Well I have this in hand, thanks to the lovely people at Kirton games, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it..
At first glance the leaks looked like a lot of stuff from my existing army was going to need remodelling, but on further scrutiny that isn't the case, there are some things you cant do any more, and some rules that have been toned down – such as Jaws not affecting MC’s which from a “fun game” point of view was never good to be on the receiving end of so from that POV i can see why its gone, but then again in the current landscape when there are so many broken options I'm not sure why that one received the nerfbat compared to others..
Dreadnoughts came out well with the new axe being a must-replace all pfists with option, and the new character and Bjorn kit are welcome too.
Wolf scouts outflank got a nerf, which is upsetting, but outflanking was added to the army in a random way if one takes the new formation, so that's good.
My initial fear that +i would need to remodel all my grey hunters that had a bolter and chains word is gone,. as all GH can take a close combat weapon for 2 pts.
So far the main thing I have found I can no longer field is mixed units of PA and TDA wolf guard. I can still use TDA pack leaders, and I can still use drop pods with my termies thanks to the FA slot option, so largely I think few modelling changes are required.
ADDENDUM mark of the wulfen appears simply to be gone… and wolf standards are one per detachment… so thats some models in need of alteration after all..
Blood claws are still cool, and I predict a comeback. :) especially if you nestle a squad of grey hunters with a wolf standard in a wrapping of blood claws so that they all get the +1 attack.
The army retains counter attack, which for me is a defining feature of the Space wolves now, so I’m happy about that, and predictably in an attempt to shift models, most troop units can take the new flying transport.
I admit i am confused as to the business case for a whole new flyer, i would have thought it more cost effective to “wolf up” the existing marine flyers and give us those, less tooling and expense and we still would have all bought them as we were keen to get our mitts on flyers. those of us who have wolfy painted existing flyers can still field them using an allied detachment, so I'm not sure why the new flyer… Its “okay” looking but to be honest I'm not desperate to have one, even with the new awesome gun of overpoweredness.
Other things I am a bit sad about? no grav guns, no tempests. BUT with the way allies work now I can take marine bikers and give them grav guns and take tempests and pout wolf scouts in them, so no biggie.
Long fangs got slightly more interesting as if you wish you can swap out the ancient for a wolf guard and five him a special weapon. maybe good in melta squads?
And finally.. Logan. Or as I shall now refer to him “Father Wolfmass”, really, a sled? I mean, I get it, with all the wolf riding wolfy wolf wolf ness. but still.. and GW, Guys, that pose.. I think we need to talk about some thing here…
