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So I've been playing a few games with Ramos, and it's just not clicking with me. Ramos is a support character, and my personal playstyle tends to lend itself well to hitting hard and fast - beatsticks, in other words. I went browsing through the Malifaux site and picked out four potential Masters that look promising (and cool as well): Rasputina, Seamus, Lilith, and the Dreamer. I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with these that could help me make my selection. Ideally I should be able to get away with just using the primary boxed set, though if I need to pick up a couple of additional models that's fine. Bonus points for plastic kits.

Rasputina is a strong mid range piece, I find her more support-oriented early game and offensive mid-late as you start to close(only played against). Her crew works well with her, but, from what I understand, isn't ideal.

Seamus is a master where your crew sets up enemies for him to take out. He relies on others' shenanigans, then tends to go for the throat (no pun intended) himself, fairly strong at melee and range, and forgiving because tough. His crew is fine to start with, probably the most ready.

Lilith is fast but somewhat fragile--I've seen her often overextend. Also, very melee-focused (only played against). Worth noting that young nephilim (fairly necessary for her other boxed set pieces) are absent and moderately expensive.

No experience against the dreamer, but probably not an ideal starting master, from everything I've heard.

none of those are plastic, if you're looking at other options, I'd suggest McMourning (also not plastic)-- I find him moderately tough, very fast when you need him to be, and quite nasty in melee. He also has strong support in the form of minor ranged damage, healing if you need it, damage buffing, and good summoning (unlike most ressers, his is fueled by damaging anything, rather than by killing things that leave corpses, so your opponent's list interferes less)

his boxed set is, however, not ideal, and you'd probably want (cheap) extras to help out.

Rasputina while being a great mid range caster that can deal a lot of damage and manipulate the terrain, she can also hit targets 19 inches away at a CA of 6 (minus 1 of her normal CA) through a pair of Silent Ones.

The Dreamer is fast and does what is called the "Dreamer Bomb" His basic strategy is to start on the board, fly around the board, and then when you want to move in for the kill, you fly forward and then unbury ALL of the nightmares in your crew, dropping them off within 6 inches of where you want to go (though Chompy comes up where the Dreamer is standing).

Misaki, Ten Thunders Master.

She is very fast and very hard hitting and then uses her crew to escape a beating.

She is in plastic. Her box set is very complete. I would say you could get away with just picking up Yamaziko in Feb and you'd be done. (though you're never done with Malifaux.. )

That said, if you are set on one of the four you listed toss Rasputina right out, she is slow moving and uses her minions to buff her into a death flining machine... but I would not call her a "beatstick" as much as "artillery" Plus she needs a lot more than just her box set to be efficient.

Seamus is not the hardest hitting Resser Master out there. (McMourning is) but he has one shot a turn with his gun which is nice... Until you snag his Avatar. Then he is definitely a "beatstick" So, if you're okay with buying that additional small box set I would say go for him.

That leaves Dreamer, who's counterpart is Lord Chompy Bits, who is maybe the best beatstick in the game. His crew is a little wonky with how it works, but not so tricky as Collette or some others. You would just need a blister of Daydreams and you'd be pretty solid.

The only one I can't comment on really is Lilith. I have very limited experience against her. While she does tote around a Greatsword and is Fast with movement tricks, I have been told that she's more well rounded than straight out offense.

Good luck!

Tina needs 3 models to be competitive: 2 silent ones and 1 essence of power.

Those three models will allow Tina to cast from over half the board away, and cast her ice spells of doom

But yes, she is slow.

 Alfndrate wrote:
Tina needs 3 models to be competitive: 2 silent ones and 1 essence of power.

Those three models will allow Tina to cast from over half the board away, and cast her ice spells of doom

But yes, she is slow.

With the right hand and a full compliment of Soul Stones Rasputina can arguably out damage any other master in the game. Plus who doesn't like Ice Witches. Her box set is pretty lacking though.

 Catyrpelius wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
Tina needs 3 models to be competitive: 2 silent ones and 1 essence of power.

Those three models will allow Tina to cast from over half the board away, and cast her ice spells of doom

But yes, she is slow.

With the right hand and a full compliment of Soul Stones Rasputina can arguably out damage any other master in the game. Plus who doesn't like Ice Witches. Her box set is pretty lacking though.

It is, Rasputina was my "try hard on a budget" crew. I dropped a Gamin, took the models above, and had a decent soul stone cache too...

Though my favorite masters atm are Pandora and her death by 1,000 cuts, and Jakob Lynch that cheatin' bastard.