Getting Hired Guns (in plastic this time)?

[Kalkris]

Hey all,

I posted this on AWP but I wanted to get some input from the Forum and its denizens as well:

How worth it is it to get Hired Guns? I already have the metal haul of Freikorps (+ Von Schill, who I don't really use), but would really like a second Trapper (And maybe a second Librarian). I also don't have a Steam Trunk, so if I ever want to use Von Schill, I might be a bit handicapped off of that lack. With that in mind, I've a few questions:

1) How vital is a second Trapper in some Outcast cases?
2) How vital is a second Librarian in some Outcast cases?
3) Is Von Schill a must-have master for any Outcast player (especially myself, a henchman who runs demos, but also an experienced Outcast who owns the whole faction save some outliers)?
4) How important is the Steam Trunk in Von Schill's arsenal?
5) Is having 3-4 Freikorpsmenn worth it in a non-Von Schill crew, ever?
6) Is having 2 Specialists any good in a given Outcast or Neverborn (as Mercenaries) matchup?
7) What is the second Trapper and second Librarian combo worth to you monetarily? Would adding in the Steam Trunk augment that for you in your opinion? What about adding the second Specialist and/or the third/fourth Freikorpsmenn?

#3 and #7 are big ones to me. I don't really plan on playing Von Schill in the future, but if I can be persuaded (maybe through examples of models that can be played optimally alongside Von Schill and examples of his crew being prevalent in other Outcast crews), I might be able to better justify buying Hired Guns.

Also, re: #7, keep in mind that I already have the metal crew, and I'm just trying to justify buying it in plastic (so duplicates [and quadruplicates of the Freikorpsmenn, lol] of everything but the Trunk will be available to me if so).

Thanks!

~Lil Kalki

EDIT: For context, I am most avidly a Jack Daw player with a bit of Leve, a pinch of Hamelin, and a sprinkling of Tara on the side.

Edited August 28, 2015 by Kalkris

[Kowal]

1) Trappers are intensely good.  You will definitely play games with two Trappers.

2) Librarians are even better, and are hilarious in pairs.  You won't want a pair of them or a pair of trappers in EVERY game, but you'll get use out of them.

3) It seems that most people consider him too straightforward and not tricky enough to be an elite style of master.  I don't agree, but people smarter than me have made that claim.

4) I find I get more use from the Student of Conflict than the trunk, but I wouldn't consider either of them to be must-haves.  It's nice and it's solid but it doesn't feel particularly abusive or powerful.

5) Never.  I find it hard to justify including one or two.  They're not especially good at anything, and Void Wretches make better scheme runners for less.

6) I'd be shocked if you ever took 2 specialists unless you knew your opponent was playing Hamelin.  Even then, 8 soulstones is a LOT for a guy who walks 4 inches and has no movement tricks.

7) I started with the plastics and bought in to the metals, and not the other way around.  However, it was worth it for me to do that.  

[Patzer]

1) They work nice in tandems, but they work very well alone too.
2) Same as the Trappers, but they form a very solid pairing with Hannah; for ridiculous amounts of casting and heals. As you are also a JD enthusiast, making them Tormented and having Creeping Terror is quite good. A lot of things will loose their suits.
3) Must have may be a bit stern, but I don't think any master in the faction is a must have. He is very good to have against Neverborn, Ressers, and in Turf War/Extraction.
4) In Turf War/Extraction, its a very neat toolbox. With a Librarian or two to company it, your crew will have ridiculous levels of healing and anti-condition tech. I have gotten a lot of milage out of the Trunk. To me, one of Von Schill's staples.
5) 3, maybe. If you like the model and can get them to work with all of their triggers. As well as having Hannah being able to constantly copy Reference the Field Guide for additional Tomes. I liked them more in Wave 1. Now with things like the Guilty around, the have lost some steam. Then again, on a board swamped with Severe Terrain, they will be very handy.
6) If you feel that you need a lot of scheme marker removal, will face plenty of ways of becoming Paralyzed, ignore cover, and dish out some Blasts, then yes, I guess. Although, any of those situations might be outliers.
7) Second Trapper and Steam Trunk is worth a lot in my book, then the extra Librarian is pretty mint too. You will most likely be able to sell the Specialist at a fair price, but you might be stuck with a couple of extra Freikorpsmenn too much for your liking.

[asrian]

Others have answered already, but I'll just say I enjoy Von Schill, my two trappers and Librarians.

 

Specialist is just that. I take 1 now and then, but have never wanted or needed a 2nd.

 

Steam Trunk....I use this damn thing religiously, especially with Von Schill's Engage at Will (he and crew within aura 8 can use 2 0APs a turn), so I can have anyone close to it heal, cure poison/burning, and remove scrap/corpse markers. It's a cheap model for another activation as well.

 

In addition I always take Hodge Podge Effigy and Hannah for extra cards, cheap activation, and the chance for my master to regain SS when he kills something.

Edited August 30, 2015 by asrian