Struggling to sort out a list... Please help

[laribold]

Hello chaps,

I've recently picked up the VC army book with a view to adding an Undead force to my current armies and I'm really struggling to round out my list. I know what I want the centrepiece of the army to be, but support units and characters are proving to be a real struggle so I thought I'd ask for opinions and advice on here.

The army will basically be made up of me repurposing and remodelling my Empire army (which I've gone right off since the new book). Hence I'll have a decent number of infantry to use up.

With that in mind the heart of the army I'd like to run is two decent-sized Grave Guard units (each around the 30 mark).

A 'big slab' Skeleton Warrior unit (about 40 or so), a couple of speed bump 10 man skellie units (raised detachments!) and some Wolves should be enough to fill out core I think.

How then should I go about rounding this out through Specials, Rares Character support? For an army that kind of relies on Magic, not being able to generate extra PD seems to be a real problem...

So, is a foot-slogger GG heavy list doable? Help!

 

[The Sun King]

It definitely is, and welcome to the forum!

My army is converted empire as well and I started out playing mostly with a GG horde. I have plenty of experience with GG lists so please ask away

The main things are:

1. Field GG 40 strong in horde with GW and Banner of the Barrows.
2. Dual Mortis Engines work very well in a list like this, get BT on one of them and get 2 level 1 necros to spam IoN.
3. Some fast support of some kind is a good idea as well I would say two units of Vargs would do the job nicely.
4. Ghouls(36+ in horde) and DW(in Dart formation) should fill your core.
5. Depending on the points level there are several strong options for lord choices. 2.5k I would suggest MN and SGK.

Have fun!

 

[laribold]

Thanks for the tips Sun King.

So one big(ger) unit of GG is better than two at around 30 is it? I was thinking of one with Barrows Banner and one with Swiftness Banner so that they're a bit less avoidable. I'm planning on both having GWs (Raised Greatswords and Halberdiers respectively).
Bat Swarms seem to be a nice support unit to the GG, allowing them to strike simultaneously and running them 1x2 they shouldn't give up too much combat res... Thoughts?

I'm loving the idea of the Staff of Damnation too. Ideally I'd look to get that off on my GG unit(s) at the choice moment - IFing it if necessary.

I've got Empire Swordsmen to use/convert into Skeleton Warriors so would be looking for these to fill up my core alongside some DW but presumably they'd need a lot of help to do pretty much anything in combat. So I'd put the Vamp Lord in here.
Something like SGK, Lvl 1 Vamps, Dragonbane Gem, Obsidian Blade, Red Fury, Channeling Staff and putting him in the with the Skeletons.
1+ Armour Saves are everywhere it seems and just swinging right through those is very appealing...

I'd not really considered a SGK, but I quite like what they've got going for them... Although is it worth giving him a magic weapon and thus losing your poisoned attacks?

Also, I know that Monstrous Units are all the rage but I'm not overly keen on Vargs and don't see them fitting the theme (and being convertible from the models I have) all that well... How do Blood Knights stack up? A unit of 5 with SB and Muso seem to throw out an awful lot of high WS, I and S attacks (15 S7 on the charge + 5 S4). Seems pretty nice to me. Plus being Vampiric they can march.

So how about:

SGK Lvl 1 (Vamps) with Dragonbane Gem, Red Fury, Obsidian Blade, Dispel Scroll

Necro Lvl 2 with Staff of Damnation
Vamp Lvl 1 (Shadows) on Hellsteed with Channeling Staff, Dragonhelm, Sword of Striking


39 Skeleton Warriors - FC & Banner of Swiftness (VL in here)
10 Skeleton Warriors - Mus
10 Skeleton Warriors - Mus
29 Zombies - St & Mus (Necros hide here)
6 Dire Wolves
6 Dire Wolves
6 Dire Wolves

21 Grave Guard - GW and FC w/ Screaming Banner
33 Grave Guard - GW and FC w/ Banner of Barrows
Spirit Host

5 Blood Knights - Mus

This puts me at 2,400pts on the nose


How does that look? What's lacking? Where will I struggle?

So I've got 2 big blocks to do damage (big GG, Skellies + SGK), 2 smaller blocks with some real punch (little GG, Blood Knights), a necrobunker (Zombies) and some chaff (3x DW, SH)

I'm a little worried I'm a bit low on Magic (Lvl 2, two Lvl 1s). The Shadow Lore Vamp is in for Miasma to help my GG win combats given their average WS and hunt war machines etc... With 2x IoN, a Miasma and the Staff I'd hope to be able to sneak at least one of those through.

Would dropping the smaller GG unit for a ME (probably have to convert one up from a War Altar) be better overall?

 

[Xenashi]

If you like Skeletons I would recommend that you check out Johnny-Crass and The Sun King's Mind Razor lists. They are really cool!