So after more reading a variety of posts and blogs it looks like I've narrowed it down to Ramos and Rasutina. Based on that I think I'd be looking at one of the two following:
Ramos
The M and SU
Steam Arachnid Swarm
Electric Creation
Mobile Toolkit
Johan
Potential Future Addons: December Acolyte, Mechanical Rider, Sue
Rasputina
Children of December
Blessed of December
Snow Storm
Silent Ones
Ice Dancers
Potential Addons: December Acolyte, Ice Golem, Arcane Effigy
My questions are:
1. Does both of the lists look good, especially for a beginner?
2. Is there one of the two lists that would be able to handle a larger set of strategies/schemes?