Vampire Counts army book rumours

[Sylass]

Vampire Counts army book rumours

Originally Posted by Avian

- Scheduled for fourth quarter 2007 (provided by 75hastings69)

- New metal Necrarch models have been spotted (provided by 75hastings69)

- Expect plenty of new plastic sets

- Rumoured to be getting a unit of ogre-sized Flesh Golem creatures (provided by 75hastings69)

- Gav Thorpe has denied rumours of plastic Ghouls and Dire wolves as well as the existance of a new unit type of Werewolves.

New models in the first wave
- Mannfred the Elder on foot and on steed [metal]
- Vlad von Cartein [metal]
- Konrad von Carstein [metal]

- Vampire Count, on foot with wing arm [metal]
- Vampire Countess, on foot [metal]

- Varghulf, box of 1 [metal]

- Skeleton Warriors redo, slightly smaller than before, 10 models per box [plastic]
- Grave Guard, 10 models per box [plastic]
- Ghouls, 10 models per box [plastic]
- Dire Wolves, 10 models per box [plastic]

- Knights of Blood Keep, box of 5 / direct order blisters [metal]
- Corpse Cart, box of 1 [plastic]


Spearhead deal:
- Vlad von Carstein (showing off Carstein ring)
- new Vampire Countess model (may be used as Isabella)
- Varghulf
- 10 Skeletons
- 10 Ghouls
- 10 Grave Guard
- 10 Dire Wolves
- Corpse Cart
44 models

Battalion box:
- 20 Skeletons
- 20 Zombies (old)
- 1 Corpse Cart




New models in the second wave
- Possibly new Zombies
- Possibly new Black Knights
- Possibly plastic Bats
- Possibly plastic Necromancer set



Special rules

Undead
- Applies to all units, including those not technically dead (probably to keep things simple).
- Ward saves (possibly also regeneration saves) may be taken against wounds suffered from crumbling
- Units within 6" of ANY Vampire may march, not just general (includes Blood Knights, Black Coach and Varghulf)
- Possibly restriction that general must be a Vampire (similar to Tomb Kings where the general must be a Mummy)
- Units may not generally be healed beyond their initial number of models, with the exception of zombies. Certain vampire powers will also let you raise other units (wolves, bats and ghouls) beyond their initial number of models


Ethereal
- Latest rumour says it stays as it currently is.


Necromancy
- Spells generally have a shorter range than before
- Spells #0, 1 and 2 are called the Necromancy spells. These may be cast multiple times per caster instead of just once.
#0 Invocation of Nehek
- Every caster has it
- Very easy to cast
- Casters may cast the spell multiple times rather than just once each
- Heals any undead unit (d6+4 zombies, d6 of any other infantry unit, 1 wound for non-infantry or any kind of vampire)
#1 Summon Zombies
- Summons d6 +4 zombies
#2 Vanhel's Danse Macabre
- Lets you move a unit that is not in combat, as before
- For a unit that is already in combat, the effect is as for the old Hellish Vigour
#3 Gaze of Nagash
- Unchanged
#4 Curse of Years
- Easier to cast
#5 Wind of Undeath
- High casting value
- Every enemy *unit* takes *one* wound on a D6 roll of 4+ (no saves?)
- Wounds caused lets you create a new Spirit Host close to the caster with that number of wounds
#6 Summon Zombie Horde
- High casting value
- Can be used to create a new unit of 5d6 zombies, or heals 3d6 wounds, spread across the army as you wish, subject to the normal limitations (i.e. max 1 wound on vampires, etc.)


