Lone Wolves are Characters?

[euphemismo]

Forgive me if I'm late to the party, but the new rule book says Lone Wolves are Characters (p. 411). I can't believe it. If I can ever get mine into combat, some bosses are going down.

[Valerian]

Forgive me if I'm late to the party, but the new rule book says Lone Wolves are Characters (p. 411). I can't believe it. If I can ever get mine into combat, some bosses are going down.

 

Yes, Lone Wolves make perfect character killers with the new challenge system.

 

V

[Schertenleib]

So what would be a good Character Hunting load out?

[Valerian]

So what would be a good Character Hunting load out?

 

Definitely Storm Shield and TDA, and probably Fenrisian Wolves, to start. The Wolves would be mostly to pass off failed shooting wounds as you are moving forward to engage an enemy squad via the Look Out Sir roll.

 

For offense, your choices really fall down to 3, in my opinion:

 

1) Wolf Claw so you can strike at Initiative and re-roll failed hits or wounds

 

2) Thunder Hammer so you can crush anything in close combat rather easily. Only downside is low I attack, but with 2+/3++ saves as well as Feel No Pain 5+ and Eternal Warrior, he'll probably live long enough to get to crush that enemy character with the Hammer.

 

3) Chain Fist - does everything that the Hammer does, except the concussive stun, but shreds all armor in the game like it's paper. Good for getting to the troops cowering inside.

 

Valerian

[Marmande]

So what would be a good Character Hunting load out?

 

TDA, Storm Shield and either a Chainfist or Thunder Hammer.

[Schertenleib]

Good, I don't have to rebuild my Lone Wolf. ^_^

[Kassill]

Lone Wolves are probably my favorite unit in the book. Can't wait to model one up soon and take to the field with him, knocking IC's, Vehicles and MC's around like it's no bodies business. ^_^ ;)

[clanfield]

im running twin plas pistols(gunslinger) and mark of the wulfen for extra hth fun along with his reroll and now the charictor killie 26"rule thats v fun

 

do he die yep but thats the point neh

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

My tuppence...

 

If you've given the lone wolf terminator armour and are thinking of a character killing (duelling) role, I think the storm shield can become an expensive luxury - most opposing duelling characters will be high initiative/ap3 or I1/ap2... The lone wolf in standard tda has a 2+ save and 5++ with eternal warrior and feel no pain. The chances of him going down in a duel before he strikes (even at I1) are pretty low unless the opponent is a real monster (hello hive tyrant!), in which case he will likely struggle even with a storm shield due to his relatively limited number of attacks. I admit that this is generalising somewhat but I just think you are better saving points to give him a good chance rather than trying to get a guarantee that he will never reach.

 

I think the 2+ 5++ alone is ideal for a lone wolf - tda/powerfist/combi for the win (and most cost effective). ID will still see that claim alot of skulls while giving him a relentless precision shooting attack too. Like hovis, its the best of both.

 

Remember, you also still want him to die at some stage right! (unless something on that has changed I don't know about)

 

I plan on rocking quite a few of these over the next couple of weeks so will report back with experiences, but that combo worked well before and looks even better now with the increased value of a 2+ save. There is no doubt that a hammernator build on a lone wolf will work, I just think you're paying alot for a benefit (3++) you largely won't use.

 

Nos

[Valerian]

Nos,

I don't disagree with your assessment for the actual Challenge, but a nice part of the importance of the Storm Shield is in helping him get to close combat in the first place. He won't be riding, so he'll likely be wading through a bit of firepower on his way to close combat, and will definitely have some Overwatch to deal with. With the prevalence of Meltaguns now, and Plasma guns in 6e, that Shield is necessary, I believe, to enable that lone character to actually get to the fight.

V

[Chalx the grey]

Well depending on who you come across, that 3++ is actually golden... against a Crisis suit team with plasma + melta, the 3++ means a chance to stand up to that first volley and engage. The 5++ just goes "poof".

 

I'll stick to my TDA TH+SS combo, which has been MVP in many games already in 5th. And maybe build a new TDA CF+SS one, now that scouts seem to have lost punch, seems like a better use of the elite slot.

[hendrik]

not to mention that if you're taking an I1 weapon anyway the thunderhammer seems THE best choice thanks to the consusive rule

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

Nos,

 

I don't disagree with your assessment for the actual Challenge, but a nick part of the importance of the Storm Shield is in helping him get to close combat in the first place. He won't be riding, so he'll likely be wading through a bit of firepower on his way to close combat, and will definitely have some Overwatch to deal with. With the prevalence of Meltaguns now, and Plasma guns in 6e, that Shield is necessary, I believe, to enable that lone character to actually get to the fight.

 

V

Yep, absolutely see your point too and can see situations where thats going to be the difference between him getting into combat and falling to the ap1/2 weapons you rightly highlight. My counter would be that one of the points of the combi vs storm shield build is to give you a dose of that to throw out too. Yes, the lone wolf is designed to be a combat beast, but he becomes very one dimensional if he has no shooting at all, particularly as it seems even more powerful in 6th than 5th to me (early days though). While its hardly the be all and end all, you have to get him into contact with the right unit and model to get his points back - thats not always the case with my suggested variant... Its only within range.

 

I think both will work, and I'm not slating it, but I'll usually take my guy with his combi shot as some of the time that alone will pay for the model on its own before he gets into combat - the TH or PF/SS alternative may never get that chance. Its basically swapping surviviability for a admittedly small slice of flexibility, and in my view, the points cost of the storm shield makes my alternative feel like a better investment.

