Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So.

Long time 40k guy here, and I'm thinking about starting WHFB. I'm a Tau player in 40k, so those are the sort of table top tactics I am used to. Two armies interest me; Vampire Counts and Dwarves. What I want to know is how competetive are each of these armies? Do's/Don'ts and some basic tactica behind each.. (if possible) so I go into this the right way (instead of starting 4 different armies before falling in love with Tau like I did with 40k, and spending a bunch of money).

Anyhoo... Thanks in advance for the info!

mid-tier competitors both of them. Dwarves come in two kinds, shooters and punchers, Vampire Counts come in various flavors, all death stars.

A balance can definitely be found between shooty and close combat for dwarfs. Take alot of core warriors and spend some of your rare/special allowance on some decently runed artillery. Rune of accuracy on a grudge thrower is a favorite of mine. Or a rune of reloading cannon. Then with a few close combat characters and anti magic to rally your troops around you have a solid wall of angry beardlings with enough shooting to soften most enemies up enough to clear them off the board. I do think they have more useable builds than say vampire counts. Who are pretty narrow in what ways you can field them competitively.