Lords

Vampire Count
- Only Lord choice apart from special characters
- Can get 100 pts of items plus 100 pts of vampire powers
- Fully tooled-up costs around 500 pts, not including the cost of a mount
- Starts as a level 2 wizard, may be upgraded to level 3 and further upgraded with the appropriate vampire power
- May ride a Zombie Dragon, Abyssal Terror ("Winged Nightmare"), Hellsteed (more or less and undead Pegasus, apparently) or an unbarded Nightmare. May also ride a barded Nightmare with the appropriate vampire power
- May explicitly always buy a magic weapon and wear magic armour, regardless of which vampire powers they buy

Vampire Lord: gone

Necromancer Lords: gone


Heroes

Vampire
- New name for Thralls
- Start as level 1 wizard, may be upgraded with the appropriate Vampire Power to level 2
- Can get 50 pts of items plus 50 pts of vampire powers
- May ride a Hellsteed or unbarded Nightmare. May also ride a barded Nightmare with the appropriate vampire power
- May explicitly always buy a magic weapon and wear magic armour, regardless of which vampire powers they buy

Necromancers
- Start off knowing the Invocation of Nehek, may be given spells #1 and/or 2 as well, for a given cost (relatively cheap)
- level 1 wizards, may not be upgraded
- cheap
- May be mounted in Corpse Carts

Wight Kings (new name for Wight Lords)
- Toughness increase

Wraiths: now a unit instead of a character


Core units

Skeletons
- New plastic models
- Come with hand weapons and light armour (following trend of reducing armour upgrade options for units)

Zombies
- Cheaper
- Strength 2, Toughness 2
- Really always strikes last
- Can not be joined by characters
- Can never pursue
- Only new unit you can raise
- Unit size 20+
- Command options for standards and musicians

Crypt Ghouls
- New plastic models
- Count as Undead(!) for simplicity's sake
- No longer skirmish
- Cheaper?
- Only command upgrade is a champion

Dire Wolves
- New plastic models
- Cheaper?
- Do not count towards your minimum number of Core units

Bat Swarm
- Count as Undead
- *Significantly* cheaper
- Lower Leadership
- Do not count towards your minimum number of Core units

Corpse Cart
- Possibly count as a monster rather than as a chariot
- Has a bound spell that gives the Always Strike First rule to friendly units within 6"
- Do not count towards the minimum number of Core units in the army
- Cheap
- Moves at Zombie walking speed
- Not very tough, but has Regeneration
- Doesn't fight very well (random number of zombie attacks
- May be upgraded to also give a -1 to enemy spell casting rolls or a +1 to wounds restored with the Incantation of Nehek nearby
- Do not count towards your minimum number of Core units


Special units

Grave Guard (possibly get a new name)
- New plastic models
- Come with shields
- May have great weapons

Black Knights
- Nightmares may move through terrain/obstacles without penalty, in the same manner as Ethereals can (not otherwise Ethereal)

Fell Bats
- Cheaper

Spirit Host
- Higher WS
- Unit size 3-10


Rare units

Black Coach
- 4+ ward
- can leech power from either player's Power Dice pool and from the personal Power Dice stores of wizards nearby (1/6th chance for each PD) giving it enhanced abilities permanently, in order(?): 1) Scythes, 2) Hatred, 3) Magic Resistance 3, 4) Killing Blow, 5) Ethereal, 6) Fly
- Wraith driver gets one more attack than before
- Count as a vampire for the purposes of marching nearby and healing

Knights of Blood Keep
- Essentially equivalent to old Thralls on steeds
- WS6, S5, T4, W1, A2, frenzy
- Expensive (more than 50 pts each)
- Lance, heavy armour, shield, barded Greater Nightmares (with S4 but not the terrain-crossing abilities Black Knights get)
- May have a magic banner, champion (Kastellan) might be able to take vampire powers
- Count as vampires for the purposes of marching nearby and healing

Varghulf
- M9 (does not fly)
- Stats more or less like a big monster (Hydra, Manticore, ...) rather than a small monster like a Gorger or Spawn
- Costs slightly less than a Giant
- Regeneration
- Terror
- Hatred of everything
- Not enough Unit Strength to negate ranks on a flank charge
- Count as a vampire for the purposes of marching nearby and healing

Cairn Wraiths
- Skirmishing unit
- Statwise much the same as currently, though obviously may not have magic items
- Wraiths have one attack more than previously
- May be joined by a Banshee (whose scream now works on all enemy units, including those ItP, and can be used as a stand and shoot charge reaction)

[Avian]

A little snippet from GD Chicago:

Originally Posted by unheilig

i was there.

we spent quite a bit of time chatting up gav, and reading through the new rulebook.

