear. What this means is that you have a MotW model with a shiny new power fist that he will never be allowed to use.

 

Simple fix. Give the fist to Skyclaw #9, dropping you to 8 regular loadout Claws, 1 MotW, and 1 power fist.

 

Another popular choice for any Claw unit is giving them a flamer. Having an auto-hit template completely negates the BS3, and since they're usually up close and personal anyway, it'll likely see some usage. It also might be prudent to give your WP a melta bomb. Generally, its rare to see any SW pack without a means to destroy a vehicle, but giving a melta gun to a Claw pack is a waste at BS3 and even with the pfist, it's iffy with the WS3. All optional, of course.

 

 

As a side note, I don't know if it simply helps you to copy every item/rule for the unit(s), but it was certainly a nuisance for me atleast to sift through to pick out the stuff that isn't standard loadout.

[Highland Piper]

Thank you for the suggestion Wulfebane! The Wolves have changed a lot since second edition.

 

Good news! My Mythicast Thunderwolves arrived yesterday. I washed them in soap and water and they are now dry. I booked a class at my local GW on using Green Stuff as there are quite a few air bubbles and I really don't want to mess these up at all. I've built 5 Skyclaws and await the Iron Jump Packs from MaxiMini.eu to arrive to equip the other 5. I've magnetised the backpacks and Jump Packs so I can switch them between Blood Claws and Sky Claws.

 

I'm at 1500 points and growing.

[Loknir Ironjaw]

I'm sorry I am not really seeing how this is themed Harald Deathwolf list. Is this what you are using to build up to it? I agree he would most likely have a very mobile force so its a good start. If I were to model a list for him the only things I would make sure I would have is: Wolf lord on Thunderwolf at least one Wolf Guard on a wolf also as Canis Wolfborn is in his Wolf Guard, a couple units of TWC and some wolf packs runnin around but thats about as fluffy as you can make it because thats all we know about him. The rest of the force you could kit out as you please and still be accurate. Just my thoughts.

[Wulfebane]

I booked a class at my local GW on using Green Stuff as there are quite a few air bubbles and I really don't want to mess these up at all.

 

o_O

 

The idea of a GS class is intriguing.. wish my local had one, though sadly, I'd likely be the only candidate to teach it with our ragtag bunch.

 

As for the bubbles, they're best filled with the new liquid greenstuff, so long as you don't have to build it up too heavily as you really can't "sculpt" the liquid stuff.

[Highland Piper]

Well I've assembled my Thunderwolf Cavalry.

 

1 Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield

2 Bolt Pistol & CCW (Chain Swords)

1 Bolt Pistol & Plasma Pistol

1 Bolt Pistol & CCW (Axe)

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r194/Highland_Piper/40K/scanns001.jpg

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r194/Highland_Piper/40K/scanns002.jpg

 

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r194/Highland_Piper/40K/scanns003.jpg

 

I need to spend this weekend to greenstuff all the bubbles and missing sections :'( However they are still really nice models and I plan on getting a few more in the future. I'm also waiting for my Iron Jump Packs from MaxiMini.eu. I've ordered 5 of them to go with the 5 GW Jump Packs I have. I've also Magnetised them so I can switch my Sky Claws to Blood Claws.

 

Note this is not an army list, but a break down of the core units I think Harald Deathwolf's Company would use. I have no problem collecting three versions of the same model if need be and these will be represented as well.

 

For an army to keep up with what is mostly cavalry units then Drop Pods, Rhinos, Razorbacks will be assigned in that preferred order. I've also listed the units in preferred order with the most likely choice at the top.

 

HQ

 

Canis Wolfborn (for the ability to take Fenrisian Wolves as troops)

Wolf Guard Battle Leader with Thunderwolf

Rune Priest w/ Bike/Jump Pack/Terminator

Wolf Priest w/ Bike/Jump Pack/Terminator

 

Elite

 

Iron Priest w/ Thunderwolf and 4 Cyberwolves

Wolf Guard Pack

5 in terminator armor

1 w/ bike

1 w/ Jump Pack

3 in power armor

 

Wolf Scouts

Dreadnoughts

 

Troops

 

Grey Hunters w/ Transport + wolf guard

Blood Claws w/ Transport or as a full squad of 15 + Wolf Guard and possibly Lukas the Trickster

Fenrisian Wolves

 

Fast Attack

 

Thunderwof Cavalry - collect at least 2 units (already ordered 1 squad of 5)

Swiftclaw biker pack - 9 bikes, 1 attack bike 1 Wolf Guard

Skyclaw Assault Pack - 10 skyclaws.

 

Heavy Support

 

Long Fangs - 2 squads. 1 drop pod & Wolf Guard, 1 Razorback

Land Raider

Land Raider Crusader

 

 

Fluff & for Friendly games only

 

This was proposed by Fenris Kid over at The Bolter and Chainsword

 

Harald Deathwolf

WS: 6 BS:5 S: 5 T: 5 W: 4 I: 5 A: 5 Ld: 10 Sv: 2+/3++

 

Harald Deathwolf (HQ)..........270pts

 

Unit Type: Infantry

 

Wargear

Runic Armour

Icetooth (Thunderwolf)

Frost Axe

Storm Shield

Saga of the Beastslayer

Wolftooth Necklace

1 Fenrisian Wolf

 

Acute Senses

Independent Character

Counter Attack

And they shall know no fear

Thunderwolf King

 

 

Thunderwolf King: Harald's great company goes to war accompanied by a host of lupine beasts, be it flesh and blood, cybernetic construct or even spirits of loyal companions. To show this in an army that includes Harald can include one Thunderwolf Cavalry squad as a troops choice.

 

Possibly cheese but it seems like it works.

[Wulfebane]

For completionists' sake, you should also include frag/krak and rending to the special rules to make Harald on par with other special characters of his nature. I'm sure it's likely implied otherwise, but better to be safe than to forget to list it in the write-up.

[Highland Piper]

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

I played a 750 pt battle with them last night. Annihilation game vs. Eldar. I won 5 to 3 and we ran over to a sixth turn. This was a basic army so I could relearn how to play Space Wolves (it's been 7 years since I've played them).

 

Things I learned from my first battle

 

I found out that a squad of 15 Blood Claws with just the standard CCW and BP is an awesome wave of death and destruction.

I learned that my son has finally learned to use Dire Avengers as they took out my Battle Leader and a 5 man squad of Grey Hunters w/ Wolf Guard.

I learned that when you have 60 attacks with Blood Claws you can still get 10 wounds with a WS of 3.

I learned that 2 Lascannons and 2 Missile Launchers is enough to take out the transport and to get rid of pesky Fire Dragons :D

I learned that a 7 man Jetbike squad including Autarch is an even match for a 6 man Grey Hunter Squad including Wolf Guard.

 

This was a fun game and so much different than how I've had to learn to play Tau. Although I miss my Strength 5 weapons and Plasma Rifles there is nothing like being able to assault again!