2K Army vs VC by a newby

[Ard Boy]

Hello,

I'm new to WHF and played only 2 games up until now. Of course I'm an OK player . The first game was against VC and I really got kicked in the nuts. At turn 5 my army was wiped out, and all he lost was a Vargulf or something. My second game was against WoC and here it was me who kicked ass, I destroyed the enemy completly. But as I am new to WHF I don't know if it was luck or the right application of tactics. That is why I am presenting my army list for my second game against VC. So here we go:

Lords

Tyrant
Greatskull
Crown of command
SM
Hafling cookbook
Toothgnoblar

Heroes

Bruiser
BSB (Banner of Eternal Flame)
CLS
HA
Butcher
Feedback scroll
Toothgnoblar

Core

Bulls (7)
Full Command
Bulls (7)
Full Command
Gnoblar (45)
Groinbiter
Gnoblar (45)

Special

Leadbelcher (2)
Leadbelcher (2)
Leadbelcher (2)

This comes at 1999. The Tyrant, BSB and SM go in Bull squad and the butcher in the other Bull squad.
The plan is to counter heavy stuff with the gnoblars and go in for the kill with the Bulls. The leadbelcher protect them vulnerable flanks.
My VC opponent usually fields a magic heavy army and also includes 2 Vargulfs ,a gouls(?) horde and lots of skeletons and zombies. And he uses a deathstar unit including his grave guard (real nasty as they killed my IG squad with tyrant and SM in just one round of CC).

All comments and advice are welcome, and if anyone knows a very good OK deathstar unit please let me know.

Cheers.

[Ard Boy]

Come on you guys, I could really use some input here 

[Auere]

Tyrant
Greatskull
Crown of command
SM
Hafling cookbook
Toothgnoblar

Especially against vampire counts you have to consider the tenderizer. 5 overkill on a champion in a duel will crumble 5 skelettons, and he can also really mop up any vampires with ease. Greatskull is not really worth it and crown of command should not be nessesary if you play it right. My favorite Tyrant build is simple: Armour of Destiny+Tenderizer+luck gnoblar. No vampire build will stand up to that!
The slaughtermaster kinda needs a ward save. Mathwise it is better to have a wardsave than the cookbook, and it also helps in combat. I like Fencers Blades+talisman of preservation. It makes him near unkillable and very strong in combat generelly. I know other people like the bloodcleaver for its healing.

The problem is, at 2000 points it is hard to squeeze in both an effective tyrant and slaughtermaster. I would consider downgrading the slaughtermaster to a butcher or simply leave him out.

Bruiser
BSB (Banner of Eternal Flame)
CLS
HA
Butcher
Feedback scroll
Toothgnoblar

I understand why you want the flaming banner, but I would suggest putting it on a unit of Ironguts. Instead you should buff your BSB up to desent defensive and offensive ability. CLS, heavy armour, enchanted shield and wyrdstone/other ward save plus a luck gnoblar will do the job.
The Butcher should have a dispel scroll if the SM doesnt. You are going to need it!


...more later... running out of time...

[Auere]

Bulls (7)
Full Command
Bulls (7)
Full Command
Gnoblar (45)
Groinbiter
Gnoblar (45)

I would go for 9 bulls and 6-9 ironguts with banner of eternal flame led by the characters. Dont take unit champions, as they are not really worth it - only bellower and standard. Gnoblars are not really terrific against VC, but a single unit of 30-60 can always have some use. I would not take any more than that.

Special

Leadbelcher (2)
Leadbelcher (2)
Leadbelcher (2)

Leadbelchers are really not very good. And against VC, I cannot imagine them doing an awful lot of good for you. Instead I would include a scraplauncher and/or possibly a Bull Rhinox. But it is more important to get your two main regiments up to a decent strength, so invest your points there.

[Auere]

All comments and advice are welcome, and if anyone knows a very good OK deathstar unit please let me know.

At 2000 points:

Tyrant w/ tenderizer, armour of destiny, luckgnoblar
Butcher w/Wyrd necklace, bloodcleaver, luck gnoblar
BSB w/enchanted shield, amulet of preservation, heavy armour, cathayan longsword, luck gnoblar

Forming the first rank in a three wide unit of ogre ironguts:

6 ironguts (bellowed, standard, runemaw/banner of eternal flame)


When the unit gets into combat the three characters form a shield wall of T5 ward save characters with ironguts striking from behind them. The unit dishes out death in numbers and with the relatively few wounds coming the other way, the undead will crumble quickly.
The Tyrant is a beast in challenge. Issue a challenge right away: No vampire can stand up to him, and if he accepts with a unit champion, pound him for the maximum overkill bonus and watch the rest of the unit crumble to dust.

[Ard Boy]

Many thanks Auere,

will try some of your propositions soon, I hope  .
Got some advice against Tomb Kings ?

Cheers

[Auere]

Got some advice against Tomb Kings ?

Tenderizer, tenderizer, tenderizer! Imagine your opponents face when he charges in with his chariot deathstar only to find out that your tyrant is doing D3 wounds with each hit :-) The Tyrant can also easily kill any combat characters or kill heaps of undead by overkilling unit champions in duels.
Remember be smart about your challenges: Dont challenge if up against chariots. Accept any challenges with your BSB and use your tyrant to mop up the chariots instead. Also if the only character in your opponents unit is a bsb or hirophant, dont challenge and allow your opponent to hide him in the back of his unit when he declines!

Apart from that, goblin trappers may be worth it against his warmachines.

I would put runemaw on my ironguts and make their unit 8-9 strong led by three characters. I cannot see your tomb king opponent stopping that unit! Remember that characters can "make way" to the flanks of their unit, should it be charges in the side (same goes for the rear).