Help with 1000 pts VC list

[Kobe001]

Hello guys

I'm a seasoned Ogre Kingdoms player who's looking into Vampire Counts for my next project. I'm in the habit of planning my list out entirely before I start buying miniatures and I would like some feedback on the viability of the list I have in mind.

I'm hoping for the list to be at least semi-competitive and my main opponent plays high elves.


LIST:

Lords: Total = 245

Necromancer Lord - Lore of Vampires- (165)
- Level 4 Upgrade (35)
- Master of the Dead (20)
- Dispell Scroll (25)


Core: Total = 250

20 x Skeleton Warriors 100 pts
20 x Skeleton Warriors 100 pts
10 x Skeleton Warriors 50 pts


Special: Total = 270 Pts

10x Black Knights, Barding, Lances (260)
- Musician (10)


Rare: Total = 240

Mortis Engine (220)
- Blasphemous Tome (20)




Put together, this makes for 1005 pts, though I could drop the dispell scroll or the musician on the knights if needed.

Admittedly this list mainly contains *the models which I like the most* in the army. Zombies for example are a really old and outdated kit in my opinion, which is why I'm going with skeletons. I guess I'm just asking if this list would actually work on the tabletop as well as containing good looking and up to date models?

I like the terrorgheist too, but since I'm mainly facing elves I don't think it's optimal? The main idea here is to spam invocation of nehek and dominate the magic phase with a +6 caster (mortis engine). I would tie the opponent up using the skeletons, constantly replenishing their numbers and attempt to flank him with the knights. The Mortis Engine should put out some damage as well, especially against elves.

I am aware that crypt horrors synergize well with the engine.. but are Black Knights really that bad in this setup? At this point level I cant take a vampire lord and the baby vamps are really really squishy..

Thank you

 

[Wolf Child]

Hi Kobe,
I can see your plan there but I think that you will be unable to raise enough skeletons too serve as an effective anvil and your black knights will be too weak on their own to work as a hammer.
I agree, the zombie models are awful but I think you should use them as your core at this point level. Personally I would go for something like this.
Necro Lvl4,earthing rod,ruby ring,lore of vamps.
Necro Lvl1, rod of flaming death,dragon bane gem,lore of vamps.
core.
20 zombies,music
25 zombies,musis,standard
24 zombies music,standard
5 dire wolves
special
spirit host x2
3 varghiest.
3 varghiest.

1.Stick the necros in the small unit of zombies and sit behind the two larger blocks and start spamming evocation,raising 2d6 zombies + caster level per cast on all 3 units. Start moving relentlessly forward!
2.Fire your magic missiles at anything trying to flank your bunker.
3.Basically hunt characters,flankers and chaff with the varghists,use the zombies to grind down foes,redirect with the hosts and wolves.

 

[Kobe001]

Hi Kobe,
I can see your plan there but I think that you will be unable to raise enough skeletons too serve as an effective anvil and your black knights will be too weak on their own to work as a hammer.
I agree, the zombie models are awful but I think you should use them as your core at this point level. Personally I would go for something like this.
Necro Lvl4,earthing rod,ruby ring,lore of vamps.
Necro Lvl1, rod of flaming death,dragon bane gem,lore of vamps.
core.
20 zombies,music
25 zombies,musis,standard
24 zombies music,standard
5 dire wolves
special
spirit host x2
3 varghiest.
3 varghiest.

1.Stick the necros in the small unit of zombies and sit behind the two larger blocks and start spamming evocation,raising 2d6 zombies + caster level per cast on all 3 units. Start moving relentlessly forward!
2.Fire your magic missiles at anything trying to flank your bunker.
3.Basically hunt characters,flankers and chaff with the varghists,use the zombies to grind down foes,redirect with the hosts and wolves.

Thanks for the advice

It's very unfortunate that I can't make the skeletons work. Sadly, I'm not willing to paint zombies whatsoever.. not to mention the required amount being that huge :/

I'll go back to the drawing table then. But I'm having a very hard time devising some sort of viable semi-competitive list only using decent looking models. The vargheists are nice, but aren't they terribly bad against elves due to ASF?

I was hoping to include one of those epic rare models (terrorgheist, mortis engine) but that's not going to work either then. I know the terrorgheist sucks against elves, but I was hoping the mortis engine would do well against them.

Oh well ;p I guess I should either go for a higher points level or even pick a different army..

 

[Wolf Child]

No,don't despair Kobe there are so many options even at 1000 points.
You could drop the ME and necro,giving you 485 points,then you could get a vampire lord with HA,Red fury,quickblood,TOP,ogreblade(or maybe just a GW),charmed shield,barded nightmare for 420, stick him in with your knights and spend the remainder on a few dire wolves to use as chaff.
This is my favorite set up at 1000 points.Its more risky and is nerve-wracking list to use but so much more fun than a summoning list.
Heroes...
Vampire Hero, HA,charmed shield,Red Fury,Sword of Swift Slaying
Cairn Wraith Hero
Core...
30 skeletons,mus and standard.
2x5 dire wolves
Special...
6 varghiests
Rare..
Terrorghiest

 

[Kobe001]

Thanks for your input

A vampire "blender" lord does seem like more fun than a summoning list indeed. Sadly I can't go that way since we're sticking to the vanilla 8th edition rules which only allow 25% to be spent on lord budget ;p

I like the vargheist models a lot, but I'm scared they would be horrible against enemies who strike first (and there sure are a lot of people fond of pointy-ears).

Vampire Counts really seem pretty difficult to construct a list for.