Lone Wolf Fluff Question

[tjdudey]

Being only a few months into my Space Wolves Saga I haven't yet read much in the way of novels etc, so my fluff knowledge is purely codex based at the minute.

 

My question relates to Lone Wolves.

 

In the codex it states:

 

Sometimes, though, a pack will suffer so terribly
that it is reduced to a single survivor; one who has lost his
brothers to a man and yet has not earnt a place in the
vaunted Wolf Guard

 

If this is the case, how comes a Lone Wolf can take Terminator Armour, I didn't think Wolves got these until they were in the wolf guard? Is there a precedent for this somewhere else in the fluff?

 

Secondary question:

 

The codex also states:

 

Occasionally, though, the Lone Wolf will
emerge bloodied but triumphant, carrying the head of his
quarry back to his Great Company with a grim smile fixed
upon his lips. Such individuals are almost always inducted
into the Wolf Guard, their new comrades at the feasting
table welcoming them with great jubilation, an enormous
platter of roasted elk and enough ale to kill a mammoth.

 

I would think if Lone Wolves take down a MC or Warlord, and survive they should not concede the victory point they normally would for surviving? Just a thought.

 

What do the rest of you guys think?

 

T

[Marshall Bretton]

in terms of terminator armour, basically I think it is because the chapter gives them all the tools they need to avenge their fallen brothers or die with glory, the path of the lone wolf seems to be incredibly respected. However as the wolf guard also have packs, presumably they could end up with a single survivor who might use his existing terminator armour.

 

rules wise I would like to see a new rule in the next book where each wolf picks a target, a mc, walker of character, which awards d3 victory points if they kill it. But if they are still alive and fail they concede d3 or something (and if they die without achieving it then nothing happens)

[Kasper_Hawser]

In regards to wargear, this is one of the few exceptions to the Wolf Lords allowing access to Terminator armour and weaponry. For wolves who are last survivors of the pack, they often want to have a last hurrah before they die and join their pack in the afterlife. The wolf leaders, whether it is Lord, Rune or Wolf Pries, respects these kind of suicidal survivors. Before they send them off to die though, they allow him to select whatever weapons he needs, not to protect him mind you, but to enable him to have a fighting chance to actually HURT, if not TAKE DOWN a big monster or enemy.

 

If I were more optimistic though, it is also to give him a chance to SURVIVE and return to the Aett with his honour intact. In game turns, a full Grey Hunter Pack is worth 150 points. All but one dies, leaves a 15 point guy. Now obviously we in our right minds would join the lone 15point guy to another squad, but this guy refuses to join another pack and wants to die fighting. So the Lords say, fine, but take this so that you can actually have the chance of killing something rather than waste his own life getting eaten for the chapter. So yeah, its a win win situation. If he dies, then fine, he kept his honour. But if he LIVES!!!!

 

That's a saga that will allow the lone wolf to become whole again and rejoin the chapter. 

 

In game terms, the rules conceding victory point whether he lives or dies kind of reflects this. While you may think that he NEEDS to die for the VP, the truth is if he does end up fighting something and not only LIVES but smashes the enemy, we may lose the VP due to his alive, but most likely the rest of the army will have achieved that objectives. Hence the Lone Wolf has not only redeemed his honour, but the whole chapter recognises that this guy is AWESOME! And promptlly induct him into the Wolf Guard where he gets to keep the terminator armour. :)

 

All in all, one of Phil Kelly's most masterful and fun creations in the codex. Whether he is awesome in game, really depends on one's luck. At 2 Wounds, you don't think he is survivable, but my main concern about fielding him is that he has next to no mobility unless he steals someone's rhino.

[Kasper_Hawser]

There is a short story by Chris Wright called "Kraken". A true masterpiece. Not just about the lone wolf in the story, but also those who interact with him, whether it is the Imperial Guard wondering what the heck is this strange and smelly Space Marine going around the galaxy alone, or the Wolf Priest who initially recruited the main character.

