Looking into VC for AoS

[Knight of Dawn]

Hey! So, after not really getting into Warhammer Fantasy, I thought I would give AoS a shot. I am a 40k player, so the system appealed to me. While I am a bit disgruntled that there is no balancing as of yet, I like AoS. The shattered worlds really remind me of Spellforce, a game that shaped my youth. All that negativism bothers me a bit though. I can guarantee that you will not hear a word about that from me though. I prefer praising that which is good as opposed to bashing the bad.

Anyway, VC are one of the two armies that caught my interest. I generally dislike playing evil factions though, so this is a very bold them for me. I will see if I like their play style and if I can come up with some decent fluff to make the army playable for me... and I really need to watch myself, lest I start burning undead for crimes against the Ecclesiarchy and the Emperor of Mankind

 

[Cela Shyish]

Welcome to the game and undead are better represented as a neutral faction than evil. As every vampire, tomb king, necromancer, etc has their own goals it isn't as cut and dry as some think.

E.g. the fluff for my army revolves around an aristocratic vampire family that have become the monarchy for a small kingdom, the residents know they are vampires but there are volunteers who take it in turns to be sustenance for the vampires (Yes, volunteers, I know atleast a few people who are into that kind of thing so in a kingdom I imagine there would be enough willing for a single family) as pointed out in BloodBorn Ulrika Novel vampires when trained and experienced require less blood to survive and stave off hunger (barring severe injuries, etc) so they wouldn't take enough to cause significant harm to their volunteers, in exchange the kingdom has a single monarch family that never ages, meaning political, economic decisions, etc are constantly improving as they can put centuries of experience behind it, the family is fairly kind, seeking to coexist so no oppressive tyrannical rulers. Should invaders bandits or the like appear they have master wizards, expert swordsmen and genius generals plus legions of the dead to protect them, plus any army they might raise of the living (who upon death may be granted sentience and immortality as grave guard or something if they serve particularly well and as walking corpses are the norm there they can benefit from a normal existence in society.

This is just a basic overview of some of my fluff to show that without going to Twilight style sparkly vampires, I can have kind hearted coexistant vampires who maintain a mortal image with magic through a mutual benefit system.

 

[Knight of Dawn]

Actually, the Vampires I liked most were the ones from Legacy of Kain, especially the latter part of the series. Their had a very unique culture. Almost like holy vampires, which has a very interesting dichotomy of light and dark. They had their holy sites, their own saints and legacies. They had their knights. I really enjoyed that concept. That mixture of something that should be inherently evil and something inherently good and mix them up. That is the one single reason why I want to try VC as opposed to Empire. The concept is very interesting and I think I would enjoy their play style a bit more.

Like this guy, for example.

 

[Cela Shyish]

I'm sorry but I don't know what the Legacy of Kain is :\ So I don't really have a frame of reference for it.

 

[Draykorinee]

I'm sorry but I don't know what the Legacy of Kain is :\ So I don't really have a frame of reference for it.

>< Its one of the greatest games of the playstation era.

 

[Cela Shyish]

>< Its one of the greatest games of the playstation era.

Oh thaaat thing...I admit I was kiiiiinda young when I tried playing it so I got scared and turned it off really quickly ^^"

 

[Knight of Dawn]

Same But once I was older, I revisited it. It was one of the better alternative takes on vampirism. Especially in the last installment, where you visit ancient temples of their race.
As for the neutrality of Vampires in Warhammer... I am more of the lawful good or neutral good guys. I play a Paladin or Knight in every RPG that allows it. Hence it feels a little weird dabbling in necromancy and not holy magic and prayers

 

[Cela Shyish]

Same But once I was older, I revisited it. It was one of the better alternative takes on vampirism. Especially in the last installment, where you visit ancient temples of their race.
As for the neutrality of Vampires in Warhammer... I am more of the lawful good or neutral good guys. I play a Paladin or Knight in every RPG that allows it. Hence it feels a little weird dabbling in necromancy and not holy magic and prayers :tongue:

Well as I said as a whole more neutral, but that's only because they vary so much. In D&D I can only really play neutral good characters with ease hence my vampires are more on the side of neutral good So just make the fluff fit what you prefer. As for Legacy of Kain...I miiiiight give it another try someday, but not soon.

 

[Knight of Dawn]

I suppose that my main issue is necromancy. No manner of justification can distract from the fact that it isn't good. I suppose I could get creative and call it summoning instead of necromancy and instead of Zombies there is something else, but some ideas might 1) really stretch it and 2) require and impossible amount of conversion work.

 

[Cela Shyish]

I suppose that my main issue is necromancy. No manner of justification can distract from the fact that it isn't good. I suppose I could get creative and call it summoning instead of necromancy and instead of Zombies there is something else, but some ideas might 1) really stretch it and 2) require and impossible amount of conversion work.

Well this brings up a moral question I've frequently asked people. "Can an action or object be truly good or evil?" Look at a gun for an example of an object. Many guns are ornamental and are used in a manner similar to artwork for people who like them. Many guns are used to injure and disable criminals without killing them to prevent them from harming others. Which leads into actions, is killing evil? Let's say there is a murderer, being caught attempting to murder three innocent people who are kind hearted. Would it be evil to kill that murderer knowing 100% certainly he is a murderer and WILL kill three others who mean no harm to anyone? Likewise, I know of many occasions in history where people have given their lives to save the lives of their loved ones. Now imagine those kinds of people, if given the chance do you think they would object to being brought back from their dead to defend those they gave their lives to protect?

It is stereotypical that necromancy summons mindless servants, but it is clear that those summoned can be given sentience. So in my fluff those summoned, because they are being called to serve a purpose they would seek to achieve in life, are given sentience. What can be construed as evil by that? The souls of the departed are freely coming back to defend the homes and descendants of those they cherished while they were alive. I think it is a very good thing rather than evil in this circumstance.

 

[Knight of Dawn]

You have a solid argument. I would rather not have a bunch of shambling corpses on my righteous board though. In that scenario that you described, being allowed to return and serve once more to protect what your hold/held dear, I would make them as 'solidified spirits' like the Legion of the Damned in 40k are. I would take regular Empire State Troops, apply plenty of Green Stuff and make them appear as spirits. That would make it look far more holy and righteous as opposed to corpses trying to eat you.

 

[Cela Shyish]

Well its your choice what you do. Bear in mind that an army of shambling corpses also carries a psychological aspect in a battle. Anyway I'm just putting out some fluff ideas. Its entirely your choice what you do with your army but if you do try to make an army of solidified spirits then please do a plog. I am very curious what you had in mind

 

[Knight of Dawn]

Well, once I have run a few test games and the choice falls on VC, I will certainly do that.

 

[The Sun King]

@Knight of Dawn Awesome to have you onboard!

 

[Count Vashra]

Welcome to the forum and enjoy your gaming!

 

[Zephyr]

Welcome to the forum. If I were you though I'd wait a while unless you really like the looks of the army as it is. With AoS we have no idea what form the new Undead will take. Obviously you can use the old models and Battle Scrolls but I wouldn't be surprised to see some drastic aesthetic changes or at the very least more in line with End Times designs. Nobody really knows but if you just dig undead and vampires in whatever form I say go for it.