Post: #1

Now that the new rulebook is out, it's time to revise my list and change it a bit. I used to have a magic heavy list with a lev 4 caster lord with two other vamps, one of which was also magically inclined. The lord would have also have MotBA and have power dice coming out of his rear end. He also had Lord of the dead to resurrect skellies beyond their starting size.

However, after reading the rules and looking through them I now see a major difference in the way magic works now. A wizards caster level no longer dictates how many power dice he gets, but instead gives him a plus onto his casting roll. Quite a big change in my opinion.

My previous list used to focus on casting IoN on my units, especially the skellies. I know a lot of vamp players also cast Van Hals, but I play a Brettonian player quite a lot. I usually try to bulk up, let him charge me and then just chip away at him in subsequent rounds of combat, of course he usually has a damsel with dispell scrolls to try to stop me casting.

However, the new rules have made things different. I have already mentioned the change in how power dice are generated but also now the new rules in regards to natural rolls of 1 and 2 resulting in broken concentration. This means that rolling one die for IoN isn't really an option any more, so two dice it is. Also noting that IoN is successfully cast on a 4+, this means that a big plus for wizard level onto the casting roll isn't really neccesary anymore.

So here is the basis for a new list that I need suggestions for. Although I still want some magic in there I'm not neccesarily going to go the whole hog with it this time. I still need some blanks filled in though, but also criticisms of what I picked would be appreciated.

Vampire Lord
Infinite Hatred
Red Fury
Lord of the Dead
Flayed Hauberk
Talisman of Endurance
Helm of Commandment
380 pts

I'm wondering about the helm of commandment here now. I don't think it is necessary as my Lord is more battle capable now and is not hiding somewhere.


Vampire
Spectral Form
150 pts


Vampire
Here is where the blanks really need to be filled in. I'm not sure what I want for this second vamp. I thought about flying horror so that I could have a flying vamp who could hunt war machines or archers, but then I'm also thinking about trying to fit some fell bats in there somewhere in order to do that, but the list is pretty tight pts wise.


3 Units of Skellies
Each Unit 20 Strong
Champion
BSB
Mus
Banner at 25 pts each
675 pts

Simple really, 3 big blocks of skellies, 20 strong. I know the new rules would allow me with just 2 bigger blocks as it is % allowance rather than slots, so maybe that would better, so suggestions are welcomed.

One unit of skellies will be getting the banner to help them march, but I'm wondering what two other banners I should include


Spirit Hosts
5 Strong
325 pts


Cairn Wraiths
5 strong
Banshee upgrade
275 pts

The spectral vampire will be going in with the wraiths here. I thought that because these units can only be damaged with either magic weapons or magic, and now that magic is a lot more risky (because a mage can now really blow himself and other units around him up to pieces) that this might be a good combo. Also Brettonians really need an update for magic items, although I suppose they can pick up some pretty decent ones from the new rulebook now.


If the second vamp comes to 200 pts using his full allowance then this list will come to 2005 pts. 5 pts over where I need to be. Also not forgetting I'm considering putting in fell bats somewhere for hunting. My Brettonian friend does have a Trebauchet and a unit or archers but he doesn't include them in his lists all the time, but it wouldn't hurt having something in there anyway.

So what are everyones thoughts on this?

Post: #2

first thing, get the helm of commandment of your general and put it into a vampire.
the helm wont work if the wearer is in CC and from what i see you want him in CC.
about the second vampire i would recommend a caster, since you dont have many.
put forbidden lore and staff of damnation/ helm of commandment.
the best thing would be to have them both, but your third vampire is ethereal and he cant have magic items..

Post: #3

OK thanks.

What about Fell Bats. Is it a good idea to cut back a bit on the Skellies to try and fit them in?

Post: #4

I'd second dark master on the changes to your characters. You might want to drop the ethereal vampire all together as I have not found him to be that effective.

On your units:
3 Units of skellys is ok. I prefer them over ghouls to for fluff reasons. If you want to be a little choppier swap one unit for ghouls and let them cover a flank.
Bulk your core units up! 20 is way too few in this edition. Especially skeletons will fall like flies so about 30 is a good number to start with.
I dont think spirit host are all that viable. Maybe swap them for a few GG. You want something to do serious damage, dont you? I use spirit hosts only for the occassional wind of undeath.
If you want something fast moving: try to squeeze a Varghulf in. He is pretty self-sufficient and relatively cheap for what he does.
If you can't get a varghulf and want something fast moving you could try fel bats or dire wolves. But dont expect either of them to do much but die.
Keep in mind that they lost a lot of their movement abilities. Wolves are not fast cav any more. And the new rule that fliers move 10" and march 20" requires a vampire to make the bats as flexible as before 8th.

I'd still be curious how your list would fare as it is. Maybe do a few testing games with a friend and then change whatever did not go well.

Just my 2 cents, Dogmar