Are Thunderwolves strong enough to carry Primaris marines?

[Token]

Could a Thunderwolf be ridden by a Primaris marine? Do you think they will make such cavalry for the Space Wolves?

[Karhedron]

GW seems to be avoiding direct 1-for-1 replacement of Firstborn units with Primaris. Thunderwolf Cavalry is such a distinctive unit that I don't think we will see a Primaris version for a long time (if at all).

 

Primaris units are almost all generic so far and Marines rely on Firstborn units for their signature feel (TWC, Wulfen for Wolves, Sanguinary Guard for BAs, Ravenwing and Deathwing for DAs etc).

[Guest]

TWC don't even seem capable of carrying a normal SM much less a Primaris. The sit on the weakest part of the spine, even reinforced that spine better the 2 foot I beam.

[Valerian]

Could a Thunderwolf be ridden by a Primaris marine? Do you think they will make such cavalry for the Space Wolves?

I certainly hope not. Maybe in a few years one of Mat Ward’s Phil Kelly's worst ideas will move to Legacy status, and eventually die off.

[Dark Shepherd]

 

Could a Thunderwolf be ridden by a Primaris marine? Do you think they will make such cavalry for the Space Wolves?

I certainly hope not. Maybe in a few years one of Mat Ward’s worst ideas will move to Legacy status, and eventually die off.

You want to get rid of TWC?

[Lord Blackwood]

I  hope we get Thunder Wolf Handlers for Primaris 

Call them Grey Stalkers 

Units of 3 on 90mm bases   Each Model is a Primaris Grey Stalker  armed with a frost axe (default can be changed out for another close combat weapon) and a bolt carbine  with two Thunderwolves on chains. 

Slightly above average movement 
Innate Outflank 
2 Sets of Thunderwolf Attacks and then the Marines Attacks 

Some other special Rule that lets the packs select a Quarry that they  gain an additional 3 inches of movement toward throughout the game. 

 

[Wolf Guard Dan]

Please let’s not let this board devolve into the inevitable debate of the love/hate for the design of TWC. Not that it is now. But I see the future in the flames like Grimblood.

 

Token, Karhedron nailed it. GW is avoiding a 1-1 replacement of units to primaris to avoid pushback from the anti-replacement crowd. We also have a primaris scale unit in Wulfen that fill a similar niche to TWC. Also, if they were to design a primaris TWC unit they would have to scale the thunder wolves up.

 

Could a primaris ride a thunder wolf? Probably. I saw a cool conversion today of a primaris lord riding one. For the conversion he used one of Freki or Geri from forge world.

[theprophetofwar]

In a setting where orks can get deboditated and get sown back together even tougher, and where gods can be birthed from hedonism, I can forgive some mechanically enhanced cyber wolf marine cavalry. But I really don't like how thin they are. They should be built more like rhinos like the lore says.

As for my actual helpful response...I'm with the others, I don't foresee Primaris riders of any type incoming.

Now, I have seen some great conversions with jump packs and wolves along side, like attack dog handlers. I could see phobos squads with attack wolves in the future perhaps, but best to assume it won't ever happen.

Edited May 6, 2020 by theprophetofwar

[Valerian]

Please let’s not let this board devolve into the inevitable debate of the love/hate for the design of TWC. Not that it is now. But I see the future in the flames like Grimblood.

 

 

I'll try to moderate my response, so that it doesn't go too far down that route.

 

 

 

Could a Thunderwolf be ridden by a Primaris marine? Do you think they will make such cavalry for the Space Wolves?

I certainly hope not. Maybe in a few years one of Mat Ward’s Phil Kelly's worst ideas will move to Legacy status, and eventually die off.

You want to get rid of TWC?

 

 

Yes and no.  I'll explain.  I wouldn't suggest getting rid of the current Firstborn TWC units.  They've been around since 5th edition, so what, about 12 years now?  So that ship has long since sailed.  Now, from the very beginning, I thought the whole concept of them was stupid.  We already pushed the envelope with the wolf trope enough as was, with our Viking Werewolf theme, but Mat Ward Phil Kelly really jumped the shark with that throughout the 5th edition codex, with Wolf this and Wolf that.  Now he had made it that not only did everything have to have "wolf" somewhere in its name (e.g. Wolf Claws) he made a new character named Canis (dog) Wolfborn, for Russ' sake, he invented a new unit where Space Wolves rode, you guessed it, actual wolves.  It was so bad that there were memes popping up that he was going to have the Blood Angels flying on Giant Bats whenever he got around to revising their codex for 5th edition, too.

 

So, all of that background for context, no, I definitely wouldn't get rid of them at this point.  However, I don't want them coming back, whenever Firstborn units eventually fade away.  It might not be for another 5 or 10 years, but eventually they will.  When GW quits supporting all of the old stuff, those units will eventually slip into Legacy unit status, and fade away.  I'm definitely up for new Primaris units that are unique to the Space Wolves, and am excited about the possibilities for faction-specific stuff, once they've finished with all of the waves of all the "generic" units that are coming out first, that are available to all Marine Chapters.  Whenever they do finally tackle unique units for Space Wolves, I sincerely hope that they don't bring back Wolves riding Wolves.

