Over at the Bolter and Chainsword theres a new thread that asked Why do you play the Wolves? At first I wanted to copy-paste my 10 reasons from 2017, but then I realised I had to rethink them … so here they are … my 10 reasons for the Space Wolves, 2023 edition.
1. The Colour Scheme
I just can’t help it … the black icon of the great company on a yellow shoulder-pad is just the single most appealing colour combination for Space Marines for me. The blue-gray armour around it, together with some more yellow patches and some warm leather parts and lots of fur, is just sooo pleasing. And the fact that you can add lots and lots of red, white and black in the mix, with a huuuge freedom for variations about the question which part of the model to paint in which colour … it makes the army really stand out, and every new unit offers new painting opportunities. I really tried painting other space marine colour schemes, but it wasn’t even remotely as much fun as painting Space Wolves.
2. Lukas
There is just no other character like him among the Astartes. Whenever I think about coming up with a home-brew successor chapters or when I get excited about another official chapter, it always ends with a single thought … “But they don’t have Lukas”.
3. Humour and Hedonism
The Space Wolves seem to me as the only Astartes that have at least something comparable to humour and Hedonism. All the others seem to be only grim and only dark and only war. Although it’s contradiction in terms: This makes them the most human Legion or Chapter, in my humble Opinion. They’re boasting and brawling … you don’t have to love it, but can’t just not like it. And to put it with the Words of a good friend of mine … there’s always a thin thread of romanticism within each Story of the Space Wolves. Often you don’t see it beneath all the rage and blood and gore, but it’s there.
4. Long Hair, Beards and Braids and braided Beards
The Space Wolves are almost the only chapter that wears beards. The White Scars also have Fu-Manchu-Moustaches, but that hardly counts. All other Chapters and especially the Vanilla-Marines have hardly any form of facial Hair, like at all. Arguing that this is unrealistic seems to be the wrong direction for me, because … hello … we’re talking about the 40.999, “realism” simply isn’t a part of the setting. I just do like Warriors with Beards, Braids and long Hair. More than the others. Much more. Aaand … I like, that two of these features are considered very “manly” when portrayed on (Space-) Vikings, but generally are considered to be primarily within of the female part of the (hair-) fashion world. I very much like the cross-gender notion of that. And of course, I always had a thing for the Sons of Durin …
5. Cunning Wolves
The way Leman Russ acted in “Prospero Burns”, changed a lot for me. Lorgars interpretation of the Night of the Wolf also adds to this. Leman Russ and his Space Wolves lean into the image of the barbarians, because it’s in line with their traditions and their gene-seed, but they are much more than this. Although many Primarchs quickly realized that, and many Astartes of other chapter get behind it eventually, it makes the Space Wolves just deeper on the narrative side.
6. Codices and Terminators
I started collecting Space Wolves between 5th and 6th edition. And every single Codex since then had more aspects that I liked, than all the other codices. Their focus on Character Models, Long Fangs as better Devastors, Bjorn as HQ, Terminators as Wolf Guard Pack Leaders and their overall huge freedom for Terminators always made it my favourite Codex. I just love Terminators.
7. Kitbashing Walhalla
It’s not alone the sheer amount of Miniatures, third party Bits and Transfer Sheets that are available for the Space Wolves and Speeehs-Vikings and Science-Fiction Celtic Warriors … it’s also the fact that they so well integrate and kitbash with the common Fantasy Barbarians. It’s like you get the best of two worlds: Conan and Han Solo – with Beards and Braids and braided Beards and long Hair and even braided long Hair. I think there’s not a second Chapter or Legion, that has such great kit-bashing opportunities.
Buuut … even without any third party bits, the Space Wolves are an amazing kitbashing Chapter. With all the bits from the Firstborn Sets alone you can kitbash virtually any other Games Workshop Mini into a great Space Wolf, well almost …
8. Getting old is not for puppies
I really love the way of the Space Wolves, when it comes to the progression of the Packs. You start with 14 other Blood Claws. If you’re cunning enough to survive the first years, you and about 8 or 9 of you become Grey Hunters, the backbone of the Space Wolves. If you avoid dying long enough, you become a long fang, a master of the ranged warfare, or a Wolf Scout, a perfect sneaker with just a handful of Pack Mates. And in the end, you’re a Lone Wolf, searching for a worthy death worth a saga. The way, the Space Wolves appreciate getting older … I can’t help it … it just resonates in me.
9. There’s a lot to read
I enjoy reading and listening to the Adventures of the 31st and. 41st Millennium, quite lot. And I love that my army gets a new novel now and then. Plus: I always love how the Wolves are portrayed (ignoring the first books about Ragnar, hehe). Always rumbling and ruffing, but with very different ways to approach things, sometimes headstrong, sometimes cunning, sometimes sneaky, sometimes loud, sometimes powerful, sometime gruesome. But always and ever … the rest of the Astartes looks down on them. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
10. Vikings in Space
Everyone loves Vikings. Me too. But … to be honest, I like Mongolians more, by far. I considered playing White Scars, but I didn’t feel comfortable, messing around in grim dark future with the legacy of a culture, that is so far away from me. I am not a Scandinavian either, but at least it much, much closer to my own cultures’ heritage.
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