Why are SW so popular?

[b1soul]

People generally say the UM are the most accessible legion/chapter, but if you look at topic count...

 

Space Wolves: 12,076 topics

Adeptus Astartes: 9,978 topics

Blood Angels: 7,736 topics

CSM: 7,256 topics

Dark Angels: 5,238 topics

Grey Knights: 4,740 topics

Deathwatch: 747 topics

 

I'm assuming this also generally reflects the frequency of tabletop armies.

 

SW have the following characteristics...

 

Norse/Viking cultural influences

Werewolf theme

Executioner mythos

Popular early fiction in the form of Ragnar Blackmane

 

It seems to me that people (especially Americans, British, Australians) really like Vikings, and what could be cooler than Vikings in power armour, who are hinted to be special and fearsome than their peers and who can turn into armour-shredding anti-Chaos werewolves?

 

I think removing the Viking theme would hurt the Wolves' popularity the most.

 

Any thoughts?

[Wispy]

Ultramarines aren't so much popular, rather they are the official face of the most 'popular' factions - Codex Space Marines writ large.

 

Space Wolves I think are probably the most popular of Space Marine subfactions, though. I think Space Wolves broad appeal is simpler than gravitation to the viking theme (though its got a large part in what makes them unique and fun)... The main thing I think that draws people in is the  Space Wolves have character and personality where Codex chapters are burdened by relentless stoicism. They're the only Imperial faction having fun. Everyone likes a good guy who is a renegade, a rule breaker, a disturber.

[Hasuro]

Well, before recent forum purging there were abit more topics in vanilla subforum than here, also I think its not finished yet and SW subforum will reduce to about same size eventually

[Kasper_Hawser]

Fancy seeing you here B1soul, i mostly see you at the Age of Darkness forums.

 

Lots of reasons, and I don't think the number of posters/lurkers/topics of B&C properly reflects the actual player market, or how much Wolves are "liked" or alternatively, "hated".

 

If I can put my finger on why there are so many topics, well, I think one of the big factors is the whole Wolves portrayal during HH. You know the three main areas that fans and detractors of Wolves argue endlessly about:

 

1) Executioners role, nuff said

2) Psyker views

3) Burning of Prospero portrayal

4) Role before, during and after heresy

5) And of course, the viking vs furry issue.

 

Also sadly, Wolves fans including myself tend to be a passionate lot, endlessly debating the above 5 points and other areas. Eventually I gave up as it was counter productive and wasn't resolving anything and therefore resigned myself to the inconsistency that is GW.

 

Compared to the other legions, I don't think they arouse as much controversy or skub, except maybe the Dark Angels.

 

 

Ultramarines aren't so much popular, rather they are the official face of the most 'popular' factions - Codex Space Marines writ large.

 

Space Wolves I think are probably the most popular of Space Marine subfactions, though. I think Space Wolves broad appeal is simpler than gravitation to the viking theme (though its got a large part in what makes them unique and fun)... The main thing I think that draws people in is the  Space Wolves have character and personality where Codex chapters are burdened by relentless stoicism. They're the only Imperial faction having fun. Everyone likes a good guy who is a renegade, a rule breaker, a disturber.

 

as Wispy says, the Wolves also happen to be very connectable even though they regard themselves higher than mortals similar to how an Ultramarine views his serfs. And yet, most of us connect to the Wolves instead of the stiff necked UM due to their, I dunno, cool fantasy viking barbarian in sci-fi mentality.

 

As a non competitive player, I just happen to connect to the Wolves portrayal as opposed to the tortured existence of a Blood Angel, the secretive nature of a Dark Angel, the boring but stoic stubborn Imperial Fists, etc.

 

After all, the wolves still have a sex drive even after ascension. And with that, they still have a connection with us mortals. Most other chapters don't. :P Half joking but also half serious.

