Strigoi Warband

Now, im not an expert on the matter of the Strigoi, but I think I got it right. I created this warband when I realised the Strigoi and their cohorts are not only amongst the coolest models, but also a warband that would well fit the setting of Mordheim, and add another element of horror to it.

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Strigoi Warband


The Strigoi Vampire is a bloodline that has more in
common with the Necrarchs than the Sylvanian or Blood Dragon vampires. These
undead beasts are shunned, even by their own, and they are considered having
lost their noble blood. They often feed on the dead, and therefore the Strigoi
Vampire is more akin with ghouls than vampires. When the news of the precious
wyrdstone spread over the world, the Strigoi vampires were lured there by the
promise of power amongst their own kin, sending wyrdstone to the more
influential characters of the vampire society. Or maybe they wanted the
wyrdstone for themselves, wishing the morphing powers of the green rocks would
turn them back to what they once were. Or maybe they just wanted to partake in
the feast that the dead in Mordheim present. A buffet of dead that increase for
each passing day…


Number or Warriors

1: Strigoi
Vampire

0-2: Ghasts

0-2: Strigany

Any: Ghouls

0-5: Dire
Wolves

0-2: Fell
Bats

The number
of warriors in your warband may never exceed 12

Experience:

Strigoi - 20 xp - Combat, Speed, Strength, Special

Ghast - 8xp - Combat, Strength, Speed

Strigany - 0xp - Combat, Strength

Henchmen - 0xp


A Strigoi
Warband is considered an evil aligned warband.

HEROES

1: Strigoi Vampire 120 gc

The Strigoi Vampire is a terror to behold. Their
appearance is more of a feral beast than that of their noble cousins. They rely
on their brute strength and bestial instinct to survive, and fight with their
claws and fangs rather than wield weapons. A Strigoi Vampire is amongst the
most dangerous opponents one can encounter in Mordheim though, and even other
Vampires should fear this universal killer.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
5 5 3 4 4 2 5 3 7

Special Rules:

Leader –
See Rulebook

Bloodline –
The Strigoi Vampire may start the game with at least two bloodline abilities.
Further abilities can be bought instead of picking a new skill when getting the
New Skill result on the advance table.

Fear – The
Strigoi Vampire is terrible to behold, and causes fear.

Dead Flesh
– The Strigoi Vampire is immune to all poisons and drugs

No Pain –
Treat any Stunned results on the injury chart as Knocked Down instead.

Immune to
Psychology – The Vampire is immune to all psychology tests it is required to
take.

Equipment:
This warrior does not use any weapons and/or armour. Ever.

0-2: Ghasts 65gc

The Ghast is a ghoul that has risen from the ranks and
has been gifted by the Strigoi Vampire with a portion of it’s flesh. This has
made the Ghoul almost half-vampire, and they are amongst the most feral of its
kin. It hates all living things, and is kept in check only by the Strigoi
Vampire, who keeps them fed with his own flesh and blood in addition to any human flesh.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 4 2 3 4 1 3 2 6

Special
Rules:

Hate of the Living – The Ghasts hate any warrior that isn’t undead.

Cause Fear
– A Ghast is repulsive and horrid, and causes fear.

Tainted Blood
- A Ghast has some of their host vampires essence within their own blood, granting some of the powers of their master. At creation, the Ghast may be given a single Bloodline Power. A ghast can only ever have one, and cannot gain any additional ones.

Equipment:
This warrior does not use any weapons and/or armour. Ever.

0-2: Strigany 20gc

The Strigoi Vampire, like his nobles cousins, also
need human subjects to carry out his will whenever the vampire cannot. These
depraved human servants have given up their lives for the vampire. Often, the guypsies of the Strigany, with their sultist culture, gather round the Strigoi Vampire, whom they revere as a demon or devil, whose will they must obey. The
Strigoi Vampire often take a handful of these subjects with him when he
ventures out, and it is considered the greatest of honours for a Strigany to be
able to accompany his or her master.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
4 2 2 3 3 1 3 1 6

Equipment:
Strigoi Equipment List

HENCHMEN

Ghouls 40gc

Ghouls are flesh eating humanoids who once were human,
but changed as they took to eating the flesh of the dead. Naturally, the ruins
of Mordheim are littered with small bands of ghouls that readily join the
Strigoi Vampire, as they seem to have a special connection to the beasts of
Strigoi than normal.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
5 2 2 3 4 1 3 2 5

Special
Rules:

Cause Fear
– A ghoul is repulsive and horrid, and causes fear.

