Starting Space Wolves

[Cailegrim]

So, having read the background for the space wolves, I have recently decided to start a SW force. Quite frankly, I like the fact that the SW actually have a moral compass and are loyal to those who actually fight alongside them. Of all the chapters, they seem to be real "good guys." And, having read the biography of Logan Grimnar ... best chapter master ... ever!

 

I am not a tournament oriented player whatsoever and mainly play to make up stories for my little soldiers. I've already named all my characters (except Logan and Arjac, who will remain who they are), from my Lone Wolf, Arvindr the Black and Sigil, his Fenrisian wolf, to my Wolf Guard Battle leader, Steinar Thunderborn. Eventually, I'll add some bio info and post it up here. Also, I want to play a footslogger force. I own two rhinos and a vindicator, but really like a mass of soldiers going forth.

 

With that context and the advent of 6th edition, I have some questions:

 

1) My battlord leader mounted on a thunderwolf is armed with a storm shield and a hammer. I spent the points to make it a Thunder Hammer; however, I can save points by calling it a Power Maul. Is that legal? My reasoning is that a maul and hammer as both similar blunt instruments and our codex doesn't specify power weapons. Would there be any advantage to taking a thunder hammer over a maul? Does the addition point cost make the thunder hammer worth it for some reason? Losing the extra attack seems a negative to me.

 

2) Do Frost weapons offer any advantage over power weapons since the power weapons give STR bonuses now as well?

 

3) I notice a lot of people taking wolf tails. Is the protection from psychic attacks that important? In my game store, I seem to be the only one with psychic attacks with my Rune Priest. Am I just lucky?

 

4) Any advice on modeling a Wolf Priest?

 

5) Am I correct in understanding that Teminator armored Wolf guard are just luck PA wolf guard, in that they can be broken up and lead non terminator units? So, I could take my TDA WG and have him lead a unit of Grey Hunters?

 

Thanks!

 

Cailegrim

[Wulfebane]

With that context and the advent of 6th edition, I have some questions:

 

1) My battlord leader mounted on a thunderwolf is armed with a storm shield and a hammer. I spent the points to make it a Thunder Hammer; however, I can save points by calling it a Power Maul. Is that legal? My reasoning is that a maul and hammer as both similar blunt instruments and our codex doesn't specify power weapons. Would there be any advantage to taking a thunder hammer over a maul? Does the addition point cost make the thunder hammer worth it for some reason? Losing the extra attack seems a negative to me.

 

2) Do Frost weapons offer any advantage over power weapons since the power weapons give STR bonuses now as well?

 

3) I notice a lot of people taking wolf tails. Is the protection from psychic attacks that important? In my game store, I seem to be the only one with psychic attacks with my Rune Priest. Am I just lucky?

 

4) Any advice on modeling a Wolf Priest?

 

5) Am I correct in understanding that Teminator armored Wolf guard are just luck PA wolf guard, in that they can be broken up and lead non terminator units? So, I could take my TDA WG and have him lead a unit of Grey Hunters?

 

Thanks!

 

Cailegrim

 

First off, welcome to the Fang/Aett/B&C SW forum, however you want to call it.

 

I'll take these questions in order and like all Wolves, will likely have a different approach than the next guy to come in here, so I'll try to generalize.

 

1. It's... sort of legal? I don't think anyone will dispute it outside of a tournament. You're likely to get some WYSIWYG nay-sayers, but IMO, so long as it's written (in permanent ink) in your army list, no one can say "nuh uh!".

 

---My opinion on TH or PMaul.. Wolf Lords are one of the few rare units we have in the SW codex that has an Initiative of 5. To not take advantage of that is inefficient in most opinions. Not only that, but should your TWL get called out in a melee Challenge, if he's equipped with a T-hammer, odds are he'll be going last, and that's a fairly risky move.

 

2. They're all different profiles when you look close. A power sword is user Str and AP 3, whereas a frostblade is +1S, AP3. A power axe is +1S, but a frost axe is +2S. Yeah, a power maul is also +2S but AP4. So the frost variants are simply a +1S over what their power counterpart is. Sadly, we no longer can claim "frost mauls" or "frost lances" or anything, since the term "frost weapon" has been abolished.

