Some rumours on Vampire Counts (official pics added to first post)

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**notprop**

Away from the drama.......

(un)Holy gak! I had been intentionally ignoring this thread until something concrete appeared and pleased i am that I did.

Lots of plastic characters is sweet and he black knights look good to me, plus 5 for £18.50 seems like good value to me...../ or I just used to GW prices.

Looks like I will be blowing the dust off my old Skellies in the new year.

**-Loki-**

notprop wrote:Lots of plastic characters is sweet

Did I miss something? There's one new plastic character.

**AzureDeath**

Mr Morden wrote:
InventionThirteen wrote:Anyone else thinking the vampire babes would make excellent models for a dark eldar pimp raider?!

Now that is a mighty fine idea thanks

This is funny, I had been thinking that since I saw the pics. I was about to put my VC away for awhile, tired of getting my butt kicked by chaos, well now I have to see what the new book is gonna do for us. As for the models, Love the big kit, have a bunch of black knights already so hopefully the hexwraiths are good, the crypt horrors/vargheists, mmm well have to see the rules and hope they are not replacing the vargulf. Since 8th came out the magic phase has gone to hell so hopefully they helped our phase a bit. Getting the Isabella model but mainly 'cause it;s beautiful, the others not sure, wait for rules. And now the waiting, grrrrr.

**Godsized**

Lovely models but the artwork is beyond bad saturday morning cartoon. I know they want it to appeal to kids but thats one of the worst covers I have saw

**Vampirate of Sartosa**

Everything is beautiful... Except the cover. I was okay with the others, but this? Ugh.

**Waaagh_Gonads**

Had news and a few pics of all the new minis a few weeks ago and some of the army book entries but di not see the cover until just now am back from holidays.

GW really, really needs to do something about the absolutely pants offerings they are making for the army book covers.

They are a real let down and not in keeping with pretty much any of the art found elsewhere in the main rulebook, army books or sourcebooks.

And sadly this is even worse than the Tomb King book.

**notprop**

-Loki- wrote:
notprop wrote:Lots of plastic characters is sweet

Did I miss something? There's one new plastic character.

Not sure what happened there, wishful thinking perhaps.

As you were people.

**Medium of Death**

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:GW really, really needs to do something about the absolutely pants offerings they are making for the army book covers.

They are a real let down and not in keeping with pretty much any of the art found elsewhere in the main rulebook, army books or sourcebooks.

And sadly this is even worse than the Tomb King book.

While I don't like it, I don't think it's as bad as the Tomb Kings cover. Whose artistic style is this? Whoever it is needs to stop!

The odd sketch like this is OK, but not on the cover please. The 40k Daemon Codex has the opposite problem; nice cover, horrible drawings inside.

In an ideal world I'd prefer both elements to be great.

It's strange because the Orcs and Goblins book cover looks more like what we have come to expect. You would think the covers would have some kind of artistic continuity because they are now hardbacks... well it makes sense to me anyway.

**Vampirate of Sartosa**

I liked all the covers up until now. :/

**scarletsquig**

Black Knights look really nice and arcane evil, but the hexwraiths and coven throne are more "goofy laughing skeletor" style.

The monstrous infantry is OK apart from the disturbing nest of pubic hair.

Seriously GW, if you don't want to sculpt "meat and 2 veg".. just leave it blank, it's better than trying to pretend that the hideous manticore/undead gonads are covered up by the masses of hideous manticore/undead pubes that you've sculpted instead.

**snake**

Wow these look really cool. I don't play fantasy, but I might collect some of these pieces.

+1 on the disturbing pubes...

I also really like the wight king and krell. Hopefully more to come.

**bbb**

work blocked...can someone repost pics?

**Waaagh_Gonads**

There has been mutteringsve from a coupkle of older sources in the studio that it is to target the younger players who have the disposable cash to afford WHFB armies.

But the vast majority of younger players play 40K.

I know that they are sticking with it for consistency but they are almost universally awful. \

**CthuluIsSpy**

Has anyone noticed that the name of the guy Krell serves sounds disturbingly like the name of a certain real-life nutjob?

**Kanluwen**

CthuluIsSpy wrote:Has anyone noticed that the name of the guy Krell serves sounds disturbingly like the name of a certain real-life nutjob?

Yes.

But it's not a new thing at all. Kemmler is an old, old, old character. As a sidenote, I don't think Kemmler is getting a new model or at least not yet. It's likely them moving the old one over to Finecast.

On the subject of the "new" cover art: I'm not terribly offended by this move to a new 'style'. I don't like the "warmth" of the art in this particular case, but I'm very much okay with the art itself.

**Lorek**

OK folks, with regards to the comments on the last few pages regarding who loves/hates/doesn't care about GW:

Let's keep those kinds of comments out of these threads, please. They're off-topic.

