Codex Fluff Wolves - A Review of Sorts

I don't want to do a standard review of Codex: Space Wolves, I'd probably have little new to add to that format and seeing as I'm not a 40k gamer (at the minute) I'd probably be wrong! Furthermore, we've heard all about it now. Instead I want to have a look at the thing that struck me about Phil Kelly's book the most.
Now as anyone familiar with my blog will know, I'm a fluff-junkie. I love the background to the GW games and the opportunities we're given as hobbyists to explore and expand on that. My armies are always built around a story and a theme and I love the plots that develop over the course of a battle. Most of all though, I love developing a plot myself as I build the army and the models. That's the part of the hobby I find most rewarding.
When I first started batting ideas around for the Angels Exemplar I'd been torn whether to go for all out chaos marines or to use the old Space Wolves Codex to build a force as the organisation of the Space Wolves matched how I imagined the Angels Exemplar and the ferocity of the Wolves was also a nice match. Back then as well you could have a Venerable Dread lead an army without it having to be Bjorn and the original concept for Sikandar was that he was a fallen hero of the Angels Exemplar who'd fallen from the grace of the Emperor. Instead though, I'd gone for the chaos space marines. My old loyalties were hard to put aside. However, when I saw rumours of a new Space Wolves codex and I began to flesh out the background more I felt myself getting drawn to it more and more. So that brings us to where we are right now. Now to stop waffling and get to the point!
The one thing that I love about this Codex is that it seems to make an extra effort with something that Games Workshop have been overlooking a little lately in my opinion. It tries to tie together the fluff and the game a lot more and to immerse the player into the game through the characters they create to lead their army. I think in 5th edition 40k there's been an effort to create this immersing effect more, that's one of the selling points of true line of sight. Space Wolves characters are another step in this direction in my mind.
The first thing Phil Kelly has done is to put in a rule where you can't give characters the same wargear loadouts. It's such a simple little rule that stops the spammers and instantly creates unique characters in even a cheesy-power-list-army. I really like this rule, it doesn't detract anything at all but means you have to put that little bit more thought into the characters, your representatives on the battlefield.
The second, and more obvious way in which this fluff-focus has been added is the Saga list. These sort of upgrades are nothing new, we've had Chaos/Daemonic Gifts, Vampiric Powers, Oaths, Big Names etc in a lot of GW army books/codices. What is different with them is the oath associated with them. Sure it's not a game rule, but it's a brilliant concept to put this sub-mission in the mind of the player. I'm sure there will be plenty of players that ignore the oaths and good luck to them but for those of us that like this sort of thing they're such a wonderful concept. I will not play a game with the Angels Exemplar once I'm started on them where the oaths of my characters won't be a personal mission! The only downside to the sagas is that there are so few of them but this is a positive review and I'm sure there can be plenty discussion about what could have been added in but not right now.
Next, I want to mention the Lone Wolf. Another brilliant concept. How many times when we've played our games of 40k or Fantasy etc have we had one of these present themselves from the rank and file. Many a time now the Champion in my Fantasy Chaos Warriors with Great Weapons unit has outlived his comrades and gone on solo missions of self-sacrifice. It's the sort of plot I mentioned before that unfolds as a battle goes on. The Lone Wolf represents a brilliant opportunity to start with one of these guys! There will most definitely be one of these in my army, to me they represent something a bit like the Emperor's Champion idea. Mine shall have a sword and a shield and charge forth to meet the monstrous enemies of the Angels Exemplar in combat. I can't wait! The fluff-junkie in me is thinking I'll wait to introduce one of these guys in my army until a unit gets so battered in a battle and I'm left with a genuine Lone Wolf rank and file guy. Then his legend will continue on!
Anyway, I'm going to finish on that note. A lot has been written, ranted and raved about the new codex and everything that's wrong with it and how it'll wreck the game. I just wanted to bring attention to the subtle focus change within the codex and what it can represent to the rest of us that enjoy the spectacle of the game instead of the power-gaming.
Comments etc will be greatly appreciated. I have another post about army fluff planned soon as it's a subject I'm quite keen on exploring further!

