Post: #1

Hi,
I just got started in playing WFB, I played 40K years ago and Warmchine now, but I've never played Fantasy. A couple years ago or so I bought the batallion and some Vamps just to paint and model because I liked the models, but I would like to start playing with the new codex being brought out.
Basically I am trying to start a small army then grow as I finish more models, and my question is what units/models are good buys for the opening steps to a skeleton army, but not literally just skeletons
I currently have 20 zombies, 20 skellies, 20 ghouls, 1 CC and some vamps.
Thanks for the help!

Post: #2

I am not a seasoned VC player. I have the same models as you except no additional vamps. I think more zombies and skellies. More ghouls. I want a vargulf or 2 because of the stats, the models are cool, the price is ok.

Actually I want a lot of everyting. But aside from lords/heros, that's where I'd start.

Post: #3

I asked nearly the same question not long ago and the answer I got works well for me and likely will for you as well based on what you have.

A unit of 40 skeletons, 40 zombies, and 20-30 ghouls will take care of your core to 1500 - 2000. Then you'll want more zombies so you can raise them mid game.

Grave Guard are also great so that you can have a bit block of something that actually kills other units, and doesn't just tarpit them.

As much as this doesn't give you any "fun toys" as of yet, it does set you up to be able to buy pretty much whatever else you want and flavour your army as you like after that.

Also, a necromancer model probably wouldn't be a bad idea, as every list I've yet put together has a master necro general instead of a vampire. Seems that until you get to the point where you can have a 500pt lord (2000 pt games) doesn't make sense to have a vampire lord character.

Post: #4

Thanks a lot, though I am looking for the flashy new and big models (remember that I started by just collecting and painting) I definitely need a solid core.

Post: #5

You have the core to start taking more advanced things. If you need more most players will let you proxy.

I would get: Corpse Cart, Grave Guard, Vargulf, Hexwraiths in that order.

Corpse Cart is great for combat and helping to bring back more models. It is now in every list I make.

Grave Guard are a staple of our army, our elite basic troops if you will. They are hard to kill and dish out a lot of damage. I suggest do half and half of great weapons and shields then put what you are counting them as up front until you decide which fits your play style better.

Vargulf is possibly the most versitile of the rares. It can go after war machines, eat small units on it's own or help with flanking.

Hexwraiths because they are also a versitile unit and you can proxy them as dire wolves, black knights and blood knights to see how they all work.

As for characters make sure you have 1 vamp and 2 necromancers and you should be fine for small games.

After all this I would start building up your core units. By this time you should know how to play all of them and what each are good for.

Post: #6

If you want the "Big Bad Stuff" go for the Zombie Dragon / Terrorgheist dual kit.

That way you can assemble either of them, have a lot of fun painting it and scream the hell out of most enemies... all in one package !

Post: #7

A Varghulf isn't actually all that bad of a buy if you're starting at a low points level. Inevitably, you're going to want lots and lots of core so that you can field big armies, as well as lots and lots of Grave Guard because...well, they're just awesome. Try them out in battle. Watch how solid they are. Hard to go wrong with GG.

But in my experience, Varghulves really come in to their own at small point games. They're relatively cheap for the epic hitting power they can deliver, and they'll absolutely shred non-ranked units. It'll struggle a bit if it comes up against Skaven because of their ability to field massed infantry units for very cheap, but most other armies will be as hard-pressed for points as you! That means smaller average unit sizes, and more pain on behalf of our giant Vampyric friend.

Post: #8

I'm new to VC also, i'm a skaven player but couldn't resist when the new vc book and updates came out. So far I've got 40 skellies 40 zombies 30 Graveguard 10Ghouls (are ghouls really necessary? I really don't like them for some reason. well i haven't played any games yet so maybe i'll like them when i try them out) I also got the winged vampire lord cause i think he looks awesome. a necromancer, and I have the hex wraiths black knights box which i haven't decided which to make yet, Im thinking i'll make them into black knights coz I dont have enough core to do big points games unless i get more ghouls, which i think i'm gonna have to do at some stage. I plan to definitely get a mortis engine when i have some more core and definitely some vargeists and I think maybe a varghulf as I heard earlier that their good for small points games.