[Panzer]

One thing that sticks out the most about Space Wolves as army is that they are the furthest away from vanilla Marines. They have unique units that are more than just different flavoured Jump Pack infantry or Terminators and they even shuffled the the basic units around to give them more flavour (elite scouts, young ones in power armour as blood claws), Terminator Sergeants. Wherever you look in a Space Wolve army you see something special while Dark Angels and Blood Angels still have lots of basic Marine units like Tacticals, Scouts, Devastators and so on.

Also media made vikings to be the cool thing currently while the Knight theme of Dark Angels and the Angel/Vampire theme of Blood Angels is not as present in the model line as the wolf/viking theme of the Space Wolves.

[sbarnby71]

I started painting SM back when I was 17, some 30 years ago.  Ultramarines all the way for me for the 1st year or so.  Then I bought a paint set that had a booklet which showed a grey glad Terminator, yep it was a Space Wolf.  Other than the transfer there was no extra SW details back then all Marines were created equal, but I still can see the image and that started me down the path of painting Space Wolves.  So for me it was no other reason than a different paint scheme, but over the years I just love the extra detail they've gotten.

[Tokugawa]

They are super-human, but keep more humanity than their brothers. I think they are typical example of "good guys".

[Kasper_Hawser]

They are super-human, but keep more humanity than their brothers. I think they are typical example of "good guys".

 

as much as a good guy can be in 40K anyway. i still say the reason i chose 40K was also because they were the closest things to good guys in the setting.

 

Notwithstanding the Months of Shame or the Wrath of Magnus events which nearly put the Wolves down to the Dark Angels level in backstabbing allies (albeit thanks to Changeling trickery) and slaughter of civilians (after the events of Magnus, which thousands of fenrisians were purged by the Inquisition with the Wolves having no more strength to prevent it).

 

Maybe I should say, they are one of the least likely to screw you over as allies, even if you are a mortal .

[Panzer]

 

Maybe I should say, they are one of the least likely to screw you over as allies, even if you are a mortal .

 

 

Together with Blood Angels, Salamanders and like every second chapter because at some point most authors wrote something like that about one of the classic chapters. ^^

[Kasper_Hawser]

 

 

Maybe I should say, they are one of the least likely to screw you over as allies, even if you are a mortal .

 

 

Together with Blood Angels, Salamanders and like every second chapter because at some point most authors wrote something like that about one of the classic chapters. ^^

 

 

I don't think any author has put Salamanders betraying allies as a second thought or chapter before, although knowing Nick Kyme, he'll probably one day reveal Salamanders as the biggest dicks of all.

[Jackalwolf]

For me it was all about the characters back then. They have some of the biggest most relatable personalities:

 

- Ragnar Blackmane: Up an coming young marine whoose road we follow from banging chicks as a Fenrisian to becoming a wolf lord. Being him was essentially the dream of any self respecting teen

- Logan Grimnar: Cool wise badass. Essentially the dream of any self respecting senior.

- Bjorn: The greatest hero of the Imperium that fought with the -at the time- mythical titans of legend like Russ, Guilliman or the Emperor. The dream of any self respecting semi dead.

- Ulrik: He impersonates the mysticism and dread of the Skywarriors.

 

And many others joined the fray as the years passed. Who doesn't love/hate the jackalwolf.

 

Plus they are the archetype of the good rebel which resonates a lot in people and fiction.

[Tokugawa]

 

 

 

Maybe I should say, they are one of the least likely to screw you over as allies, even if you are a mortal .

 

Together with Blood Angels, Salamanders and like every second chapter because at some point most authors wrote something like that about one of the classic chapters. ^^

Is Salamaders too "kindhearted" to show enough iconic and existence to customers?

[UniWolf]

I only started playing 40k about 18 months ago and when looking at the different army’s, the ones that most suited my play style were SW. I also love the Norse theme and I am a fan of thunderwolves (I know not everyone is) so SW were the perfect fit for me

[Kasper_Hawser]

I only started playing 40k about 18 months ago and when looking at the different army’s, the ones that most suited my play style were SW. I also love the Norse theme and I am a fan of thunderwolves (I know not everyone is) so SW were the perfect fit for me

 

It's OK, you have the right to use as many TWC as you want. For my part, I may start using TWC soon, at least on characters. It's one of the few reliable ways to get enough attacks on the charge and accomplish Saga of the Wolf Kin Deed of Legend.

