Editing The 9th Age/Tactics/Vampire Covenant (section)

===Core===
minimum tax decreased to 20% in an Independent Army

'''Zombies''' Making their stats any worse would only make them worse in the abstract.  Why take them then?  Only 5 Base + 6 points a model and a rea value of 2d6+4.  Only bother taking units of 40 zombies at most, all characters that are spellcasters have awakened (zombies) and can get zombies up to their max size of 80 in 4 casts of the H spell (on average).  That said, 40 is still a lot of zombies and is unlikely to crumble early on, but if you're worried (facing dwarfs) take as many ablative hits as you need, 5 points a model.  A musician can be a nice upgrade, making it easier to maneuver your giant horde of zombies, the standard bearer is nice because it's just -1 to crumbling in combat.

'''Skeletons''' +1 to def skill, off skill, and agility on zombies and +30 base + double the points.  On top of that they get decent armor and parry, but a lower rea of 1d6+4.  Keep the parry if you want an unmoveable brick, take spears if you want them to do things in melee.  Halberds can be scary but tend to be lackluster on a model that tends to not hit things.  Max unit size of 60 models, their armor will help them survive.

'''Ghouls''' The best stats of your core (not saying much).  2 attacks a base with poison attacks is pretty good for Base 125 for 10+ 17 points/model.  They have an option for a champion, which is all you need, more attacks and gives them Swift Reform like a musician.  Take 21 models (7x3) to maximize their base contact and give them enough ablative wounds that you can consistently reanimate them back up to full combat strength for each combat.  Be careful as their only defense is res 4.
*'''Blood Ties: Strigoi''' Max of 35 models per army may gain vanguard.  A strigoi vampire joined to this unit also gains vanguard.  If you have it, take it.  Ghouls in melee are where you need them and this does that.

'''Bat Swarms''' Pitiful defenses but 4 health per base and some decent debuffs to enemy units in base contact.  Take a unit or 2 to roadblock and chaff for your big blocks, but don't expect them to do anything on their own.