Well, the idea of undead hordes has long seemed cool to me and was always what I said would be the "next project". And now that I have money to purchase another army I am thinking of going with the VC after all, I have a strong theme in mind, mainly no vampires. So I was wondering is there a lord level equivilent to a necromancer that I can use for a lord choice for my army?

Yes there is. You can take a lord-level necromancer and upgrade him to magic lvl4. However, I would only use him in larger battles. Lord-level vampireds can cast magic too, and while their magic isnt quite as good as that of a master necromancer, they are fighting beasts.

Then, when you pick your bloodline, Necrarch increases the magic potential of the vampires greatly. So even without a lord-level necromancer you can get a powerful magic phase.

I think, Funky, the thrust of Fearfull Dave's post was that he wanted no vampires: nada, silch, zero. I would tend to agree with you reccomendation of vampires, but if he doesnt want them he doesn't want them. In that case, Dave, I would reccommend at least one wight lord hero, maybe a wraith, just so you don't just have magic users. A horde army sounds right for your theme, with massive blocks of skeletons/zombies and a dominat magic phase.

Thanks, was going to include a wight or two but wanted to make sure I could have a lord level necro before I bought the book and models. Also what is better a wight or a wraith?

I don't have a copy of the VC book easily at hand, but they are differently prices heroes. Which is better would depend on what you are going for in an army. A Wraith causes Terror, is immune to non-magical weapons and is rather more expensive. A Wight is more of a traditional Hero-choice- a fighter type, standard undead profile. Doesn't cause terror, but is able to carry the Battle Standard.

I'd have one of each, me.