New to VC, developing army concept.

[Spiney Norman]

This is my first look at the VC army, I've played fantasy since the beginning of 6th with Lizardmen, tomb kings, wood elves and greenskins and now I have my sights set on VC.

So far the only models I own are a coven throne and 30 mantic zombies, but I've been playing around with some list concepts and I think I've got a vague idea the kind of army I want to play.

First what I don't want, no ghouls or anything of their ilk (so no strigoi or crypt horrors either), also I've done the skelly horde thing with TK so I'm done with that too.

The core section is going to be zombie based, lots of zombies, and maybe some wolves too.

The Coven throne needs to be there as well as a centrepiece, not necessarily as the general I'm fine with a hero mount, and I'm up for some serious cavalry action, at least one unit of black knights is a must, blood knights I'm less fussed about because they cost such an absurd amount of dosh.

And lastly, no SCs, the VC special characters are a frightfully boring lot (pun intended), and as a general rule I don't use SCs in any of my armies.

To begin with I'd like to generate a 2K list that I can fill to order for Christmas, any suggestions for the overall shape of the list? Is the throne vamp better as a lord or hero? What size/how many units of zombies should I be looking at?

 

[The Sun King]

You need to fill 500 pts of core. And since you don't want Skellies(they suck also) and Ghouls you're stuck with Zombs and DW... which is not all bad.

CORE:
30 Zombs w. Standard
30 Zombs w. Standard
30 Zombs w. Standard
30 Zombs w. Standard
5 DW
5 DW
5 DW
​

That's your minimum core.

Then you should get 40 GG's with Great weapons to fill your special.

Then 2 Terrorgheists to fill your rare. Also I would take around 3 Banshees(which you will have from your Mortis Engine Kit).

That with a couple of characters should get you started.

 

[robtion]

@Spiney Norman: Black knights and their infantary counterpart Grave Guard are both great.

Zombies are fine as chaff but don't expect much else from them (Mantic's a good choice). Best run in smaller units of 20-30 which can then be buffed and grown with IoN. Smaller units allow IoN to work more effectively.

The Coven Throne can be great and I am a fan though you obviously need to watch out for cannons. Many people use it with a Hero vamp and keep it within inspiring presence range of the Vlord to have Ld10 for battle of wills. I am also happy to run a lord on Coven throne though it is more risky. Aura of Dark Majesty is always good to have on a vamp on the Throne.

Special characters are nothing special mostly as you can make a better custom vamp so no probs there. Terrorgheists are great and worth getting at least 1, 2 is even better. The wight king and Krell (use as wight king) models are great and go well in a unit of grave guard(with banner of barrows) if you are going to go that route.

Read this if you haven't yet.

https://www.vampirecounts.net/Thread-Vampire-Counts-Army-Book-Overview

Though subjective it is a mostly very good army overview, unit by unit. Good Luck

 

[Spiney Norman]

Great advice, thanks.

I think I'd rather paint black knights than Grave guard really, Heres what I've come up with so far

The Cursed Host of Mousillon

Gregor von Drak, Master Necromancer
Level 4 wizard (space for MI)

Countess Ygraine du Bois, The White Lady of Mousillon
Vampire with Aura of Dark Majesty, Coven Throne, Heavy armour, Talisman of Endurance & charmed shield

Tomb Banshee

30 Zombies with banner
30 Zombies with banner
30 Zombies with banner
30 Zombies with banner
5 Direwolves
5 Direwolves
5 Direwolves

12 Black Knights
Lances & Barding, Full command
3 Vargheists

5 Blood Knights

That gives me approx 75 points to play with, add magic items and whatever. I could add some items to the master necro or add another vargheist, maybe increase the size of the black knights etc.

 

[The Sun King]

Drop Talisman of Endurance, Aura of Dark Majesty and get a barded nightmare, Red Fury and Sword of Swift Slaying for you vamp and put her with your Black Knights. Drop the Blood Knights, it's not worth it to have to buses, focus on one. also Get more Banshees and you need a Dispel Scroll.