[StormBringer328]

So I just got back into the hobby after a break and have decided on sticking with 2 armies: CSM and Space Wolves. A lot has changed since my days, though, and I am a bit lost. I have both books on the way and a ton of unfinished minis. I just don't know what's good and what's not anymore. So here's what I have (all new on sprue basically)
- Most every character model available in metal or fc
- runepriest x 2
- gh with standard
- troop boxes x 5
- terminators x 3
- thunderwolf cav box x 2
- fenrisian wolf boxes x 2
- stormwolf/whatever flyer thing
- 3 drop pods
- 2 boxes of devestators
- 2 boxes of assault squad
- land raider
- land raider crusader
- few rhinos

That's about it atm. I want to refrain from buying anything atm, but I will get at least 2 dreads eventually, but not till I've got this lot under control. I hate posting such a open question, but I've been searching around for ideas all day and I'm lost. I'd like to use a little bit of everything, though I know that's not realistic starting out. I'd like to aim for a 1500 list that can easily move up to 2000 w/o changing much. I appreciate any input anyone may have. So glad to be back in the hobby, even though it seems to have changed a lot in the last few years (seriously, almost unrecognizable! The options now are insane!?)

 

[Wookiepelt]

So I just got back into the hobby after a break and have decided on sticking with 2 armies: CSM and Space Wolves. A lot has changed since my days, though, and I am a bit lost. I have both books on the way and a ton of unfinished minis. I just don't know what's good and what's not anymore. So here's what I have (all new on sprue basically)
- Most every character model available in metal or fc
- runepriest x 2
- gh with standard
- troop boxes x 5
- terminators x 3
- thunderwolf cav box x 2
- fenrisian wolf boxes x 2
- stormwolf/whatever flyer thing
- 3 drop pods
- 2 boxes of devestators
- 2 boxes of assault squad
- land raider
- land raider crusader
- few rhinos

That's about it atm. I want to refrain from buying anything atm, but I will get at least 2 dreads eventually, but not till I've got this lot under control. I hate posting such a open question, but I've been searching around for ideas all day and I'm lost. I'd like to use a little bit of everything, though I know that's not realistic starting out. I'd like to aim for a 1500 list that can easily move up to 2000 w/o changing much. I appreciate any input anyone may have. So glad to be back in the hobby, even though it seems to have changed a lot in the last few years (seriously, almost unrecognizable! The options now are insane!?)

Hey StormBringer... welcome back to The Fang!

The whole army list thing is so open at the moment, especially with the battle-forged or non-battle-forged, combined-arms or allied detachments options, it's basically anything goes!!! However if you are a true Jarl then simply stick to the battle-forged, combined-arms setup (i.e. our old FOC) and it will work nicely.

Army choice wise...

HQ: Rune Priests are still very useful although the JotWW is no longer OP.
Troops: Grey Hunters are still great but you'll need to purchase the the CCW now for an extra 2pts.

Elites: WG Pack Leader are no longer obtained via the WG option but directly as an upgrade on the Troops choices. So you can properly utilise the Elite slots as you wish. WG Termies are always very useful. so are the Dreadnoughts, expecially Murderfang (he's brutal!).

Fast Attack: Thunderwolf Cavalry are now extremely good, IMHO, and I run a pack of 6 of them. The other good option for fast attack now is the new Stormwolf Flyer... yes, we now have official flyers!!! Great for getting troops up the field quickly and safely.

Heavy Support: The good ol' Long Fangs are a must, and now that the Missile Launchers can take Flakk missiles, they are also anti-air! Than there is the other new flyer, Stormfang Gunship, horrible for the other side (especially if you stick a Tech Priest and servitors in it for 2+ repairs every turn)!!!

Don't forget to look up the different SW Formations that are now available to utilise. They do not take up your FOC as they are detachements (same faction so you maintain the battle-forged & combined-arms status.

All I'll say is that it's great playing SW at the moment. Have fun and I'm sure others will chip in soon with more goodies, tips and tricks to properly liven things up on the battlefield for you!

 

[LokiDeathclaw]

I agree with Wookiepelt and I would add a few dreads! Last game I played I ran Bjorn and two supporting dreads. All I will say is Bjorn tore up the guard gunline single handed! Great fun! Also 15 bloodclaws and a wolf priest (could be Ulrik) arriving via a stormwolf is very effective, especially when combined with arriving drop pods, and will chew through Tau gunlines nicely.

 

[StormBringer328]

Thank you, WookiePelt, for that wonderful breakdown!

First off, I guess I should assess my enemy, right? I have one friend I play the most with and I usually play either a typhus nurgle list, a khorne daemonkin list, or a combo of the 2. Out of about 8 games in the last 6 months I have won 0 games lol. That doesn't bother me too much as he is a little more seasoned in this new meta. He plays IG, SoB, and a ridiculous Eldar/DE/Harlie list (though I only played against that once and he has promised to not make me fight that bag-o-dicks list again for a while lol). Sometimes we play a big apc game against Orks. Those are my main opponents. The IG list is the one I really need to pay back! Basically he sits on one side of the board shooting me with big guns. His stupid stormtrooper squad has killed my warlord in every game. Mainly because their escort has been picked off his wounds. So it's time I give him a different type of fight - enter the Space Wolves!

I don't exactly want to tailor my list to one army I fight, but I'll do what I have to. I have a lot of models besides any dreads atm, so I have choices. I just don't want to waste my models building things because they look cool and have no real game value. Though I haven't played in a while I am a rather competent painter/modeler, so I plan on magnetizing a lot to play around with different builds.

