Tale of Malifaux Bloggers - Month 0

After finishing the painting of my entire Gremlin collection (may sneak some pics on soon in an other post), there was a noticeable gap on the painting stand. With playing Malifaux exclusively I wasn't looking to branch out to a new game, so I had a few options, pick up the remaining models I don't currently own, (being Ulix's Hog Wild, the Bayou Gators and Gracie, which may not take me that long to build and paint, and thus be a short stay of execution) or look at a new crew and faction.

Always being a sucker for something new, I veered towards the latter. after looking for some inspiration on the Wyrd forums, I found some links to previous Tale of Malifaux Bloggers (or ToMB), a quick discussion with Martin (my brother and regular opponent) and we decided to take on the challenge.

After some discussion with members of the gaming club and some friends, we currently have 12 interested parties.
The guidelines we are using for our tale are as follows:

1. The tale will be set over 5 months, with an budget of £40 for month 1, and £15 for each subsequent months. This budget will be shop price not rrp, as we will be aiming to get most of our stuff through our local store ABZgames (http://abzgames.co.uk), they offer great service, with a nice discount and hopefully in turn we could help them out with our custom. As a slight side note, (being a sucker for sculpted bases) we decided hobby materials including bases would not be factored into the budget, and any Wyrd offers (free Miss Step on purchases over $60, or free bonus models included stickers etc) would be useable. 
2. Money not spent in a month can be carried over to the next month to allow for larger purchases.
3. Although Martin and I will be buying all new stuff, as some of the participants have Malifaux models that they haven't built or painted or played with, there is the option of substituting unused previous purchases in for the appropriate cost instead. 
4. We will aim to add at least one purchase per month, build and paint them within the month, and hopefully get in as many games as possible. 
5. We will aim to create blogs with our progress (hence this one), with also a Facebook page to keep motivated.
6. We will run an event at the end of the challenge, hopefully with prizes and the like.

With this in mind I now have to decide on a Master (and Faction)....

I managed to narrow factions down quite quickly, I don't want to use a master or faction that I have owned previously ruling out Gremlins and Guild. I didn't want to use a faction or master that my regular opponents owned, ruling out Ten Thunders and Resurrectionists. 

This left me with Neverborn, Arcanists and Outcasts...

Having spent the last week pouring over the PullmyFinger pages and listening to the Master Spotlights on Schemes and Stones I have narrowed it down to two options...

...drum roll please...

Option 1: Arcanists, Colette Du Bois

There is a lot to like about option 1, the models are fantastic, she looks to be a great challenge to built, paint and play with. The tricks she can do to get the most out of her crew seem really fun, and by the looks of it every game will be different (well other than casting Prompt a lot!).

The plan would be something like this:

Month 1 (£40, prices from ABZ)
Colette Du Bois, Smoke and Mirrors - £28.89
Coryphee £10.20
Hopefully plus Miss Step (April FLGS incentive from Wyrd if spend $60, so I'd have to buy something extra, but I need a new fate deck and could be tempted with some Gators).

Month 2 (£15.81)
Angelica £6.38
Arcane Effigy £6.38

Month 3 (£18.05)
Silent Ones £10.20

Month 4 (£22.85)

Month 5 (£37.85)

Month 4 & 5 are a bit of a tough choice, possibly the Emissary would be out, failing that I could go for the Mechanical Rider (£20.40) and something to summon, possibly another Performer & Mannequin boxed set (£13.60), leaving a few pounds spare.
Alternatively I could buy the Ramos Boxed (£28.89) set if I didn't get Miss Step, plus I would get Joss, always a good option in an Arcanist collection. This would leave £8.96, which could buy Willie (£8.50), not sure if he'd be a good addition, but can't see much else that would fit in for the cost.

There are a few other models that should come out soon that could be worth considering, the Malifaux Raptors in May, Large Arachnid in April, and Soulstone Miners (not sure when).

Option 2: Outcasts, Von Schill.

Von Schill is by my reading a more straightforward master than Colette, this has advantages and disadvantages. I would like the challenge from Colette, but my concern is that ifI find she isn't to my tastes or I can't get to grips with her, it may be a struggle of 5 months.... With this in mind a Master that is a good combat and ranged brawler may be a safer option.
The disadvantage with this is that it maybe playing it safe, the models are lovely, but may not be as big a challenge as those of the Showgirls, the rules may be the same.

However, there are some big plus points. First, and maybe the biggest of them all (Ht 3!) is Hannah, this model is my favourite from all of Malifaux, love the suit, I prefer the standard version than Through the Breach, so won't be tempted to splash the cash for that one (ahem...looking at you Santana!). I know as she is a Merc that I can take her in any crew, be she looks to be far stronger within a Friekorps led crew, (Make a New Entry).
The second is both a boon and a curse, the paint scheme. The Freikorps, have the uniform look that doesn't really exist in Malifaux (with the exception of the Guild possibly), and the suits look awesome, but it is maybe back towards the style of game miniatures that I grew tired of (Regiments of soldiers: Imperial Guard and the like).

The plan would be along these lines:

Month 1 (£40)
Von Schill, Hired Guns £28.89

Month 2 (£26.11)
Hannah £19.55

Month 3 (£21.56)
Lazarus £10.20
Freikorps Strongarm £9.34

Month 4 (£17.02)
Convict Gunslingers £9.34
Hans or Bishop? £6.38

Month 5 (£16.30)

Month 5 is a bit of mystery here, possibly Killjoy (£10.20), but I don't know how he would suit, possible some extra Freikorps (£8.50), or the Emissary? or even some Ronin (£11.89).
The other option is dropping the Hans/Bishop selection from Month 4 and adding another Crew Box, either The Viktoria's Hired Swords (£25.49), giving me access to Taelor and the Ronin (plus the Student of Conflict if I wanted an option instead of the Steam Trunk) or a second Hired Guns box to give me the Freikorps Specialist, the Freikorpsmen, the Trapper and the Librarian. All of which I could use extra, not sure how beneficial doubling some of them up would be, but I have heard the dual Trapper is a bit dirty...

These are the options at the moment, it will be one of the two, now the agonising begins!