3000pts Tomb Kings vs Vampire Counts

[pcooney]

I was the VC player. If I remember correctly we didn't regen crumbling wounds. I think maybe I regained a wound in the magic phase from the VC lore attribute. Or maybe I was in range of the BSB at that point, so suffered one less wound due to crumbling from that. I lost plenty of rounds of combat with the Varghulf and also the Crypt Horrors, so it seems unlikely that I'd forget and try to regenerate a single rounds worth of crumbling, but not at any other time.

For the terrorgheist scream, to me the best you can say is that its not 100% clear either way. Hopefully GW will get around to updating their FAQs soon as thats not the only unclear rule in the VC book.

Anyway, good report tarrym. If you want my post battle thoughts, then basically I think I just need to be more cautious when charging headlong into tomb guard with a king. If I'd have held back, you would have been forced to come to me, then if I'd been clever you'd have been in range of the bane stone and not me. I also think it was a mistake giving you the side of the table with the arcane ruins, as those extra channeling attempts made a huge difference to the magic phase.

[tarrym]

I was the VC player. If I remember correctly we didn't regen crumbling wounds. I think maybe I regained a wound in the magic phase from the VC lore attribute. Or maybe I was in range of the BSB at that point, so suffered one less wound due to crumbling from that. I lost plenty of rounds of combat with the Varghulf and also the Crypt Horrors, so it seems unlikely that I'd forget and try to regenerate a single rounds worth of crumbling, but not at any other time.

Yes, the BSB must have been in range by this point. I knew it came in at some point for the Spirit Host combats, but forgot about the Varghulf! I've amended the report to make it clearer.

Also quoted your post battle thoughts.


Now just wait until next time!

[SevenSins]

Nice rep that, etheral units can be a serious bother ranked units may be an answer, or possibly banners?

[tarrym]

Nice rep that, etheral units can be a serious bother ranked units may be an answer, or possibly banners?

Yeah, sadly TK Skeletons suck

What banners do you suggest? I'm not aware of any banners that the TK have access that grant magical attacks.

[Far2Casual]

About the scream, the rule is indeed pretty vague. I know the ETC explicitely rule out screaming into another combat, but it's hard to guess the intent here. My own personal opinion is that being allowed to do that while blocking anything with etheral crap is retarded, so I'm glad it's forbidden where I play until the Vampire FAQ.

Good report, the deployment wasn't in your favour to say the least. The Vampire player had all the perfect matchups set up, and you didn't get the needed luck to help you out.

I strongly suggest you to take the Skull Storm next time though. With the Casket and the Titan the small version is really easy to cast and it will wreck VC's infantry & movement in general. You can even cast that through your own Constructs into the ennemy units, I know this spell helps me a lot in those matchups where my opponent has no shooting and tons of low armoured infantry.

I would also suggest some EbtS units, of any kind. It will help you control the battlefield and they can put pressure on their lines when they pop up. I'd say 3 Stalkers would help you a ton. Their magical shooting might help you against some ethereals and they will work well against the cav, the terrorgheist or the horrors (just remove the regen first if possible).

EDIT : Oh and, try using 1 or 2 small units of horsemen. First of all it's a small drop (so it might help you in the deployment to get better matchups), they have vanguard, and with a charge, a flank and a banner with a bit of luck you can pop the swarms, or at least block them for a moment. They can also deal with the wolves. If needed, after all they have 10A for 60 pts, with a 5+ save, M8 and swiftstride.

[tarrym]

About the scream, the rule is indeed pretty vague. I know the ETC explicitely rule out screaming into another combat, but it's hard to guess the intent here. My own personal opinion is that being allowed to do that while blocking anything with etheral crap is retarded, so I'm glad it's forbidden where I play until the Vampire FAQ.

Good report, the deployment wasn't in your favour to say the least. The Vampire player had all the perfect matchups set up, and you didn't get the needed luck to help you out.

I strongly suggest you to take the Skull Storm next time though. With the Casket and the Titan the small version is really easy to cast and it will wreck VC's infantry & movement in general. You can even cast that through your own Constructs into the ennemy units, I know this spell helps me a lot in those matchups where my opponent has no shooting and tons of low armoured infantry.

I would also suggest some EbtS units, of any kind. It will help you control the battlefield and they can put pressure on their lines when they pop up. I'd say 3 Stalkers would help you a ton. Their magical shooting might help you against some ethereals and they will work well against the cav, the terrorgheist or the horrors (just remove the regen first if possible).

EDIT : Oh and, try using 1 or 2 small units of horsemen. First of all it's a small drop (so it might help you in the deployment to get better matchups), they have vanguard, and with a charge, a flank and a banner with a bit of luck you can pop the swarms, or at least block them for a moment. They can also deal with the wolves. If needed, after all they have 10A for 60 pts, with a 5+ save, M8 and swiftstride.

That has to be one of the most helpful posts I've seen on these battle reports threads for a while...so thank you for taking the time to post it.

I'll admit I had pretty much discarded both the skeleton horsemen (even though I have 35 of them hanging around - this army started out back in 6th edition where they were quite good) and the vortex spell. I'll give them both another look next time I design a list.

Sadly I've tried EbTS a couple of times, and so far they have pretty much always failed to show up until turn 5. Now I know there is no rationality behind saying this will continue - although it does highlight how much of a gamble they can be if they are a crucial part of your battle plan. Having said that, maybe a couple of Tomb Scorpions or, as you suggest, a unit of 3 Sepulchural Stalkers. We'll see.

In the meantime I have another idea for a list to try out, and your suggestions are lined up for the next game after that I think. I won't reveal anything here as I'm sure my regular opponent(s) will check the thread

[SevenSins]

No concrete bannerisms, just tossing out maybes and couldhaves. Far2casual's advice sounds.... Sound.... Hm....

[nbradou]

As a fellow TK player, and if I may offer a piece of advice; you need to take more advantage of the Tomb Kings' biggest asset: MAGIC! If used properly, Kings are one of the strongest races in the game during the magic phase, due mostly to the Lore of Nehekhara. I'd recommend two Hierotitans rather than just one, and getting rid of the Khemrian Warshpinx. Also, use both 'Neferra's Scrolls of Mighty Incantation' and 'Enkhil's Kanopi' for your Priests, they are so powerful!! Though it doesn't much help against undead, if you are not using the Golden Death Mask of Kharnut on your King, then good sir, shame on you...

[tarrym]

As a fellow TK player, and if I may offer a piece of advice; you need to take more advantage of the Tomb Kings' biggest asset: MAGIC! If used properly, Kings are one of the strongest races in the game during the magic phase, due mostly to the Lore of Nehekhara. I'd recommend two Hierotitans rather than just one, and getting rid of the Khemrian Warshpinx. Also, use both 'Neferra's Scrolls of Mighty Incantation' and 'Enkhil's Kanopi' for your Priests, they are so powerful!! Though it doesn't much help against undead, if you are not using the Golden Death Mask of Kharnut on your King, then good sir, shame on you...

Some reasonable suggestions. Sadly most of my games are against players with both Vampire Counts and Daemons of Chaos armies so the death mask is a waste of points the majority of the time. And Enkhil's Kanopi is very powerful, but it's pretty rare for remains in play spells to take part in the games I've played - again most likely because of my regular opponents armies.

Thanks for the suggestions though. The second hierotitan is worth considering

[Toshiro]

The warbanner is a good one to put on a ranked unit to pop those etherals. If you can manage the charge you'll have: charge, 3 ranks, banner, warbanner for a total of 6, so you should be able to pop them right of the bat.