Prof's Horrors (upd.15.05) - The Bedlam Brotherhood

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Thank you!

Magnificent! I'm going to have to get those Cossacks one of these days. Will you field one as the Cossack Hero character? I think it's a smart move if Cossack henchmen are going to be fielded. For that matter, the hero is quite skilled at shooting and combat in his own right.

I’m still thinking about this. That’s my list for the moment, we’re going to play 350 GBP:

1 x Vampire Lord (75 GBP)
   
1 x Hunchback Servant (12 GBP), Axe (3 GBP)

1 x Vampire (65 GBP)
   1 x Sword (8 GBP)   

2 x Acolyte (2x42=84 GBP)
   2 x Sword (2x8=16 GBP)

1 x Cossack Guard (5) (36 GBP)
   5 x Muskets (5x10=50 GBP)

Total: 349 GBP

I could take out an Acolyte (42GBP+8GBP) and put the Cossack Hero (38 GBP) giving him a Pistol Heavy (11 GBP). He’s not that good at Resolve and Fate but I would get a nice improvement of my ranged combat power. Maybe a good idea playing against the Brotherhood.

[TadPortly]

Stunning work - my compliments to booth you and Grimm.  I can't wait to see it all combined in a game. 

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Very nice warband! Love the Bat Vampire!

Henchmen groups work best when 6 or 7 models strong. Having 8-10 henchmen models for each group in the collection gives you most options.

The Romanian Vampire list is very flexible, I've used many variants in the last months of testing. It's nice if you can suprise your opponent with something he hasn't expected. It's also nice to have an opponent who tries something new from time to time.

1. Classic Dracula Vampires
-Vampire Lord
-Vampire
-Acolyte
-Hunchback Servant
-Cossach Hero
-Cossack Guard

Variant: leave out the Vampire and add 2 Accolytes, that's a the very classic Dracula warband. Dracula and his three brides with some Cossacks.
Most people use lists similar to this one, preferably a Vampire heavy variant. It's the first that comes to mind.

2. Cossack Heavy
-Vampire Lord
-Cossack Hero
-2x Cossack Guard (8-10 strong) (1 unit armed with muskets and hand weapons, 1 unit armed with sword and pistol)
-fill up with some Accolytes or a Vampire

That's a very shooty list and can be a nasty suprise if the opponent is equipped for close combat. It's also very difficult to reduce big henchmen groups using ranged combat. Just make sure the Coccack hero stays in range to use his "boss" trait.
You can even shoot into close combat to support the Vampire Lord as he's pretty save from ranged weapons.

3. Vampire Heavy, lightly equipped
-Vampire Lord
- 6 Accolytes

Makes a very fast warband and it's very hard hitting is you can keep charging. Take care your opponent doesn't manage to pin down the Accolytes because they are not very good once stuck in close combat. It takes some manoeuvring to get most out of the Accolytes, that's charging from combat to combat making best use of the leaving a multiple combat rules.


4. Vampire Heavy, heavily equipped
-Vampire Lord
- 2 Vampires
- 2 or 3 Accolytes

Playing only 2 Accolytes gives you enough money to equip the Vampires with the maximum number of additional traits. Fill up points by purchasing a Hunchback Servant if necessary. It's a very small list with possibl only 5 models but the Vampires are very strong when fully equipped.
You can also replace one Accolyte with a Cossack Hero who is a more flexible model.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Some great hints, Tom, thank you!

I still have some Cossacks on my desk so I surely will try with larger Cossacks groups later. But that Dracula version is quite nice, so I’ve rewritten my list. The one Vampire is out, the Cossack Hero is in and I gave Dodge trait to the Lord and Acolytes, just to make them a bit more resistant to ranged weapons.

1 x Vampire Lord (75 GBP)
    1 x Extra Strength (+1) (8 GBP)
    1 x Dodge (5 GBP)
1 x Hunchback Servant (12 GBP)
    1 x Axe (3 GBP)
2 x Acolyte (2x42=84 GBP)
    2 x Sword (2x8=16 GBP)
    2 x Dodge (2x5 =10 GBP)
1 x Cossack Hero (38 GBP)
    1 x Pistol Heavy (11 GBP).
1 x Cossack Guard (5) (36 GBP)
    5 x Muskets (5x10=50 GBP)

Total: 348 GBP

I also would like to try the Version 3 one day, a Lord and a bunch of Acolytes, that should be a great fun.

