Representing the wolf standard

[skeletoro]

I was initially planning on using the space marine command set standards for the wolf standards for my grey hunters packs. Maybe with a few backpack banners thrown in. But I've started to lean away from that, for a couple of reasons.

 

First, the wording in the codex makes it seem like maybe GW was envisaging wolf standards to be relatively rare - possibly one per great company. The armoury section refers to them as the sacred wolf standards of the space wolves great companies. It's totally ambiguous, but it does sound suspiciously like there's a single wolf standard for each great company.

 

There are also pics of "company banners" such as "Ragnar Blackmane's great company banner," which are also referred to as wolf standards in at least one caption. There's wiggle room; perhaps each great company only has one "great company banner," but other banners also qualify as wolf standards too. In any case, I suspect the writers were thinking that wolf standards are great company banners, and there's only one per great company. 

 

Secondly, I'm building a detachment from the Bran-maw's Great Company. Outflanking, infiltrating - stalking and hunting - are his niche. I feel like it's kind of bizarre to give a humongous "fire your artillery here" flag to recon/infiltrator units. 

 

The codex certainly allows us to take one per pack. And I fully intend my grey hunters to never leave home without one. Is there a good solution?

 

I've been thinking of alternative ways to model wolf standards to make them look A) more variegated and B) more stowable for covert ops (for some of the packs, anyway). Obviously, they'd still need to be easily recognizable as the "wolf standard" models. What alternative representations do you think would be acceptable? Here's some ideas I was tossing around:

 

a) A sacred relic that is clearly visible on the model but is NOT a banner (e.g. a large runic shield - perhaps one of Scibor's Celtic range - strapped to the backpack, perhaps with furs draped across it).

b) Something made of cloth that isn't a banner, per se (e.g. a big cape, magic underwear, that sort of thing)

c) Something that can intuitively be used to "rally" the pack once per battle - perhaps model a grey hunter blowing the horn from the wolf guard kit?

d) A non-banner that is nevertheless stick-like or otherwise vaguely shaped like a banner. A spear?

 

...or some combination thereof?

 

Any other ideas appreciated.

 

[Wulfebane]

For non-banner, rallying devices, I like the horn.

[Kassill]

For non-banner, rallying devices, I like the horn.

Seconded on that.

[Greylocke]

I use the spear arms from the chaos marauders kit. When you get them the spear is in the hand with head pointed down. The first thing I do is cut and pin it so the point is up off the top of the fist. Then I decorate each one differently. I hang helemets of defeated foes or skulls, some of them have lots of wolf tails. I even have one that has a strip of a chaos army banner to represent that pack taking the banner from a defeated unit and shredding it for a trophy.

 

I keep the trophies to a limit and have them all hanging from just below the tip of the spear to make it look realistic and not be unwieldy (is that a real word? did I spell it right? haha). Also since the arm is bare I paint (or cheat with a pen mostly) knotted tattoos over the forearm as a mark of honor for the standard (spear) bearer.

[ErikThunderclaws]

I've used some bits of the Space Wolves Pack sprue, see:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tToxdsYoT0o/UYD_LuYMulI/AAAAAAAAATI/XCMs02EylSM/s320/2013-04-12+15.22.58.jpg

[Grimtooth]

The banners are only activated right before you assault or anticipate being assaulted so they would not openly be displayed on recon/infiltrating units until after the enemy already knows where you are located. However, if you just don't like the idea of an unfurled banner, then some of the other ideas presented will serve. Your idea about a celtic shield would work pretty well.

[sn33r]

in my opinion a banner is for poncy armies like smurfs who arent scary and need to try and show the world how scary they are by carrying big banners, we of the fang dont need such things so i take horns for my stand in banners just befor an assualt the horn brays and lets all known now is the time for murder make and red snow....( sorry about the picture it was taken off my phone and not intended for this post..i only paint because i hate seeing unpainted armies being fielded.)

 

 

http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv250/rugersrob/IMAG0368.jpg

[Greylocke]

sn33r:

 

You've got some tough looking mini's brother. I like the look of using the horn. I think I'm going to try out that technique myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Rift Blade]

I gotta second that. Consider that idea swipped!!!

[sn33r]

The horn is the same as here just I bought mine from a beastman pile on eBay super cheap... http://www.bitsandkits.co.uk/beastmen-gor-herd-horn-p-6416.html

[Ghostwolfalpha]

You could also have a spear that has the banner wrapped or held to it. Have a model holding it pointed forward with the cloth wrapped under it. I wish I had a pic of what I mean.