Back from the Future. New army for the new year.

[monty_rogue]

Hello! Well after playing 40k over the last five years, I am coming back to the version of warhammer that pulled me into the hobby. I have always liked the Vampire Counts for several reasons, most notably raising zombies, ressurecting fallen troops, and of course Vampires! Like most, I am on a budget so I am probably going to buy the Battalion and Army boxed sets. I am not a power gamer, it would be nice to have a competitive army, but I think I'll be so wrapped up in building and painting this one I may become a little attached to it. I still have my 7th edition armies approximately 3000 points of Brettonians (my first!) and about 4000 points of Empire. I have borrowed heavily from Johnny-Crass's Coven Throne build to shape an army out of the models that come with the boxed sets.

Lords:
VL: (General)LVL. 1 (Vampires) - 424
HA, Shield, Ogre Blade, ToP, OTS, RF, QB, Beguile

MN: LVL. 4 (Death) - 200

Heroes:
Vamp: LVL. 2 (Heavens) - 469
HA, Coven Throne, Fencer's Blades, Charmed Shield, Ironcurse, AoDM, FL

Necro: LVL 2. (Vampires) - 100

Core:
Skeletons: x40 - 240
FC, Spears, BoEF
Vamp Lord and Master Necro go here

Ghouls: x30 - xxx

Zombies: x20 - xx
Musician
Necro goes here

Wolves: x5 - xx

Wolves: x5 - xx

Special:
Hexwraiths: x5 - xxx

Vargheists: x3 - xx

Corpse Cart - 105
Balefire

Rare:
Terrorgheist - xxx

Total: 2496

I'm not too certain of what armies I am going to be playing against, but some of the armies I've seen are DE, Ogres, Empire, HE, Skaven, WC.
I haven't played since 7th edition, but basic deployment will be to build a strong center with the CT flanked by the Skeletons w/VL,MC and the Ghouls with the CC set up in trail. A strong flank consisting of the TG, Hexwraiths, Vargheists and a wolf pack. Weak flank will have the other wolf pack and Zombie bunker w/Necro. Hopefully I'll have strong enough magic to keep the undead going while also mitigating my opponent with the LVL. 2's heavens lore. I'll get the main force pushed forward into the close-combat and anchor the center down so the strong flank can come over and smash it's way to victory, or at least a very fun game!

Please, help me out so I don't get tabled by the 3rd turn. Tear the list apart but keep in mind that I will only have the models that came in the army boxes and maybe some empire state troops to proxy raised zombies. Also, I would like suggestions on where I can expand. Thank you for your time!

 

[The Sun King]

Except for the Corpse cart and the Black Knights it seems pretty solid. I would take Hexwraiths over Black Knights.

 

[meowser]

Don't let people convince you to not take the Corpse Cart without trying it yourself first! Especially with balefire, it will add to your target saturation (Does your opponent gun for Terror, Throne, or Cart?). But definitely take it as a special choice and not as a mount for your Necromancer. Keep your necromancers in the zombie unit! Or, run your lord on foot and put the necro in a unit with him, and give him Lore of Death for LD10 snipes!

I would try and squeeze a Master of the Dead on your Necromancer as well. Maybe drop Beguile for it, or swap the 4++ on your lord for a Dawnstone.

The only other big change I would suggest is consolidating the Vargheists and Hexwraiths into 1 unit. As it is, each unit (especially the 5 BK) are too small to accomplish anything on their own. Here are a couple of suggestions for what to do:
- Put the lord on foot, and replace BK with either 4 Vargheists or a Varghulf and some extra stuff
- Drop the vargheists for 5 more black knights
- Keep the lord mounted, but drop the BK for 7 Hexwraiths. Keep your lord in an infantry unit (on the side), and keep the hexwraiths within 3" of him if there are cannons/templates you need LOS from (He will get a 4+ LOS from the hexwraiths!)

Hope that helps! If you want to try play-test the army before committing to a build i suggest universalbattle.com

 

[The Sun King]

Of course everything needs playtesting by himself, but that applies to what you're suggesting as well Meowser.

Also:

I would try and squeeze a Master of the Dead on your Necromancer as well. Maybe drop Beguile for it, or swap the 4++ on your lord for a Dawnstone.

MotD is a waste of points when you only have 1 unit Skels(which is already 40 man big)

- Keep the lord mounted, but drop the BK for 7 Hexwraiths. Keep your lord in an infantry unit (on the side), and keep the hexwraiths within 3" of him if there are cannons/templates you need LOS from (He will get a 4+ LOS from the hexwraiths!)

This seems to be begging for canonballs to the face. I'm nervous even with a 2+ LOS, but 4+? That's asking for it...

 

[Count Matthewzilla]

Seems solid but from what comes in teh two box sets I would say hex wraiths over black knights, unless you plan on more later.

I would take the vargs, they are a good warmachine hunter. I wish the battalion came with zombies. Last edition did. You definately want more zombies anyway as you say raising zombies is a draw to this army for you. The list looks nice though.

 

[countwuzzy]

Just a suggestion on buying black knight kit. Find some old skeletons steeds throw hex wraith rider on it. Looks nice too. Then you get not units out of kit

 

[The Sun King]

Well actually he doesn't even need to get skeletal steeds, the Black Knight/Hewraith kit is made in such a way that if you're a little nifty with your fingers you can actually just swap rider on and off depending on what you want to field.

 

[monty_rogue]

wow, thanks for all the replies! Okay, so I'll swap the BK with hexwraiths and use them as a screen for the skeletons which will have my mounted Vamp lord, Master Necro (on foot taking level 4 death) and the lvl 1 Necro (vampires). Quick building question: will it be possible to magnetize the skeletal steeds and hexwraith riders in order to swap out later with black knight models? I also understand that since hexwraiths cannot be used like traditional fast cavalry, especially with baiting frenzied units, or be able to flee for misdirection/opening up a flank since they won't flee as a charge reaction. Anyway, corpse cart will still be off set in trail of skeleton unit, the zombies will protect the flank with tarpit tactics, which means that the ghouls will have to be on the flan of the coven throne k with the TG, wolves and VGs. The reason I'm keeping the VL mounted is because of the AS, and I want to buy the mounted manfred model so that later on I can field him with either Black Knights or Blood Knights (BKs or BKs lol) I'll work the numbers and repost a list. Are there any other suggestions of what I can do with the list or what the most Ideal expansion of models would be? Thanks again!

 

[The Sun King]

I wouldn't field him mounted if not with a unit of knights. 2+ LOS beats 2+ AS any day.

Also I'm not sure why you think Hexies cant be used like normal fast cav?

 

[monty_rogue]

The hexies can't flee as a charge reaction, can they? Or maybe I'm not understanding the rules correctly. For instance, with my empire pistoleers or bretonnian yeomen I can use them to bait and flee from frenzied units or aggressive players, opening up a flank or causing them to maneuver into a bad position, but I won't be able to do that with hexies. I understand I can march block and that they have that great ability to pass through units and attack. So I am in no way talking them down, I just want to be able to play them competently. As for the VC, I see what you are getting at. So, what is the most optimal character placement with this list?

 

[The Sun King]

Ahh yeah, you're right - if you're doing the whole bait and trap thing with your fast cav then no Hexies are not able to do that.

 

[monty_rogue]

Edited original post with changes