 

3. You've gotten lucky. With 6th, all psychics got a bit of an overhaul and everyone's been eager to try the new powers. That said, SWs have some of the best counter-psychic units in the game (Rune Priests) but for armies that don't bring them, the talismans are a decent trade-off.

 

4. Well.. mind giving an example of how you'd think one should look? The standard has always been black armor, crozius arcanum, skull helm. It's debated whether this is the true lore-approved all-wolf priest-encompassing standard, since all we have to go on is Ulrik and a limited edition GD model. Bottom line - "It's your army. Do what you want."

 

5. Yes, except for the pack units listed on page 86, TDA WG can join any unit (namely GH packs). The trade-off is they (and the unit they join) cannot perform Sweeping Advances or embark on rhino-chassis vehicles.

 

Hope this helps.

[bob10182]

Welcome and I think Wulfebane really covered just about everything. There are some really amazing tactical blogs and some very informational members on here so post any questions and I'm sure the pack will help you out. One idea I use for my wolf priests, is that I use the wolf head that comes in the grey hunters pack and then i paint the wolf cloak that I model on him black, so a blakc head with a black cloak, plus some wolf add ons and he is pretty much my wolf priest conversion. Anyway, welcome again and have a great time with a unique army !

[Cailegrim]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

 

@Wulfbane - with regard to my vision of a wolf-priest ... you're avatar picture. A marine with a wolf skull and a lot of fur and leather.

 

I am thinking the same way about the power maul versus the thunder hammer. I hate the idea of being last to go as that usually means, for me ... not going at all.

 

Along similar lines. Why would you take a powerfist? Given the initiative penalty, is there any real advantage to taking it over say a wolf claw? seems the wolf claw would be more cost effective given that you can still get an +1 attack and you don't go last with it; and it is cheaper. Unfortunately, I've already modeled some of my figures with PF's, but they look claw-like enough that I may just call them wolf claws instead.

 

@Ruizairborne28 - can you recommend some good links for tactics and such?

 

Also, any place to get a "raven" bit. I was thinking that adding one or two to my wolf priest would be cool.

[bob10182]

Valerian has a great summary of tactics and unit breakdowns and he already updated it for sixth edition. You can also check out http://space-wolves-grey.blogspot.com/ this is great site and it has some great conversions and tactics. The resources on Bolter and Chainsword are very helpful and you can always look for bits on spikey bits or look at some alternate retailers.

[Valerian]

Valerian has a great summary of tactics and unit breakdowns and he already updated it for sixth edition.

 

Thanks for that Ruizairborne28. Cailegrim, the link to the article is down in my signature block below. You may also want to click the link for my Space Wolves army (also in the signature block), as I've got some 6e notes in there, too. Ensure you're using the Space Wolves skin, by clicking the option on the very bottom left of this webpage.

 

Valerian

[the jeske]

Does the addition point cost make the thunder hammer worth it for some reason?

it is ap 2 . it ID most normal toughnes meq . if you get your lord EW there realy arent many units in w40k that can kill a TWC lord with a storm shield in a single round of combat . ap2 is very important because if you give him an ap 3-4 weapon then he wont be able to do challanges and will get tanked in to eternity by all +2sv dudes.

I notice a lot of people taking wolf tails. Is the protection from psychic attacks that important? In my game store, I seem to be the only one with psychic attacks with my Rune Priest. Am I just lucky?

yes.

 

 

Am I correct in understanding that Teminator armored Wolf guard are just luck PA wolf guard, in that they can be broken up and lead non terminator units? So, I could take my TDA WG and have him lead a unit of Grey Hunters?

yeap you could take a divination rune priest/wolf priest with a combi plas . a WG with a combi plas all attached to a GH squad with a plasma gun in a drop pod . land do 6 str 7 ap 2 shot +bolter and have counter attack to characters to kill stuff/do challanges and you still would have MotW and/or a power ax which would be hard to single out in hth [well without precision hit at least].