<snip>

Vampires: Gav feels the bloodlines are too restrictive. allusions were made to more customizable vampires. the bloodlines should serve as examples, not restrictions.

[Avian]

And a snippet from the new hardback rulebook:

Originally Posted by nagash42

If you look in the back where they have all the armies and stats for them look at the vampire counts.

the Wraith has Toughness 7

but theres also no vampire thrall and only a vampire count.

but still toughness 7 wraith wohoo!!

EDIT: It appears that the Hardback rulebook does indeed say this and in edition Banshees and Spirit Hosts are T7 as well. It is possible that in return they lose the Etherial rule, though this is speculation.

[Avian]

A couple of rumours:

Originally Posted by Harry

It is now my understanding that the next Vampire counts book will include wraiths not as characters but back as a unit. A great big scarrey terror causing unit.

(Before you ask I have no idea if they come with the stats as listed in the back of the rulebook)

Originally Posted by Harry

Gav Thorpe has said (a few times I think) that the whole bloodline bit will be toned down a lot in the new book they will remain as examples only. Players should be able to have there own individual vampire. This makes the problem even worse....
I would guess they will place The Vampire Counts firmly in Sylvania and go with the Von Carstines for the plastic kit. (based on nothing more than its closest to the classic 'dracula' type vampire that Warhammer Vampire minis first represented)

Originally Posted by Harry

One or two posts have mentioned flesh Golems. I asked Gav Specificaly about this and he shook his head and said it was just people making stuff up/wishful thinking and that flesh Golems (and werewolves) whilst being part of generic fantasy horror had never been part of warhammer undead and were not going to be part of the new Vampire counts. (I'm pretty sure he was being open and honest and not trying to 'fool' me.)

[Avian]

A little rumour:

Originally Posted by Harry

Scythe and Jedi are both correct....there is a 'whole revision'....to give the undead a more unified look......and 'Almost everything will be changed'. ( including Skeletons and Ghouls)

I would buy the models you really like because those will always find a place in your army/collection.

And a big, older one I forgot to post:

Originally Posted by Harry

I will try to sum up the little I have heard on this topic....so its all in one place.

Background will stay for the existing bloodlines.

They will be there as examples only . IE If you want to imagine/create another Vampire Bloodline that you are keen on from a work of fiction...book or movie...or indeed dredge from the depths of your own twisted imagination. You will be free to do this. Place them in the world give them a history and off you go.

Whilst you average Von Carstien may spend the greater ammount of his time drinking and dancing and eyeing the cleavage of a gently heaving boosom....sorry lost concentration for a moment. Surely when he goes to war..he slips into the family, hierloom, magic armour or at least makes use of one of those suits of armour that are always standing around in Vampire castles.
I think if you want to play a Von Carstien...based in Sylvania but want him to be as fighty as a blood dragon you will have this option. Or if you want to play a blood dragon who discovered some old tomb of magic in the treasure vaults of Mousillon and make him as magicy as a Nechrach...you will have this option. (Pleasse note I THINK I am piecing together snippets from a number of sourecs to form this opinion)I think they are trying to stop the background influencing the 'style' of vampire you want to play.

I have not the first idea how they will achieve this, what this will mean in terms of bloodlines powers or any other bloodline specific rules.....sorry.

I have heard that Vampire Counts will not be getting a plastic box set because of the conflict of individual Vampires being limited by one individuals image in a box set.

Thus I expect to see at least as many new Vampires as we have seen Goblin Heroes and Shamans ...all very individual all very unique so you have lots to pick from to choose one that most closely resembles your image of your vampire.

Take it or leave it...thats just what I hear.

Oh...Wraiths!!! There back...in units!

[Sylass]

According to Freenut the release of the VC army is pushed back:

Originally Posted by Freenut

[...] I have been told that High Elves are indeed the next army to be released as Vampire counts have been pushed back because of problems with the scults. [...]

HE are rumoured to be released December 2007...maybe it's finally time for VC half a year later?