 

Without giving too much away, the story actually ends on a sort of happy note, at least by W40K grimdark standards. Very pleasant surprise for me. Go but it. I thEditink it costs 6 pounds or so on IPAD.

[tjdudey]

I have to say, I love the character these bring to an army, its just a shame they take an elite spot, which is precious. I am running a narrative campaign just now with some friends and am basically keeping track of individual units to see if at any point there is a lone wolf left from a pack.

[Baulder]

I've often said to my mates that this would be a nice fluffy twist on lone wolves in the next codex.

 

If at any point a unit of GH, BC or LF is reduced to 1 model at the end of an enemy's turn and passes his morale check then this model immediately becomes a lone wolf (gaining; fearless, FNP, monster hunter).

 

Additionally, it could be good to give him headstrong or something similar.

[Kasper_Hawser]

Nah, I wouldn't make him headstrong unless he is a bloodclaw. Maybe something like different bonus if whichever becomes the last of the pack.

 

Grey Hunter: in addition to Lone wolf rules, gains something reroll to hit in both shooting and CC as befitting his status as veteran.

Blood Claw: gains headstrong and maybe stubborn

Long fang: relentless and tank hunter. That way if he still carrying his las cannon, he can move And shoot.

Wolf guard: I dunno, fririous charge

[Captain Juan Juarez]

Wolf guard: I dunno, fririous charge

Is that like Frivolous Charge?

[Valerian]

In my opinion, it comes down to this: sometimes there are descripancies in the background fluff for a unit, and what that unit is like in the army list and on the table. Alternately, you could assume that the vast majority of Lone Wolves would originate from Grey Hunter or Blood Claw packs, and occassionally other types of packs. In the background, most Lone Wolves would come from these, and then possibly be introduced into the Wolf Guard if they survived their vengeance-oath, as described in their unit entry in the codex.

 

Very rarely, however, the Wolf Guard itself might somehow get nearly wiped out, leaving behind a sole survivor, and thus allowing for an opportunity for a rare Lone Wolf, that happens to be equipped with the ancient and rare Terminator Tactical Dreadnought Armour.

 

It just happens, that what is supposed to be the most rare in the fluff, is seen as the most common on the table-top. As you may have noticed, this is prevelant in 40k games, where exceptionally rare things are seen routinely; one shouldn't let that bother themselves too much.

 

Valerian

[Rune Priest Jbickb]

Another cool lone wolf story is the one from the advent releases about Bjorns time as a lone wolf and then it's companion story. Those stories made me wanna take Bjorn even more.

[Kasper_Hawser]

I wonder what bjorn's stats be like in HH? At the very least like a wolf lord. Eternal warrior is a given since he has personally beaten greater daemons with no support before.

 

What other interesting rules should he have?

 

I heard Sigismund has official stats as well, and it is nearly primarch level. Bjorn's should be too!

[viddar]

The fluff for my lone wolf in TDA was that he was a member of the wolf guard who on his first command lost all the bloodclaws. I like the ideal of the heroic character who just wasn't cut out to lead. Plus it explains the lack of blood claws in my army really hope they're better in the next dex.

[Valerian]

The fluff for my lone wolf in TDA was that he was a member of the wolf guard who on his first command lost all the bloodclaws. I like the ideal of the heroic character who just wasn't cut out to lead. Plus it explains the lack of blood claws in my army really hope they're better in the next dex.

 

I like it; that's an elegant solution.

 

V

[viddar]

Yeah im really happy with it. My main issue with him is coming up with a name.

 

I meant to say it earlier but kasper_hawser is right about kraken its a great story. Its one of the stories in wolves of fenris if anyone is interested.

[BT_Cennar]

Fluff of my LW is. He was at the Deathwatch coming back after a decade or so just to find out his Lord and most of the Wolfguard are dead. The Wolflord of his company accept him to take patch of a LW and even alows him to wear the old Greatcompany insignias. (the only model in my Army with a diferent company sign.)