I am aiming for about 1500 pts starting out. I'm still waiting on my 2 army books, but they should arrive any day now. Here is the direction I'm thinking of going right now, but based purely off whimsy lol:

- Harald Deathwolf or generic wolf lord on thunderwolf to lead twc squad
- 3 or 4 twc. I have 6 total, but gotta start somewhere. Arming them... maybe 2 standard for wounds, 2 w/ storm shields, no idea on weapons yet.
- long fangs w/ rune priest. Thinking 2 anti air ml's and 2 plasma cannons? Rune priest standard.
- Grey Hunter squad 1 w/ ccw's and bolters, 2 plasma guns, wgpl with combi plasma and ? Maybe a drop pod.
- Grey Hunter Squad 2 w/ ccw's and bolters, 2 melta guns, wgpl w/ combi melta and ?. Maybe a drop pod.
- Termie Squad. Not sure what to take here for 5 dudes, but probably assault cannon and rocket launcher thing on one of them. Need big guns for tanks and infantry blobs. Maybe 2 wolf claws on 2 guys. Maybe the other 2 w/ storm shield and thunder hammer?
- flyer - he always takes a vendetta, so some anti air would be nice, but also ability to kill tanks, so thinking meltas at least. Not sure which flyer.
- a large squad of blood claws w/ a rune priest in the flyer transport sounds fun, but not sure I need that on top of everything else first. Maybe hold off here till I get everything else I mentioned finished and battle tested.

And that's it so far. I have a few dreds I could use as stand ins from my old dark angels army. He doesn't mind if I proxy to test things out, so I have 2 dreads I could use. Just not sure if I should throw those in till I have other things sorted.

So yeah, that's my idea at this point. He will def be sticking to some combination of IG and SoB w/ Inq. The IG is mainly 4 to 5 tanks sitting behind an aegis with command squad and lots of guardsmen spread out.

Thanks again guys. You've been wonderful to a newbie to wolves, the game in general, and member of this site! You are awesome

 

[Wookiepelt]

Here's my take on your proposed list...

- Harald Deathwolf or generic wolf lord on thunderwolf to lead twc squad
- 3 or 4 twc. I have 6 total, but gotta start somewhere. Arming them... maybe 2 standard for wounds, 2 w/ storm shields, no idea on weapons yet.

The TWC will be fire magnets. Strength of the TWC is their speed (12" move followed by 6" run) and their close-combat attacks, 4 attacks as base, +1 on charging and the extra I10 Hammer of Wrath attack. As such, you want them to survive to get into assault range as quickly as possible. Storm Shield at 15pts each are idea for that purpose and considering that Boltguns are a free upgrade, kitting them out with that will allow you to provide overwatch cover should anyone feel courageous enough to charge the TWC!

- long fangs w/ rune priest. Thinking 2 anti air ml's and 2 plasma cannons? Rune priest standard.

Don't forget that LF can take 5 Heavy Weapons AND LF Ancient (unit of 6 models in total) before adding the HQ. There is an option to upgrade one of the LF to a WG Pack leader (typically the Ancient) but this should be done to get him into a TDA to get the standard 2+/5++ saves and access to the free Storm Shield for the 3++ save upgrade.

- Grey Hunter squad 1 w/ ccw's and bolters, 2 plasma guns, wgpl with combi plasma and ? Maybe a drop pod.
- Grey Hunter Squad 2 w/ ccw's and bolters, 2 melta guns, wgpl w/ combi melta and ?. Maybe a drop pod.

Definitely have the GH in a drop pod or as a minimum a rhino. Foot-slogging them is not really an option as by the time they get anywhere useful, they'll either be too late and/or too few left!

- Termie Squad. Not sure what to take here for 5 dudes, but probably assault cannon and rocket launcher thing on one of them. Need big guns for tanks and infantry blobs. Maybe 2 wolf claws on 2 guys. Maybe the other 2 w/ storm shield and thunder hammer?

With 5 Termies, you are only allowed to take one Heavy Flamer, Assault Cannon OR Cyclone Missile Launcher. To be able to take the Assault Cannon AND the Cyclone Missile Launcher, you will need 10 Termies.

Weapon choice wise, it's best to be specific with the Termies' role. Mixing shooting with assault roles dilutes their effectiveness. If selecting the Assault role, definitely look at the Wolf Guard Void Claws formation in the Champions of Fenris book. Extremely useful with a pair of Wolf Claws on all models, granting them the Kingsguard special rule (+1 WS), deep strikes on Turn 1, re-roll scatter dice on deep strike, any model in unit issues and accepts challenges, unit as Preferred Enemy (Character) and always allow for re-rolls of Reserve Rolls if at least one member of the unit is still alive on the table.

- flyer - he always takes a vendetta, so some anti air would be nice, but also ability to kill tanks, so thinking meltas at least. Not sure which flyer.

Definitely the Stormfang Gunship for that role. It has the Hellfrost Destructor (S6, AP3, Hellfrost, Large Blast or S8 AP1, Lance, Hellfrost), two twin-linked heavy bolters (upgradeable to twin-linked multi-meltas) and Stormstrike Missiles (upgradeable to a twin-linked lascannon)! If you add the Iron Priest with 4 servitors in there (extra 95pts), you'll get to repair any hull point damage on a 2+ during each of your shooting phases (Battlesmith special rule)!

- a large squad of blood claws w/ a rune priest in the flyer transport sounds fun, but not sure I need that on top of everything else first. Maybe hold off here till I get everything else I mentioned finished and battle tested.

Agreed!