[Sylass]

A few mini-rumours about the new VC from 75hastings69:

-possible release date: April/May time 2008
-new plastic Skellies, much smaller than the current ones

Quote

I was told that new skellies would now look more like they come from "inside" an empire troop. Take a look at the skulls etc that come with the new plastic flagellents or even the signpost skeleton from teh plastic giant for a rough guide.

[Sylass]

Thanks to Ravenheart for pointing out the VC miniatures in these pictures.

Discussion here

[Sylass]

A few more picturres posted by Nineswords.

Discussion here.

[Sylass]

More pictures (incl. plastic Grave Guard!) from UltimateNagash and Brimstone

[Sylass]

Thanks to Sabbad for the following rumours:

Originally Posted by Sabbad

First of all, I know there's a thread already open with VC pictures from Games Day, but considering that my news is concerned with new rules rather than new models I thought a new thread would be wise.

From chats with Games Developers, I have learned three things:

1. SOURCE: GAV THORPE

The Vampire Count armies book will include 5 Special Characters:
Vlad Von Carstein
Isabella Von Carstein
Konrad Von Carstein
Mannfred Von Carstein (the Young)
Mannfred Von Carstein (the Old)

Gav made a vague reference to being able to include Vlad, Isabella, Konrad and Mannfred in one 2000pts army. From that I would conclude that Vlad and Mannfred the Old will be Lords, and the rest will be Heroes.

What Gav said would indicate that the flying crazy bat thing is NOT a new Strigoi special character.

And the release of an "Old" Mannfred as opposed to his current "Young" form might explain the baldness on the Mounted Vampire model!


2. SOURCE: GAV THORPE

There will NOT be a new plastic Vampires kit (at least as things stand atm). Given that GW will be reluctant to release models for all five Bloodlines again, there might not be any new Vampires at all except special characters.


3. SOURCE: ALESSIO CAVATORE

The Bloodline rules will be scrapped, along with the Bloodline powers. Whilst background for the Strigoi, Blood Dragons etc will remain, it will not translate at all into gameplay.

DON'T PANIC! There is good news. Instead of "Bloodline Powers" there will be "Vampire Powers". This will include a list of all sorts of abilities, probably a mix of current Bloodline powers and the Bloodline specific basic abilities (Hatred, -1Ld for those nearby etc.). This means that not only can you still use the huge wings on your extensive Strigoi Vampire conversion, but you can also have Von Carstein's flying by turning into a swarm of bats, or Necrarchs levitating across the battlefield. It also allows you to make your own Bloodline!


This is all I have heard - has anyone else heard rumours about the rules content of the new Vampire Count book?

Discussion here

[Sylass]

Another one from Madrilous:

Originally Posted by Madrilous

From talking to one of the developers at Gamesday UK he confirmed there will be new plastic Grave Guard. I saw a three up and they look pretty cool, they still pretty similar to the current ones but due to them being mult-parts are a little less "squashed together" i.e poses will be more open. He also confirmed that there are some plastic Ghouls on the way aswell. He also hinted at a revamp of the current skeleton sprue, not a completely new one but similar to what they did with SM e.t.c although he couldnt confirm anything.

Discussion here

[Avian]

More rumours:

Originally Posted by Master Vampire

Great stuff, this is. ... All of this is by EvC (the quote button made some parts of text go with a line through the text :S :

-------------------------------------
I've got a load of rumours courtsey of the UKGT... and here they are for you all. Please note that any stuff in [square brackets] is my own thoughts or speculation- do not repeat it as fact or rumour to anyone anywhere unless you are an idiot! Now if you thought that the new High Elves sound powerful, wait till you see the new Vampire Counts... among the less scatalogical terms used to describe them were "sick", "disgusting" and "filthy". You have been warned

So, to begin with, not much info on characters other than Wight Lords are now "Wight Kings". Guess GW realised how silly a hero-level character with "Lord" in the name was...

As is well known, bloodlines have been removed (in terms of rules). There is now a -massive- list of bloodline powers to choose from, encompassing most of the powers we currently have and more. Here's a really interesting one: for 25 points, any Skeleton or Zombie within 12" can use the WS of the Vampire, as long as the Vampire isn't in combat. WS7 Skeletons? Nice! Another new magic item lets one wizard take spells from any of the basic lores from the main rulebook, except Life [presumably Light won't be available either or my source mis-spoke/ mis-heard himself].

