BaylorCorvette

Based on this thread, an argument can be made that Castellans of the Crimson Keep CAN in fact be used in LoB. It is a real grey area because LoN Battletome uses some old (AOS 1.0) terminology and references. However, even if we can use Castellans of the Crimson Keep, it doesn't change the fact that LON needs some serious updates in Battalion choices. With Orb of Enchantment being REALLY good for shutting down big things like Keepers of Secrets it's hard to justify taking a one time use artifact over the Ethereal Amulet. Subsaquently, to get a second artifact slot, it requires very expensive battalion(s) in LoB. I absolutely love LoB with the lore etc. However in a competitive environment I've been looking at other options and the new Slaves to Darkness really has my interest.

Based on the twitch stream yesterday, there will be at least some warscroll changes and the update on the NZ site is usually late night U.S. time

First off, I realize that Seraphon, KO & Tzeentch need and will likely get an updated battletome next year. However in 2019 we have seen 12 Battletomes (Gitz, FEC, Skaven, Khorne, Fyreslayers, Slaanesh, Sylvaneth, Cities, Orruks, Bonereapers, Mawtribes and Slaves to Darkness), so I assume GW will not stop at 3 Battletomes next year. LoN & Nurgle are kind of AoS 1.5, seeing how some units still have old terminology (lack of "wholly" for some buffs and Nurgle exploding 6's and not unmodified 6's). It would seem likely that an update for those two factions and maybe a few others isn't too unlikely. Would be nice to see LoN get mount traits, updated Battalions, etc. However, having said all of that, I have also read some posts that think GW may try and phase out LoN, since LoN is more of a soup / grand alliance faction and every other Death faction is fairly specific: FEC, Nighthaunt, Bonereapers, etc. Is it possible they may spin off a specific Battletome for say Soulblight and Deathrattle? What is everyone else's thoughts?

I agree, this seems to make sense as well. I'm hopeful that with the December FAQ around the corner it will hopefully address some of these issues..

I would suggest using Chainrasps over Skeletons in LoB. Generally what I like doing is using 1 unit of five Dire Wolves that can act as a screen or a fast objective grabber and then two units of either ten or twenty chainrasp, depending on what my overall list is looking like. Also, I use either two units of five Blood Knights or one unit of ten. A unit of ten Blood Knights, in LoB with the VLoZD's command ability to reroll all misses will rip most things apart when they're on the charge. The thing you have to remember is that Blood Knights are hurt pretty bad when hit with attacks that have rend and also Blood Knights really need the charge, as a result you need to make sure you have a really good screen, especially now where a lot of units from other factions have speed boosts or increased charging range. If you have any flesh eater courts friends that have extra Vampire Lords or can buy them I highly suggest using Chaos Knights + Vampire Lords for Blood Knights, that's what I did.

Such a great artifact. Wish Legions of Blood had better choices of Battalions to take the Orb and the Ethereal Amulet.

Was there a big "Christmas" release last year? If so, when/what was it?

I played a guy at my local store that had these and I was super jealous. Glad I found this post because it's awesome!

I'd also like to know if a "Mount Trait" is considered an ability that can be suppressed with Orb of Enchantment. Specifically Mawtribes "Metal Cruncher" that does D6 mortal wounds every combat phase (not battle round).

Interestingly I just saw this article about a Soulblight list winning a tournament using Castellans of the Crimson Keep Battalion.. https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2019/11/aos-list-of-the-week-vampires-bring-swift-death-and-victory.html

That's how I read it before I came on this forum and saw the posts. I assumed (possibly incorrectly) that since Death March and Castellans of the Crimson Keep are labeled as "Death" it was a catch all for the Death Legions and Soulblight within the LoN battletome. Even though the Soulblight units have that keyword they also all have the "Death" keyword, which is what lead to my assumption.

I e-mailed the AOS FAQ because it is really silly if Soulblight cannot take any of the Battalions found in the same book..

My understanding is that the Vampire Lord on Abyssal Terror can only be legally fielded in a Grand Alliance Death army. Is this correct?

That's where I'm at too. On one hand I agree that if you're not using the gravesites and you're getting hit with battleline tax, is it worth it. On the other hand, in LoB the Blood Knights and VLoZD are hitting harder and you can use the battleline tax as chaff / objective holders. One thing I was thinking about for a "fun list" would be a Vampire Lord on Abyssal Terror to double the speed of a 10 man unit of Blood Knights. But I think that can only be used in a Grand Alliance Death army, right?

The big dilemma I'm having is trying to balance a fluffy list that is still reasonably competitive. I made some really nice Blood Knight conversions, so I'm working on a list that has a VLoZD as a general with Aura of Dark Majesty, Prince Vhordrei, ten Blood Knights and then modify from there. I REALLY wish we had better Battalion options because Orb of Enchantment is so good but not so sure it's worth taking over Ethereal Amulet on the VLoZD..

Agreed with this 100%.

I used Vampire Lords kit bashed with Chaos Knights

If you're not running LoB's battalion, what are the thoughts on 2 VLoZD's vs. 1 VLoZD & Prince Vhordrai? My thoughts are, you could give the VLoZD his own command ability at the start of the Hero phase and then after that use Prince Vhordrai's command ability to allow the VLoZD to pile in and attack in the Hero phase, rerolling all misses. Either give him the Ethereal Amulet or Orb of Enchantment. I just wish we had access to better Battalions.

He didn't give specifics other than saying there's some new Destruction stuff in the works that would be receiving some large models. Again this was just an employee of one of the major brick and mortar stores in the UK who I met for the first time. I am personally taking it with a grain of salt and not holding my breath. But as a LoB player, a Soulblight book would make me super happy..

Makes sense actually. Last week I was on vacation in the UK and I was at one of their major store fronts and was chatting with one of the employees who asked what faction I played. I told him Legion of Blood and then I proceeded to talk about how I wished LoN would get updated and/or there would be more Vampire stuff. He told me that he has heard internally of a Soulblight related army coming out but not until 2021, which seems like a really long ways away but I don't know. He also mentioned some really big models coming out in the near future fr AoS. If there was a Soulblight related army coming out then I could very well see "Legions of Nagash" being phased out for specific Death factions and not the LoN "soup" as we know it.

Would a mount trait be considered an ability?

Oh thanks I must have missed the second part of that. I recall the part about Grand Host of Nagash, maybe that's what I was thinking of.

I *think* the answer is yes, they can still use artefacts but I'd also like clarification. If it disables artefacts, it would be a good way to deal with an Etheral Amulet user.

Am I understanding correctly that there are only two Warscroll Battalions that ANY Legion can use (Deathmarch & Castellans of the Crimson Keep) and that the other Warscroll Battalions can only be used with their associated Legion? Furthermore if that is the case and you're playing Soulblight, can Soulblight only use the Deathmarch or Castellans of the Crimson Keep Battalion?

Technically any Vampire Lord can have chalice of blood. There isn't a flying horror model but it doesn't cost anything to make it a flying horror (or riding a nightmare steed). I kit bashed my flying horror, using the wings from a Tyranid Gargoyle