[Kelborn]

Why are the Vlka Fenryka so popular? *fixed it for you *

 

You've already answered it by yourself.

- Nordic theme (one of the most popular eras / cultures of past times)

- Wolves

- executioner role, yet caring for the regular man

- Bill King's novels and more recently the work done by other authors (most notably Wraight, Abnett and Haley)

- Some might call them snowflakes or mary sues but they are the most individual chapter out there. BAs and DAs are still clinging to the Codex more or less. The Rout does not. They are basically the Legion of old but still evolved further from it. Try to compare 30K and 40K Wolves, then you'll know what I mean.

- Bjorn, Ragnar, Logan Grimnar, Njal, Ulrik, Lukas, Arjac, ... (I don't need to explain that, eh?.)

- LEMAN RUSS

 

 

And now in my very humble opinion: The Vlka Fenryka are rightly popular. Haters gonna hate. We don't care.

[Sete]

Mainstream media is saturated with Vikings stuff. Just like samurais and ninjas in the 90's and 80's.

[Guest Triszin]

because people like dogs.

 

and dogs are great and cute and stuff.

 

bark bark *wags tail*

[NightHowler]

People generally say the UM are the most accessible legion/chapter, but if you look at topic count...

 

Space Wolves: 12,076 topics

Adeptus Astartes: 9,978 topics

Blood Angels: 7,736 topics

CSM: 7,256 topics

Dark Angels: 5,238 topics

Grey Knights: 4,740 topics

Deathwatch: 747 topics

 

I'm assuming this also generally reflects the frequency of tabletop armies.

 

SW have the following characteristics...

 

Norse/Viking cultural influences

Werewolf theme

Executioner mythos

Popular early fiction in the form of Ragnar Blackmane

 

It seems to me that people (especially Americans, British, Australians) really like Vikings, and what could be cooler than Vikings in power armour, who are hinted to be special and fearsome than their peers and who can turn into armour-shredding anti-Chaos werewolves?

 

I think removing the Viking theme would hurt the Wolves' popularity the most.

 

Any thoughts?

After the Horus Heresy, it was decided that never again could the Imperium tolerate the possibility of one Space Marine forum falling under the influence of an enemy of mankind, so, in accordance with Primarch Roboute Guilliman's seminal treaties, the Codex Forumicus, the original Space Marine Forums were broken up into smaller Sub-Forums.  But Leman Russ cared little for formal internet organisation and had no intention of breaking apart his mighty forum in accordance with his brother's wishes.  And thus, the Space Wolves post as the Wolf-King would have us post, not as a small contingent of disciplined and well-ordered netizens, but as an army of battle-hungry warriors.

[TiguriusX]

In a universe of brain washed super soldiers and corrupt bureaucrats the space wolves independent streak and anti authoritarian views were appealing to me.

[Rune Priest Jbickb]

I think, as a few others have said, its that individuality that is inherent to the space wolves that draw so many people to space wolves. Space wolves are on the human side but they dont follow the crazy imperial rules they follow their own methods and rules. I personally find this attractive and I suspect many others do to.

[Karhedron]

The SWs were the first chapter to be differentiated from regular Codex marines way back in the dying days of 1st edition. Many of us Long Fangs remember those old metal sets.

[Krakendoomcool]

Who’s your favourite X-men?

 

Wolverine!

 

Of course.

 

Similar feel to why I think Space Wolves are popular.

[Guest]

Who’s your favourite X-men?

 

Wolverine!

 

Of course.

 

Similar feel to why I think Space Wolves are popular.

 

OMG No :P 

 

I have always had a love of Norse Mythology, but for many years I hated the Wolves due to the special treatment they got by GW and their codex in 2nd was pure filth. 

 

But over the years I mellowed out... It was Jarl Kjaran Coldheart that finally convinced me. 

 

So here I am.

