[Gregstrom]

I don't pretend to have any Vanheim expertise, but...

1. You have some good sacreds, so a bless is very viable. Water helps your high defence glamoured units nicely, and Astral can keep them viable later into the game as well.

2. Past turn 3 or so, demands on production may be a little unpredictable (things like agressive neighbours, for example). I don't know if there can be a typical build order over the first 10 turns. Maybe dwarves + sacreds with the occasional Van for blessing armies each time you're ready to send out a war party?

4. Thunder Strike.

5. Death is good for the Van (although rather limited except in the case of Helheim). Otherwise, Blood may be a good idea.

6. Err, win before the endgame? They're not a late game powerhouse. If you know you're not going to win any time soon, bootleg death for eventual Tarts and hunt extensively for Blood. You're pretty much stuck for Astral (barring indies/pretender paths).