starting VC again and badly need help

[Richie]

So I'm getting back into my VC.

So far (after blowing the dust off all the old minis) I've foudn the following.

20 Grave guard all with great weapons.
2 varghulfs
30 skeletons
At least 3 necromancers
And at least 3 vamps (this number always changes based on sculpting).
35 ghouls
5 blood knights.
Krell - happy to use him as a proxy Wight king.
2 spirit hosts
1 banshee
9 Dire wolves including doom wolf
Zombie dragon
Corpse cart


I'm also looking at getting zombies (obvious)
Black knights
And do I bother with crypt horrors and/or Vargheists? Or even fell bats?

What I'm looking at doing is making a list that plays well but is enjoyable (ideally in 1500 and 1000 points).


I know I'm asking a huge amount, but I'm more than happy to return any favours if I can help anyone else out back.

Thanks!

 

[newt]

I think you have a pretty decent list starting up. If you want to use the Grave Guard you will want to boost them to at least 30 There are a lot of big hard hitting units around and you want to strike back.

Crypt horrors are great, undead trolls that dont suffer from stupidity. I would recommend 3 to start (proxy them to test before the $50 drop).

Vargheists are a glass cannon, they will hit like a truck but no AS, easy to bait (frenzy Ld 7) and only t4. A unit of 3 can clean up chaff and be a mage snipe/nasty flank.

I own 2 vargulfs as well, nothing is meaner then a vargulf in your flank. Thunderstomp can make them mean, but they wont kill much a lone.

Direwolves are good, with the new rules they are great warmachine hunters. Bats are nice as well, you can really harass the enemy or try and grab a machine or 2.

My recommendations; Lots of Zombies (I own 140 atm), 1 or 2 cairn wraiths, Mortis Engine with Blasphemous tomb (double edged sword), 6 Crypt Horrors, and 10 G Guard. This will cost you a pretty penny though =/.

I am not impressed with skeletons yet, they seem like zombies with an AS/Parry. Id rather bring zombies who can raise 2d6, but it depends on how you play. Zombies wont kill too much. skeletons may kill a few more. Your ghouls at 35 would be a great unit as is.

 

[Tawg]

Looks like you have most everything covered, like newt said; The GG are the biggest pull IMO. I just played a game with them the other day where they crruuusshheddd.

I usually play pretty magic heavy myself, I prefer the Master Necro over a tooled vamp (Points being a big reason) and in 1-1.5k I feel like the Master Necro would go quite a long ways. I also love my CC with Lodestone and zombies.. but that's me (I feel like there is no such thing as 'Enough' zombies..). Skeletons I really only use when I don't have the zombie models to support my army's core.. Although I honestly don't think they are that terrible, I would gladly take them if that was my thematic preference (Fit the army/story better for me).

The GG serve the roles the Horrors/Varghiest would most likely.. hard hitting and hard to kill (Especially supported with plenty of IoN fun). So unless you really want a 'Ghoul-y' theme to your army I don't see why you'd need the Horrors. The Varghiest are quite a bit more maneuverable however, and add a good bit to the army depending on what you need, but not necessary at all. I actually haven't used the Varghiest at all yet myself, they just don't fit my play style. I usually just have puppies for my fast things, or maybe a few Fell bats once I get them converted up (The Ghoul/Gargoyle bash).

Besides that looks solid.. won't be able to use that Zombie Dragon though, since it's only a mount most likely won't be able to afford the points for it.. could use it as a Terrorghiest maybe (Is it even the new bigger model?).

But yeah, you could make a pretty nice army around a reanimated knightly order (GG and BKS) with Necro support and their fodder (Spirit host/zombies, maybe skeletons, wolves for fast). Throw in a banshee if you want to scream at things, and do up the characters how you like best (Vampires mean less characters though unfortunately :ghost: ). Weight king BSB in GG with BoB is always fun.

 

[Richie]

Thank you both for the solid advice, it helps clear things up a huge amount.

I'll get working on some sample lists this evening and post them up here.

If I can return the favors and help either of you two out with any conversion or modeling advice, just let me know.

 

[Ohcyt The Destroyer]

You have a good base for an army. I would, like you say, look into zombies and more is better for our smelly shamblers. Luckily with a little creativity you can get 40 out of a single box. I love my fell bats but only use 1 unit of 2. I am a fan of black knights and made mine a little cheaper by using plastic empire knights with skulls for heads and headstones for shields. Finding something to represent a Terrorgeist will sharpen up your lists a lot. That scream is scary. All in all I find building an army for the models you enjoy and then figuring out how to use it is an ok way to go with our list as there are few holes. Other than skellies which are terrible.