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Right, so my gaming group has picked up malifaux. We ate past the the stage of the 25ss games to find our feet and are progressing well (well... Some of us...)

But what I need is a bit of help! I'm playing outcasts and finding myself out classed by some of the other crews around. I did use all freikorps for a while but found it to boring and not interesting enough so I changed my crew up slightly

Viks
Taelor
2 x ronin
Von schill
Trapper

= 33ss

My friends are playing a few net list crews, ortegas, lord chompy, and the twin dancers (forget the crews name, two dancing manaquins are the big hitter)

I'm trying to stay faithful to only outcasts... But I'm finding it hard to compete with the tricks of the other crews.

So I use Von schill as a mobile objective grabber or to snipe unsupported models he should take in one round (like terror tots sprinting to objectives)

I put the trapper midfield so as the viks get closer to him they benefit from scout and he can try and put some wounds downrange

The ronin I use as a team to tackle other minions in H2H or to also grab objectives

And finally the viks and taelor walk around together to act as a hammer, but keeping the gun armed vik slightly behind to use sisterly powers...

Now am I using the crew right? I just find that I'm either stuck with a hand of shoddy cards so when it comes to the crunch I get cheated out doing real damage, and that these big monsters and shenanigans just run rings around me...

Am I just thick?? Lol

Cheers for any help!!

Liam

Firstly, check out this Wiki:
http://pullmyfinger.wikispaces.com/The+Viktorias
It's one of the best tactica resources for Malifaux.

The "Twin Dancers" are the Coryphyee. They're part of Collette's crew, but Ramos can run them just fine as well. Their main weakness is that they don't have many wounds. Also remember that your opponent is paying 14ss for the duet; it's scary but also expensive. Their main weakness is, amusingly enough, close combat. You can't charge them, but if you get in CC with them, they get hurt. You will likely hurt anyone you CC. Also note that Collette's crew isn't very good at doing damage aside from the Coryphee.

I have trouble against Lord Chompy Bits myself. It does tremendous damage, and heals itself a lot. His main weakness is that he purely relies on an alpha-strike mentality. He has low defenses, and heals himself when doing damage (I believe). Activate all your lesser-important models first and forge your opponent to slingshot hompy towards you and summon all their nightmares. Once your opponent has activated, stomp them. Also note that Neverborn generally have no way of circumventing Armor.

The Ortegas are all ranged, but Perdita herself has an absurd 8 defense. Focus on the individual members of the crew first and ignore Perdita mostly. Perdita doesn't really hurt THAT much. Nino (the sniper machine gun guy), I've found to be the most annoying, because he stands back at 16" and pokes you. Kill if you can. Use the terrain to your advantage and force them to come within melee range. The Viktorias should easily take care of any Ortega in melee. Note that your trapper will be of limited use here because you're shooting at an army that can outshoot you. Maybe you can get cheap shots in and kill Nino, but Perdita's counter-ability will be problematic.

If you're into netlisting, the Outcasts are one of the stronger factions. Leviticus is really good if you are meticulously into this game, and Hamelin is arguably overpowered. Don't let up on Outcasts just yet.

Von Shill is rather good, but he's a bit expensive for what you're using him for. If you want a mobile objective grabber and/or sniper, why not use the Freikorps trapper only? The Infiltration alone oftentimes makes it worth it. Take two if you can/want.

As for using the Viktorias, you have a 0 ss cache and your models are essentially glass cannons. Keep some ss in reserve for use in defense and learn how and when to use them well.

Pick your schemes well. I'm not too familiar with Outcasts' schemes, because I play Arcanists almost exclusively.

Well I must say that was a great help! The only reason I've stuck so rigidly to the crew I have is due to not having the funds to expand my crew at the mo, I'm not going to give up on the outcasts, I'm just looking for ways to circumvent the other crews powers...

I have always fancied getting to grips with Leviticus and have been trying to get my head round how he works with waifs and killing himself every turn...

As for Hamlin he's never really appealed to me, and to go for him no would just be pure cheese! Lol does anyone know how/why he is so OP?? What's the crack with him??

What is the best way to use Von schill? I use him as I said and also use him like a mini assassin skirting the edges of the board shooting then repositioning around cover... How is he generally used? Have I got the wrong end of the stick with him??