Does anyone have any good links to tutorials/painting guides for VC online? I've seen the ones on this forum but i never get tired of seeing new ones of how ppl paint I'm still trying to get to a stage of painting where i look at a a finished model and really like the look of it. atm it's hard because i want to paint stuff quickly coz i hate fielding unpainted models nd i'm still buying more stuff every week.

Post: #9

(02-06-2012 03:44 PM)saitou187 Wrote:  Does anyone have any good links to tutorials/painting guides for VC online? I've seen the ones on this forum but i never get tired of seeing new ones of how ppl paint I'm still trying to get to a stage of painting where i look at a a finished model and really like the look of it. atm it's hard because i want to paint stuff quickly coz i hate fielding unpainted models nd i'm still buying more stuff every week.

I'll search around. But Skeletons is kickass in this regard. So easy and uberfast to make awesome!

Post: #10

There are a few painting tutorials in old issues of the invocation (see the 'articles' link at the top of the page).

With your selection, the first thing I would do is bulk out your core some. 20 ghouls is an alright unit, particularly if you might end up playing some watchtower missions, but for skeletons and zombies you really want to be looking at thirty to fourty per unit - more for the zombies as you will raise them above starting size during the game. A couple units of five dire wolves is also quite nice as a distraction / war machine hunting / core points filling option.

So my suggestions for initial purchases would be: one more box each of skeletons, zombies, and dire wolves.

Next up, you need something hard to anchor your battle line. There are three main options for this, and they're all in special. Grave Guard, Black Knights (only if you're taking a mounted general), or crypt horrors. I would pick whichever one strikes your fancy, and get two to three boxes of it. Knowing your preference for skeletal models, I'd recommend great weapon toting black knights, myself.

Next stop after that is something big and fancy and hard hitting. For this you have special and rare choice options, ranging from more black knights to more grave guard to vargheists to a terrorgheist, mortis engine, black coach, blood knights, or a varghulf or two. My personal favorites are the mortis engine and terrorgheist, but they're both beastly to assemble and paint. Blood Knights can really help out with combat res, which is an issue for vamp counts, but the official models are way too pricey, so you'd probably end up converting out of bret, chaos, or high elf cavalry. Vargheists are hard hitting glass cannons, which makes them a bit situational, but they're also crazy fast, which makes them amazing when they work.

Anyway, now we're going back to heroes, because you probably want some cheaper options then vampires to work with. Banshees, wraiths, wight kings, and especially necromancers are fantastic additions to your force. Especially if you like skeletons, as one of your necromancers will be able to res skellies above starting levels.


Now you'll want to add some of those nifty utility units - bat swarms, fell bats, hexknights, etc. But you're probably shy on core points by now, so it's off to pick up some more skeletons or zombies. Get your skellies up to 40, maybe add an entirely separate block of 40. More zombies.


Continue out from there.

Post: #11

(02-05-2012 08:36 PM)gorgonites Wrote:  Hi,
I just got started in playing WFB, I played 40K years ago and Warmchine now, but I've never played Fantasy. A couple years ago or so I bought the batallion and some Vamps just to paint and model because I liked the models, but I would like to start playing with the new codex being brought out.
Basically I am trying to start a small army then grow as I finish more models, and my question is what units/models are good buys for the opening steps to a skeleton army, but not literally just skeletons
I currently have 20 zombies, 20 skellies, 20 ghouls, 1 CC and some vamps.
Thanks for the help!

I'd go with wolves (they count as core again!) b/c they're versatile as well, and the price is very nice!

A corpse cart for an infantry-based army would be a great buy, and the mortis engine as well (it's fun to paint!).

Welcome to the best army in Warhammer!

Post: #12

Hey all thanks for the help. So many ideas on which units to get next, but I figure the consensus is on GG a vargulf hex wraiths/black knights and more core. Thanks again, I can't wait to improve my undead horde