N18 1000cr first Escher gang - List building questions around weapon distribution

[Skellyn]

Hi all, First time Necromunda player starting with 1000cr Escher gang. I've got a couple of list building questions which i was hoping this community could help me with.

Escher Gang (1000cr)
(195) Queen - Bolter, Mesh Armor, Iron Will
(200) Deathmaiden - Needle Pistol, Venom Claw, Chem-synth, Mesh armor, Spring up
(170) Matriarch - Grenade Launcher, Mesh Armor, Spring up
(85) Wyld Runner - Wyld Bow, Acid Arrows, Flak Armor
(50) Phelynx
(110) Sister - Shotgun, Acid Rounds, Mesh armor
(75) Sister - Lasgun, Stiletto Knife
(75) Sister - Lasgun, Stiletto Knife
(40) Little Sister - Stiletto Knife

The intent is for the Phelynx and Wyld runner to be a distraction, run down the flank and poke. the sisters/juves as a screen, deathmaiden for melee killing, and the queen, grenade launcher, and shotgun to do ranged killing. I am aware the wyld runners are not great, but i really like the models and the phelynx.

I'm concerned about the Queen, Matriarch, Wyld runner, and shotgun sister failing ammo checks and then essentially becoming useless as they have no other weapons. Would i be better off dropping a model and giving these gangers a backup weapon or a melee weapon? or is it not much of an issue in early campaign games?

I heard its bad if the queen dies early so i gave the queen a bolter to stay at the back away from danger. it feels like I'm wasting her points by not utilizing her 3 attacks, am i being over cautious? if so then ill swap to a whip and plasma pistol (drop acid arrows to afford the plasma).

The sisters are equip with a melee and range weapon, Will i get use of both weapons or am i wasting credits in the early campaign games?

If a model makes a drastic weapon change through a campaign, do people rip the arms off and glue the new weapon on? buy another sprue and model the ganger again? or leave as is and just consistently informs the opponent that the weapon does not match the model throughout the game?

I'm sure id figure these questions out through my first campaign, but id like to get the models built and painted correctly rather than having the modifying them at a later point. Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[Psyan]

I like your list a lot! Wyld Runners and Phelynxes aren't generally considered optimal, especially in a starting list, but you didn't go overboard and it's nice to see something outside of the usual meta.

I completely endorse your choice to start the Queen with a Boltgun and hold her back at the beginning. Get her a Shock Whip early on and she'll be able to use those 3 attacks to back up your other melee elements. Queens and Matriarchs are good melee fighters, but it's a back up role for them since the Death Maiden does it so much better.

A few small suggestions:
Never buy Flak Armor. Anyone worth protecting should get Mesh. If you can't get it at the start, wait and get it later.

Promote that Shotgun Sister to Specialist; it's free. Armor on her is optional to start and so is the Acid Ammo (though both are great upgrades!). Later on, upgrade her to a Grenade Launcher and give the Shotgun to a new Sister.

Definitely drop the Stiletto Knives from the Sisters; if you're using those, something has gone seriously awry. Sisters get Lasguns (Hotshot later), Shotguns (Acid, Executioner later) or Boltguns (when you're rich).

Conversely, Little Sisters are supposed to be fighting up close. The Stiletto Knife is a good choice, but a Stubgun (for accuracy) or an Autopistol (for Rapid Fire) should be your #1 choice for them. Get the pistol first and add the knife if you can afford it.

With dropping those few extras, you should be able to field an additional Little Sister w Pistol and a Stiletto Knife.

Hope this helps!

 

[Skellyn]

Thankyou Psyan for the in-depth in depth response! I've incorporated everything you've suggested and the list is feeling pretty good.

Escher Gang (1000cr)
(195) Queen - Bolter, Mesh Armor, Skill: Iron Will
(200) Deathmaiden - Needle Pistol, Venom Claw, Chem-synth, Mesh armor, Skill: Spring up
(170) Matriarch - Grenade Launcher, Mesh Armor, Skill: Spring up
(75) Wyld Runner - Wyld Bow, Acid Arrows
(50) Phelynx
(110) Specialist - Shotgun, Acid Rounds, Mesh armor
(55) Sister - Lasgun
(55) Sister - Lasgun
(45) Little Sister - Stub gun, Stiletto Knife
(45) Little Sister - Stub gun, Stiletto Knife

How do people manage drastic weapon changes throughout a campaign? if i am upgrading a sister to a bolter, should i be picking up a new sprue and remake, or are people generally fine with just making note of it through the game? i know this can change between groups of players, just interested to know what others do.