The Angels Exemplar

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Never have I questioned my faith. Never have I wavered in my works. But today... today has spawned a thousand doubts. No one could doubt the loyalty of the Angels Exemplar. Their piety is beyond compare even amongst the zealots that make up Dorn's progeny. Their methods though... I've worked alongside the Astartes before. I know theirs is not a way of mercy or compassion but never have I seen such barbarism committed in the name of our Righteous Emperor. It is said that the Astartes will be the saviours of humankind... but in their creation perhaps we deserve to be damned...

Transcript from the recovered personal log of Inquisitor Thaddius of the Ordo Hereticus after the purge of the Blood Shaman Cult.
843.M41.

Note. Inquisitor Thaddius declared heretic later in same year and led rebellion of the Imperial World Tymuron II. Rebellion put down by Angels Exemplar Astartes. Rogue Inquisitor Thaddius executed.

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Angels Exemplar Marine




Angels Exemplar Sergeant

Origins

The Angels Exemplar chapter of Space Marines are a 26th Founding Chapter created 738.M41. The Angels Exemplar are descendents of Rogal Dorn although their Gene Seed is taken from the Dark Hands chapter. A elite cadre from the Dark Hands chapter trained the initial neophyte marines and made up the HQ for the Chapters first steps.

Homeworld

The Angels Exemplar are a fleet based Chapter. Each company having its own fleet and patrol routes although they are easily redirected to where they are needed. Recruits are taken from suitable worlds on their established patrols.

Organisation

The Angels Exemplar follow a largely non-codex organisation. The Chapter is organised into 7 companies and these are autonomous fighting forces. Instead of having dedicated companies like codex chapters the Angels Exemplar split their veteran, tactical, assault and devastator marines between the 7 companies. As these companies are autonomous they handle their own recruitment and training of neophytes so each have their own scout contingent also. Due to this the differing companies are often at varying strengths. The Lord of the Angels Exemplar leads the 1st Company and also organises the objectives of the other 6 companies each of which are led by their own Commander.

Combat Doctrine

The Angels Exemplar have proven themselves to be especially effective at medium to short range warfare. In particular they excel at guerilla warfare and lightning strike incursions in urban environments. Their effectiveness in these combat arenas has seen them put to great use by the Ordo Hereticus branch of the Inquisition as they have shown a brutal effectiveness at putting down rebellions and eliminating deviant cults. This brutality has raised some question marks amongst the Inquisition though as some believe their brand of warfare should be more measured in such environments as they are often in full view of the citizenry of the Imperium.




Angels Exemplar Terminator




Angels Exemplar Terminator Sergeant

The Cromwell Incident

The Inquisition is currently doing all it can to open channels with the Angels Exemplar. The Chapter was petitioned to help pacify a rebellion in the Cromwell system. It seemed that Lord Rosam gathered the entire might of the Angels Exemplar on the borders of the Cromwell system as the fleets of all 7 companies rendezvoused along with contingents of the Jakoban Heavy Dragoons Regiment of the Imperial Army. What happened next is unknown with only intercepted communications between the Imperial Navy vessels in the vicinity to go on. Allegedly elements of the Angels Exemplar Company Fleets opened fire on one another. The Imperial Navy vessels sat idly by unsure as to what was happening and not daring to intefere in the conflicts of the Astartes. The next intercepted communication alleged to orders for an orbital bombardment on key strike points on Cromwell IV before the strike force led by Lord Sikandar made planetfall. It is known that key rebel personnel were stationed on Cromwell IV and that Sikandar had been the commander of the Angels Exemplar 3rd Company but was now being referred to as Lord. The Inquisition received no word of any nature from the Cromwell system so re-routed a naval patrol to investigate what had taken place both in the pacification of the rebellious system and also in the command of the Angels Exemplar chapter...