Thank you.

**Bloodwin**

Medium of Death wrote:
Waaagh_Gonads wrote:GW really, really needs to do something about the absolutely pants offerings they are making for the army book covers.

They are a real let down and not in keeping with pretty much any of the art found elsewhere in the main rulebook, army books or sourcebooks.

And sadly this is even worse than the Tomb King book.

While I don't like it, I don't think it's as bad as the Tomb Kings cover. Whose artistic style is this? Whoever it is needs to stop!

It's strange because the Orcs and Goblins book cover looks more like what we have come to expect. You would think the covers would have some kind of artistic continuity because they are now hardbacks... well it makes sense to me anyway.

I said this earlier but for those who missed it. The art is Dave Gallagher the same guy who did the Orcs and Goblins cover and the Island of Blood cover and the bestiary pictures for the Storm of Magic book and the Battle of Skull Pass and a load of other art and covers for GW. As I said in my other post there are so many choices in a VC army they can't show them all. Also most players will have their own idea of what a vampire army should be so a middle of the road cover suits it. Looking at all the army covers they are all rather middle of the road with a character that looks like Hero as opposed to a Lord.

I'd rather have this cover that looks like classic GW than another boring 'Americanised' pic that looks like it has been lifted from Blizzard or Privateer Press. I understand the cover might not be to everyone's taste but surely it's the contents that are important? I have read hardly anything about the new rules and how the core troops are costed, especially as it's the cost of core ghouls that is unbalanced in the current book. Having said that it's a Phil Kelly book and while i don't mind him as a designer the points costs of the Beastmen book make me a little nervous for the Vampire Counts.

**Sasori**

notprop wrote:
-Loki- wrote:
notprop wrote:Lots of plastic characters is sweet

Did I miss something? There's one new plastic character.

Not sure what happened there, wishful thinking perhaps.

As you were people.

You could use the Left overs from the Mortis Engine/Coven throne. That Necromancer sure looks snazzy.

**Hellstorm**

ZAlpha posted some rules and points tidbits over on Warseer

ZAlpha wrote:Lore of the Vampires

Signature Spell is definitely Invocation of Nehek - on the most fundamental level it can restore "D6 + caster's Wizard level" of Wounds to friendly Undead unit within 6". Boosted version has 12" range, as well as 18" ones.

Other spells includes Raise Dead, Vanhel's Danse Macabre, Curse of Years, Gaze of Nagash, and Wind of Death

Lore attribute: When the spell from the Lore of the Vampires is succefully casted, the wizard or any undead models within 12" restores 1 wound.
Rules tidbits:

All Vampire has rule called "Hunger" - You get to roll a D6 when the vampire kills one or more models in combat, on a 6 you recovers one wound. (Vlad with Blood Drinker pass the roll on 4+)

Also Vampire, including vampiric creatures "such as" Varghulf and Vargheist, can march. So Vargheist will be able to move 20" per turn almost all the time. (not sure if Varghulf can also fly)

Vampiric Powers: (not all of them, just those mentioned in WD)
Flying Horror - give the vampire ability to fly (unsure)
Dread Knight - ability to boost WS (don't know how - but a Vampire Llord with Dread Knight has WS of 9)
Quickblood - gains ASF
Master of the Black Arts - get to re-roll one D6 for the Winds of Magic.
Dark Acolyte - add D3 to the total number of models raised by Nehek.
Red Fury - should be about the same. (unsure)

New units:

Coven Throne
- Basically a chariot mount for your Lord.
- Is a Large target with S5 T5 5W and 5+ save.
- has Spectral Steed rules (can move 8"), Undead, Vampiric, ASF (only for Handmaiden who has 2 S5 Attacks)
- has Random Attacks (2D6) at S3 from the spirit horde.
- Has Ward Save of 4+
- Battle of Wills (before the first enemy rolls to hit against the character or the Throne, both player roll a D6 and add their LD value. Has effects based on the difference of the score)
* no effect (0 or less)
* suffer -1WS/BS
* the enemy must re-roll successful To Hits
* each model in the enemy unit strike each other (only 1 attack per model)
- Has Bound Spell (lvl3) allowing the Throne (and all of its crew) to re-roll either To Hit or To Wound rolls.

Mortis Engine
- Is a Rare Choice
- Same stats as for the Throne (S5 T5 W5 Sv5+)
- has 2D6 attacks at S3 from the spirit horde
- Undead, Terror, Spectral Steed, and Regeneration
- can make Ghostly Howl attack.
- can take upgrade, allowing any wizards casting spell from the Lore of the Vampires to get +2 to their casting attempt. (ANY) miscast wizards rolls twice on the table and have the opponent choose the result)
- The Reliquary (at the start of your turn, roll 2D6 and add the current turn number - until the start of its next turn, all friendly Undead units within this number of range gains +1 bonus to their Regeneration, 6+ if they don't have any, to a maximum of 4+. Also, all enemy units within this range suffers D6 hits at the strength equal to the turn number.

