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.

Hello. I fairly recently picked up Total War: Warhammer, playing chiefly Vampire Counts. The game is excellent and has made me more interested in Warhammer fantasy as a whole, even if there is still some aversion from me towards Age of Sigmar.

However, there is a thing the game does not elaborate upon and further research in Lexicanum could not explain, either. It is not important, but it does leave me wondering as I often think about behind-the-scenes stuff.

The Varghulf and the Vargheists are both described in a similar manner as Vampires giving in to the beast within and devolving into bloodthirsty hunters of flesh. However, there is nothing that seems to indicate what makes a Vampire become a Vargheist and what must go different in order for the Vampire to become a Varghulf. The two are similar but different, with the Varghulf being much larger but lacking the ability to fly, and usually hunting alone instead of in packs. My guess is that Vampire Lords become Varghulfs and normal Vampires become Vargheists? Does anyone know?

How they are made in AOS and fantasy and the difference? I shall explain!

Vargheists were made due to a von carstein vampire punishment. When a vampire falls out of favor with the vampire lord or a said vampire loses at vampire politics they sometimes have them locked up in coffin send said coffin into a dark place under their castle with a small hole with tainted warp water dripping on them.

Of course being locked up for several decades or centuries without blood is pretty much pure torment for a vampire. Anyway the lack of blood causes them to drink the water slowly changing them into a vargheist. Once they are changed of course they have the strength to break out the problem is once they have one drop of blood in that form they are stuck like that.

Von Carsteins are fun aren't they?

Then the vampire finds the Varghiests and then bind them to their will. AOS goes into it a tiny bit more they then keep them around their domain but hidden the reason why is that they don't want them sullying their court(you know parading "humanity") so they are used in their armies according to AOS death book.

Varghulf is what happens when a vampire gives into their beast side and start throwing away their "humanity". They slowly change into the gaint bat monster a very reflection of their actions and their soul.

Hence the reason why vampires act like lords, queens etc it's the same reason why Mannfred give's speeches to his army even though they are undead. They parade around their "humanity" to keep themselves from turning into beasts.

The first thing a newly made vampire learns is how to control their bloodlust.

That answer is a lot more interesting than I expected! Thank you!

I feared the answer would be a simple 'it depends on how far they fall' or something, but this is much better.

 Ashiraya wrote:
That answer is a lot more interesting than I expected! Thank you!

I feared the answer would be a simple 'it depends on how far they fall' or something, but this is much better.

No problem mate happy to help they look amazing in total war tearing people apart with the blood and gore DLC.

 Ashiraya wrote:
That answer is a lot more interesting than I expected! Thank you!

I feared the answer would be a simple 'it depends on how far they fall' or something, but this is much better.

In way it is how they fall; one variation is a willing choice of 'giving in to addiction' while the other is forced. However, as Ashiraya aptly explained, the process is still different.

Worth noting that in Age of Sigmar the fluff on Varghulfs has been changed; they are now members of the Flesh-Eater Courts which are essentially the Ghoul-faction. That's somewhat of a tangent to the original question though, and its own topic of lore.

 NinthMusketeer wrote:

 Ashiraya wrote:
That answer is a lot more interesting than I expected! Thank you!

I feared the answer would be a simple 'it depends on how far they fall' or something, but this is much better.

In way it is how they fall; one variation is a willing choice of 'giving in to addiction' while the other is forced. However, as Ashiraya aptly explained, the process is still different.

Worth noting that in Age of Sigmar the fluff on Varghulfs has been changed; they are now members of the Flesh-Eater Courts which are essentially the Ghoul-faction. That's somewhat of a tangent to the original question though, and its own topic of lore.

Yes because ghoul kings normally find Varghulfs to dominate into service but all vampires still can change into them it happens to a group of vampires in the audio drama.