Equipment:
This warrior does not use any weapons and/or armour. Ever.

0-5 Dire Wolves 50gc

Dire Wolves are slavering Undead hounds, the animated
remains of the giant wolves of the Worlds Edge Mountains.
Their chilling howls can strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest
warriors or most ruthless Dwarf mercenaries. They prowl the streets of Mordheim
like shadows, and many men have died with the cold jaws of a Dire Wolf around
their neck.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
9 3 0 4 3 2 2 1 4

Special
Rules:

Charge –
The Dire Wolf get an extra attack in the turn in which they charge.

Undead –
Dire Wolves are immune to any poisons, drugs and psychology.

Unliving –
The Dire Wolf does not gain experience.

No Pain –
Treat a Stunned result on a Dire Wolf as Knocked Down instead.

May not Run
– Dire Wolves may never run, but may charge as normal.

Equipment:
This warrior does not use any weapons and/or armour. Ever.

0-2 Fell Bats 80gc

These blood-drinking bats
grow to monstrous proportions. The scholars of the Old World speculate
that perhaps an ancestor of these beasts drank the blood of a
vampire and thus joined the ranks of the undead.

M Ws Bs S T W I A Ld
8 3 0 3 3 1 3 2 7

Special
Rules:

Animals –
Fell Bats does not gain experience

Undead –
Fell bats are immune to any poisons, drugs and psychology.

Flyer –
Fell Bats ignores terrain modifiers and may fly its full value in M to any
point they see and can land on, including charging.

No Pain –
Treat a Stunned result on a Fell Bat as Knocked Down instead.

May not Run
– Fell Bats may never run, but may charge as normal.

Equipment:
This warrior does not use any weapons and/or armour. Ever.

STRIGOI EQUIPMENT LIST

Close Combat

Dagger free/2gc
Sword 10gc
Axe 5gc
Club 3gc
Spear 10gc

Ranged
Shortbow 5c
Bow 10gc

Armour
Light Armour 25gc
Shield 5gc
Helmet 10gc

STRIGOI BLOODLINE POWERS

Curse of the Undead 60gc
The Vampire is extremely difficult to kill, and regenerates and may regenerate any wounds
caused to him on a 6+. Roll for regeneration after taking a wound.

Sharpened Claws 35gc
The Vampires' claws are sharper than any sword. All attacks now have a -2 Save modifier on the enemy.

Hate the Living 50gc
The vampire
hates all living creatures.

Blood of the Wolf 45gc
The Vampire
has a 5+ dodge save against all attacks. This can be combined with Step aside
and Dodge.

Bloodlust 50gc
The Vampire
is subject to Frenzy.

Rigor Mortis 45gc
The Vampires bones are hard as rock and he gets a +1 T. This may take him over his
racial maximum.

Vile Talons 40gc
The Vampire has grown large talons, covered in carnal diseases and rotting flesh. All
injury rolls made by the Vampire get +1.

Feral Leap 40gc
The Vampire can leap great distances, almost as if it could fly. In the movement phase, the vampire can jump 12” in any direction (including up and down without taking damage). If this takes him into base to base contact with an enemy, it counts
as a charge. This replaces any normal move.

Giant Fangs 35gc
The Vampires fangs have grown even larger and even sharper than before. All
critical hit rolls are at +2.

Revulsion 30gc
This Vampire is even more horrid to behold. All fear tests taken against the vampire
is at -1 Ld.

I love the idea, but you HAVE to include the option of some Stregani gypsies!

