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Greetings all, and thanks for giving this a click. I'm /brand/ new into the hobby, haven't actually played a game yet though I've watched a lot. At the urging of friends I'm starting out the hobby to play with them and lucked out on a pretty cheap ebay auction. After stripping the models, I've put together a list for what will be my first tournament, and really first experience. It's a small shop and friendly enough I'm not too worried about starting off in a 'tournament'. What I'm looking for from all you experienced types is a bit of feedback on what I can expect to be the weaknesses of my assaulty little list and what I should look for to expand as I move forward. The tournament is apparently a long term thing where the point totals increase as we go along, so I'll be needing to expand. Admittedly the list is based most on what I could piece together to hit 750 points in a way I thought would work together, so all feedback is greatly appreciate. Anywho, enough talk, I should post the list.

HQ

(95) Rune Priest - LM2, Psyker Hood, Runic Axe
(95) Rune Priest - LM2, Psyker Hood, Runic Sword

Troops

(170) Grey Hunter Pack (Wolf Guard Leader) - Flamer, Plasma Pistol, Wolf Standard (WGL - Plasma Pistol, Power Fist, Melta Bomb)
(140) Blood Claws Pack (Wolf Guard Leader) - Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol (WGL - Storm Bolter, Thunder Hammer, Melta Bomb)
(140) Blood Claws Pack (Wolf Guard Leader) - Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol (WGL - Storm Bolter, Thunder Hammer, Melta Bomb)

Elites

(110) Wolf Scouts - Plasma Pistol, Plasma Gun, Camo Cloaks

I know I definitely want to get some Thunderwolf Calvary for when the totals go up. And I have an Logan Grimnar (old model without his sleigh) and a Bjorn the Fell-Handed for when the totals go up. Outside that, I hope to get some ideas on how to evolve the list up the point totals and what glaring flaws I've built it with before my first trial by fire. Thanks again!

For the points and what you've got, it's a decent list. I will say that, in my experience, Wolf Scouts don't make up the points they cost, but your mileage may vary.

Your list is going to get shot... A lot... as you walk across the field. Unfortunately for Space Wolves, the game, these days, plays to the advantages of Eldar (mobile andshooty) and Tau (not as mobile, but extremely shooty with great range on their guns). Drop Pods get us where we want to go in a hurry, but they have the downside of having to stand there for a round before you can get into close combat. Rhinos and Razorbacks are as slow as our troops, and they're usually going to get destroyed before they get far.

In the long run, you're going to want to pick some Heavy Support slots to fill. Long Fangs or Mech (Predators, Whirlwinds, etc). They're for long range shooting as your guys get across the field, but they're often going to stay in your own backfield.

In my book, the best units we have are Thunderwolf Cavalry. Boxes are moderately expensive, but not awful. You're probably going to want at least 2 boxes, even if you keep your army small. 3 TWC on their own are going to get picked off. 6 models, either in one big unit or 2 small units, are harder to cover. Fenrisian Wolves are also nice blob units, and they have the benefit of providing cover for your TWC as they all race across the field.

You have a lot of toys and could drop them to get more boys. That would be my suggestion.

Drop all the plasma pistols. Give the flamers to the blood claws so they can use them with their BS3. Give the plasma to the GH.

If you can't get drop pods, maybe grab more bodies in your squads? Big squads of BC can be fun.

Also, maybe trade the two rune priests for Ulrik the Slayer?

TWCs definitely top the list of future purchases. I'll admit to falling victim to some limited symmetry ocd, flamer should definitely go with the BCs. It's probably also why I ended up going with 5 in each unit. That's when you get stuff. I'll play around with dropping plasma pistols and maybe the standard and see if I can get some more models on the board. Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Oh! Also! Is taking the Wolves Unleashed detachment worth using 2 HQs when I could take a Bjorn or other higher cost HQ or more troops?

 pretre wrote:
You have a lot of toys and could drop them to get more boys. That would be my suggestion.

Drop all the plasma pistols. Give the flamers to the blood claws so they can use them with their BS3. Give the plasma to the GH.

If you can't get drop pods, maybe grab more bodies in your squads? Big squads of BC can be fun.

Also, maybe trade the two rune priests for Ulrik the Slayer?

I actually agree with all of that. I was sort of assuming those guys were already modeled, based on the comment about getting them from an eBay auction.

Full squads of Blood Claws - especially joined by Wolf Priests or Ulrik - are quite fun to have running around the board. And yes, with BS 3, it's much better (and cheaper) to use flamers with BCs. Fairly expensive Thunder Hammers on WS 3 models are also not the best options... My usual choice for upgrades on Wolf Guard Pack Leaders is a Storm Shield, since then you've at least Invuln saves in generally squishy units.

sombertone wrote:
Oh! Also! Is taking the Wolves Unleashed detachment worth using 2 HQs when I could take a Bjorn or other higher cost HQ or more troops?

Nope. Either CAD or, if you have a lot of TWC/Elites, Champions.

The benefit of stripping the incredibly ugly paintjob is that most of the models came apart. So I've been reassembling based on how I've been putting this list together. I might have to beg/borrow/steal/buy bits, but I'm not opposed to that either.

Just nixing the plasma pistols and the standard can net me 3 Blood Claws. I really only have the 2 priests for HQ because I wanted to use the SW detatchment, so I could also look into getting rid of one or both of those.

I spent the points on Wolf Guard leaders for my units, so does the improvement to 4s make the points on the hammers and storm bolters more worth it? It was another choice built on 'Oh, I have thunderhammers and bolters, those will add some 'umph' for the leaders to carry about.'

Thanks again for all the advise.

 pretre wrote:

sombertone wrote:
Oh! Also! Is taking the Wolves Unleashed detachment worth using 2 HQs when I could take a Bjorn or other higher cost HQ or more troops?

Nope. Either CAD or, if you have a lot of TWC/Elites, Champions.

Well, to be fair, if you eventually run an army with a lot of Reserves, Wolves Unleashed can be worthwhile. Otherwise, what pretre said.

If you're putting your HQs in with the Blood Claws (and that's the better choice with this list), I wouldn't bother with Pack Leaders at all, myself.

Had my first game and figured I'd share what I learned.

In a move to avoid the psychic phase, I actually took out the two rune priest, the wolf standard, and a plasma pistol and used Bjorn the Fell-Handed as my HQ. Otherwise the list stayed as it was posted due to lack of time to make drastic changes. So what did I learn?

1) Boys over Toys is the best advise. 5 man units were just to easy to wipe out.

2) Wolf Scouts are not my cup of tea. I think with sniper rifles, maybe, but just the standard unit seemed exceptionally frail even in cover with cloaks. Those points definitely could be better spent elsewhere.

3) Bjorn is awesome. There is something to be said for how survivable this unit is. Not to mention how powerful the Helfrost Cannon felt. Definitely the bright spot of the game.

Unsurprisingly, not a victory. Still, it was fun to actually play and get the feeling for the rules outside youtube battle reports. I'm looking forward to bumping up to 1000 and using the knowledge I've gained and you've shared. Thanks again and I hope you'll continue to keep passing out the good advice.

I just thought I'd chime in about the Scouts. The snipers are not worthwhile in my experience the points are better put into other units.