I've heard the Apprentice Clan Chymist is worth getting early, does this model need to be fielded if in the list?

 

[Psyan]

The Chemist is very worth taking! He/she has Fixer, which will reliably get you extra credits. Whether you need a model for that will depend on your group, but chances are, yes.

 

[Beebopalulla]

I will drop the specialist in favor of a little sister that cost far less and can become quickly a specialist. That will give some cred back to buy a backup weapon for your queen.

Not convinced by the needle pistol on the death maiden but that's really just my taste.

I would replace the acid arrow by explosive arrows.

 

[Psyan]

I will drop the specialist in favor of a little sister that cost far less and can become quickly a specialist. That will give some cred back to buy a backup weapon for your queen.

Not convinced by the needle pistol on the death maiden but that's really just my taste.

I would replace the acid arrow by explosive arrows.

The Specialist is just a regular Sister with a free upgrade that gives her better access to weapons. After the Leader and two Champions, she's the last fighter you'd drop.

 

[Beebopalulla]

The Specialist is just a regular Sister with a free upgrade that gives her better access to weapons. After the Leader and two Champions, she's the last fighter you'd drop.

I agree with the first part but that still my humble opinion that waiting three progression is not to much in order to save some cash at the beginning. I m in the school of thought that every leader no matter what they carry as their main weapon should always has a backup.

If you can free just five cred you get a lasgun. Not the worst back up weapon.

 

[katfezza]

Dropping the flak armour from the Wyld Runner would get you two stubguns or lasguns for backup weapons. Flak armour isn't particularly worthwhile anyway.

 

[Skellyn]

I will drop the specialist in favor of a little sister that cost far less and can become quickly a specialist. That will give some cred back to buy a backup weapon for your queen.

Not convinced by the needle pistol on the death maiden but that's really just my taste.

I would replace the acid arrow by explosive arrows.

I considered the explosive arrows but concerned about the volatile trait. searching other forums, the consensus was that it wasn't great.

I agree with the first part but that still my humble opinion that waiting three progression is not to much in order to save some cash at the beginning. I m in the school of thought that every leader no matter what they carry as their main weapon should always has a backup.

If you can free just five cred you get a lasgun. Not the worst back up weapon.

I'll drop the acid arrows to free up 20 cred. Can i give the queen a lasgun or am i limited to 1 main weapon? if so then ill give the queen and the grenade launcher matriarch a laspistol each.

 

[Skellyn]

Updated list:

Escher Gang (1000cr)
(205) Queen - Bolter, Las Pistol, Mesh Armor, Skill: Iron Will
(200) Deathmaiden - Needle Pistol, Venom Claw, Chem-synth, Mesh armor, Skill: Spring up
(180) Matriarch - Grenade Launcher, Las Pistol Mesh Armor, Skill: Spring up
(55) Wyld Runner - Wyld Bow
(50) Phelynx
(110) Specialist - Shotgun, Acid Rounds, Mesh armor
(55) Sister - Lasgun
(55) Sister - Lasgun
(45) Little Sister - Stub gun, Stiletto Knife
(45) Little Sister - Stub gun, Stiletto Knife

Can i run a bolter and lasgun on the queen? or do am i limited to a pistol?

 

[katfezza]

Every model can have 3 weapons. Weapons marked with an asterisk ( * ) count as two weapons for that total. Bolters and lasguns do not have the asterisk. The only real reason you'd take the pistol over the lasgun is if you intend to buy her a second pistol (for doing John Woo shenanigans) or melee weapon (pistol can be used alongside most melee weapons for an extra attack in close combat) later.

 

[Beebopalulla]

I agree the Lasguns for Escher is Better than a las Pïstol.