Btw, almost forgot,  this Boss trait, it’s Cairo one. I don’t have the Cairo book, what exactly is this trait?

[jet]

1 x Cossack Guard (5) (36 GBP)
   5 x Muskets (5x10=50 GBP)

Just to point out, I'm pretty sure you only have to pay for one musket in a group, so 10GBP instead of 50 GBP. Check your rulebook to be sure. Spend the extra points on vampire abilities!

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Just to point out, I'm pretty sure you only have to pay for one musket in a group, so 10GBP instead of 50 GBP. Check your rulebook to be sure. Spend the extra points on vampire abilities!

You're right, thank you, I've missed it:

Henchmen groups purchase ranged weapons just as character models, but they need pay the cost for the weapon only once

Now going to write the list again

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

For the Boss trait see the warband list, the rules are in there.

Acolytes can't take extra traits, they are not Vampires. Only the "Vampire Lord" and the "Vampire" models can take extra traits. The "Vampire" trait makes a Vampire.
Also note:

Each trait can be purchased only once for a warband.

Acolytes don't realy need swords, they have their claws and teeth. They can use swords and profit from the +1 D cc defense rule but it's hardly worth the cost.
A sword for the Vampire Lord is an option if you have the spare cash or depending on what you intent to do with him (or any of the Vampires). The bonus dice for parries can help them survive. It's still expensive.
Better give the swords to the Cossacks and the Hero. Every model should own a close combat weapon. Cossacks are excellent close combat fighters.

Also remember that the Vampire Lord with +1STR also add +1D bonus to his DR-Pool.



 

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Found Boss trait, thanks.

the new list so far, more Acolytes and another extra feature for the Lord

1 x Vampire Lord (75 GBP)
    1 x Extra Strength (+1) (8 GBP)
    1 x Extra Agility (+1) +8 GBP
    1 x Dodge (5 GBP)

1 x Hunchback Servant (12 GBP)
    1 x Axe (3 GBP)

3 x Acolyte (3x42=126 GBP)

1 x Cossack Hero (38 GBP)
    1 x Pistol Heavy (11 GBP).
    1 x Sword (8 GBP)   

1 x Cossack Guard (5) (36 GBP)
     1 x Musket Rifle (10 GBP)
     1 x Sword (8 GBP)

Total: 348 GBP

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Reads very nice!

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Reads very nice!

Thanks, Tom

Coming home I was very happy to see that my "Carpathian Forest" is arrived 
Now going to try to base them all today for the game..

[jet]

Those trees are really great. Can't wait to see the dark forest in all its glory.

By the way, my Vampire Lords has the exact same three upgrades as yours. Works very well I find. Well, actually, my lord was seriously weakened by a stake last game and barely came out of it alive.

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

I think Iron Will is the best trait for a Lord, combined with Vampiric Might and the ability to drind blood it makes him nearly indestrucible even if you have a bad dice roll. Terrifieing Aura is also great but you have to remember to use it and it doesn't help much against a Bruderschaft Warband.

Stakes are the one thing Vampires should be afraid about, there's nothing that helps against them. It's difficult to score a sucessfull hit with them though. It's always a pleasure to see the Vampire players face go pale if you have a good attack roll using a stake .

[Prof.Witchheimer]

rewritten the Bruderschaft list for my opponent. Hope everything is correct? Any idea for the rest (19GBP)?

Grossmeister      63
   Holy Water   0
   Armour   2
   Sword   6
   Crossbow   10
      
Priest      20
   Holy Water   0
   Spear   5
      
Ordensbruder      36
   Armour (2 GBP)   2
   Sword (6 GBP)   6
   Torch (0 GBP)   0
   experienced   4
      
Ordensbruder      36
   Armour (2 GBP)   2
   Sword (6 GBP)   6
   Torch (0 GBP)   0
      
Ritterbrüder (5+3)   47
   Crossbow   10
   Sword   6

Wildhüter      53
Jagdhund      17
      
Total:       331 GBP

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

The Priest comes with a dagger and doesn't need a spear. He might want to purchase a 2nd trait instead. Also the Priest doesn't need Holy Water because he isn't able to hit anything with it. Better give it to another model.

You could get a 2nd dog to accompany the Grossmeister. Dogs are also good to keep the Priest save if the scenario requires him to get into the thick of it.

The Ordensbruder entries need to choose their free traits.

[Za Zjurman]

Such eye-candy Prof. Thank you very much.

Regards,
Za