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After using the resources of Dakka (the Tactics section), and with a lot of help from Airmaniac, My friend has chosen a vampire list for 2000 points.

Total Points = 2000

The army totals to the intended amount on the dot, which leaves us with little to work with without a complete re-write if we want to change anything. Still the army appears to be solid to me, but I'm not an expert in this. That is why I'm running it by you guys . Comments and criticisms would be very appreciated, along with any tactics or tricks for running Vampire Counts in 8th edition.

Additionally I would like to note we have the rules for the Terrorghiest, Tomb Banshees, and Carin Wraiths from WD, but they didn't come with the army. The Ghiest while cool, very cool, isn't our cup of tea and seems weaker to the Varghulfs (in a world of cannons). I see the Wraith as a better alternative to the Banshee and it will fit well with the Grave Guard at higher points.

Lords: 455
-Vampire Lord, +1 Lvl, Infinite Hatred, Red Fury, Ghoulkin, Flayed Haiberk, Crown of the Damned, Sword of Strife-455

A nice Level 3 combat lord that sits in the large Ghoul block. With the Sword, Hatred, and Fury he should do a good number of wounds to either characters or units and his armor and crown will keep him alive.

Heroes: 405
Vampire, Forbidden Lore, Helm of Commandmnet, Black Periapt-180
Wight King, BSB, Drakenhof Banner-225

While the other Vampire focuses on raising with Summon Undead Hordes this vampire is mainly about buffing the large blocks of either ghouls or grave guard. I'm a little unsure which lore would be best for him, as I play skaven and don't get to use the main 8 outside of storm or allies. I've had it suggested to be Beasts, Light, Shadows, or the Vampire Lore. Not sure we need to try them all and would love feedback on this in particular.

Yes Drakenhof Wight King for Grave Guard Deathstar. Now let me say that we aren't fully sold on the the deathstar, but it will only take one box of Grave Guard to get this for him. Airmanic and a local are vocal about MSU of Grave Guard or MMU (Multiple Medium Units) 15-21. The idea of either appeals to me as a hordes player but we're going to try the deathstar firstas its all around easier money, biuld, etc-wise.

Core: 500
20*Skeletons, Full Command-180
30*Crypt Ghouls-240
10*Crypt Ghouls-80

From what I understand a pretty standard loadout for Core. A skele bunker for the Lvl 1 Vamp and a big unit of Ghouls for the lord. The smaller unit was suggested by a local friend as a flanker and I was unsure whether or not to just incorporate them into the existing ghoul unit.

Special: 465
30*Grave Guard, Great Weapons, Full Command, Banner of the Barrows-465

The Grave Guard, for the Grave Guard Deathstar. Everyone already knows that these guys are good, that local I keep mentioning is under the impression their Vampire's best unit. Like I discussed above with the Wight King. We aren't sold on the Deathstar and will fiddle between these and two or so smaller units when we get more models.

Rare: 175
Vargulf-175

In this army deal bundle thing, I don't know , my friend only received one of these beasties. Well one of these and 10 metal Blood Knights, but I much prefer this guy. Depending on how well this guy performs will either make or break the addition of a second, which I'm unsure if its needed at 2000.

I like it. I'm actually a bit inspired by your character loadout. I usually got for a balance between magic and combat for the vamps. You might consider the use of MotBA since it makes raising so much easier, I dont even bother with more than 20 GG (They keep getting back up).

Why upgrade your Combat lord to lv 3? If he's combat you want to put as much into combat as you can. The extra level is better saved and used on other units. I personally run my CC vamp with infinite hatred and red fury for sure. i sometimes throw on the +1 CR power too, i think it's walking death. I'll run with flayed hauberk, the talisman from the BRB with a 5+ ward, and blood drinker. You'll regen all wounds you cause. Meaning in a turn you could potentially bring back 8 ghouls... and on a turn when you're charged and lose to impact hits, or you charged and now it's their turn and you've lost some... can bring back a rank and 8 attacks. Just my thought, and the way i run my cc lord. She wrecks shop.

If i ever run a caster vamp i always go Metal. Everyone laughs at me when i have schools like Fire and Beasts and Shadow and whatever, but Metal has been awesome. It's more of a Aug/Hex for me as i like making you be - armor saves, and me with a scaly skin (which you can give to all units with 12"). It also is VERY nice against those armies (cough WoC) who bring knights and all those tin can warriors with their really good armor saves. Lots of wounds no armor save when you cast the damage spells. Look at the spell school, people dismiss it but it can be VERY useful for a VC player imo. Not to say the other schools aren't good... but i like me some Metal.

The Grave Guard Deathstar is definitely viable. I personally don't care with my VC. I run two hordes of ghouls and a horde of GG. Undead win by attrition. If i can outlast your first withering hit, i win. Unless the dice gods aren't favorable during my magic phase, but that's part of being a VC player lol. Be careful on the Banner for the deathstar though. Drakenhof is the regen banner yeah? It's also massive points. I don't have my book in front of me or i'd check the gear (i'm and work and lately i'm working on prepping a Dwarfs list and a Tyranid list so i'm not all together there on the namings). I used to run that Deathstar myself, but too many people i play with are able to take 10 pt Fiery banners or other equipment that screws your 150pts or so up. You also do NOT get regen any longer for wounds caused by CR. If you're gonna Magic banner up the unit i'd suggest the 4+ ward vs shooting. It's cheaper and does the dame thing for you (since you can just raise your troops when you get low in melee).

