Scavvies?

[Spectrar Ghost]

From my log on AWC: "What are opinions on Scavvies as a gang? I've got a ton of Skaven spares; Regular Skaven as Scavvies, Giant Rats as Scavvie Dogs, and Rat Ogres as Scalies. I'd need to get some WFB Ghouls and Zombies for, um, Ghouls and Zombies. Doing a co-op game against a Plague Zombie Horde would be interesting too, so dual use there."

Just tying to get a braoder view. I'm mostly interested in balance versus the core gangs and major changes in playstyle not explicit in the rules for the gang.

[Angry_Panda]

I like Scavvies as a gang. They are on my "to make list" as I really do like the theory and principal behind them! Hell, I even bought 2 of the gang box set a few years ago just so I had enough mini's to expand my initial gang! (plus, I suspected necro was going out of GW's eye...

My feelings about them as a gang compared to the core gangs is they require more time, and they are a lot more "fragile".
But, you have got a lot of cannon fodder to use, which is always nice!

[Spectrar Ghost]

Do Scavvies still start with the same cash as other gangs (we're using 1k)? It seems like it would be hard not to have a huge amount of left over cash. Never mind, found it.

Also, can anyone direct me to a pdf of Outlanders, if such a thing exists? Alternately, an inexpensive hardcopy would be great. Ebay only has BINs up in the 50 buck range, which is hefty for my budget... Again, was able to get the info elsewhere. Please continue on any comments on general viability of the list and balance in relation to the core lists...

[Spectrar Ghost]

So here they are. Mostly.
http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/DSCN0286.jpg

The only model missing is my second Scaly, who will have a Spear Gun. The Boss has a Club, Sword, and Autopistol. The two Scavvies with Lasguns have Clubs and Autoguns. All the other Scavvies have a Club and Sword. I'm thinking of doing some small things to 'tech them up', such as adding clips of grenades and suchlike.

[Agoz]

You do realise that skavvies have nothing to do with ratmen right? The Skavvie name isn't a reference to Skaven at all :P However if you are simply going for mutants who happen to look like rats, I'll shut up now. Just thought there might be some confusion

[Spectrar Ghost]

Quite aware.

I don't play any of the core games anymore, and had these fantastic Skaven minis I'd already bought... Scavvies live under everyone else, make things out of junk and special ores (like sparstone) that they find, and have a taste for "sweet pork". Sounds like a match to me.

[gitburna]

So far as the Scavvies go, our campaign have had a couple of encounters with them. The scavvies have won every game so far.

The entire list is pretty much a close assault list. Don't waste your time trying to shoot until you're at short range. Our opponent was using a mix of autopistols, stub guns and scatterguns and running a list of 16 or so models. Your equipment is by general consent limited to your house weapon list and anything that's not a weapon which you can pick up at the outlaw trading chart. So you'll never be toting lasguns or boltguns for instance.

The main strength of the list is being able to run the outlaw missions to boost your cash income. The caravan mission is horrible, with the enemy unable to bottle out, it's a fight to the death and so you're probably looking at a big win as long as your gang can keep its nerve until it gets to short range. There's also the game where you raid a gangs territory and nick their cash, so its a double hit! A profitable win can keep the gang going for a long time. The boss's followers are also great, our opponent stuck with Ghouls (didn't try the dogs or Zombies) as they are fast and tough, ideal units to send off in front while the rest of the gang closed in.

[Spectrar Ghost]

Had my first game (Gang Fight) last night. Bottled Out voluntarily after it became clear I was going to lose a flank. One scavvie died (sigh) and I made -2 creds on the game. Gotta look into the Outlaw scenarios, which I wanted to do after my first game. Using Scavvie Dogs, and just running them ahead to distract shooters and get opportunity kills. I tied an Escher up for four rounds of combat last night with a Dog. I really need to run them as a single blob instead of running seperate "squads" as I did last night. Simple unsuitable playstyle was my downfall.

[Harwammer]

This is a really good idea! Nicely executed Spectrar Ghost!

[Angry_Panda]

I've just found pictures of a friends Scavvies from my old gaming group (Yay! for me my finding an old box of necro stuff)

Skaven clan rat plastic box set, zombie box set, and a few guns etc he had / borrowed off us.

Brilliant mixture of weird figures...

I like your gang, rat ogre / Scaly is very good. I'd try to make a few zombies, as I find them excellent cannon fodder!

[gitburna]

Had my first game (Gang Fight) last night. Bottled Out voluntarily after it became clear I was going to lose a flank. One scavvie died (sigh) and I made -2 creds on the game. Gotta look into the Outlaw scenarios, which I wanted to do after my first game. Using Scavvie Dogs, and just running them ahead to distract shooters and get opportunity kills. I tied an Escher up for four rounds of combat last night with a Dog. I really need to run them as a single blob instead of running seperate "squads" as I did last night. Simple unsuitable playstyle was my downfall.

Whenever you get the chance, you should play a game that will get you bonus credits. The scavvie dogs sound useful - faster still than the Ghouls. I like the ghouls though, especially because they do more damage to enemy fighters if they stop to eat They cause fear too, always a bonus.

Now this is up to you, but because of your gang's generally low leadership, when it comes to bottle rolls, it might be worth deciding not to voluntarily bottle - Someone with more experience might have something different to say.

Here's my reasoning though - if someone dies, fair enough thats bad, but if someone gets heavily injured, you can always decide to not feed them or even throw them in the pot therefore saving you precious credits. There will be enough times when you bottle when things otherwise appear to be going well, so why not try and stick it out the rest of the time? I suppose it does help if you have a supply of creds to replace any fighters who die.

[Spectrar Ghost]

Yeah, I need to print out the outlaw scenarios for when I next play them, I've already decided that. In this case I had an entire flank collapsing, and cut my losses. It wouldn't have been pretty. I still have the finances to replace losses for now, but even at 40 per it's a short way to the bottom of the piggy bank. Even if I run newbies without extra equipment it's not too far.