Topic: Best "Van Horstman Speculum" builds

[Johan Willhelm]

In answer to question a few days ago I gave my patent pending Wizard Lord VHS build. Was just wondering what other VHS builds people would like to recommend. I appreciate there are many different types (AL, Wizard Lord, etc.) so just thought it'd be good to collate them all. Here's mine 


Wizard Lord - Fire
Lvl 4
Pegasus
Van Horstmans Speculum
White Cloak
Sword of Might - (In case I don't get Flaming Sword)
Crystal Ball

[Endgame]

Wizard, Lvl 4
Lore of Beasts
Holy Relic
VHS

Bears anger is insane when combined with the Speculum.  Its even better when you mix in Sigmar's Hammer from a WP for the rerolls

Arch Lector
Heavy Armor
Gorgon Shield (-1 Attack Shield)
Sword of Battle
VHS

This one is good all around, and the one I like to use when using the War Alter.  Enemy has 1 Str 4 attack if you swap.  If you don't swap (Like when fighting against a unit champ) you have 3 attacks which should, hopefully,l be enough to kill the champ.

[Folken]

Griffon general:
full plate, sword of fate, van horstman's speculum, gorgon shield

Much like endgame's design this take advantage of making them get (relatively) poor combat stats and making it worse.  It helps cut down on the punishment the general's ride takes and ensures that the griffon gets to wound on a 3+ for you tougher opponents.  Plus, it allows me to go after other lords on big rides as they will have more attacks so I could conceivably kill a dragon with this combination.  So far I've gotten the most use killing vampire and tomb king generals.

[sniperjolly]

Arch Lector
Heavy Armor
Gorgon Shield (-1 Attack Shield)
Sword of Battle
VHS

better to give him the sword of sigsmund or of power (thats the +2 str one, right? or is it might?) IMHO.

War Alter. 

 

[Warlord]

Arch Lector
War Altar
Mace of Helstrum
Van Horstman's Speculum
Heavy Armour + Shield

The point of the VHS is to take away the attacks of any hero challengers, and lower their strength to not auto-pop the chariot. If their values are high enough (such as Chaos Lord, Greater Daemon, etc.), using the stats may be beneficial. Alternatively, if the stats are only ok, but better than the Arch Lectors, still take away their attacks and strength, but use the mace to destroy them completely.

The great thing about this combo, is that its not necessarily a one trick pony - it is two. If for some reason one of your magic items is destroyed or nullified, you still have a back up. What's more, the VHS is ideal for challenges, the Mace allows the Arch Lector a fighting chance against Big Nasties, as well as monster base sized models, and S10 also allows him to pop chariots if he so wishes. The "Cannonball on a stick" (Mace of Helstrum) is very versatile, and the VHS is just like another form of save against scary characters for the Arch Lector, which allows him to use the Mace.

The armour is low, but he still has a 4+WS, and the ability to cast to different bound spells to heal himself.

[redflag]

Warrior Priest Heavy Armor, Enchanted Shield, Barded Warhorse, and the Speculum.  This combo is golden vs most lords and heros.

[NPC_Dave]

Level 1 Wizard
Sword of Striking +1 to hit
VHS

I use an old citadel Ninja model. He takes Shadow magic, usually the default spell, unless I roll a 2 and get the 3d6 S1 no armor save spell when facing Bretonnia or other heavy cavalry.

He sits in a Swordsmen unit with another hero character.

[Johan Willhelm]

Excellent stuff! Exactly what I was after! The explanations are handy to. Having said that I'll explain my build.

Wizard Lord - Fire
Lvl 4
Pegasus
Van Horstmans Speculum
White Cloak
Sword of Might - (In case I don't get Flaming Sword)
Crystal Ball

Wizard Lord for crapstats and Level 4 to increase the chance of getting the Flaming Sword. If not? Then hey he's still slinging flamey death around the place  . VHS is obviously mandatory, the White Cloak gives him a reasonable Ward Save against most stuff and an uber save against flaming attacks, of which there has been an increase of late . . . Sword of Might is a good stop gap weapon if Flaming Sword doesn't get triggered. Most stats you'll swap with will have decent Attacks and Weapon Skill but Elves will have puny Strength. Pegasus is for ease of transport. But my favourite part of this build is the seemingly innocuous Crystal Ball which pulls double duty here. As he's on a Pegasus the Wizard Lord will be zipping around the enemy lines. The Crystal Ball will be detecting assassins etc. as per usual but will also be able to pick out the characters/targets with the juiciest combination of Magic Items, Virtues etc.

Voila! 

Not perfect by any means but a decent Wizard Lord - Pegasus build I believe. 

P.S. I really like NPC_Dave's build. Consider it yoinked!  Very Priest of Ranaldy!

[Folken]

*laugh* I like yours Dave! 

[Marwynn]

Give him a Dispel Scroll and that's my ideal annoyance Mage. Nice build.

[CaptScott]

Any build + HLR's.  It's no use taking it unless you can use it 

(actually, I always liked the good ol' level 1 Wiz-Assasin)

[Merrick]

I am so using a ninja now....

[by.a.teammate]

Level 1 Wizard
Sword of Striking +1 to hit
VHS

I use an old citadel Ninja model. He takes Shadow magic, usually the default spell, unless I roll a 2 and get the 3d6 S1 no armor save spell when facing Bretonnia or other heavy cavalry.

He sits in a Swordsmen unit with another hero character.

If he runs out and challenges and the opponent declines is he just stuck there with crappy stats?

[Merrick]

Level 1 Wizard
Sword of Striking +1 to hit
VHS

I use an old citadel Ninja model. He takes Shadow magic, usually the default spell, unless I roll a 2 and get the 3d6 S1 no armor save spell when facing Bretonnia or other heavy cavalry.

He sits in a Swordsmen unit with another hero character.

If he runs out and challenges and the opponent declines is he just stuck there with crappy stats?

Maybe, but who cares?

He's. A. Ninja.

[Crimsonsphinx]

General

VHS
Sword of Sigismund or Power
Some armour/ward save.

[NPC_Dave]

Thanks for all the replies! Glad to hear I inspired a few people.

Level 1 Wizard
Sword of Striking +1 to hit
VHS

I use an old citadel Ninja model. He takes Shadow magic, usually the default spell, unless I roll a 2 and get the 3d6 S1 no armor save spell when facing Bretonnia or other heavy cavalry.

He sits in a Swordsmen unit with another hero character.

If he runs out and challenges and the opponent declines is he just stuck there with crappy stats?

Yes, which is why he sits in the Swordsmen unit with another hero character, so he doesn't get stuck like that.

The 20 inch move spell is there to get him into position should my opponent decide to just avoid the swordsmen and VHS, either by moving the wizard to another unit or to charge a character who won't be able to decline a challenge, like a lord on a monster or any character in a Warrior of Chaos army(I believe all WoC characters cannot decline challenges now).

Having another hero character on foot in the unit also helps utilize the move spell should I need to whisk that hero into a weak melee unit like an artillery crew or fast cav unit that is out of my 8 inch charge range.

The best counter tactic against this strategy so far is when one of my opponents charged the swordsmen with both his dark elf lord on a dragon and a unit of dark elf spearmen. He let his spear champion tangle with my ninja wizard while his lord and dragon slaughtered lots of rank and file.