AoS Tactics for other Armies

I started compiling the Google doc, please find it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/170NvSmnJjiWSZQy_7I7I6WT1rDtOQTGGSK75HfO90ew/edit?usp=sharing
I might do some styling/structure improvements in the upcoming week!
Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

Honestly, no. I've already wrote up a Vampire Counts army, did it ages ago when I said I would. I've neglected spending the time posting it because it's just so... well, boring to me. Vampires are one of my favourite factions lore-wise but looking at all the competitive builds I can see, they're just very monotonous and simple. They feel like an expensive beginner army, they're very easy to use, they make use of very simple and spelled-out synergies that require very little thought, and they don't really make use of any of that delicious lore. Which is a shame because I love the undead, I'm working on an Order Undead Bretonnia army right now made up of kit-bashed Bretonnians and Vampires to get a bunch of fallen heroes, it's very fun. But the competitive Vampire armies can pretty much be summed up as "Nagash+Zombies" with some casting roll buffs, it's dull.

 

It's gonna be so cool. A mounted Vampire on a Nightmare made from a Brettonian Lord with some kit-basing, a mounted Wight King with an Infernal Standard from the mounted Paladin BSB, Grave Guard with the banners and shields from Men-At-Arms! I'm excited!

And yeah, Chaos looks great for our next one up. I'll get to work on the Bloodbound army I promised.

 

Good start, but might bring both Empire parts together? (also typo in first Empire section in the table of contents -> startegy)

 

Thanks! I'll be sure to keep it updated with army lists posted in this thread.
I also started recreating the armies in the scrollbuilder, for those that use it (see Dwarfs).

Are there truly no competitive alternatives to Nagash+Zombies? I'm thinking a Ghoul King on Terrorgheist, with the Charnel Pit Carrion battalion. Konrad von Cartstein or Heinrich Kemmler seems like a good base to build around as well (with Mortis Engine, Corpse Cart, etc), for a magic-heavy (not necessarily summoning). Another recurring theme I've seen is "if bravery, then...", but there is no way for Death to lower an opponent's Bravery, apart from Skull Catapults.
Take it with a grain of salt though; I love thinking of army builds on paper, but I rarely have time to play a game to test it out (or buy/assamble an army); needless to say, I don't have much experience in Age of Sigmar either.

Thanks for your feedback! I have re-arranged the document a bit; organised everything alphabetically under Grand Alliances.
Oh, and most importantly, I fixed that typo

 

Well there are some, but they all tend to have massive flaws or weaknesses that a clever player can exploit. There's little in the way of adaptability for those, and while I do love the more casual aspect of the game where you can play themed armies such as my two upcoming undead armies that are undead Brets and an army of Ghouls I'm calling the Shia LaSquad (I'll be playing Actual Cannibal Shia LaBeouf as I play that army,) the nature of this thread leads me to try to find the most optimal builds and strategies instead of the most fun ones. Which I think is a problem with the Vampires, they can be one of the most fun armies to play, but to maximise their competitive side you need to sacrifice that fun in my opinion.

 

Well I think that this thread is also if not mostly intended to get theme's going with in the synergies.. If they are competitive or not. I didn't even think about competitiveness of the Empire thundering hooves until half way typing it up that I thought hmm this could actually work..

I also think it's a nice idea to get to work with some of the battalion warscrolls more to get the themes going from there. Also because there is some movement by players/organiser of events to bring battalion scrolls up to certain wounds.

 

Well this thread was made as a reaction to people saying that Seraphon are OP, to prove that everyone's just as OP. Which is why I've been focusing on the maximum power rather than the maximum fun. Though granted some of those builds that are max power have also been max fun, the Forest Goblins in particular.

 

I decided to dream up a Vampire Counts list myself. I'll be looking forward to your feedback!
I have also added it to the Google doc.

Introduction
I only played a few games, but I love to spend my time creating army lists on paper. Anyway, I wanted to do a Vampire Counts list that could be competitive (at least on paper), without relying on Nagash (and preferably not relying on heavy summoning).

Army List
Konrad von Carstein - 5 Wounds
Heinrich Kemmler - 10 Wounds
4x Necromancer - 30 Wounds
1x Wight King - 35 Wounds
4x Morghast Archai - 59 Wounds
1x Mortis Engine - 71 Wounds
1x Corpse Cart - 77 Wounds
43x Zombies - 125 Wounds

Strategy
Okay, so maybe it’s not the most exciting thing to play, but I think it would do well in a competitive environment. The idea is to keep your heroes in the middle of your zombie swarm, while everyone shambles forward. I’ll describe each unit’s function in your army, and then continue with the actual strategy.

Konrad von Carstein
Konrad is your General, he’s there to bring some pain in melee, but mostly for his Entourage of the Damned. It allows you to re-roll failed casting attempts of all your wizards with the NECROMANCER keyword.