Speaking of the magic, the Necromantic Lore is undergoing a massive revamp. Curse of Years will be the 4th spell on the list and even drops a couple of points for casting value, don't know if it's been weakened at all. The spell replacing it is called something like "Winds of Death", and makes EVERY enemy unit on the table take one hit, and any wounds go towards making a new Spirit Host near the caster! Incredible stuff... I heard two separate, very differing rumours about the invocation, one that it can only be used to make Zombies, and the other that it can be used to raise anything, "skeletons, wights, wolves, ghouls etc." [although since Ghouls aren't undead I'm not sure if I believe that. It could mean that Necromancers can raise anything but Vampires only Zombies]

Moving onto units, Zombies are cheaper some, and are now even more rubbish. S2 these days, and always strike last. Always. [Don't think Hellish Vigour will exist any more.] You know the Zombie bunker tactic? Gone! Characters can no longer join Zombies. Also, Zombies cannot pursue any more- when a unit breaks, for every rank of Zombies, the flee-ers take a bunch of extra hits/ wounds. Doesn't seem that nasty really.

Ghouls will be ranked-up infantry again. Not sure how that'll turn out.

Grave Guard can take great weapons

The Knights of Blood Keep are going to be horrific. Unit size 4-20, frenzied, 3 attacks each at S5 with lances (So S7!), the less said about them the better...

Wraiths return as ranked up units, as has been speculated for a while. The Banshee now fights with them as a unit champion, making them very expensive. To be honest I can't imagine this looking any good on the table top, although if they skirmish that might make more sense.

The Black Coach is going to make a lot of people happy (or scared). For a start, 4+ ward save- no word on immunity to S7 attacks though. However, it can go a little bit mental in the magic phase! Any wizard within 6" can donate a power dice, which you roll and for every 6 you get, it permanently gains a new ability, including...
1) Scythes
2) Hatred
3) ? [My money's on immunity to S7 destruction]
4) Ethereal
5) Fly

Yes, that's right, an invisible [Edit: meant ethereal!], flying, terror causing large target. You'll need to donate 30 power dice on average to get that far, but if you do... wow. And still 200 points.

Special characters are five von Carsteins as has been said, Vlad and old Mannfred are the Lords, with Isabella, young Mannfred and a third as heroes. I can't imagine Konrad being a lowly hero, he's a lord and a half, but we'll see...

That should keep us going for a bit. Out in about six months remember

Discussion thread is here

[Avian]

More juicy rumours:

Originally Posted by Donga666

i know there is a GD VC thread but this is a bit 'post-GD'.

@Mods, please delete this thread if you see fit.

@everyone else, i'm sorry there are no pictures just descriptions

@GW, I'm sorry if I have overstepped the mark!

I have recently been to GW lenton to get my GD entry photographed (Diorama, it was too big for the photo rig at the NEC). So I spent a very pleasant afternoon in the photo-suit at Lenton. In the photosuit is a big set of figure cabinets full of stuff to be photographed for WD and Codex/Army books. There were all the Orks and some LoTR stuff, none of it made much impression as I had either seen it or I don't like the game (LoTR).

BUT, there was the whole VC army set out ready to photograph for the book etc etc.......BY GOD IT'S PRETTY!!!!! (in a sort of rotten way)

I will run down the list item by item:

Plastics:

Skellies, they are in scale to humans and they look realy nice although smaller than the current models, excellent sculpt! Nothing that you wouldn't expect in them.

Gouls, Yep Plastic! they are very hunched and spikey looking, (they were ranked as well!). Strangley they reminded me of Yoda for some reason, all hunched and very degenerate (I'm not saying Yoda is degenerate).

Direwolves, these are a VAST improvement on the current plastic metal hybrid. Not realy a great deal differant but they do look undead and very manky. More dynamic poses too.

Metals:

All three of the special characters, vlad, conrad and Manfred von....I know manfred was at the GD but he looks very pretty painted up. Conrad looks quite mad but by far my favourite is Vlad, a proper pose and nice armour in the current 'no-bloodline' theme. Gone is the silly 'hamour horror' look!