- Also has some penalties if removed from play - by damaging every units within a random range at the strength equal to the current turn number)

Master Necromancer
- New Lord choice (ie. better Necromancer)

- Banshees and Cairn Wraith are now Hero

Hexwraiths (special)
- Fast Cavalry with Ethereal (yes!) that can inflict automatic S5 hits on unit that it moved through.

Vargheist (special)
- Flying Monstrous Infantry that has Fly, Frenzy, and 3A.

Crypt Horrors (special)
- Monstrous Infantry unit with M6 S4 T5 I2 W3 A3, has Poisoned Attacks, Regeneration 5+, and Undead.

I think that's all I've seen in the WD...

BTW, Heinrich Kemmler is back in finecast (and in the book) for sure. But on the original sculpt, no new miniature for him. (at least for now)

Seeing lots of people wondering if the Bloodline is back in the book.
Honestly, I'm not sure as it's not specifically mentioned rule-wise.

Skeletons....should be A LOT cheaper.
(40 Skellies with Full Command for less than 240 points. )

Crypt Ghouls... definitely a bit more expensive.

Zombies... even cheaper than the current one.

Fell Bats... cheaper.

Corpse Cart.... almost the same (but goes Special)

Black Knights.... cheaper.

Spirit Host... cheaper as well.

Varghulf... remains the same.

Dire Wolf....should be exactly the same.

**kenshin620**

Hmm no Bloodlines? As expected

Yup, ghouls went up while everything goes down, they sure do know their Vampire Players

**His Master's Voice**

Bloodwin wrote:I'd rather have this cover that looks like classic GW than another boring 'Americanised' pic that looks like it has been lifted from Blizzard or Privateer Press.

They have Paul Goddamn Dainton in their art dept. While Gallagher's work is certainly illustrative, it lacks the scope and punch a cover should have and there's no reason to have him do work other members of the team can do better.

**Necros**

Lovin the new models. Good thing I don't have an army, or I'd be poor now. But, I'll prolly get some of the new ghouls for my CSM lesser demons though, since I'm use the current ones now.

**Scottywan82**

Backing up the posters who talk about the blah-ness of these. Man! I was so hoping this would be my first real fantasy army in years too... Stupid lame-Black-Knights...

**RossDas**

I'm quite pleased with the new Black Knights - now I can banish the brittle old metal ones to the confines of my bits box, along with their plain skeleton steeds.

The big kit is very impressive but perhaps a touch overblown for the average army? Only real disappointment for me however was no new plastic zombies - so far anyways.

**MeanGreenStompa**

The cover is uninspiring.

I am VERY pleased that Necromancer Lords are back (back in the days I played undead, before the army got split into vc and tk, I always used one), I am VERY pleased The Lichmaster is back with us, he was fairly iconic back in the day.

The Vargeists and big ghouls are not so very interesting, I think these 'dual' kits end up missing out detail and pose wise because they try to be two things instead of concentrating on one. (I also think the one with a second set of baby wings is really terrible...)

Mrs Carnstien is back.

Krell is back.

The Throne doesn't work well, a massive Vozhd (tzimisce war ghoul construct from VtM) would have been amazing instead.
((((((

vamp chicks on it are very nice ))))))))

Cavalry seem good.

This army can be built with a massive saving by using Mantic minis and army deals...

**Draigo**

If the counts had a sascha vykos type character or tzimisce themed bunch thatd be outstanding. lol but kinda encrouching on chaos and skavens stuff.

**The Dark Saga**

Necros wrote:Lovin the new models. Good thing I don't have an army, or I'd be poor now. But, I'll prolly get some of the new ghouls for my CSM lesser demons though, since I'm use the current ones now.

I was thinking the same thing after looking at the ghouls. I'm getting tired of using bloodletters all the time.

**Scottywan82**

Looking closer, I do like the Necro Lord on the Engine. Maybe I'll pick up the bitz for him separately. That IS a Necromancer, yes?

Not a Vampire?

Any word on a plastic Vampire for this set of releases? Or just the sexy Wight King?

**Kirasu**

Wow almost every monster or monstrous infantry has regen or a ward save? Its like GW realizes that without those monsters are pointless!

Looks pretty cool

**-Loki-**

So, going by the points cost explaination for skeletson, I guess they're 5 points now? 200 / 4 is 5 leaving 40 for the command?

I can live with that.