So there you have it, the new look Angels Exemplar background. As ever Space Crusade has had an influence on the decision to mark out sergeants etc with white power armour. I've decided that they are a Space Marine Chapter and their loyalty is in complete doubt. Have they turned from the Emperor or are they still his loyal servants. Clearly they have struck at the rebels of Cromwell IV but beyond that nothing is known. Means I can create a strong narrative with each squad as I go along and also gives me plenty of scope for characters and if I get really ambitious there's even the Jakoban Heavy Dragoons regiment to consider! The Angels Exemplar will most likely be built from the Space Wolves list as this will allow me to best represent the brutal nature of the chapter and their currently questionable loyalties. Also, it will be shiny and new!

Space Marine images created using http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/smp.php

Thoughts on the Angels Exemplar.

I'm struggling at the moment with indecision. My son seems hell bent on his 40k army so need to think about my own. I have to say, I have a real temptation at the minute to go for a loyalist marine army. I don't know if it's the pending release of Space Hulk (oh and my copy is assured now after a brief few moments of panic!) and/or the fact that I've been playing Space Crusade with my son a bit more lately (probably a side effect of the pending Space Hulk release hehe). Something, though, is making me really want to start a loyalist Marine army.
The Angels Exemplar might be getting a complete fluff overhaul or I may well have changed my mind again by this evening. This is the problem with me and 40k. I'm far too indecisive. With Fantasy I never had this problem. I was an Undead player until they split them and then a Chaos player (I always favoured Warriors so I went along with that split!).
In 40k I've had small forces of Space Marines (Imperial Fists and Blood Angels) Chaos Space Marines (Emperor's Children and the current Angels Exemplar), Eldar, Dark Eldar, Tyrannids (including a very short lived Genestealer cult army), and Imperial Guard. I've never had a force of any real significance as I've always changed my mind after a short period of time. Need to make a decision and see it through so I can get back into 40k properly! If anyone has any comments, advice or even an army they'd like to see me try my hand at please let me know!

Angels Exemplar - Indecision

Ok, I've started painting another marine, now, this shows how indecisive I am. Since I started painting the colour scheme has changed again... possibly...


That's what I've done so far.

I'm thinking maybe something like:


I thought about the chapter name and wondered if maybe something like gold would be a more suitable colour scheme for them.

Which do people prefer the blue and red or the gold and red idea. I'm thinking with the Gold scheme robes on marines that have them will most likely be black or red and on the blue I might bring the white back in with the robes.

Apologies for the constantly changing colour scheme ideas!

The Angels Exemplar - Colour Scheme Decisions

I definitely can't seem to get the white to look effective on the minis without taking it to bleached bone which instantly makes them look like Chaos Blood Ravens. So I'm going to try the above...

The Angels Exemplar - First Attack Squad WIP

I've decided that I want to theme an army very specifically towards the fluff that I write for it and that is the aim with this chapter. I want this to extend to everything from the minis wargear and poses, to their bases (which from The Devotees of Elazar is something I wish to greatly improve upon as the bases have always been something of a weakpoint of my army). So some more fluff followed by a couple of early WIP pics.

Since the fall there had been little activity from the Angels Exemplar. A few raids by small warbands including renegades clearly from the chapter had taken place but nothing of any significance. This was until without warning 'The Wrath of Sikandar' arrived in the Jakoba system with a large accompanying fleet. The Jakoba system's principal planet was the home of the Silver Saints Space Marine Chapter and this was where the Angels Exemplar hastened to. The Imperial Navy and the Silver Saints' vessels that were in the system were no match for the might of the Angels Exemplar's chapter fleet and soon they were able to close on the planet. An orbital bombardment took out the shields protecting the Silver Saints' Fortress Monastery and then a full ground assault was launched...

So early, early, early WIP pics of the first attack squad.