Again cheers for your great break down!! Thx for taking the time!!

Liam

Hamelin's scariest ability is that he can permanently turn enemy models "Insignificant". Aside from this being an annoyance when it comes to scenarios, he also has an ability that makes him mostly immune to Insignificant models. Hamelin basically spams this ability all over the place.
His interaction with his The Stolen is also similar to Leviticus and his waifs and thus annoying to kill. All that and he has the ability to pop out Rats out of any friendly model that dies near him. Hamelin eventually becomes an undying and unstoppable center of a swarm of rats... that can take control of your own models.
He is, arguably, rather cheesy. His entire crew consists of him, stolen, dogs and/or rats, and possibly a ratcatcher.

Leviticus really is a great master. He's competitive for the best reasons. Similar to Collette, you have to know what you're doing, and it's very finesse-based.

Von Schill is absurdly mobile and really fast. He's great for performing objectives and not dying in the process. He also has great range. He's acceptably worth the points, but he's still worth 9ss (or 10ss if you don't play Outcasts). That's expensive, and he doesn't do anything fancy that could complement your master or other models. Instead of paying 9ss for Von Schill, I find that 6ss for the Freikorps Trapper is oftentimes more worth it. Von Schill is mobile, but the Trapper has long range and can infiltrate.
This is a personal preference, really, and it's coming from someone that has to pay +1ss for hiring Mercs out of faction.

I can't really add to much to this but I've been having a lot of success recently with the following Viks list:

Viks
2x Ronin
Taelor
Misaki
Convict Gunsliger

+5ss pool

Like you CptCortez128 I use the Viks and Taelor as a hammer. With the Ronin in support. I then tend to use Misaki and the Convict Gunslinger solo on the flanks where they can pick off members of the other crew. Misaki I find to be particularly effective with her crazy 13" melee threat range.

One nasty trick you can potenially pull off against the Ortegas is to use Taelor to knock Papa Loco close to other members of the opposing crew and then use whatever ranged attacks you've got to ensure he blows up in the middle of them. A lot of damage can be done that way.

Now while I've bought the Viks box, I haven't played them yet (or even prepped them for painting), so take this with a grain of salt, but have you considered Johan? He's not as hard as Taelor, but he's decent in melee and has a ranged attack.

As for the Freikorps Trapper, advanced deployment is great for objective snagging. I used to use December Acolyte for that in my Rasputina crew. THe Trapper is better for that even at +1 SS for out of faction. As Outcasts that is not a concern.

Amusingly enough, Renegade Steamfitter Johan is amazing in Collette's crew primarily because he costs -1ss than normal.

And if he stays near Colette, he will get +1cb (I believe) from being close to an M&SU member.

I must add that Desperate Mercs are a great addition to any force, for 2ss you can get a free healing flip when he dies (for a model within 4") and gives you more activations (if you find yourself constantly out-activated due to low model count)

The thing about the Outcasts is that each master really is like an entirely different faction. I think taking a master with an unrealted henchman is folly, especialy in a 33ss list. My advice on how to use Von Schill is with a mostly full crew of Friekorps. He's their leader and designed to work with them. As mentioned above, desperate mercs are a steal at 2 ss. Also the convict gunslinger might be one of the most undercosted models in the game. There's a reason he's rare 1. If you really like the Viks then the best place to start is their box. They have no synergy with each other but they are individualy very competent. Again convict gunslingers and desperate mercs are great with them. The main thing though for me is pick 1 crew for the game. Your current list just seems to me a hodgepodge of 2 different masters. This game is all about synergy so make lists that works with itself rather than against it.

I play Vikkies as well.

Usually at 35, I run something like

Vikkies
3 Ronin
Taelor
Misaki

Or

Vikkies
3 Ronin
Taelor or Misaki
Hans

Since the vikkies dont start with soul stones, I feel a pool of at least 5 good to start with, then go with one less scheme for another couple.

You will need them for healing flips, hiring more Ronin, or perhaps for bringing Vikkie back.

Another really good addition to the crew is the Librarian. I used her for the first time in the crew last week.. amazing.