Post: #1

Been skulking these forums for a good couple of months now, reading various stuff about the do's and don'ts of vampire counts. I've finally mustered up the courage too make a post as my first vampire counts game is less then a week away. I'd just like too get your opinions on my list I've made. Any Advice/tips/Warnings would be really appreciated.

This will be a 2000 points game and I'm up against a really good dark elf player, who hasn't lost a game in over a year.

Lords:
Kemmler(General)

Heroes:
Krell

Vampire
BSB + Screaming Banner
Heavy Armor + Shield
Barded Nightmare
Aura of Dark Majesty
Fear Incarnate

Core:
45 Skelly warriors
+Spears
+full command

44 skelly warriors
+spears
+full command

Special:
33 Grave Guard
+Hand wep shield
+full command
+Barrows

Corps Cart

Rare:
Mortis Engine
Blasphemous Tomb

Basically, the plan is too stay in a bunkered up block surrounding Kemmler (who's in the grave guard unit) so everything is within 12" Invocation/Vanhel's/Hellish Vigor range and use the 2 skelly blocks too protect the flanks of the grave guard unit in the middle. My GG unit has Terror(causing Fear in Fear causing units), Fear incarnate(reroll fear tests), Screaming banner (roll 3 and remove lowest for Fear test)and Aura of Dark Majesty (-1 too leadership) so Fear Test is going too be failed most of the time(hopefully). That means, Krell and GG will be hitting on 2s. In my Magic phase I'd Invocation my skelly's at the start of the game too make them bigger, scaring my opponent into wanting too come too me, then just turtle up and see how it goes. The Mortis engine would be within range of kemmler so he can have a 6+ too his casting result, making most of my spells easily cast on 2 or 3 dice and giving my left group of skelly's 6+ Regen. I'll use the start of my magic phase too cast curse of years on my opponents units, forcing him too use dispell dice, then when he's on 2 or 3 left, use lvl 2 Vanhel's, level 2 Invocation, then if I still have dice left, level 1 or 2 Hellish Vigour. Technically, if my magic phase goes well, I should have ASF, Reroll too his and reroll too wounds on my whole army.

Sorry if this was long winded, I'm just really nervous about my first ever game, and am hoping too beat him :<

Post: #2

I would be weary of your mounted vamp in amongst your infantry as it be targeted with shooting. I would drop the horse give him an extra hand weapon, armor of silvered steel and luck stone, S5 is plenty to wound those sissy elves (could drop the bsb too if ya want). Then give the screaming banner to a skellie unit (drop 5 skelles so you don't go over the min required core), then plop the vamp in that unit. That way you have 2 units that are legit threats. You could also move Krell into the unit for terror or if you don't need any heroic killing blows.

I would also be tempted to find some points for some spirit hosts to help deal with nasty hydras. Might have to drop some GG to do so, but I think it would be worth it. Could use some points saved by not making your vamp a BSB.

I would also try and sneak a raise dead through early game so you have time to IoN it up a bit and give you some more chaff. Zombie version would allow the vamp to help raise it as well.

Not sure if you missed it, but definitely make sure your corpse cart has an unholy lodestone.

Good luck!

Post: #3

(02-01-2012 12:43 AM)SpeedyGoat Wrote:  I would be weary of your mounted vamp in amongst your infantry as it be targeted with shooting. I would drop the horse give him an extra hand weapon, armor of silvered steel and luck stone, S5 is plenty to wound those sissy elves (could drop the bsb too if ya want).

so a hero who's on a mount and in a unit is not eligible for LoS? didn't know that, very helpful tip idd thanks a lot. The main reason I put Krell in the GG unit was so Kemmler can still stay in front rank and kill things with his chaos tomb blade, whilst not being threatened by challenges, and other heroes/lords.

Post: #4

As I'm still trying to work out my ideal Kemmler list myself I'd be interested to see how this is works for you. I'd not considered the fear bomb combo with Kre-mmler. As a dark elf player myself I would not be supprised to see him running blackguard against you so be warned - his combat elite unit is immune to Psyke so dont be supprised if the fear bomb doesnt work as you expect.

Also with only 4 drops + Characters I would whole heartedly reccomend looking to cast Raise dead then IoN for your first two turns. Both spells heave nice easy cast values and combined with the Tome Kemmler and the Vampire will churn out baby Zombies like theres no tomorrow. If this is your first game I think you'll be shocked about how fast you can pop up two extra units that will hold something for a turn or two.

Post: #5

I really think you need some fast unit in there to help disrupt the Dark Elves game plan. Right now you have your big tar pits and the Grave Guard to kill things you can catch. But you have to catch things first and protect your flanks from those fast units getting around you and into your flank.

I would say Krell is really not worth the points for what he does. Those could be better spent on some Bat Swarms to reduces those pesky Elves to ASL.