Dezzo posted a good solid list with all of Raspy's toys present. A silent one, SnowStorm and Gamin make up my core lists now, unless SS is likely to die quickly to magic or melee when a Golem or Librarian makes it in instead.
Haven't run desperate mercs yet, but more activations gives you the upper hand in most games.
Even so, it's your first tournament so go and have fun, you know you want to. I've learned more from playing tournaments than from reading the books.
Your fellow Acolyte (or in my case Silent One)
Rhaksha