Aspiring Champion w/ Plasma Pistol and Power Sword




Chaos Space Marine w/ Bolt Pistol and Close Combat Weapon




Chaos Space Marine w/ Flamer




Chaos Space Marine w/ Bolt Pistol and Close Combat Weapon


Chaos Space Marine w/ Boltgun


There are a number of different part been used in creating this attack squad. I have used the following kits:
Chaos Space Marine Attack Squad
Chaos Warriors (helmets)
Chaos Knights (Aspiring Champion's helmet and powersword)
Chaos Marauders (Shoulder pads)
Dark Angels Veterans (Robes, plasma pistol, powersword arm, Mk 8 armour)
Space Marine Tactical Squad (Flamer)
Chaos Vehicles Accessory (Boltgun)
Bloodletters of Khorne (Horns)

The idea is to try and make each marine slightly unique as I would imagine that a marine unbound from his imperial responsibilites and codes of behaviour would develop more of his own identity than he might previously have had.

The Angels Exemplar - Background

The Angels Exemplar


Angels Exemplar Marine (Pre-Fall)


Angels Exemplar Marine (Post-Fall)

Origins

The Angels Exemplar chapter of Space Marines was a 26th Founding Chapter created 738.M41. The Angels Exemplar are descendents of Rogal Dorn although their Gene Seed is taken from the Dark Hands chapter. A elite cadre from the Dark Hands chapter trained the initial neophyte marines and made up the HQ for the Chapters first steps.

Homeworld

The Angels Exemplar were a fleet based chapter this enabled them to respond quickly to situations and helped them gain valuable combat experience in their early years despite the lack of trust the chapter was held in as they were able to react faster than other chapters due to their lack of size. The Chapter was based around the massive flagship His Holy Wrath which bore the lodgings of the Chapter Master and his staff. Since their fall the flagship bears little resemblance to the Imperial Vessel and has undergone a name change. Now known as The Wrath of Sikandar sightings of the vessel are a dark omen indeed.

Combat Doctrine

The Angels Exemplar proved themselves to be experts of medium to short range combat and in particular guerilla actions in urban environments. They quickly made themselves invaluable to the Ordo Hereticus in erradicating heretical cults. The ease with which the Angels Exemplar responded to the Ordo's requests and the zeal with which they put down the enemies of the Emperor led for them to become a much trusted resource of the Inquisition. The way that the Angels Exemplar make war since the Fall has changed little except they now readily work terror into their battle plans making extensive use of plasma weapons and flamers before they close for hand to hand combat where the full ferocity of their unbound personalities comes to the fore.

Organisation

The manner of the campaigns in which the Angels Exemplar were used primarily meant that the chapter was organised primarily into small combat squads and because of the close range style of fighting employed by them the chapter had a proportionally higher number of assault squads in comparison to other Codex chapters. Since the Fall there is a far less rigid organisation to the Angels Exemplar. The combat squads used by the chapter before are now very common with the most worthy fighter in a group leading it as its Champion. There is still a very clear Headquarters to the chapter and a number of subordinate warbands with their own internal hierarchies.

The Fall

It is unclear when exactly the seeds of the Angels Exemplar's fall were planted but what is known is that despite their close work with the Ordo Hereticus and their zeal in putting down powerful cults such a religious deviation began to occur within the chapter. Some Marines within the Chapter fell into the veneration of four animal aspects. These were the Eagle, the Serpent, the Dog and the Crow. This cult within the chapter slowly spread and it slowly became clear that the leaders of the cult were truly communing with the dark powers that reside within the warp. An internal conflict began within the chapter after the assassination of a number of Chaplains in 881.M41 brought knowledge of the cult's existence to the fore. After much brutal fighting those loyal to the cult (who were in the vast majority) wrestled control of the chapter fleet and systematically routed out those Battle Brothers that wouldn't side with them. The Headquarters of the Chapter was much changed within this time and Sikandar who had been a Veteran Sergeant before The Fall rose to become Master of the Angels Exemplar. His first act was to open fire on the Imperial Navy escorts that accompanied the chapter and then the chapter fleet made for the Eye of Terror heeding the call of their new gods.


Space Marine images created using http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/smp.php