N18 Escher options - thoughts/opinions on 3 options welcome.

[SirWalterManny]

Thinking about an Escher gang. Haven’t actually played one since HoB dropped except briefly a couple of skirmish games, but played then with Genestealer corrupted.

Couple options keen to hear opinions on (all views… ‘optimal’, ‘fun’ and ’thematic’);

(1) Gang Queen: Plasma Pistol (50 creds) vs Hotshot Laspistol (30 creds). What is your preference?

(2) Death Maiden with Combat Virtuoso; Power Knife (25 creds) vs Venom Claw (30 creds) when paired with a Stiletto Sword. What is your preference?

(3)Two approximately equal options:

1. 2x Matriarchs (Plasma Gun, Needle Rifle), 1x Specialist with lasgun
   or
2. 1x Matriarch (Needle Rifle), 1x Specialist (Grenade Launcher), Phelynx and giving a juve a smoke grenade.

What is your preference?

 

[Lunarcruiser]

Thinking about an Escher gang. Haven’t actually played one since HoB dropped except briefly a couple of skirmish games, but played then with Genestealer corrupted.

Couple options keen to hear opinions on (all views… ‘optimal’, ‘fun’ and ’thematic’);

(1) Gang Queen: Plasma Pistol (50 creds) vs Hotshot Laspistol (30 creds). What is your preference?

(2) Death Maiden with Combat Virtuoso; Power Knife (25 creds) vs Venom Claw (30 creds) when paired with a Stiletto Sword. What is your preference?

(3)Two approximately equal options:

1. 2x Matriarchs (Plasma Gun, Needle Rifle), 1x Specialist with lasgun
   or
2. 1x Matriarch (Needle Rifle), 1x Specialist (Grenade Launcher), Phelynx and giving a juve a smoke grenade.

What is your preference?

1 normally go with the plasma pistol but had not actually thought of a hot shot las pistol. Assume the average ganger toughness is 3 and then the low plasma setting has the same chance of wounding on the hot shot laspistol. You get more Damage though but it is scarce so if it runs out no more pistol this battle but you can still reload the laspistol.
2. If you are using a death maiden with Combat Virtuoso don't pick any weapon that isn't a sword or a knife. It is a excellent skill and if you pick it double down with it. The venom claw is a good weapon for other skills but it gains nothing from virtuoso. All power weapons, such as your suggested knife, are good but since your death maiden has a bonus on toxin attacks you might as well double down with it.
3 I find the needle rifle to have two short range for its role, anything plasma rules and grenade launchers are bitchin.

 

[Psyan]

For the Death Maiden w/ Combat Virtuoso, either two Stiletto Swords or a Stiletto Sword and Stiletto Knife. Either way consider, consider eventually getting a Needle Pistol and don't leave home w/o your Chem Synth. Toxin is the way to go on Death Maidens; put the Power Weapons on the Queen and Matriarchs.

 

[SirWalterManny]

2. If you are using a death maiden with Combat Virtuoso don't pick any weapon that isn't a sword or a knife. It is a excellent skill and if you pick it double down with it. The venom claw is a good weapon for other skills but it gains nothing from virtuoso. All power weapons, such as your suggested knife, are good but since your death maiden has a bonus on toxin attacks you might as well double down with it.

For the Death Maiden w/ Combat Virtuoso, either two Stiletto Swords or a Stiletto Sword and Stiletto Knife. Either way consider, consider eventually getting a Needle Pistol and don't leave home w/o your Chem Synth. Toxin is the way to go on Death Maidens; put the Power Weapons on the Queen and Matriarchs.

Death Maiden: Yes, that’s fair. Thought was that 2nd blade actually only really gives 1 extra attack dice (when using Combat Virtuoso). The Venom Claw syncs with Toxin Blood, but provides additional AP if in base-to-base as a trade-off. But yes, perhaps better option is just 2x stiletto swords for same cost.

 

[SirWalterManny]

3 I find the needle rifle to have two short range for its role, anything plasma rules and grenade launchers are bitchin.

Needle Rifle (with Chem Synth) is more because feels brings gang more into Escher narrative than being optimal.

Definitely range is an issue.

