[Molog]

Don't know how useful this is, but I like to research enchantment with carrion woods.
Gives you mound kings to round up and lead undead.
Create revenant for research. I usually take magic 3 as it's supposed to increase the chance of getting the more powerfull carrion beasts.
Twiceborn to turn pans into wight mages, saves you around 20 gold a turn for each pan and there is a chance that they'll recieve an extra level in death magic. Have them cast personal regeneration to reduce the possibility of getting afflictions.
Gift of health can be cast early by carrion woods. If you get taurotyrannus, he can forge a thistle mace and armor of thorns with construction 4 to become a level 5 nature mage.
Foul vapors can be fun too.

Thematurgy 3 for haruspex and panic.

I don't bother much with the mass regrowth spell. I just have dryads cast the area 1 regrowth spell, covers units with more hp first. I also have a dryad follow around my undead pretender and have them cast regrowth for extra regeneration.

I like carrion dragon and ghost king more than vampire queen.

Also temples in forests have an increased chance to reanimate sanguine carcasses since the latest patch.