I love the looks of the Space Wolves, but...

[Brad387]

Having first been introduced to Warhammer 40, 000 approximately three years ago, I have since had qualms about whether or not this hobby is right for me and, subsequently, have yet to fork out the cash to purchase my Space Wolves' army. Whilst I can safely say without a doubt I enjoy playing the game, I find it difficult to justify in my mind the costs of the models. I worked it out and, at a minimum, it would take me upwards of two hundred pounds to get a fully-operational army. That would take me almost two years to save up for and that is if I weren't to invest any cash for other enjoyments of mine such as video gaming and also just buying some nice designer clothing. So, I'd appreciate some help on the matter. I'd like for someone to work out for, if at all possible, a list of requirements for a basic Space Wolves army (around 600 points seems to be where most of my friends play at). Although I have a Codex, I have nothing else and shall need both the figurines, rule book along with the materials to paint and stuff. Could someone please compile a list for me with the costs? I'd like to do this as cheap as possible.

[sneggy]

eBay. That is all.

[Imperial Dragon]

A problem we all face - from a uni student's point of view, it does sometimes come down to a decision between buying a new box of marines or eating for a week. The costs are a reality of the game as it is today, but they shouldn't detract from our enjoyment of it.

First up, you'll need Codex:Space Wolves. That contains all the background for your chosen army, all the special rules you'll need and all the tools to help build your army list. That's a must. Access to a copy of Warhammer 40,000 is also needed to get to grips with the basic rules to help you build your army (for instance: why a land raider is a more resilient transport than a rhino for your marines) and is a must once you start playing as there's quite an in-depth rule set to get to grips with. However, we're expecting a new edition of the big rulebook this year and if your budget means you won't be playing games for a good few months, maybe try and have a look at someone else's copy of the rules until the new edition arrives.

Beyond that, there's more freedom. The minimum requirements for a standard battle are two Troops choices and one HQ, so in your case you could justifiably play a game in a store fielding two squads of grey hunters or blood claws with a wolf lord, wolf guard battle leader, rune priest or wolf priest to lead them. That's two Space Wolf Packs and say a Space Marine Commander, clocking in at £60 for the models. Beyond that, you can add on extra units as you increase your army's points and play bigger games, but once you have the core you can play. If you're strapped for cash, you could always make one of the models in your packs look a bit more fancy than the others and use him as a WGBL or such, and technically your troops packs can be as small as 5-man units, meaning you could probably play some form of very small-scale game with just one space wolf pack box (£23). Battleforce boxsets are also available for a small discount should you want the models in them specifically.

Paints-wise, you could probably do the "space wolves grey" of the armour relatively quickly with Chaos Black as a basecoat and Space Wolves Grey over the top. It wouldn't look amazing, but they'd be at tabletop standard. Add in some Boltgun Metal for the weapons and some Bad Moon Yellow and Blood Red for the pack markings and you should be ok. So, at the very most basic level of painting the models, 5 paints and a brush should do, costing about £15. If you're wanting to get closer to the standard seen on the forums in places and the pictures on GW's website, you'll need more paints, more brushes and more time.

So, in all, you could get a decent army for under £100. If you want the very bare bones of what you can use you're looking at less than that, and with the addition of the rulebook, a more detailed paint scheme and more models you're chasing £150 upwards.


EDIT - Further to Sneg's sneaky-ninja-post while I was typing, you can find cheaper models on discount sites and ebay too, if you like. If you want to go through GW, costs go up.

[Brad387]

A problem we all face - from a uni student's point of view, it does sometimes come down to a decision between buying a new box of marines or eating for a week. The costs are a reality of the game as it is today, but they shouldn't detract from our enjoyment of it.

First up, you'll need Codex:Space Wolves. That contains all the background for your chosen army, all the special rules you'll need and all the tools to help build your army list. That's a must. Access to a copy of Warhammer 40,000 is also needed to get to grips with the basic rules to help you build your army (for instance: why a land raider is a more resilient transport than a rhino for your marines) and is a must once you start playing as there's quite an in-depth rule set to get to grips with. However, we're expecting a new edition of the big rulebook this year and if your budget means you won't be playing games for a good few months, maybe try and have a look at someone else's copy of the rules until the new edition arrives.