Heinrich Kemmler, the Lichemaster
Heinrich’s purpose here is to pose a threat magic-wise. However, his Lichemaster ability will keep him alive, using the Morghast Archais to soak the damage. You can always use Heinrich’s Invigorate ability to heal them back up. He can heal each Death model 1 Wound per turn, and cast something else as well.

Necromancers
You’ll use your small coven of Necromancers to buff your “zombie rape train” - as people like to call it. You’ll be casting Mystic Shields on those rotting corpses, or blast Arcane Bolts when you can. If your zombie horde is dwindling, use them to Summon Zombies to strengthen your zombie shield. At the start of battle, you may want to Summon Bat Swarms close to your enemy ranged units as well.

Wight King
The Wight King will be hanging out with Heinrich & co. waving his Infernal Standard. Since all your units are packed, he won’t be planting his standard - the 9” bubble should be sufficient, allowing you to still shamble forward. Oh right, what that bubble does? It has a chance to keep your models alive. It’s a slim chance, 1 out of 6, but it can save your more expensive units, and will slow down your opponent’s attempts at hacking at your zombies.

Morghast Archai
Okay, so these bad guys will be protecting your fragile casters. Whenever one of your necromancers, or Heinrich, suffers a wound, one of the Morghast Archai should take the hit instead. They are a little bit more sturdy (and more expendable) than Necromancers - and their armor gives them a chance to prevent mortal wounds (which they get while covering for a Necro). With 3 3-dmg attacks at rend-2 they’re not too shabby in combat either. Oh, and they make your casts easier to succeed!

Mortis Engine
The Mortis Engine is mostly in here because I love the model. But its rules are pretty good as well; an AoE attack at 9”, easier casting for you and harder casting for your opponents, as well as chances of mortal wounds in close combat. Then there is its Reliquary, which allows you once to AoE heal D3 wounds to all DEATH units, AND deal D3 mortal wounds to all non-DEATH units - useful when you’re being overrun.

Corpse Cart
The Corpse Cart has two purposes; it makes it easier for your Zombies to hit, and makes it easier for your casters to cast. Alternatively, you could make it harder for your opponents to cast by slapping a Balefire Brazier on there. I think the Unholy Lodestone’s +1 to casting roll is more beneficial in this set-up, though.

Zombies
All aboard the Zombie Rape Train - or so they call it. These zombies should be fielded in bulk, and when I say bulk, I do mean bulk. Never allow them to get lower than 30 models. With 30+ models close by a Corpse Cart, these guys hit at 2+, and wound at a 3+. Now, consider that a single Necromancer can make them pile in and attack twice. That’s a terrifying amount of damage - but that isn’t good enough; for every kill there is a small chance for another zombie under your control. Now consider that you have a Standard Bearer, returning D6 dead zombies back to unlife in your hero phase. These guys will swarm your enemies, and can be used as (literal) meat shields for your Necromancers.

Bat Swarms (Summoned)
Your greatest weakness are probably ranged oriented armies, but guess what, you can summon. I prefer to see summoning as a ways to counter certain strategies, rather than a strategy on its own. So, Bat Swarms it is - why? Simple; they reduce your opponent’s chances to hit during the shooting phase. They don’t hit hard, they don’t hit a lot, but if they hit, they regenerate their full health. Use them to harass your opponent’s archers. Note that when summoned (on a mere 5+... which is almost an auto-cast with all your buffs) they come in a unit of 3; that is 15 wounds for your opponent to cut through.

Terrorgheist (Summoned)
I’m not a big fan of it, but we’re talking competitive here - only summon a Terrorgheist if your opponent is bringing cheese, or as an “if all else fails”. It has a casting value of 10, which is steep, but it should be doable by your coven. Once the cast is successful, put the Terrorgheist close to your opponent’s ranged units, and shriek and shred at them with all you’ve got - it should relieve your coven of some stress.

How to use it
Your army is slow, you know it, and your opponent knows it. Basically, I would make a square with all my units, and shamble forward to my enemy. The heroes should be in the middle, surrounded by the zombied, with a morghast at each corner. The Mortis Engine and Corpse Cart should be added in as well. Just make sure you have at least 1 line of zombies around each of your units; they are your literal meat shield. You’re very weak against fast and/or ranged armies, so use your magic to deal with that - summon to counter your counters. Playing with necromancers without practising necromancy at all is a bit silly.

 

If you don't want Nagash for Vampires, Arkhan is a good substitute.

 

Is anyone doing a death list? I'd really like to see what it would look like now the new book is out and GW have gutted a lot of the stuff.

 

Great stuff! I've added it to the document!

I'm probably going to pick up the book this weekend. But I think my list on this page (page 6) is still applicable.

 

Oh yeah! I didn't even see that. Sorry.

 

Nice and NASTY Tzeentch sum up!

I would like to add the Stormcast Lightning Strike here, that could potentially devastate your casters especially if he could get the Knight Azyros in place / Knight-Vexillor (re-roll charges) with them. As they can/ will be hard hitters

Battleshock test on single model?