Them bones were rolled

Today was matchup #3 for the WHFB campaign between I and the Lizardmen using an adaptation of the Fantasy Battlegrounds Kingdosms rules.

The objective was to hold an objective in the center of the table woth 400VPs and units destroyed VPs were tallied.

The VCs unfortunately were massacred, but I don't think it was due to the units themselves, but to the very good maneuvering by the opponent, and the total lack of gameplan by yours truely. At the end of the game, it was 1700VP to 300VP against, quite the massacre.

The key to the lizardmen victory was one key failed charged by the Grave Guard, which allowed them to swing around and roll up the VCs flank. It didn't help that my general was part of the flank being rolled. The MVP in the game was my Caster Vampire who, with only a sword of might and her good looks, was able to kill a charging Scar Veteran. Regenerating units were also very useful as eveything else was being destroyed left and right.

Two more campaign turns left, with the Lizardmen 12 points against the VCs 6. The next game will decide if victory remains within reach for the VCs.

Willpower where art thou?

It seems that I have lost all willpower and bought a Varghulf solely on the great reviews of the unit. I don't really like the model, but if it paints up like the Dire Wolf models that I used to hate, then I should be able to make something of the paintjob. First tho, I'll need to obtain some green stuff to fill the horrendous seams apparent on the various joints.

Happily, with the Varghulf, I have received the Vampire models for my General and Scouting vampires, which I will paint up shortly.

Monique deNoir

I recently acquired Monique DeNoir, a character from the Dark Heaven model line from Reaper.

The model is very nice (to my eye at least) and a suitable centrepiece for my shambling horde army. I have written her up as a Hero and Lord level character, to represent the experience gained throughout a campaign that I am currently in.

• Monique deNoir, Vampire w/ Infinite Hatred, Beguile, Flayed Hauberk and Sword of Might (or Sword of Kings if I'm not fielding a Wight King) or
  
• Monique deNoir, Vampire Lord w/ Wizard Level, Red Fury, Infinite Hatred, Beguile, Flayed Hauberk, Crown of the Damned, Blood Drinker

Of course she is an in-you-face kind of Vampire, very beautiful when she is angry. Looking out for her well being is her personal retinue of Grave Guard:

• 20x Grave Guard w/ Champion, Standard Bearer w/ Banner of the Dead Legion

She should provide some punch while the Grave Guard back her up with numbers (and the odd killing blow).

Kicked off a campaign today

Today marked the first playtest campaign session for a WHFB conversion of the Battlegrounds: Fantasy Warfare Kingdoms campaign system.

Two 1000 point games were played with army lists created *after* the scenario was determined. This resulted in new, more task-oriented army lists on both sides.

I'm happy to report that in both sessions, my Vampire counts were up to snuff and were able to draw both games. (Instead of the standard Massacre! against.)

Current campaign standings are 7VPs for the Lizardmen, and 5 VPs for Vampire Counts with 3 more campaigns games to go.

What I like the best about this campaign system (aside from the various new scenarios offered) is the fact that campaign performance doesn't affect your army composition. This completely sidesteps the runaway leader effect that kills most campaigns a few sessions in.

A few tweaks will be applied to the conversion rules before they are made public, but I don't plan on keeping the campaign document secret for too long. :)

Are VCs really broken?

I was reading a bit on Warseer.com and I came across a post from someone in the middle of a "The top 3 armies are broken"

"I wish my vampire counts army performed as well as it does on the Internet."

That is my feeling as well. Apparently I am running a broken army because I am a bad person and the army needs to be nerfed. Well If you consider my track record, I disagree. There are at least 2 ways that I can think of that will defeat a Vampire Counts army every time.

1. Shut down the VC magic phase. The base VC core troops are expensive and useless in combat. The only reason that enemy units get overcome by a Skeleton unit (for example) is that the vampires can raise them back up through magic. Shut them down, make them work for each Invocation that goes off and the match is 90% yours.
2. VC armies are *very* character dependant. Kill the characters and then point 1 above becomes a non-issue. Vampires are much easier to kill than before, and that goes for the Vampire Lord as well.

I play against Lizardmen quite a bit, and let me tell you, I struggle just to tie against them. There *are* ways to defeat the VCs, but the are so different than most armies that you have to shift your gameplan to do so.

Victory!

After a dozen games ending in failure, I can finally announce that my Vampire Counts finally have achieved Victory vs Lizardmen! Final Score: 700 VP vs 300 in a 1900 point game.

MVP units were clearly the Black Coach for charging then neutralizing an Engine of the Gods equipped Stegadon, and the Grave Guard for running a unit of Temple Guard off the table. Honorable mention goes to the Terror causing scout vampire that was messing with the rear of the Lizard army, forcing at least 10 fear checks.

Smashed to Bits. Bones everywhere

Last weekend was played a contest at the 1000 points level. My illustrious opponent decided to field his gluttonous Ogre Kingdoms army. I, of course, fielded my underperforming Vampire Counts.

My Army:

• Casty vampire LotD L2 Wiz, Helm, Black Periapt
• Mounted Wight King BSB w/ Sword of Kings, Gem of Blood
  
• 10x Skeleton bunker for the Vamp
• 15x Ghouls w/ Ghast
• 18x Grave guard w/ HW and Shields
• 5x Fell Bats
  

His Army:

• Butcher
• Fighty Ogre Hero
  
• 2x 4-man Bull Ogres units
• 2x 2-man Cannon guys
• Gorger
  

The race was on to 600 victory points.

Turns one and two were maneuvering turns, where the Undead were attempting to bait the Ogres into charge range while staying out the massive 12" Ogre charges.

Turn three sees my Ghouls charging his cannon ogres, who flee and thus pull my Ghouls into position to be charged by a Bull Ogre unit. He maneuvers his other Bull unit into charge range of my Grave Guard. His Gorger appears directly behind my General's skeleton bunker. A tarpit of Zombies is raised to delay the Gorger, and does so for two turn. Thinking that my Vampire is safe for a turn, I spend it replacing casualties in the Grave guard block as well as adding another rank of skeletons to the bunker. I position my Fell bats to cut off the fleeing Cannon Ogres.

Turn four sees both frontline undead units charged by a Bull ogre unit. They plow through the Ghoul unit and overrun into the General's Bunker. The Grave guard unit holds surprisingly well as the Wight King carves some fat off the Butcher in a challenge. His fleeting cannon Ogres fail their leadership test and are overwhelmed by the pack of Fell Bats descending upon them.

Turn five: The vampire general is killed by the impact hits from the charging bull ogre unit. By this point, the Undead have given up close to 600 victory points to the Ogres so we call it a night.

Thoughts on the battle:

• I am happy that the Grave Guard were holding as well as they were. I usually equip them with Great Weapons, but I had a feeling that it was making the unit as a whole too brittle. This battle with HW + Shields seems to confirm this.
• Killing blow vs Ogres is ineffective. The Wight King should have been equipped with the Black Axe for more punch per round.
• Ghouls are great on the offense, but cannot take a hit. They should not be a frontline unit against high strength opposition.
• I had forgotten about the bonus from the Battle Standard. That could have saved at least half a dozen losses from Crumbling.
• At 1000 points, the Vampire Counts shouldn't make a hybrid list. It should be either all Casty, or all Fighty. Replenishing losses was a struggle for a single L2 vampire wizard.
• The MVP for this battle was without a doubt the Wight King. He is my battle tank, and seems to mess with my opponent's mind as well. No other unit that I have fielded in this or other battles inspires fear like he does.
  

There you have it. I hope you have enjoyed reading this battle report. Please don't hesitate to comment. and have a Happy Halloween!