My opinion on the core is as follows for my VC. Bigger the better. Like i stated before i run two hordes of Ghouls. 40 strong. The skelly bunker is a smart idea, but they shouldn't get into combat ever. I've run my caster with a unit of 10 for the better part of the year and i've yet to have them be destroyed. Small units can be VERY useful. Not so much for flanking as with Hordehammer being played by most players, but to direct charges. you can either make someone HAVE to charge your unit and either be directed away (on an overrun) or you make them stall their turn which means you can get the charge. It's very very effective. When i play this way i use the Dire Wolves though, as they can move a bit easier than the block of ghouls, but that's up to you.

Varghulfs are awesome. despite losing the regen to CR wounds. 5 attacks, ws 5, s 5, infinite hatred? Awesome! I haven't played a 2k game in a while as we play 2500 at our store, but i'd take two of these for sure. I also take a Terrorgheist in my 2500 as they're only 225 pts. Worst case scenario they take a cannon shot (if you're really unlucky, two if you are) which will help prevent your Lord get sniped at. The Gheist will cause 1 wound to something Ld 7 on a roll of . which isn't too shabby. It flies and if you roll about average (lets say double 3) you'll cause 2 wounds to a Ld 10. Flying around and distracting your opponent with the big nasty is enough to warrant the use of the beauty, if you don't like the scream which can be devastating to a Ogre Kingdom Thundertusk or something which is Ld 7 with 6 wounds. Oh, really? i just rolled a 7... which + 6 wounds remaining means i have 13, and you take 6 wounds no armor saves. Oh it's dead? awwwww. I roll like poop so i dont get that scenario often, but it's great fun when it does happen!

Take it for what you will.

I think you have overinvested in characters. You have 860/2000 points in characters! This leaves you with very little actual units for fighting (you basically have 30 Ghouls, 30 Grave Guard and a Varghulf). I'd advise you to split the Grave Guard into multiple units, drop the Wight King altogether and just give the Battle Standard to the caster Vampire. I'd also advise you to just put the 10 Ghouls with the other 30 Ghouls. The unit size is too small to be able to do anything else then redirecting, which is what you can summon Zombies for. Any left over points (from dropping the Wight King) could be spent on increasing the Grave Guard unit sizes, or on an additional Rare choice (Varghulf / Terrorgheist / Black Coach). As for the Lore on the supporting Vampire, I really like the combination of Lore of Beasts with the CC Vampire Lord. In addition, Wyssan's Wildform is amazing (T5 Ghouls!). Transforming a ~200 point Character into a Great Fire Dragon is awesome as well (though more of a way of forcing the opponent to use dice to dispel it).

@Ductape
Level 3 is good on a CC Vampire Lord for two reasons:
-It gives you +3 to dispel instead of +2.
-It significantly increases the odds of the Vampire Lord getting the spells you want from the Lore of Vampires, freeing up the supporting Vampire to take another Lore.

Valid points Airmaniac. Problem for me is that i have terrible Magic phases. I almost NEVER roll average on the 2d6, and whenever i get a decent roll of 4+ on one die the other is a 1. I personally don't like the VC magic list except vanhels and curse of years and invocation (obviously). If i get raise undead horde (which is slick) i inevitably irresistible force the spell and kill my lord. Like i said, terrible magic phases. Hell, i don't even bother casting until turn 4 usually.

I'm not on any tournament circuits, but when i play my VC i have only been stomped repeatedly by one person and he plays a very dialed in WoC list. All my other games are draws or victories per VPs. I DO like your idea of using the Helm of Command Vamp as your BSB. I'm going to play with that idea later and see what i can do with it.

I run a loremaster death, who spends all the rest of his points being geared for combat.
I run a thrall with the gem of blood and 2+ armor, and 2 necros (1 with dispel scroll, 1 with feedback scroll).
I squeeze in either 3 wraiths heroes or 2 banshees.

Yes, it's very hero heavy.
But VC need to be. You can't afford to lose combat.

The combination of the lore of death sniping, along with the feedback scroll, does a pretty good job at taking out wizards.

Between the black coach and 4 channels, I don't do too bad defending in the magic phase.

-Matt

Okay I reworked points and had to make some changes, but the list is redone.

Lords: 410
-Vampire Lord, +1 Lvl, Infinite Hatred, Red Fury, Flayed Haiberk, Crown of the Damned, Sword of Battle, Ironcurse Icon(5)-410

Had to change this guys loadout to get points to work. Unfortunate, but he only dropped one attack and ghoulkin (which with only a single ghoul unit seem a bit much). +1 attack and a 6+ward for the ghouls against warmachines seems good though.

Heroes: 195
Vampire, Forbidden Lore, Helm of Commandmnet, BSB, Dragonbane Gem(5)-195

Dropped the wight king, leaving me with only one here, who is also my BSB, but still he is okay. Of the suggested lores Shadow is looking like the best bet, and on my friend really likes. Sorry Airmanic he isn't a fan of beast, and I can support his reasoning.

Core: 500
20*Skeletons, Standard Bearer, Muscican-172
40*Ghouls, Ghast-328

Dropped the champ to give the Ghouls one. Really wish I didn't even need the musician, but points demand it.

Special: 544
20*Grave Guard(240), Great Weapons (20), Standard bearer (12)-272
20*Grave Guard(240), Great Weapons (20), Standard bearer (12)-272

I plan to run these either six or seven wide to maximize there attacks. My friend is very hesitant about the unit size, as he feels small units are fragile, but I convinced him that we are fighting preconceived notions on outdated vampires so he is going to try them.

Rare: 350
Vargulf-175
Vargulf-175

I have to say I do like two of these guys in the list. They take up a lot of space, but should with proper playing and strategy be able to make it back most of the time.

Total:1999

One point shy of the limit isn't bad and this list packs a lot of power. I can defiantly see places to add in stuff for higher points and have ideas there.

Almost a day and no thoughts or suggestions? I'm not entirely sure how I should take that.