Vampire Counts

Lore & Background

In the opening narrative of the campaign, Karl Franz ascends as Emperor amidst civil war turmoil, facing a fractured kingdom. While he seeks to unite his realm, the Vampire Counts in far-flung Sylvania plot to lead an undead army west and seize the Imperial throne. Their existence is defined by this ambition against the Empire's dominion. The game introduces specific mechanics for these factions; corruption is now caused by the presence of Vampire Counts armies, as well as by their buildings and agents. Unlike previous titles where corruption stemmed from internal factors, the physical presence of these forces spreads decay, but it is not limited to armies alone. They operate within a world spanning from the Chaos wastes in the north to the Greenskin-infested badlands in the south.

In Their Own Story

The narrative tension centers on the conflict between Karl Franz's efforts to bring peace and the threats surrounding his rule. The Vampire Counts, led by the Von Carsteins, represent one of the primary challenges to this peace. Their goal is explicitly stated as leading an undead army westward to seize the Imperial throne. This movement occurs within a campaign map that spans from the Chaos wastes in the north to the Great Ocean in the west and the World's Edge mountains in the east. The story unfolds through the player controlling these factions or their enemies, managing cities and armies on a turn-based scale before engaging in real-time tactics skirmishes where individual units and characters are managed.

Reader's Guide

Players can control the Vampire Counts as one of four launch factions, each with unique units, characters, and abilities. The faction features lords who fight as individuals rather than being embedded within bodyguard units, a change from previous Total War games. These Lords can be upgraded via skill and equipment trees to boost their own power and that of their army. In battle, the faction utilizes magic; while Dwarfs have no access, the Vampire Counts possess powerful abilities that can turn the tide of battles, far exceeding the capabilities of battlefield units in prior entries. Agents for this faction can also participate directly in battles to provide an edge. The campaign map features physical terrain and climate changes as one moves from point to point, reflecting their journey from Sylvania toward the Empire.

Did You Know?

• The Vampire Counts were available at launch in May 2016 as one of four core factions alongside Dwarfs, Greenskins, and the Empire.
• Corruption in Total War: Warhammer is caused by Vampire Counts armies, buildings, and agents, not exclusively by armies.
• Vampire Count Lords fight as individuals rather than being embedded within a bodyguard unit, and can be upgraded via skill trees.
• The faction utilizes magic with abilities powerful enough to turn the tide of battles, unlike Dwarfs who have no access to magic.
• Their campaign goal is explicitly described in the game's opening as leading an undead army west from Sylvania to seize the Imperial throne.