Just reading those first two paragraphs, I can already say that I already own the Codex (only that though) and, since initially I would only be playing at the club or with my friends, I could also easily just use their rule book till this new one comes out. What differences shall the new rules bring anyway? I haven't heard anything about it.

[Brad387]

Beyond that, there's more freedom. The minimum requirements for a standard battle are two Troops choices and one HQ, so in your case you could justifiably play a game in a store fielding two squads of grey hunters or blood claws with a wolf lord, wolf guard battle leader, rune priest or wolf priest to lead them. That's two Space Wolf Packs and say a Space Marine Commander, clocking in at £60 for the models. Beyond that, you can add on extra units as you increase your army's points and play bigger games, but once you have the core you can play. If you're strapped for cash, you could always make one of the models in your packs look a bit more fancy than the others and use him as a WGBL or such, and technically your troops packs can be as small as 5-man units, meaning you could probably play some form of very small-scale game with just one space wolf pack box (£23). Battleforce boxsets are also available for a small discount should you want the models in them specifically.

Paints-wise, you could probably do the "space wolves grey" of the armour relatively quickly with Chaos Black as a basecoat and Space Wolves Grey over the top. It wouldn't look amazing, but they'd be at tabletop standard. Add in some Boltgun Metal for the weapons and some Bad Moon Yellow and Blood Red for the pack markings and you should be ok. So, at the very most basic level of painting the models, 5 paints and a brush should do, costing about £15. If you're wanting to get closer to the standard seen on the forums in places and the pictures on GW's website, you'll need more paints, more brushes and more time.

So, in all, you could get a decent army for under £100. If you want the very bare bones of what you can use you're looking at less than that, and with the addition of the rulebook, a more detailed paint scheme and more models you're chasing £150 upwards.

EDIT - Further to Sneg's sneaky-ninja-post while I was typing, you can find cheaper models on discount sites and ebay too, if you like. If you want to go through GW, costs go up.

Well, to be honest, I doubt whether or not I will be able to purchase off of online websites such as eBay at the time of purchasing and, since there is a Games Workshop store rather near to me, I'd likely go there for my models and equipment. Also, in your pricing, you missed out the actual brushes, glue and other equipment I'd need to build the models. I don't have them and would like to know how much that would cost. I'd also need the dice and tape measure. Plus, the minimum for an army at the school club is 600 points as far as I am aware, so unless I can get that together to go to the club there is absolutely no point in me purchasing any army.

[Brad387]

eBay. That is all.

As I just mentioned, purchasing online shan't be an option and, since there is one nearby to me, I will likely be getting everything from a Games Workshop store. Oh, and I already own the Codex for anyone attempting to answer my question. Regardless, thanks for the advice everyone.

[PyroSikTh]

To be honest, if you can't afford it, you're better off walking away and not looking back. It's very expensive to start out, but it's possible to spend absolutely nothing after that initial cost. However rules are constantly being updated so you will constantly feel the need to be changing your army which means buying new models (and of course the paints to paint them). If you still want to play though, you can always ask to borrow one of your mates armies and just keep it at that until you find yourself with some additional income.

On an unrelated note, rather than quoting 3 different people in 3 different posts, you can use the "Multi" button to quote multiple people in just 1 post. It keeps the forums a bit tidier.

[Imperial Dragon]

Well, to be honest, I doubt whether or not I will be able to purchase off of online websites such as eBay at the time of purchasing and, since there is a Games Workshop store rather near to me, I'd likely go there for my models and equipment. Also, in your pricing, you missed out the actual brushes, glue and other equipment I'd need to build the models. I don't have them and would like to know how much that would cost. I'd also need the dice and tape measure. Plus, the minimum for an army at the school club is 600 points as far as I am aware, so unless I can get that together to go to the club there is absolutely no point in me purchasing any army.