Needle Rifle and Chem-Synth comes to 55 creds, so would be feasible to swap out for a Grenade Launcher with a tweak elsewhere (may have to lose a Stubgun from a juve, or lose mesh armour off a champion for first battle).

Something to think about.

 

[SirWalterManny]

1 normally go with the plasma pistol but had not actually thought of a hot shot las pistol. Assume the average ganger toughness is 3 and then the low plasma setting has the same chance of wounding on the hot shot laspistol. You get more Damage though but it is scarce so if it runs out no more pistol this battle but you can still reload the laspistol.

Yes, exactly this… and frees up 20 creds.

 

[PalatineKatinka]

I'm considering trying a specialist with a needle rifle in my next gang as I want to give the specialist something special and it's quite cheap to start with but if upgraded with a telescopic sight and las-projector later could be handy for sniping multi wound armoured targets. Grenade launchers are great but I always think I should give them to a champion for the Trading Post access so she can get choke grenades for it.

 

[SirWalterManny]

… Grenade launchers are great but I always think I should give them to a champion for the Trading Post access so she can get choke grenades for it.

Hmmm… that’s an interesting take I haven’t considered before, and not sure if has ever come up in a campaign I’ve played in (or maybe has, but just not for a gang I’ve played myself as never bought additional ammo for Ganger/specialist).

Hadn’t considered that, because grenades bought specifically for grenade launcher ammo is a ‘weapon’ and not ‘Wargear’, ganger’s and specialists don’t have access to it as its not on their official weapon list, and they can only take Wargear from Trading post.

That definitely makes me reconsider giving Grenade Launcher to a Specialist, as would definitely want to be looking at adding Choke or Scare Gas grenades!

 

[Heart of Storm]

1. It depends what gangs your playing against, the plasma pistol will work better vs Goliath/Corpse Grinders, it will also scale better in the campaign as people normally spring for a toughness upgrade as their first promotion, if your strapped for cash go for the laspistol but know that you'll have to replace it.

2. As mentioned, of your going Combat virtuoso take the knife, however id generally recommend against mixing melee weapons since you have to split your attacks between the two weapon types if your using both. Double Stilleto sword seems like the actual correct choice her for the synergies with the Maidens abilities.

3. 1st option is stronger, phelynx are thematic but not strong, more champions is stronger as it leads to more post battle actions. I take the points on needle rifles but its a cheap S4 champion killer, and Escher don't have trouble getting close or maintaining optimum range, its utility will depend on how much cover you play with, wide open boards on a 4' x 4' table will see you struggle, but plenty of terrain and/or a smaller table will make the reduced range less of a barrier.

Grenade launchers are solid, but a needle rifle with a backup lasgun is cheaper, and just as killy.

 

[SirWalterManny]

1. It depends what gangs your playing against, the plasma pistol will work better vs Goliath/Corpse Grinders, it will also scale better in the campaign as people normally spring for a toughness upgrade as their first promotion, if your strapped for cash go for the laspistol but know that you'll have to replace it.

No idea what gangs… this is for planned next campaign. Last campaign was a mix of Orlock, Cawdor, Delaque and Genestealer Cult primarily, so chances are may be some Goliath next time.

But main reason for considering is that on gang formation, 20 creds saving is worth a lot more.

3. 1st option is stronger, phelynx are thematic but not strong, more champions is stronger as it leads to more post battle actions. I take the points on needle rifles but its a cheap S4 champion killer, and Escher don't have trouble getting close or maintaining optimum range, its utility will depend on how much cover you play with, wide open boards on a 4' x 4' table will see you struggle, but plenty of terrain and/or a smaller table will make the reduced range less of a barrier.

Yes, really want to include some Wyld Runners and Phelynx for theme… but cost at startup just seems more likely to be a problem, where as later in campaign more chance to buy later if creds generation is ok. There’s also the Tactics card which allows bringing in Wyld Runner and 2 Phelynx for a game, which would allow me to include before purchasing as part of gang. So yes, the additional Matriarch seems worth the start.

 

[SirWalterManny]

With a few tweaks from above, have gone with this for now.

The Poison Lizzies

Escher (HoB) gang with a rating of 1000 by SirWalterManny

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