http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/93.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net Infinite Hatred, Master of the Black Arts, Lord of the Dead, Crown of Command, Walach's Bloody Hauberk, Sword of Might, 3rd Level

Vampire - 190
Infinite Hatred, Walking Death, Black Periapt, Armor of Meteoric Iron

Mannfred von Carstein - 220
The Book of Arkhan

Wight King - 235
Battle Standard Bearer, Heavy Armor, Shield, Great Weapon, Drakenhof Banner

15 Skeletons - 165
Full Command, Banner of Dead Legion

15 Skeletons - 165
Full Command, Warbanner

20 Zombies - 84
Musician

6 Dire Wolves - 48

6 Dire Wolves - 48

Corpse Cart - 100
Balefire

Corpse Cart - 100
Unholy Lodestone

23 - Grave Guard - 334
Full Command, Banner of the Barrows

6 Black Knights - 243
Full Command, Royal Standard of Strigos

4 - Fell Bats - 80

Varghulf - 175

7 Wraiths - 375
Banshee

Total: 2,997

10 power dice, 3 bound spells, 1 die from Black Periapt, Mannfred's sword of unholy power, 6 dispel dice.

Basic strategy is to put the Vampire and Wight King in the Grave Guard unit 6 x 4 and use that as my primary combat unit. Flanked by the wraiths, varghulf, and Black Knights as hammers. Behind them are the Vampire Lord's Skeleton unit and the corpse carts for support. Zombies and Mannfred's Skeleton units are the tarpits with Mannfred hopefully getting stuck into a weakish enemy unit that maybe won't break but also won't be able to bring him down so I can use his kills to help power the magic phase.

Obviously I'll have trouble with a Bloodthirster but the Grave Guard unit can take just about anything else. The Drakenhof banner gives them regen and the Crown of Command with Banner of Barrows means that they'll be hitting on 2+ vs. most enemies. If I can get off the Corpse Cart then they gain ASF in addition.

What do you think? I'm not sold on the Corpse Carts (at least, not two of them) so let me know what you'd cut and what you'd add.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1193322.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1193322.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1194770.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1194770.page GMT VC (with WoC), I found the carts to be a royal pain. Both were equipped with the -1 to cast do-dad. I had several spells fail because of that effect. Then the ASF bound spell became a killer - holding 2 dice to dispel really complicated the casting phase. ]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1198446.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1198446.page GMT VC. Your carts will definately help out with enemy spell casting.

Its a list that'll pretty much live or die by the magic phase - your units are pretty small, with the exception of the Grave guard unit. Hopefully you won't face an opponent with many flaming attacks (I could just see Skaven warp fire throwers lining up for shots at that GG bunker).]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1200127.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1200127.page GMT
I usually start my Skeleton units small and then spend the first magic phase increasing their starting strength. Seems silly to me to pay for Skeletons that I can raise on a 3+.

Good to know about the Carts, I'll try them out in some practice games.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1200636.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1200636.page GMT
Not the hardest Deamon army, but no Daemon army is exactly soft and it was great to see how my force held up vs. some of the toughest units in the game.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1228481.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1228481.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1228692.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1228692.page GMT
"On the newest twist of the Friday Night Big Event, design your 2999pt Best Army with all the resources available to prove you have the Biggest Hammer. No Comp, No Fluff, No Crying. There can only be one winner…."]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1229668.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1229668.page GMT http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1229735.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1229735.page GMT
List comments
Chars - sticking the helm on a combat char is an entertaining decision. Could be good, could be a waste.

Core
I wouldn't bother with zombies but that is me. For this tournament I wouldn't leave home without 3 carts with the -1 to cast (then it becomes a huge pain to deal with) and it almost guarantees you always strike first when you need it.

Elite/rare
I would drop the wraiths for another vargulf and a pair of GW wielding guard squads. Between the helm and ASF they are actually very good at killing things.

Going to be an interesting tournament. Debating between that and the 40k gladiator one.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1230432.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1230432.page GMT
I take a hybrid character. It's not super optimal but it works for me. He usually sits behind the lines but I can use him and his unit to charge in. In my last game, my unit of Skeletons with Mannfred was flanked by Bloodletters and so I used the Lord's unit to charge in and pretty much wipe them out. So for 4-5 turns he uses the helm and casts and then in the last turn or two he can charge in and turn a combat to my side.

I like zombies as they are a cheap core unit, I don't need to worry about them and, most importantly, I already have them painted.

Re: the wraiths. I'll be honest here, I would never take such a large, vulnerable unit and would love to have another unit of Graveguard or even a second unit of Black knights. Unfortunately I don't have the time to paint up another fully ranked unit and the wraiths literally take a few minutes to paint. Against some armies they'll rock and against some (like my game vs. the daemons) they will die without doing anything.

I may drop a couple wraiths and take another Corpse Cart. I decided against the lodestone and will take the two I have with Balefire. If I have time to get a third painted I'll certainly give it a shot.]]> http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1230636.page http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/preList/270216/1230636.page GMT