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So I was just messing around with this awesome army created and came up with a list, I'm a total noob and just added models I liked and then adjusted it to fit, how would this army fair or is it completely useless?

+++ vampires (1994pts) +++

+ Lords +
* Strigoi Ghoul King
Lore of the Vampires, Quickblood, Red Fury
Ogre Blade, Talisman of Preservation

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Master of the Dead, Wizard Level 2
Nightshroud
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Master of the Dead, Wizard Level 2
Book of Arkhan, Talisman of Protection

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
Champion
* 10x Dire Wolves
Champion
* 20x Skeleton Warrior
* 20x Skeleton Warrior

+ Special +
* Corpse Cart
Balefire, Corpsemaster's Spear
* 6 Crypt Horrors
* Spirit Host
* Spirit Host

+ Rare +
* Terrorgheist

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

Thanks for looking.

If your taking a ghoul king definely consider dragonbane gem as it counteracts your intial saves weakness

Drop the corpse cart, get more horrors

You need to get some banners in the list or you just auto lose some scenarios, I prefer zombies over skellies on the cost front, but their not aweful, get them a banner

Drop the wolves to 2 - 5 man units no champion ( waste of points ) now you have more drops and re directors .

Make sure your only spending 25% on core and no more if you can help it

Need to definitely find the points to bump those horrors into the 9-12 range so they stay relevant

Drop the nightshroud on the necro if he's in that kind of danger he's already dead, I would say the same for the talisman on the other necro, it's a necessity that you get a dispel scroll in that army, so things like the Crypt horrors don't just auto die to the first time a huge roll on purple sun happens

Thanks for the help. I can't take the dragonbane gem and the 4++ can I? Is the 5+ regen and 2++ against fire better than a 4++?

Not a bad list, just a few changes I'd make:

Drop the Talisman and Quickblood on your Ghoul King and get the Dragonbane Gem, OTS and Beguile (and maybe other decent vampire powers if you feel the need). Dragonbane Gem is better as you're paying 5 points for a 5++ (and a 2++ some of the time) rather than 45pts for a 4++. Quickblood isn't really necessary unless you play against Elves a lot, as the Ghoul King is already very fast and has re-rolls to hit anyway. Beguile and OTS are very useful for taking down characters and other tough creatures. Another favourite Ghoul King build of mine though is: Skabscrath, Dragonbane Gem, Potion of Strength, Red Fury, Fear Incarnate, Aura of Dark Majesty. Something different, yet still effective.

You can't have Master of Dead on both your Necromancers but nor would I elect to have it on either. Partly because of the advice on Core (below) but also because, in practice, it's not that useful and the points are better spent elsewhere - such as on a Dispel Scroll, something which you really need. I would also drop the Nightshroud and Talisman of Protection (and maybe the Book too - though Vanhels is a fantastic spell). If your opponent elects to attack the Necromancers, they are probably dead, so the points are better spent elsewhere.

You're also overspending on Core. Dire Wolves aside, VC Core units are pretty terrible, so never spend more than necessary (in this case 500pts) on them. Your Skeleton units are also too small, even if you try and use MotD to effect. Running 30 Ghouls, 2 units of 5 Direwolves, and two units of 20 Zombies, would put you on minimum Core and would be an effective setup. One Zombie unit bunkers your Necros whilst the other gets in the way. The two units of Direwolves act as chaff - which is another point, Dire Wolves should only ever be run in units of 5, with no champion.

For your Special/Rare, you're lacking a little something. Either you need a unit that can deal more damage (Grave Guard) or something that will help your other units (such as a Mortis Engine or another Terrorgeist). I would drop the Corpse Cart (these things are pretty bad) and use the points, along with those saved on the Necros/Core/Ghoul King, and try and get one of the above. I'd probably opt for one of the latter two, since I doubt you'll have enough points to do the Grave Guard justice.

Hope this helps, if you have any more questions, just ask!

+++ VC (1998pts) +++
+++ 2000pt Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. Roster (Standard)) +++
Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. (Standard) Selections:

+ Lords +
* Strigoi Ghoul King
Beguile, Red Fury
Dragonbane Gem, The Other Trickster's Shard

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
Dispel Scroll
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
Book of Arkhan

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 20x Zombies
* 20x Zombies

+ Special +
* 10x Black Knights
* 6x Crypt Horrors
Champion

+ Rare +
* Mortis Engine
* Terrorgheist

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

How about something like this? Had some points so I put in a unit of 10 Black Knights. Thanks for the help

Knights are generally best used as vampire delivery systems imo, they just don't do enough even when fully equipped to kill blocks without crumbling to dust

I personally would double the Crypt horror unit they are tough as nails and rez back fairly quick, great unit to tarpit with backed by a mortis they are scary

What level caster Is your ghoul king ? If he's one and the best you have caster wise is a level 2, the magic phase could be an issue against the pretty much auto take lvl 4 now, I do like your core set up better, you should definitely get banners though and consider a few more wolf units

+++ vampires (1996pts) +++
+++ 0pt Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. Roster (Standard)) +++

Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. (Standard) Selections:

+ Lords +
* Strigoi Ghoul King
Beguile, Lore of the Vampires, Red Fury, Wizard Level 1
Dragonbane Gem, The Other Trickster's Shard

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
Dispel Scroll

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 20x Zombies
Standard bearer
* 20x Zombies
Standard bearer

+ Special +
* 12x Crypt Horrors

+ Rare +
* Mortis Engine
* Terrorgheist
Rancid Maw

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

Another redraft. I dunno how to get a level 4 in, guessing I'd have to completely remove the ghoul king and go with a vampire lord or a master necro. Added standards to the zombies.