WarbossKurgan wrote:

I love the idea, but you HAVE to include the option of some Stregani gypsies!

I agree...just substitute the Gypsies for the Cabalists.
On the mini side West Wind has some GREAT Gypsies & other Vampire stuff in their Vampire Wars range:
http://www.oldglory25s.com/index.php?cat_id=521&catname='Vampire%20Wars%20Miniatures' .



These are the Gypsy Characters; there's another pack or two of generis Gypsies.

Even the normal mercenary sprue can be made into passable Gypsies with an appropriate paint-job.

I know a few people use the normal Vampire list but restrict the choices to Strigoi-type things (like the ones in your list - Ghouls, Wolves, etc.), the Dregs become the Stegani in those warbands.

I would like to see a Stegani henchman option though.

Alright, I will edit it and make Strigani gypsies. That was the thought, actually, but I just couldn't remember the name.

What of the vampire powers, then, are they balanced you think?

Also, I imagine the biggest difference form the normal undead warband is that there is no "raised" undead, as there is no necromancer or other spellcaster in the warband. Just the Strigoi and a host of fellow flesh eaters and dire creatures.

Opheliate wrote:

Alright, I will edit it and make Strigani gypsies. That was the thought, actually, but I just couldn't remember the name.

Cool.

Opheliate wrote:

What of the vampire powers, then, are they balanced you think?

I'm no judge of these things to be honest!

Opheliate wrote:

Also, I imagine the biggest difference form the normal undead warband is that there is no "raised" undead, as there is no necromancer or other spellcaster in the warband. Just the Strigoi and a host of fellow flesh eaters and dire creatures.

Just how a Strigoi warband should be: a Ghoul King and his minions!!

I have all the ghouls and Dire wolves I need, and yes, the Strigany can be easily converted from normal Human packs and green stuff. Now, all I gotta do is get some "Fell bats" and a suitably fearsome vampire model. My net-supplier hasn't got the Strigoi vampires, so I gotta figure something else out.

I meant for the warband to be more about the Strigoi Vampire as a One-man-Tank, who, after some levelling and skill taking, will be able to take on whole henchmen groups on his own, scuttling over the board cuasing fear in everyone. As such, I wonder if I should bump his stats a little, then reduce the warband size to 12 or 13. (Strigoi, 2 Ghasts, 2 Strigany +6 or 7 henchmen, more than enough to make three ghoul henchmen, two Dire Wolves and a Fell bat, maybe.). Say what?

Give the Dire Wolves a rule that they can't pick up wyrdstone.

Da Bank wrote:

Give the Dire Wolves a rule that they can't pick up wyrdstone.

Haha, yeah, right! If thats how we are going to have it, let's make it like this...

Special Rules:
Can't Run - A Dire Wolf is undead and cannot run, but may charge as normal.
Immune to Psychology - A Dire Wolf is immune to psychology
Immune to Poison - A Dire Wolf is unaffected by poisons and drugs
Fear - A Dire Wolf causes fear
Cannot Climb - A Dire Wolf cannot climb ladder
Cannot Carry Wyrdstones - A Dire Wolf cannot pick up or carry wyrdstone
Cannot Carry Chests - A Dire Wolf cannot search for or carry a chest
Cannot Take a Crap - A Dire Wolf is undead and cannot take a crap, as it's body consumes all flesh.
Cannot Fly - A Dire Wolf has no wings and cannot fly.
Cannot Open Doors - A Dire Wolf has no thumbs and cannot open or close any doors or trapdoors of any kind.
Cannot Fetch the Paper - A Dire Wolf cannot fetch the paper for you, as it is too busy eating the mailman.

and the list goes on

I'm a little confused. Should Strigoi vampires really be taking equipment? None of the models ever have anything other than their nasty claws, after all.

No, they dont have equipment. I hope the rules isn't saying that. Only the Strigany use weapons and armour in this warband. I guess the Strigoi can use other special items though, like lucky charms etc, but no, no weapons or armour at all.