 

Best,

 

Val

[Leif Bearclaw]

 

 

Yes and no.  I'll explain.  I wouldn't suggest getting rid of the current Firstborn TWC units.  They've been around since 5th edition, so what, about 12 years now?  So that ship has long since sailed.  Now, from the very beginning, I thought the whole concept of them was stupid.  We already pushed the envelope with the wolf trope enough as was, with our Viking Werewolf theme, but Mat Ward really jumped the shark with that throughout the 5th edition codex, with Wolf this and Wolf that.  Now he had made it that not only did everything have to have "wolf" somewhere in its name (e.g. Wolf Claws) he made a new character named Canis (dog) Wolfborn, for Russ' sake, he invented a new unit where Space Wolves rode, you guessed it, actual wolves.  It was so bad that there were memes popping up that he was going to have the Blood Angels flying on Giant Bats whenever he got around to revising their codex for 5th edition, too.

 

 

While I agree with the overall sentiment, I should point out it's incorrect to blame Matt Ward for 5th ed SWs. The dex was written by Phil Kelly.

[Valerian]

I blame old age!  You're absolutely right, though.  I need to go back in and edit.  Phil Kelly did 5th edition Space Wolves, while Mat Ward did 5th edition Grey Knights and Blood Angels (among others).

[TSkouboe]

I  hope we get Thunder Wolf Handlers for Primaris 

(...)

Units of 3 on 90mm bases   Each Model is a Primaris Grey Stalker  armed with a frost axe (default can be changed out for another close combat weapon) and a bolt carbine  with two Thunderwolves on chains. 

Love the idea!

 

I'd prefer the wolves as companions without chains, though - like well-trained hunting dogs, but wilder.

 

That said, I wouldn't mind if the future Primaris Space Wolves models had more viking style than wolf.

[Kassill]

Please let’s not let this board devolve into the inevitable debate of the love/hate for the design of TWC. Not that it is now. But I see the future in the flames like Grimblood.

 

Token, Karhedron nailed it. GW is avoiding a 1-1 replacement of units to primaris to avoid pushback from the anti-replacement crowd. We also have a primaris scale unit in Wulfen that fill a similar niche to TWC. Also, if they were to design a primaris TWC unit they would have to scale the thunder wolves up.

 

Could a primaris ride a thunder wolf? Probably. I saw a cool conversion today of a primaris lord riding one. For the conversion he used one of Freki or Geri from forge world.

 

 

GW seems to be avoiding direct 1-for-1 replacement of Firstborn units with Primaris. Thunderwolf Cavalry is such a distinctive unit that I don't think we will see a Primaris version for a long time (if at all).

 

Primaris units are almost all generic so far and Marines rely on Firstborn units for their signature feel (TWC, Wulfen for Wolves, Sanguinary Guard for BAs, Ravenwing and Deathwing for DAs etc).

 

 

Exactly, I dont see them happening for long time or at all given the current track record. Aside from chapter traits and aesthetics, Primaris are left pretty blank slate for us, the hobbyists, to do with as we please. And as far as the tabletop is concerned, they come alive with conversions/paintjobs and chapter traits/rules/strategems. The only units I think we'll see do any sort of 1-1 are the HQ options, like Primaris Captain/Battle Leader, Primaris Chaplain/Wolf Priest, etc etc. 

 

And yes, TWC are goofy, over the top and silly, but it's 40k, the whole setting is exactly that. There's a whole gakking race who's existence hinges on them believing their tech works, and so it does. Take it or leave it at the end of the day, just my thoughts 

Edited May 7, 2020 by Kassill

[Wispy]

i love thunder wolves. 

 

save the thunderwolves

 

don't save valerian

[Lord Blackwood]

I also love Thunder Wolves 

Save Valerian 


Cycling back to topic though. 

I  reckon we are a long ways out before we see chapter specific units fer each chapter. 
I would not be surprised if our specific primaris unit has something to do with Thunderwolves 

I still maintain that we should get something to represent stuff like this. 







 

[theprophetofwar]

I also love Thunder Wolves

 

Save Valerian

 

 

Cycling back to topic though.

 

I reckon we are a long ways out before we see chapter specific units fer each chapter.

I would not be surprised if our specific primaris unit has something to do with Thunderwolves

 

I still maintain that we should get something to represent stuff like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed. See, scary monstrous beasts that can only vaguely be called wolves, that's the thunder wolf art I liked. Use the primaris to properly represent the TWs as battle companions. But that's just wishful. Edited May 7, 2020 by theprophetofwar

[Valerian]

Cycling back to topic though. 

 

I  reckon we are a long ways out before we see chapter specific units fer each chapter. 