Two unamed vampires, one female sculpted by Seb Perbet which is nice but didn't blow me away. Improvement on the current lamians though! And a very very beautiful one with one bat wing in place of his arm and in a great pose, i will be buying this one even though I don't play VC (yet).

The best models by far in the range are the Blood Knights, they are SO GOOD LOOKING!!!!!! The knights and the horses are fully armoured & barded they are armed with lances. the horses are in such dynamic poses leaping and just looking great. The knights faces are visable too and they are full of character!

All the other stuff is the same, just repainted to fit in. I was a little disapointed to see the Black Knights the same models, I didn't find out if they were due a redo, sorry.

I have a winners day to come up but I think we are sworn to secrecy for that I didn't get into the design studio or casting hall, this time

BTW: I got Gold

Originally Posted by Donga666

She wasn't a 'special' character, just a general vampire. Isn't Isabella 'dead' thats way Conrad is Mad? I am not a fluff lawyer so don't flame me for it. But the person I talked to said it was just vamp.

The bat thingy is one of the options to make it into a 'stigoi' type vampire. that one looks very nice painted up too! it could be the source of the Werewolf rumours a while ago, it looks like a werewolf/bat monster.

@explorator: I am very proud, but my wife wants me to take the demon off the fireplace! Only wanted a Golden Demon for 20 years!!!

Originally Posted by Donga666

How the hell did I forget that!!!

Yes there was! They were described as 'Wights', they looked very very nice. Sorry I forgot that!!! A cross between armoured scellies and wights of old, I think they were armed with HwSh. Nice old looking armour, less 'gothic' more ancient knackered armour.

The Blood knights looked like heavy cav, elite 'turbo nutters', if that makes sense? They were alluded to as 'rare' choices, but don't quote me. I was talking to a WD chap, not a design studio chap.

EDIT: the 'wights' were plastic!

Originally Posted by Harry

The Blood Knights are Vampires.

Bat type creature is a Vargulf (Sp?)

Vlad was the one holding out his hand with the ring on display with his cloak billowing about him.

Yours was the Empire castle/gatehouse with the knights crossing the drawbridge and the Empire Warrior Priest front and center. Amazing piece. Well deserved win. Congratulations.

Originally Posted by rathnutt1

I saw the preview papers today at GW and it had the manfred, vargwulf, and 3 grave guard painted up... they looked GREAT. Mannfred looks fantastic painted, people complaining about the lack of hair or how he doesn't "look like a von carstien" need to get on the "new look vampire counts" train, because its a great train to be on.

Thread is here

[Sylass]

A few pictures I took at the german gaming fair "Spiel'07" today (Manfred von Carstein):

[Avian]

More rumours, many thanks to Haquim and Harry :

Originally Posted by Haquim

Some rumors from the italian GT&GD (from A.Cavatore & A.Merret)
-No more Archnecromancers and Vampire lords. They think VC should be lead by a Vampire Counts not another critter. The new Counts will be as the old ones but cost slightly less. Besides (stop crying chees already, please...) THEY WILL GET 100pts of magical items AND 100pts of blood powers!!!
-The new knights of blood Keep will have WS6, S5, Th4, 2A AND frenzy. They will ride greater nightmares (inspired to the knight of sleeping hollow mount) with S4. And yes, they will use lances. Cost ABOVE 50pts for one
-Wargulf do not fly they "just" move fast. And by fast I mean 9''. They are powerful monsters with high strenght and lots of attacks (he wasn't really clear on their stats...)
-Normal nightmares (those used by BN) have ethereal movement)
-Necromancers are now better than vamps at rising and mending undeads but vamps can use more powerful magics.
-Banshees really are champions for the skirmishing units of wraiths. Their screams now work on anyone (just like the casket of souls from khemry)
-The new black coach works as described on the first post of this thread.
-Ghouls R&F (funny story behind that... but I want to tell you Cav & Gav both wanted them to skirmish...)
-Death wind REALLY creates ghosts!!! Cav didn't want to say it all so I'm not sure you have to do a certain number of wounds before creating one (I hope so...). Btw he said "You'll have to worry about OTHER spells, not death wind..."
-Necromancy will work a bit more like Khemy's magic. Now you'll be able to recast the same spell many times until it gets trough...

