Wolf Lord - gun or shield?

[Rasclomalum]

Thunder hammers are mighty close combat weapons, and fit the Nordic aesthetic of the Space Wolves like a glove. Giving one to a Wolf Lord is therefore a very sound modelling choice, even though a Power Fist is more cost efficient, and a Chainfist arguably provides more utility (concussive has its uses in challenges though).

 

Anyway, I am set on a Wolf Lord with a Thunder Hammer, and there are essentially three loadouts I am considering.

 

Assuming Terminator Armour, the traditional Thunder Hammer + Storm Shield setup on a Wolf Lord sets one back 180 points, before any additional upgrades. While this sacrifices the increased initiative, it's still capable of shrugging off most damage thrown at it and give back as good as it got, if not better. Saga of the Bear makes it into a veritable rock, albeit an expensive one.

 

For five points more than the above loadout, one could drop the Storm Shield in favour of a Belt of Russ and a Combi-weapon, with Combi-plasma perhaps being the strongest contender here. The 3++ is now reduced to a 4++, but on the other hand it opens up the possibility of Plasma Rapid Fire at a respectable BS5 (which, with a Divination Rune Priest or together with a Wolf Priest is essentially twin-linked). In any case, a very high chance of hitting and killing with two shots before assaulting, potentially taking out two enemy terminators before charging them.

 

The third possibility is the obvious one. Pair the Thunder Hammer with a Wolf Claw, exult gleefully at the additional attack and having the tools to deal with any threat in close combat. The price tag is 195 points assuming the Belt of Russ, though one could argue that it's too expensive for what it does on a Terminator character, as one is paying premium for turning a 5++ to a 4++.

 

Dropping the Belt of Russ would drop the points cost for the Plasma Lord to 160 points and the Claw Lord to 170 points.

 

If you had to choose, which one would you pick?

[Vash113]

I'd always suggest Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield and Saga of the Bear, though Artificer Armor is preferable to Terminator Armor for it gives you additional protection against psykers, the ability to run down your opponents and a smaller base area.

 

However even with Terminator Armor the use of a Thunder Hammer means you are going to be striking last, so to make sure you get the most from that a Storm Shield and Saga of the Bear ensure that you survive to make your strikes and are as tough as humanly possible. The Wolf Claw setup is essentially paying more for something you may or may not use, you have more strength and better ap with the Thunder Hammer and unless it is utterly imperative that you strike first the Thunder Hammer is almost always going to be preferable IMO.

 

As for guns I do not find any of the available ranged weapons preferable over other options. Combi-weapons are essentially a bolter and a one shot special weapon, problem there is it's one shot, and on a character too. It's fine if we're talking Chaos Terminators, Ork Nobz or Sternguard where you can have a whole squad of such weapons but a single plasma or melta is not going to be that effective when it comes at the cost of a potential additional attack or the protection of the storm shield.

 

So ultimately I'd say go with the Storm Shield!

[DanPesci]

storm shield and saga of the bear. Your paying high points costs anyway, may as well pay slightly higher points cost for things that are going to keep you alive a lot longer.

 

I sometimes run a WGBL with powerfist/w.claw. Handy guy to have in a deathstar unit for taking challenges. But i only really run that in big games

[Castellan Michael]

storm shield, thunder hammer, and saga of the bear is the best load out for my local meta. That includes, deldar, eldar, tau, marines, and chaos SM.

[Rasclomalum]

The matter is settled then, Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield it is! Thank you!

[Rune_Priest_Rhapsody]

Leave the gun, take the cannoli, er storm shield.

 

The survivability of your lord is pretty key, but I don't need me telling you that. If you go the Runic route it's easier to go with an axe/hammer or some such pairing. It's because of the Belt of Russ that you an do that. I like my TDA lord with a Hammer, Storm Shield, Saga of the Bear, and enough in your face aggression to kill an entire rabbit farm.

 

End of Line

[Castellan Michael]

 Rune_Priest_Rhapsody  ''...enough in your face aggression to kill an entire rabbit farm.''    LMAO!