 

Hopefully, this isn't straying too far off-topic, but the big mystery here is we don't know when the foundational waves of Primaris units is going to be considered complete.  So far we've had:

 

Wave 1, which included Intercessors (basic Troops type 2.0), Hellblasters (basic Infantry Heavy Support type 2.0), Inceptors (basic Infantry Fast Attack type 2.0), and Aggressors (basic Infantry Elites type 2.0), and Reivers (basic Infantry Assault type 2.0???  (not sure what niche Reivers are supposed to fill, honestly)), Redemptor (Dreadnought 2.0), Repulsor (Infantry Fighting Vehicle 2.0).  We also received the Primaris versions for most of the Core Character types for typical Space Marine armies: Librarian/Rune Priest, Chaplain/Wolf Priest, Captain/Wolf Lord (regular Mark X and in Gravis), Lieutenant/Battle Leader, and Ancients.

 

Wave 2, brought us all of the Vanguard armed reconnaissance type specialist units as well as a couple more vehicles that were missing from the initial wave of core units, including: Captain/Wolf Lord in Phobos Armor, Lieutenant/Battle Leader in Phobos Armor, Librarian/Rune Priest in Phobos Armor, Infiltrators and Incursors (two different versions of basic Infantry Scouts type 2.0), Invictor Tactical Warsuits (like Scouting Dreadknights for non-Grey Knights), Suppressors (long-ranged, but mobile Infantry Fire Support that's in the Fast Attack Slot), Eliminators (basic Sniper Scouts 2.0), Impulsors (basic Troop Transport 2.0), and the Repulsor Executioner (basic Main Battle Tank 2.0).

 

Wave 3 is very likely the rumored Fast Attack units that we've seen in the blurry photo that features Primaris versions to update Bikes and Land Speeders, and perhaps also some version of a lighter type of Tank.

 

In addition to the main waves of releases, each of the major Space Marines Chapters (those with a Codex or a Supplement) have sporadically received one or two named Primaris Characters, and certainly we can expect many more of these releases over the next several years.

 

Once Wave 3 has arrived, what could we expect from a Wave 4, or beyond, when it comes to those basic foundational units that we would need in a future NewMarines army?  The only obvious gap, really, are Space Marine Flyers, but all of these are still relatively new in the lifecycle of the game, with most being released in the last decade of the game, and updates to these (unlike, say, the small OldMarines and Rhino-based chassis vehicle fleet) aren't really necessary.  Stormravens, Stormtalons, Stormhawk Interceptors, Stormfangs, and Stormwolfs, would all fit into the newer design elements of the Primaris releases just fine, in my opinion.  

 

So, what else is really missing?  Well, we'd still need: a generic Primaris Techmarine/Iron Priest; a dedicated melee specialist unit (but they could always just fix the Reivers, so they fill that role); potentially an additional infantry long-ranged fire support, and some new vehicles that would effectively replace the Whirlwind to provide non-LOS artillery fire, and to replace the Hunter and Stalkier to provide anti-aircraft fire.*

 

For core requirements, if you can even call them that, there won't be that much missing after Wave 3.  And that's the point at which we will probably start seeing the unique Chapter-specific units.

 

*Edit: and they might not even bother with dedicated anti-aircraft vehicles, using optional weapon system upgrades like the Bellicatus missile array (Icarus missiles) and Ironhail sky talonarray to serve that purpose on existing vehicles, as needed.

[Debauchery101]

Primaris Cyber-Thunderwolf?

[CaptainStabby]

I am... about as much of a Thunderwolf fan as Valerian is, but damn that thing is an amazing beast.

[BadgersinHills]

My idea if I do get Thunderwolves is to go Princess Mononoke. The marines hop on the wolves to get into the ranks of the enemy and jump off when the fighting begins. 

[Guest Triszin]

I also love Thunder Wolves 

 

Save Valerian 

 

 

Cycling back to topic though. 

 

I  reckon we are a long ways out before we see chapter specific units fer each chapter. 

I would not be surprised if our specific primaris unit has something to do with Thunderwolves 

 

I still maintain that we should get something to represent stuff like this. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

so i've been playing around with something for a bit, I'll pick it up again and finish the concept next week.

 

if you take a fenrisian wolf head, and sculpt a wedge between the halves, you can actually achieve the head in the picture. then you put it on a Twolf body.

[Wispy]

i've been humouring the idea of doing a Primaris Harald and Primaris Canis Wolfborn conversion using the Forge World Freki and Geri. They're about 1.5 Thunderwolf scale and would support the Primaris-sized riders nicely.
 

strongly considering commissioning a professional to do the kitbash, however, just to get the models done with proper care.

 

the only thing vaguely holding me off is what GW does after this next primaris wave. I know they're trying to retire finecast models and replace them with plastics as a company initiative, and both Canis and Harald are big ones along side Njal, Arjak, and Lukas. 

Edited May 8, 2020 by Wispy

[PeteySödes]

i've been humouring the idea of doing a Primaris Harald and Primaris Canis Wolfborn conversion using the Forge World Freki and Geri. They're about 1.5 Thunderwolf scale and would support the Primaris-sized riders nicely.

 

strongly considering commissioning a professional to do the kitbash, however, just to get the models done with proper care.

 

the only thing vaguely holding me off is what GW does after this next primaris wave. I know they're trying to retire finecast models and replace them with plastics as a company initiative, and both Canis and Harald are big ones along side Njal, Arjak, and Lukas.

That’s more or less what I did with my iron priest. My fur method works with the FW style and I’m sure you’d be able to do it. I say go for it!