I think that's all I heard. If something else comes to mind I'll tell you.

Originally Posted by Haquim

Unless Cavatore lied to me (and some dozen other people) they are. About archnecromancers: I told him I favored Necros over vamps and he said "I'm sorry to hear that but the archnecro will go. We want vamps to lead vamp armies, necromancers will be support not generals, they'll be better at healing undeads and rising them but Vamps will have more harmful magics".
I'm sorry about that but I cannot really fault GW's reasoning although, by BG a necromancer is better at magic than a Vamp, and a sufficiently powerful Necro can control vamps... Only there are really few necromancers with that level of power. It's much more likely a necro ends working for a vamp rather than the vamp for the necro...
Btw here's a snippet I forgot to mention: there are NO MORE living units. Even ghouls follow the rules of undead (he said some of them flee combat while their fellows still fight if they think they are losing...)

Originally Posted by Haquim

The lead designer for VC book is Gav Thorpe, Alessio Cavatore is the lead rule designer for all GW core games. And I won't say they did cheesy armies. Cavatore was responsible for the horrid skaven army (well, he really loves the damned rats... First army for him...), but also for Khemry and Vampire Counts. Gav did 6th ed Dwarves and Dark Elves, and they are/were the weakest armies in 6th edition along with ogres.

Originally Posted by Harry

They will have very different roles and use very different magic.
The necro's will be very low level with very limited spells to raise and heal. Thats it.
But they can do these much better than before.

Originally Posted by Haquim

Another thing I forgot: it seems the death chariot (I don't really know the english name... it's a cart filled with undead bodies pulled by... zombies!) will be in. The way it was described to me is the zombies pulling it have a spike trough their torsoes and they pull simply by trying to move forward due to dark magic... (maybe Harry could help with a better description?)
I don't know anything about the rules though...

Originally Posted by Harry

No. You pretty much have it covered.
Its a cart filled with undead bodies.
The zombies are impaled on the hafts of the cart.
The cart is sort of 'rib cage' like.
The undead contents is sculpted by Brian Nelson.

[Avian]

Even more rumours:

Originally Posted by Haquim

Greater nightmares are mounts with S4 but they do not get ethereal movement like their lesser brethen do.
Btw I can try to describe the Von C. models I know of (mind you, I didn't actually see the minis, they were described to me):
-Vlad has a flowing cape, like he was standing in a storm and he imperiously thrusts his hand forward with the Carstein ring in great evidence.
-Konrad has two hand weapons, and he licks the blood dripping from one. What's really remarkable about this model is his cape though. It starts as a mundane cape but then it flows into a bat swarm taking flight...

As these info do NOT come from the GDs themselves but rather from people who had the chance to see the new models I trust the informats but a degree of caution should be advisable, IMHO.

[Sylass]

Thanks to Harry for a few new close-up pictures (and some artwork) of the rumoured "Vargulf" (sp?) miniature.

Discussion here.

[Avian]

Thanks to rathnutt1 we have some more painted pics, along with a confirmation of how 'Varghulf' is spelled!

Thread is here: http://warseer.com/forums/fantasy-ne...ts-models.html


*edit by Sylass*
added the preview-pdf

[Avian]

More rumours:

Originally Posted by silashand

Another couple rumours from a source of mine:

Apparently any undead unit can march if they are within 12" of a *vampire*, not just the army general. This includes the rumoured Blood Knights and the Varghulf (the varghulf is a vampire in bat form apparently).

The Corpse Coach (apparently it's real name) only has a 6" range and only gives Strikes First to units around it, not re-roll to hit and to wound rolls.

It *appears* there is only one necromantic lore still, but the effectiveness depends on the caster. For instance, the example given was that Invocation of Nehek can heal everything now, but can only create new units if cast by a Necromancer.

Anyway, just more rumours.

Cheers, Gary