Opheliate wrote:

No, they dont have equipment. I hope the rules isn't saying that. Only the Strigany use weapons and armour in this warband. I guess the Strigoi can use other special items though, like lucky charms etc, but no, no weapons or armour at all.

Sorry. Looking at it more closely, I see that there is no option for equipment on the Strigoi and Ghast's descriptions. That said, it may be better to specifically state that they are never allowed weapons and armor if that is your intention.

Furthermore, I'd suggest some sort of Bloodline power to at least partially help with this penalty. Something like Horrid Claws, where the Strigoi would count as being equipped with two axes or the like, so that they are not at an immediate disadvantage when going up against better-equipped characters.

Drongol wrote:

Sorry. Looking at it more closely, I see that there is no option for equipment on the Strigoi and Ghast's descriptions. That said, it may be better to specifically state that they are never allowed weapons and armor if that is your intention.

Furthermore, I'd suggest some sort of Bloodline power to at least partially help with this penalty. Something like Horrid Claws, where the Strigoi would count as being equipped with two axes or the like, so that they are not at an immediate disadvantage when going up against better-equipped characters.

Thanks, good advice. I'll add a rule to the other warriors, and a new bloodline power.

Though the bloodline powers are already good enough, I think, with plenty of attack skills. Though I will bump his A by one, as a normal vamp has 2 attacks, but this guy fights with both claws, so, as per ghouls, he would gain an extra attack. I think this more than makes up the fact that he cannot use any weapons. Also, remember that the Vampire has the best max stats IN THE GAME. Add to that the many Bloodline Powers of the Strigoi, and you have THE best warrior in the game after a couple of battles, equipment or not.

Opheliate wrote:

Thanks, good advice. I'll add a rule to the other warriors, and a new bloodline power.

Though the bloodline powers are already good enough, I think, with plenty of attack skills. Though I will bump his A by one, as a normal vamp has 2 attacks, but this guy fights with both claws, so, as per ghouls, he would gain an extra attack. I think this more than makes up the fact that he cannot use any weapons. Also, remember that the Vampire has the best max stats IN THE GAME. Add to that the many Bloodline Powers of the Strigoi, and you have THE best warrior in the game after a couple of battles, equipment or not.

Yep, that's the other way to go with it. Personally, giving him another attack might make him too strong early on, but I kind of doubt it when considering all the other Vampires out there. Still, I can't help but see this list as slightly weaker than the (already below-par, if you ask me) Undead list due to the even more overwhelming reliance on the Vampire.

Just as an aside, at least give the Ghasts clubs, since they're running around with old bones in hand and whatnot.

Drongol wrote:

Yep, that's the other way to go with it. Personally, giving him another attack might make him too strong early on, but I kind of doubt it when considering all the other Vampires out there. Still, I can't help but see this list as slightly weaker than the (already below-par, if you ask me) Undead list due to the even more overwhelming reliance on the Vampire.

Just as an aside, at least give the Ghasts clubs, since they're running around with old bones in hand and whatnot.

I dunno... Ghasts are ghouls, but with a little vampire blood in them. Maybe they should have as a rule, that they can have one Vampire Bloodline Ability!? That would be cool. Sorta like the muties for the Possessed Warband. Though never more than one, of course. That way, you get three really good heroes. And since I have lpwered the warbands number of warriors, it should still be balanced.

Edit:

- Lowered the warabdn size to 12
- The Ghasts gain the Special Rule "Tainted Blood" (option to pay for one Bloodline Power at creation. Never more than one for each Ghast, though"
- Lowered the Ghasts S to the standard for ghouls (3).
- Changed Cultist to Strigany
- Added Sharpened Claws bloodline power.

Opheliate wrote:

Edit:
- Lowered the Ghasts T to the standard for ghouls (3).

Standard toughness for ghouls is 4.

sartori wrote:

Opheliate wrote:

Edit:
- Lowered the Ghasts T to the standard for ghouls (3).

Standard toughness for ghouls is 4.

Yeah, you're right, I mixed up S and T. It is S that should be lowered to the normal of 3.

I will edit it now! Thanks for noticing it