[NightHowler]

First of all, a disclaimer. I did not write this. I've posted it before in this forum but I don't remember where I found it, or who wrote it. If it was written by somebody from this forum, know this: I liked it so much that I copied it and kept it on my phone.

 

But if you ask me why I like Space Wolves, this guy's words really spell out a lot of why I like my space wolves so much, and so I wanted to share it with you fine barbarians.

 

Chicken Flavored Broth Based Food for the Space Viking's Soul:

 

The Fluff, the models, the background. The non-game part of the force. We've got our own series of books, we've got axes, we've got a viking-nordic-celtic feel, and we've got WOLVES (arguably one of the coolest animals on the planet...lone wolf...wolf pack...dogs). Even if GW completely neutered us in the 4th edition codex, I'd still play Space Wolves, because of the Iron Wolf fluff I've written, the Space Wolf fluff I've read, because of Fenris, the ALE, the Fang, our habit of capturing and using enemy Space ships, our general disdain for uptight order, and LEMAN BLOODY RUSS (The primarch so badass, he ripped a titan's head off in one battle and got the main battle tank of the Imperium named after him in another. He broke the back of and nearly killed another primarch and drained the ale cellars of his kingdom to prove he could outdrink the Emperor). We've got Bjorn the Fell handed, one of the oldest living beings in the Imperium, and we've got the 13th Company, who were so tough that the Eye of Terror rejected them. We've got Wolf Guard Ranulf, strongest Space Marine EVER. We've got werewolves with power armor. Fenris has dragons, wolves, giant polar bears, psychic foxes, kraken (hell...a Magos Biologis thinks that Fenris was unsuccessfully invaded by Tyranids due to the extreme climatalogical conditions, but left behind the Kraken). Our planet is damn close to a deathworld. The Fang is one of the greatest fortresses in the Imperium, and Bjorn, along with a skeleton crew of Space Wolves and servitors, held off the ENTIRE Thousand Sons Legion until the Space Wolves could get back and help defend. We had 3rd most victories during the great crusades with a smaller legion than anyone else. Hell, we didn't even bother splitting up when other Space Marine chapters did. We, along with a company of Grey Knights, kicked Angron and his Worldeaters back to the warp from whence they came. Hell, some Space Wolf Great Wolves have been so far ranging as to fight out on the eastern fringe against the Tyranids. We're badass, we're bearded, we're ultimate Space Vikings. Our foes think us dim barbarians, but that simply makes our victory easier when we use our wolf-pack tactics. We hit fast, strike hard, and go howling into battle. We are one of the most flexible and least dogmatic of all the forces in the Imperium. We made the Predator Annihilator when the Adeptus Mechanicus thought it was heresy to screw with the Destructor template. We made our own damn Belt of Russ when everybody else just gets a standard Iron Halo. We have our traditions, but we are not bound by them. We have our methods and our tactics, but we are not restricted to them. We take trophies and we wear wolf pelts. We make axes out of the Kraken we have slain. The guys who run our Space ships are not slaves, but they do so willingly, to serve the chapter. We have honor. We adapt. We're flexible. We overcome. We WIN. We may not shoot as much as other marines, but I'll be damned if we don't shoot just as well. We're closer to human than many other Space Marine chapters out there, despite being a god, when compared physiologically with another human being.

 

I don't care how the rules represent that on the table, the fluff alone is enough reason for me to play Space Wolves, even if we had to use Codex rules to represent them.

 

-written by a spacewolf fan

 

P.S.: if someone here wrote this, pipe up and I'll give you credit for it. Again, it's not my words, but it is a lot of why I love space wolves.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Space Wolves' fluff portrays them in a more human, and thus relatable, manner- they lose their tempers (go berserk) the way we players do, they like to kick back and enjoy beers after work (battle) the way we do, they lust after and flirt with hot women the way we (wish we can) do, they cuss out the Inquisition and other authority figures the way we (wish we can) do...

 

Compared to the ascetic and celibate Ultramarines, or the self-loathing "emo" Dark Angels, whom few people would want to relate to...