[IKerensky]

Expansion speed can seems standard... except that this is ONLY with the VC, not taing into account the standard troups I doesnt care to use.

And the biggest problem is that this speed is EXPONANTIAL until BF meet the oppenent main army...

For this test build I made a pretty simple FoB pretender, cheap with Blood maxed and some death ( so I ususally get 16 to 20 Blood slave each hunt, alternating a hunt with a research until I reach CON 2 and get only on the blood.. ).

I think the barkskin amulet isn't as important as an Antimagic one, early on. But even just the helmet and 1 pendant of luck is enough to start cleaning indies. Put the vamp in attack rear, indies charge forward to the thrall, indies leader die, rince and repeat.

Afterward you can better equip the second CV and each one after and reequip the first one when he reach a map border.

Having the first VC as great prophet is a nice plus, especially if you care to build a starting dominion of 10. Being immortal and a source of dominion make him extra hard to kill... and the HP boost mean he reach the 100s HPs mark after 2 or 3 fight usually.

I tried with the VQ and even if a bit slower in the slave the ability to add 1 vampire with each VC seriously boost their combat impact. Just imagine 2 or 3 VC operating together...

Priest can be good but definitely not so... VC have extra high MR and enough objet to take care of it, and really like to strike deep to the throat ... Against Paladin I guess giving them the right order will be hard. And dont forget that by the time VC reach a sizable force of Paladin he definitely wont be alone again.

Also remember that if the map is a bit crowded you will have to fight them EARLY, and as each one is a big trouble they will be chain produced by turn 15 at Last and by this time will probably be added with some devils/vampires or other .

And I want to point out I am just a NEWBIE with a week of experiment.. and a knack on statistics and planing.... But into the hand of experienced player...

BTW BF Ulm should devote to construction above all else IMNSHO, forget about ressources, forget about gold, forget about population .. or somewhat. What you are producing is uber vampire, and mages to craft item research better for them. By the time your opponent have them under control.. if they do, your territory will be large enough for you to take on with your more conventionnals armies.

As an example I got several time troups desertion before turn 8 in my first tests, but it just doesnt matter, having 100+ unrest in your only one starting territory isn't even that bad, because in 1 turn or 2 you will be making plenty more.