Hamelin _The_Rat_Catcher_ Crew

[CannonFodder]

I'm looking at building a Merc list around Hamelin the ratcatcher, Either VonSchills or Vikis, with the following

Hamelin the ratcatcher
4x Desp Mercs

The basic premise is the Hamelin turn one is placed relatively far from the rest of the crew and does 1 damage to all living models in range. Only hitting the Desp mercs so they get effectively paired weapons for being wounded. Now I'm looking at different models\master to go with them. In an ideal worlds I'd do this in a Zoraida list and take 2 gunsmiths and wound them also so they get their (0), but in that crew I can only take one other Merc. I check the ruling with Ratty and even though Zoraida can hire them without the merc trait they still count as mercs for the 2 limit.

Currently I'm leaning toward Vikis, Gunslinger & Taelor in a 35 SS scrap (5 SS).

Last time I tried this was with Von Schill vs Pandora, and having the Desp Mercs pre-boosted really help, each one took out a Stitched, without fear of retaliation because they were already dead. Still lost that game but it was shared slaughter and my opponent had 3 Stitched and Jack Daw.

This concept hits relatively hard and early. Not quite LCB but its different from other lists. I like Taelor for Steal relic. No ever sees that one coming. Her WP7 & hard to kill gives her a chance, especially if you use Hamelin to get her to charge into melee range. Got Taelor doing that on aSeamus once vs wp1, just had to beat the Terror 17.

I'm looking to make a different list that the standard list, but still able to work. Any suggestions on Hamelin durable companions.

[GAH]

Your desperate Mercenaries will be leaving play at the end of turn 3 at the latest. You won't have enough soulstones to keep both the Victorias and your Desperate Mercenaries alive past that point.

I love using the Desperate Merc, but you really only want one of them unless you are taking them for cheap corpse/blood tokens.

[Keegantir]

I love using the Desperate Merc, but you really only want one of them unless you are taking them for cheap corpse/blood tokens.

And that is where many people disagree. I love them in non-grow lists, and find that they are almost always worth their points. The idea proposed in this thread of getting one damage on them makes them even better. Very rarely do I still have one on the board past the third turn, and they are still worth it. Just For My Family on turn 3, if they are still alive, for some pretty nasty killing machines.

[Issalbotproto]

I have had a lot of positive result using 2 D mercs, they usually don't live long but they can pack quite a pop it's almost worth putting them into a position where they have a high chance of being killed just to draw attention to them instead of some of your other models as well

[Twisted Metal]

I have been experimenting using Hamelin in my Vik crew in place of Von Schill. So far I have been pleased with the results. He brings alot of manipulation that is ordinarily lacking from that particular crew.

[CannonFodder]

I have been experimenting using Hamelin in my Vik crew in place of Von Schill. So far I have been pleased with the results. He brings alot of manipulation that is ordinarily lacking from that particular crew.

I think he adds just enough control to the game without making it list all about control. Vikis while great melee machines need a little support from him. I think they are the better choice for this list. I figure they needs about 4 SS to function properly. Leaving 15 SS for more minions. I'm thinking

Taelor & Convicted Gunslinger (general)
or
2 Freikorpsman & Johan
or
Ronin x2 & 8SS