Hey everyone I was wondering if any of you might have ideas for lunar wolves stats for a black shield. One of my players really would really like to play one but I dont know what types of stats or abilities he should have. If any of you could help me i would be extremely greatful.

Primarch of the second legion said:

I think one way is to create a new Chapter and try to make it as close as possible to the Luna Wolves that you can. There have also been several write-ups for various traitor legions to be used in Deathwatch and so it shouldn't be impossible that there's already a fan made Luna Wolves write up somewhere, if you want to go that route.

My first instinct is to warn you that this sounds like a little bit of SSS (Special Snowflake Syndrome) - with that sort of level of, "I'm so damned unique!!", do the rest of your characters have something to marke them out as interesting, or is this guys going to lord it over all of them. Just saying.

After that, the Luna Wolves were fairly savage, although not to the degree of the Space Wolves or World Eaters, but highly diplomatic. They specialised in targetted, precision strikes - even more so than other legions. How much of this was training and how much was inherent genetic ability is debatable (as with most chapter traits, I suppose). You're probably looking at something like Int and Fel, potentially with a talent like Talented: Tactica (Assault Doctrine). Needless to say, Enemy and Rival (All Imperial Agencies) will be in effect if he manages to be discovered for what he is.

The big question is how did this guy rock up? Was he in stasis for 10k years, recently found in a space hulk, created as an experiment into the recovery of tainted geneseed? All of these things will alter the level of gene completeness he'll have. If he was one of the original Luna Wolves that just happened to be isolated from the galaxy, he'll have all his organsi ntact. If it's recovered and cleansed Black Legion geneseed... well... roll a d10 for each organ and hope you roll more than a 3+.

Here's my problem with a Luna Wolves PC: in the Horus Heresy novels that focus on them (the first three), they practically worship Horus. More than any other Legion, they were the sons of their Primarch. The loyalist members of the Legion were spiritually broken when Horus betrayed them. I would honestly have trouble accepting a Luna Wolves PC unless the player in question has proven themselves as a VERY good role player.

I may be wrong, but it was my impression that the Lunar Wolves/Sons of Horus/Black Legion were supposed to be a 'baseline' Chapter, from which the others measure their divergence; the 'bad guy' version of the Ultramarines, basically. Hence, wouldn't just substuting Ultramarines stats work? Of course, that would probably infuriate the 'desperate to be special' player, but that might not be a bad thing...

I thought the same thing at first, but the Ultramarines- especially the write-up for them in Deathwatch- really value the Codex above all, whereas a loyalist Luna Wolf... probably not so much.

Adeptus-B said:

Not hugely. If you really wanted to find the opposite of the Ultramarines, you'd be better off looking at the Wordbearers (who are realistically far more of a threat and a set of 'evil doers' than the Black Legion. I'd rather go up against Abaddon than Erebus, just saying).

Once again, I suspect we really need more info to be able to give a good answer for this one - how is your player justifying a Luna Wolf pc? Once we know that, there's far more of a chance that we can really give you some solid ideas.

When the player pitched the idea to me he was thinking a character from a ship that was lost in the warp because time doesn't always pass at the same rate within the warp.(Sort of like the book first heretic what happened with argel tal.)

I was thinking that maybe tzeench could have caused this to happen with some devious end in mind possibly the space marine helping slay leaders of the other god groups possibly even their greater demons.

After leaving the warp i figured his ship would be in a populated area of space where there maybe other space marines and they question and interigate him using a psyker to read his memories and make sure there is no trace of the warp taint on or within him. I don't know exactly how they would break the news to him about his chapter turning from the emperor and leading a galactic civil war. After all this the Inquisition takes hold of him and he is forced to join the deathwatch or die because of the sins of his father and brothers.

Thats all the back ground i have for him right now.

I agree with Adeptus-B. The Ultramarines were the first thought I had for an equivalent. Luna Wolves would just be more agressive.

For stats I would say Fel and a choice of WP or Int .

First off, FYI, as some have mentioned but not specifically, its Luna Wolves, not Lunar Wolves.

If he is in fact a Luna Wolf, then this would be long before the chapter renamed themselves Sons of Horus. One of the non heresy books, Night Hunter/Haunter, not sure the name, based its story around a Night Lord that was held within a stasis bubble caused by a fight with Eldar. Ship disappears in warp and then eventually crashes on a hive world where chaos (no pun intended) then ensues.

You could very easily write this into a backstory, not just relying on "stuck in the warp." I echo that I would reserve the idea to a very good role player as Gaire mentions.

The only, off the top of my head, aspect that they portrayed to me was the ability to adapt. The fight between Lucius and Garviel, where instead of just using the sword he pummels Lucius causing him to loose. Being steadfastly loyal as well also works as a background, there were those that were loyal to Horus first and foremost and then those that were loyal to the emperor AND Horus. Its that emotional dichotomy that is what would need serious attention in the role play.

I'd go WP and one stat of choice.

WP and either Int or Fel, I'd say.

I think I might revise my previous suggestion to Fel with Int or Per as choices.

The more I think on it the less I like the idea of Luna Wolves with a WP bonus. It just doesn't feel right to me. They have impeccable leadership, outstanding strategists, and an adaptability to almost any situation.

It's not that they aren't strong willed, it's that they fight smarter, with better leadership, and are more adaptable on the fly than most legions.

Lucrosium Malice said:

In case anyone cares, the book is Lord of the Night , by Simon Spurrier.

Ah, thats it! Thanks ddunkelmeister. I was to lazy to search for it when I made the post. I had intended using that premise on a character.