I included the price of a standard brush in that list. As I said, if you want detail and pretty models, prices go up, but you can do most of what you need with a standard brush. Glue can be bought from any hardware store for next to nothing compared to GW glue. Personally I use Loctite. Do your school club not have their own dice and tape measures? If you need your own, tape measure again from a hardware store and you can get a dice block from GW. Those three should come to less than £10.

For marines of any kind, your Troops and HQ will likely be expensive. I'd suggest two small squads of Space Wolves, two Razorbacks to hold them, a wolf guard battle leader to lead one unit and some form of light armour (predator destructor or something similar). You won't be facing much armour. In all, without buying the BRB, £150 at most I'd guess.

EDIT - The 6th edition rules will be different enough that you won't be able to use the 5th edition rules unless everyone else at your club uses 5th. Such is life.

[Brad387]

I included the price of a standard brush in that list. As I said, if you want detail and pretty models, prices go up, but you can do most of what you need with a standard brush. Glue can be bought from any hardware store for next to nothing compared to GW glue. Personally I use Loctite. Do your school club not have their own dice and tape measures? If you need your own, tape measure again from a hardware store and you can get a dice block from GW. Those three should come to less than £10.

For marines of any kind, your Troops and HQ will likely be expensive. I'd suggest two small squads of Space Wolves, two Razorbacks to hold them, a wolf guard battle leader to lead one unit and some form of light armour (predator destructor or something similar). You won't be facing much armour. In all, without buying the BRB, £150 at most I'd guess.

EDIT - The 6th edition rules will be different enough that you won't be able to use the 5th edition rules unless everyone else at your club uses 5th. Such is life.

I guessed that. Any information on what will be different exactly?

[PyroSikTh]

Any information on what will be different exactly?

If the leak is to be believed; everything and nothing. Regardless of whether the leak is real or not, it's pretty certain that it'll play completely differently as a game.

[Imperial Dragon]

I guessed that. Any information on what will be different exactly?

See the rumours/news forum, there's a thread there, or look it up on Bell of Lost Souls.

[Brad387]

Will I need a new Codex for my Space Wolves when this comes out?

[Imperial Dragon]

Will I need a new Codex for my Space Wolves when this comes out?

Nope, there'll be an FAQ amendment to the book if there are any contradictions, which will be free on the GW website.

[Brad387]

Nope, there'll be an FAQ amendment to the book if there are any contradictions, which will be free on the GW website.

Good.

[coi]

For space wolves I suggest the battleforce box. Not sure how much it is where ever you are but its a fairly decent investment. You can use it to make some decent models. Do it right and you can even get a full army out of it. Not the most competitive army mind you, but at 600 pts you shouldn't be having too much issues.
And if you're on a budget stay the hell away from GW. Buy second hand, or from online resellers, or even just a local store that sells at a discount. Because by buying from GW you're buying at the absolute highest prices you can.

[Wolfmaster]

Coi is correct. the Battleforce box gives you enough figures and bitz to make a nice 600 point army. You an actually make a charcter or two from the parts in it.

[daddy4count]

Battleforce box is a great start... you can make 2 full packs of Grey Hunters, each toting 2x plasma guns and a power sword.

You also get some scouts, if you want them... and the drop pod.

You can also use one of the models to make a Lord or Wolf Guard Battle Leader, depending on the points you want to spend. Then run him with the remaining 9 Grey Hunters.

Then you need a can of black spray primer... any will do... you can get it for 1/3 the cost of GW's spray at a local hardware store.

Space Wolf Grey, any gold (I prefer Burnished Gold), black, any red (I prefer Mechrite), a skin tone and a yellow (Tausept Ochre for me). Then a Badab Black wash... one medium/small brush, one 00 or 01 tiny brush (you can get these at any hobby/craft store cheaper and better than GW's)

You're still upwards of $150US, but the paints will last a long time... you will paint double the models with those.

Something like this maybe, 598 points only from the BF box?

Wolf Lord, Storm Bolter, Storm Shield

5x Wolf Scouts, Power Sword, Heavy Bolter

9x Grey Hunters, Plasma Gun, Power Sword, Drop Pod

10x Grey Hunters, 2x Plasma Gun, Power Sword