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I am in the process of being coaxed into a fantasy army but I can't decide which one. I like undead because then I don't have to worry about psychology but I can't choose between VC or tomb kings. I realize tomb kings are an old army but I their look appeals to me. on the other hand, I like the Idea of vampires too.

So, to help you to help me I will list pros/ cons for me for each army:

VC
+solid close combat characters
+Dire wolves
+ethereal units
+ability to build units beyond starting strength
+vampires
-no shooting
-not an especially fast army
-lacking in direct damage magic

Tomb Kings
+fairly reliable and mobile shooting
+can be built to be very fast if not hard hitting
+incantations seem interesting
+tomb scorpions
+Ushabti (at least they look cool)
+some warmachines
+lots of cool looking models (tomb guard, the tomb kings themselves)
-they don't seem to be quite as beefy in CC
-cannot raise units above starting strength
-have an old army book (which from what I gather means they're not as powerful)

And for those who play both games what army or armies in 40k best describe their play style (I play blood angels, eldar, and guard)?

Any advice would be appreciated.

I've picked up VC but I'm still in the painting over 100 models phase. They are one of the better armies out there right now. Atleast that is what everyone is telling me. You've hit their strengths and weaknesses dead on. But I've never seen tomb kings played but I've been told they are incredibly difficult to use.

If I were you, I'd go VC. Newer book = less changes to deal with as you play.

indeed VC produce very interesting options with there new book, Tomb Kings a DD rightly says are going to change in the next few years or so, so they may not be the army for you vampires a good army to use and they have some fun magic items like the helm of commandment, you take a lvl 4 vampire wizard lord and give him that, then if hes not in combat another unit can use his WS instead making WS7 Grave Guard or Skeles ive been on the end of that one and how my Silver Helms whimpered as there charge stall quite quickly, TK are a really hard army to use especially with the way their magic works, and some other things about the army, lacking in direct damage for vamps isnt a problem as your magic is used to augment your units (spells like Danse Macarbre (spelling!?!) and raise dead) and push them into combats and the ability to create new units right in front of your opponents missile fire can severely reduce there shooting as they have to fire at the 7 zombies youve raised in front of them...still the choice is yours but vamps as most others have said are def the way to go

Vampire Counts are a much stronger army. They have all the strengths you pointed out, plus the ability to really pump out power/dispel dice, and they are much faster than you might think. Danse or whatever it is makes them incredibly fast when it counts, being able to engage units during the magic phase allows a lot of flexibility. They can also redirect and block charges like few others with zombie raising. If you want an army that will win, VC is it. However, depending on how you build it, you may find it hard to get games as some people will see the VC, sigh, and look for another game.

Tomb Kings are fun with a great aesthetic, but they have greater weaknesses than Vampires. You might find you struggle to win with them against a lot of different lists.

If you want a raw evaluation of power, the recent tournaments suggest that VC is among the highest power levels, while TK... not so much so. If you're simply interested in fun, then TK might be for you (if you have a serious chariot fetish), but VC are very, very flexible in ways that TK simply aren't.

In terms of cool models, if you like Tomb Guard, you really owe it to yourself to take a gander at the new Grave Guard and Skeleton Warrior plastic kits, as well as the (plasitc) Corpse Cart.

As for TK being "faster" then VC, that's a matter of build: some VC builds are slow, but it can be tailored to be a surprisingly fast force. That's part of the flexibility VC has that TK simply don't. Same with the "lacking in direct damage" point you have; tailored for magic, Vampires can be some of the (if not the most) powerful casters in WHFB. Also, an odd point to bring up in a comparison to TK, who are not overly known for their offensive magic (as opposed to Tzentch daemons, Dark Elves or Skaven, for instance).

And, no offense, if you are just getting into WHFB, VC is a good army to start with: you miss out on some elements like panic, manipulating people by fleeing and so forth, but for all that VC can be pretty forgiving of mistakes.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I guess I'll go with VC after all and save TK for later (if at all)

the TK will be cool if they ever get a new army book...