Enarbrin-Taine wrote:
The problem with using magic against Vamps is you have you go really magic heavy in order to be able to get the spells that you need off. Now for high elves this isn't too much of a problem but with 3 or 4 spell casters on the vamp side your going to have your work cut out for you trying to beat them with magic.
Also if you spend enough points on magic users and items to make it work then you leave yourself short in another area. Facing unbreakable units you really need your own rank and file and hard hitting combats to ensure that you win as many rounds of combat as possible. Cant take chances with small elite units against fear causing blocks of infantry.
Sorry to answer this so late, I've been quite busy in past days (months?)
Vamps really are magic heavy and therefor have solid amount dispel generated by spellcasters. But they are power dice oriented, not dispel. The only items that help them with dispel (except scrolls) is Skull staff or Staff of sorcery. In 2000+ pts game, they generate 7 dispel dice (or max. 8 due to black periapt). Only Black coach can get magic restistance. HE in the same size of game with archmage and 2 mages with proper items can get 12-14 power dice (plus bound spells plus eventual power stones plus eventual +1 to cast for archmage with Starwood staff). And you still have place for 1 noble as BSB with that Battle banner - he can join DP's or SM's for some really cool combat resolution - undead crumble when they lose on CR. Even with magic heavy army, HE can still muster really powerful melee units. And if you manage to kill (or crumble) some spellcasters early, his chances to dispel will go down. In magic heavy army, HE are also very strong in dispel, having nice chance to disrupt lots of animating spells from vampires.