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So I've reached a point now where I'm ready to start a second fantasy army. I've got about 3500 points of dark elves, and while I'll continue to build it up, I want options! I've pretty much decided to run vampire counts. They're a completely different playstyle from what I'm used to (hordes, no shooting, heavy magic use), with loads of army list types to choose from.

My question to you is: where is the best place to start with collecting? GW has quite a few collection sets available right now, with everything except the tomb king units and banshee being incredibly useful one way or another. I also live in an area with a fantastic trades network, so trading away those tomb king units for extra ghouls or zombies would be very easy. Am I best to flesh out my model count first, then flesh it out with big beasties, or iron out a reasonable army list and then buy and trade to get what I need for it.

Any vampire players wanna give some tips for getting a good army started?

I am not a vampire counts player myself but from what I can tell the best way to start is grab a vampire of necromancer and...
BUY MORE ZOMBIES!!! Well, that's what I hear. Black knights are also fantastic, look into them.

I play Vampires

I had the luck of buying an old army from a friend, but the thing you need to buy first is a Vampire, a Necro and 2 boxes of skellies

Then Zombies, Black Knights/Grave Guard (depending on what you like more) and a rare slot (in the past it was a banshee for me but now I would say a Terrorgheist or a Casket of Souls.

After this, you should start buying your preferences for what you like the most. Ghouls or Dire Wolves. Screaming Skull Catapult or Harbingers... Whatever you like the most

Just remember that you should have a Vampire or necro for the first 500 to 1000 points. At 2000 points, I would say a vampire and 2 necro and the minimum you need.

I have been playing counts for quite some time and I can honestly tell you having as many zombies as possible is never a bad thing they are great for what they do and get brought back very quickly.

Skeletons are very subpar you pay a premium for their slight increase to combat, but lose the fast re spawning ability of zombies. Once you get a hang out counts they can be a more worthwhile unit though

Direwovles are great, cheap fast re directors with str 4 on the charge so they can threaten warmachines

I used to like ghouls, but found 10 pts a model for a no save infantry ( they are t4 though) to be hurting unless your are running dual mortis engine support, I'd rather have 3 zombies per ghoul honestly

For the specials, the big 2 ( graveguard or black knights) Will generally give your list it's direction for ways it makes people join you in unlife, but definitely pick one then look to the other options as support to them, gg and horrors go great together with mortis engine, as Vargheists and knights go well with each other due to the fast movement, though you can make very many combos in between once you start to grt the hang of things.

Stay away from the corpse cart though, it's expensive, and not really worth what it does, gg don't need asf with their already int 3 and usually great weapons

Rares you have the Terrogheist ( the easy choice, if you read his entry should be clear)

The mortis engine, the support it csn give to both regen to units and casting is amazing

I haven't really messed with the coach, never really caught my attention, but it's their only real chariot option

Varghulf are good, though people generally take vargheists more wounds, more attacks, same role mainly, cheaper points ( flankers, chaff eaters)

I'd suggest you wait until 9th comes out.

Unless you mainly enjoy painting, otherwise, the rumoured changes might leave you with something you no longer want.