Fate of the SW Watch Packs

[Corswain]

Did Lorgar get a watch-pack? He had Custodes following him around, Wolves seem a bit....unnecessary.

 

I'd also like to know what happened to the Lions watch-pack. I would not wanna be those guys. :)

[b1soul]

The Lion only Judo chops his own men

[Ryltar Thamior]

Given how ... mixed (to put it charitably) the results of the Watch Pack concept were in practice, I feel that the most reasonable conclusion to be drawn is that their employment was never meant to be an entirely militarily viable one. 

Instead, much like the Custodes seem to have been regarded as in some contexts, it appears they were there as *symbols* and reminders of Imperial authority. 

And, one supposes, also as an implicit statement that as bloody a nuisance it might be for a legion to put down a *single squad* of Vlka Fenryka sent to watch over them ... that's only a foretaste - there's a literal entire Legion of the Wolves still out there and ready to come a'howling in the event that the formation they're attached to has its loyalty cast seriously into doubt. 

Now having said that, there are a number of other directions in which the 'Watch Pack' concept can be explored which - if anything - enhance their military viability. 

As part of the Horus Heresy Inq28 plog linked to in my sig, for instance, I came up with the concept of adding two Wolf Huscarla to my Agents of the Sigillite warband on the basis that if a high-value figure linked to Malcador was going to be wandering the stars in these tumultuous times, then some of the best warriors to send with him as Escorts would, of course, be Wolves. After all, there's very little perceived risk of them going rogue in averse conditions, a demonstrable martial reputation which can be capitalized upon in diplomatic settings (and, obviously, proven once more in actual combat should such a situation arise); and they also serve as a reified reminder that the Eye of the =][= (of its day) is upon local proceedings. 

So there's definitely a number of potential uses for Watchpacks which don't necessarily feature them being placed in the arguably somewhat impossible situation of having an official mandate to attempt to off a Primarch by themselves.

It's all a matter of how you get 'creative' with other high-value targets and assets for them to be assigned to 'watch' :D 

[Terminus]

The thing is, that falls right back into the "myth of primacy" the Wolves had woven in their heads.  Would any Legion really be intimidated by just a presence of a pack because "a whole Legion is behind them"?  All the Legions had their martial pride, I cannot think of a single one that would back down from a fight, whoever was coming. 

[Jackalwolf]

I think there's certainly an aspect of hype we wolves fans and the Rout in universe buy on ourselves. But I don't think Russ ever expected the packs to be able to take down a Primarch if it comes to that.

 

Despite in game, being possible to take down a Primarch with a super unit of ten man (the watch pack could be Praetor, Rune Priest, Wolf Priest and some veterans but I highly doubt it since Praetors are meant to be scarce!), I can't see any Legion letting the watch pack alone with their Primarch.

 

Speaking with BL themselves, they did confirm that the Wolves are a weary and tired legion that has stretched themselves too much. Potentially culling two legions, then erasing Prospero and always jumping into any challenge as is our nature left them tired already before the Heresy began and not even ourselves realised it.