First thing I notice those 4 extra points could buy a zombie for a unit

What plans do you have for the ghoul king? I generally run a regular vamp but the same thing of movement applies, I want him mounted generally to come to grips with the enemy faster where all his potential is, in the ghoul kings case flying isn't a bad idea here

Have you considered making a 2500 pts list instead it really just means more core, and a more fleshed out choice for lord / heroes with the option for more special , otherwise I'd grab either a necro lord or vamp lord that can cast strongly

I always hate relying on someone with poor saves to keep my army from just falling apart, and the king really just gives that in spades if he meets a match, if he's not flying around hiding and sniping out things, but that has the negative effect of straining your marching ability, unless you load up on super fast movers / vampiric units

To be honest, the ghoul king is only there because I like the story behind them and I'd have the model from the terrogheist set anyway. So I can swap him for a vampire lord. I think here the norm is 2400 points but yeah I can do that, what would be good to add?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hm so how about something like:

+++ VC (2400pts) +++
+++ 2400pt Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. Roster (Standard)) +++

Selections:

Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. (Standard) Selections:

+ Lords +
* Master Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 4
Dispel Scroll
* Vampire Lord
Barded Nightmare, Heavy Armour, Quickblood, Red Fury, Wizard Level 2

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
Book of Arkhan
* Wight King
Battle Standard Bearer

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer

+ Special +
* 8x Black Knights
Standard Bearer
* 9x Crypt Horrors

+ Rare +
* Mortis Engine
* Terrogheist

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

Think I need to juggle some points maybe but how about this as a starting point?

The 2k list above looks good, just split the Crypt Horrors into two units of 6, drop the Terrorgeist's Rancid Maw and a Wizard Level from a Necro (or a single Crypt Horror) and get the Ogre Blade on your Ghoul King and the Tome on your Mortis Engine.

For the 2.4k list I'd give the following advice:

- With the Vampire Lord, I find it's better to go big or go home. Either you tool him up to be a combat monster + Lvl4 or you don't bother. A Master Necro + Ghoul King works well (moreso at 2500 though) but that's a different list.

- Drop the Wight King and the BSB. Go with a Hero Vampire instead.

- Black Knights work much better in units of 13, with barding and preferably Lances. The Banner of Swiftness also works well. Drop the Horrors down to 6 to beef up this unit.

- I'm not convinced the Mortis Engine will be that useful here, with your main combat block gallivanting off. I think a second Terrorgeist would serve you better, if your group wouldn't complain too much about it!

So if I'm going with a lv4 vampire lord, should I drop the master necromancer? And what kinda stuff should I give the hero vampire?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
+++ VC (2400pts) +++
+++ 2400pt Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. Roster (Standard)) +++
Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. (Standard) Selections:

+ Lords +
* Vampire Lord
Barded Nightmare, Heavy Armour, Lore of the Vampires,
Quickblood, Red Fury, Wizard Level 4
Ogre Blade, Talisman of Preservation, The Other
Trickster's Shard

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Lore of the Vampires, Wizard Level 2
Dispel Scroll
* Wight King
Battle Standard Bearer, Skeletal Steed
Nightshroud, Luckstone

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer

+ Special +
* 10x Black Knights
10x Barding, 10x Lances
* Standard Bearer
Banner of Swiftness
* 6x Crypt Horrors

+ Rare +
* Terrorgheist
* Terrorgheist

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

How does this look? Thanks for the advice

Yeah, you won't be able to fit the Master Necro in as well. Personally for the mounted Vampire Lord, I'd drop the Ogre Blade and get a Lance and the Enchanted Shield and the Earthing Rod, and possible Beguile if you can find the points. Yes, you're weaker on the charge, but a good player will concentrate on getting the right charges off anyway.

For the Hero Vampire, full mundane, a Lance and Red Fury should be the backbone of the set, maybe with Dragonhelm to boost that save to 1+. After that, it really depends on preference. The Dawnstone, Potion of Strength, Ironcurse Icon or one of the Vampire Counts Arcane Items are all good choices. I know a lot of people like to use the Potion of Strength, just in case they don't get the charge and so can't use the Lance.

Okay thanks for the help, I'll try build a list with them as the characters in a sec.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
How does this look?

+++ Vampires (2398pts) +++
+++ 2400pt Vampire Counts - Army Book (2013-4) -V8.8.1. Roster (Standard)) +++

+ Lords +
* Vampire Lord
Barded Nightmare, Beguile, Heavy Armour, Lance, Quickblood, Red Fury, Wizard Level 4
Earthing Rod, Enchanted Shield

+ Heroes +
* Necromancer
Wizard Level 2
Dispel Scroll
* Vampire
Barded Nightmare , Heavy Armour, Lance, Red Fury, Shield, Wizard Level 2
Dragonhelm, Ironcurse Icon

+ Core +
* 30x Crypt Ghouls
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 5x Dire Wolves
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer
* 30x Zombies
Standard Bearer

+ Special +
* 13x Black Knights
Champion
13x Barding, 13x Lances
Standard Bearer
Banner of Swiftness
* 3x Crypt Horrors

+ Rare +
* Terrorgheist
* Terrorgheist

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)