Viks, maybe I'm just bad?

[sarge]

I too am a fairly new player with Viks and loooove them. I always take Taelor for some extra bash and usually the covict slinger for some ranged action. I have madde the mistake of sling shooting the Viks early on and leaving them a little open to being mauled or ranged attacked. As mentioned above I suspect the key is a good supply of SS to let the girls do what they do best. Oh did I mention the Ronin, remember if things get bad you can always kill off a Ronin to get some more stones, but not sure how cleaver that is as a tactic. Enjoy :-)

[Odin1981]

Not that you need any specific model for a specific crew/master but alot of people our fond of using von schill due to his better survivability with the viks. If you choose too then essentially he becomes your master due to his defenses (mainly the interaction of slow to die and use ss usage) and they become "throwaway" models that have use ss.

Now the key to this line of thought is that you dont throw them out at the first thing that comes into their threat range but knowing when to move them all in (or in most cases sword vik to take out 2-3 models in one activation with her between her potential of 4 ap to strike things down in addition to whirlwind triggers). They our a devastating crew when used right and with 5" walk and potentially fast with a student of conflict for grabbing objectives as well as bringing the pain but you will generally always be outactivated at least in the "early game" (first 2-3 turns) of a game.

However with "elite lists" ie ones that generally minus 2-3 things that our cheap (read desperate mercenaries 2ss a piece) possibly the new book 3 outcast doll 4ss cost depending on crew preferance is that while you will be outactivated at the start your capabilities our much better than all but a few of undercosted 4-5 point models. When as the early turns unfold you get a good idea where to drop her(sword vik and start slinging away the pain train) you will catch up in model activation fairly quickly our eventually around turn 4 or so outactivate them.

The main key to using elite crews (mostly 7ss+ plus a couple cheap sacrificial lambs) is staying somewhat online of one another and when the gangbang turn comes taking much more away then you give up to get ahead in the game and then impose your will on the opponent. Basically without getting too specific because each game will vary you want to move somewhat uniformly to/near the opponents objectives so they will not want to grab them up quick and make them commit to a area to get something done then wham bam thank you maam use the 20" flying sword vik drop and start swinging away at models of importance in eliminating key heavy hitters/objective grabbers to put your opponent on their back foot to completing your stuff while sending 1-2 models towards your stuff and getting your things done.

If I am being too general post again and give a example strategy and scheme(s) that you run and a normal opponent list that you face and I can give more detailed advice.

[SpiralngCadavr]

Sage advice.

Listen to this person.

[Kiing]

I really appreciate the advice everyone, it definitely makes me feel better that there are people nice enough to want to help.

A little more detail from the game--
Strategy- [Shared] The one where we have to kill the other's master (I can't remember the name)
My scheme- Kill protege on his Nino.

It was a 50ss game, my partner and I each having 25ss, for reference, I had-
Viks
aViks (2)
Ronin (5)
Von Schill (9)
Specialist (5)

The first few turns I spent moving slowly up torwards the middle, using defensive stance with viks each turn (since that kept me from leaping forward like I have a problem doing), keeping the Ronin with them, I put Von Schill behind a building, using his nimble+2 AP to jump over a house, take a pot shot, then jump back over the house.

I decided it was time to unleash the viks when I saw his 2 Watchers and the Witchling Handler attempt to sneak up on the side of my board where I was waiting, I slung my sword vik in there, whirlwind bombed the 2 watchers and the handler (which overall took my 2AP and Melee expert). But at that point, my partner (whom is natrually better at games) was already being taken out by Sonnia.

The game ended with my aViks in melee combat with a 1Wd Perdita, and an aSonnia right next to me.

---------- Post added at 01:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:44 PM ----------

Oh, and an earlier suggestion of naming some other models I have.
I have:
Viks (avatar also, clearly)
Ronin x3
Hans
Friekorps box
Student of Conflict
A mass amount of Hamelin's crew

since there's only a few of us playing, probably around 6 total. There's not a really strict rule of proxying, so occasionally I'll do that if I can find someone worth proxying.

[BlueStar86]

Get some of the other mercenaries. Taelor is a popular choice. Misaki is entertaining, if a little overcosted. Lazarus will be potent when he is released. Etc.

[Dustcrusher]

then wham bam thank you maam use the 20" flying sword vik drop

If I had the modeling ability I'd put one of the Viks on a corner turnbuckle- maybe green stuff some Macho Man (RIP) style shades over her eyes.

Oh, and an earlier suggestion of naming some other models I have.
I have:
Viks (avatar also, clearly)
Ronin x3
Hans
Friekorps box
Student of Conflict
A mass amount of Hamelin's crew

That's a good selection to start with. The only model that seems to be an underachiever in that group is Hans. Sadly, he is expensive for what you get, especially compared to the Trapper.

In addition to Desperate Mercs, Taelor and the Gunslinger, Misaki is worth trying. In exchange for a bit more utility she is more fragile, and she can companion with Ten Thunders Brothers, who are sort of the defensive counterparts to the mobile Ronin. Lazarus and the Hodgepodge Effigy both look like they will be great (though the Effigy means no Freikorps models).

[Dezzo]

Vickys need Student of Conflict.

[Bruglyother]

Vickys need Student of Conflict.

I beg to differ. I do just fine without any totem in my Viki list. Student can be useful, but is not a must have.

[Kadeton]

Yeah, the Student is certainly not essential. He's rarely used for more than 1 turn's worth of Fast on the Viks, then he's done. It's nice, but easy to live without.

[Requirement]

Being in a position you are in before.... Get out of multi-player games. The game doesn't really support it and you end up not being able to really learn the game and get really good at it. Once I started playing 1v1 games everything made a lot more sense. Trust me, the game is so much more fun, quicker, and works within the bounds of the mechanics.