 

To be honest, my lone wolves usually get killed by massed small arms/clubs rather than lascannons anyway - If the enemies las/plas is aimed at him, I'm probably celebrating them not shooting at my troop choice transports. Against anything other than ap1/2 and selected 40k oddities which rely on invunerables, the survivability is clearly equal. I guess at that point it comes down to how you use the different units and packs in your army and synching it together. As lone wolves are usually my 'second wave' or 'troubleshooting' for the most part, a combi-melta or plasma shot often makes them worthwhile in a way that a storm shield build cannot match. Horses for courses I guess.

 

Nos

[Erluin]

Ok, so a Lone Wolf assaults a Vanilla tac squad and issues a challenge to the sergeant. Serg denies challenge... so everyone stands around doing nothing? Are they all locked in assault and really just doing nothing???

 

So confused about challenges.

[Erluin]

double post

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

Ok, so a Lone Wolf assaults a Vanilla tac squad and issues a challenge to the sergeant. Serg denies challenge... so everyone stands around doing nothing? Are they all locked in assault and really just doing nothing???

 

So confused about challenges.

This feels like a rules grab, so apologies if it isn't and hence the short reply, but no, they don't just stand around.

 

The rules clearly cover what happens if a challenge is refused on that 'challenges' double page in the book... Don't have a page reference but will add one to this thread later if it hasn't appeared by the time I get home. Subheading of 'challenges refused' I think.

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

Ok, so a Lone Wolf assaults a Vanilla tac squad and issues a challenge to the sergeant. Serg denies challenge... so everyone stands around doing nothing? Are they all locked in assault and really just doing nothing???

 

So confused about challenges.

This feels like a rules grab, so apologies if it isn't and hence the short reply, but no, they don't just stand around.

 

The rules clearly cover what happens if a challenge is refused on that 'challenges' double page in the book... Don't have a page reference but will add one to this thread later if it hasn't appeared by the time I get home. Subheading of 'challenges refused' I think.

New rulebook, pg.64 'refusing a challenge' and 'outside forces'

[Kassill]

Ok, so if the enemy refuses, the Lone Wolf just proceeds to bash in other peoples skulls. Cool. :P

[Valerian]

not to mention that if you're taking an I1 weapon anyway the thunderhammer seems THE best choice thanks to the consusive rule

 

I actually prefer the Chainfist, hendrik, as I've gotten to use the +2d6 on AP on vehicles way more often than I've ever had anything get Stuned by a Thunderhammer. Most of the time if a model takes an unsaved Thunderhammer Wound it just dies outright. Of course, if you're playing against Nids and others with Monstrous Creatures, then the Hammer is the way to go, but since most games seem to be against other Marines, I get a lot more mileage out of the Chainfist.

 

Of course, magnetizing for both options is the way to go.

 

V

[Bradimus Prime]

not to mention that if you're taking an I1 weapon anyway the thunderhammer seems THE best choice thanks to the consusive rule

 

I actually prefer the Chainfist, hendrik, as I've gotten to use the +2d6 on AP on vehicles way more often than I've ever had anything get Stuned by a Thunderhammer. Most of the time if a model takes an unsaved Thunderhammer Wound it just dies outright. Of course, if you're playing against Nids and others with Monstrous Creatures, then the Hammer is the way to go, but since most games seem to be against other Marines, I get a lot more mileage out of the Chainfist.

 

Of course, magnetizing for both options is the way to go.

 

V

 

+1, I love the Chainfist too and now the Lone Wolves hit vehicles on 3's they are even better and not forgetting they are AP1 now.

[Heimdall Skullcrusher]

+1, I love the Chainfist too and now the Lone Wolves hit vehicles on 3's they are even better and not forgetting they are AP1 now.

 

Unless I'm missing something Chainfists are AP2 (which means they get a +1 on the vehicle damage chart which is probably what you were going for)

[Bradimus Prime]

+1, I love the Chainfist too and now the Lone Wolves hit vehicles on 3's they are even better and not forgetting they are AP1 now.

 

Unless I'm missing something Chainfists are AP2 (which means they get a +1 on the vehicle damage chart which is probably what you were going for)

 

Mine are AP1 dammit!

 

Joking aside I've just double checked and you are indeed right they are AP2, my bad. Lones Wolves are still awesome though.

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

Another +1 for the chainfist - with the 3+ to hit nearly all moving vehicles, the chainfist has come out well in the new rules. While obviously no use in a challenge when a thunder hammer might be (monstrous creatures being THs best use IMHO as mentioned by others above), the ability of the chainfist to cut through armour like a knife through hot butter is surely worth it for at least one model per squad - I had great success with them on pack leaders historically but they also have their place on lone wolves - very effective and usually a better investment than a hammer I would think.

[Wolf Guard Nostromo]

Thought I'd add to this thread that I'm finding lone wolves to be really handy in my subsequent games following the initial discussions above - really good denial units as your opponent has to kill them to gain an objective they are contesting (vs avoiding/not killing them to get a single VP) so really have to consider their options carefully.

 

They are also quite brilliant with the challenge system - your opponents choice is to accept and run the risk of being mauled by your killing machine or skulk away and allow you to elect which model you don't want to attack him (to a point). And laugh if they accept without an ap2 weapon. My current pair have won me my last couple of games, no doubt, and killed a chaos lord in terminator armour and, less impressively, an imperial guard commander (poor fella) in challenges into the bargain. Sagas are written of such things.

 

The challenge system just seems made for help these guys find the action (and death) they seek - truly cinematic stuff.

[skeletoro]

What about chain fist and wolf claw? Choice of init or ap2, and an extra attack.