Opinions on what to buy next?

So we are doing a 3-Way campaign: 1 Newbie and 2 Old Timers who have not played in years. New guy is playing Lizardmen (Max Saurus all w/2x Axe and 10 Skinks, he is debating buying 4 more skinks or saving for a Kroxigor), Old Timer is playing Orcs (Max Heroes, no goblins and everyone has range and melee weapon) and I am playing Nuln. My current list is this:

Senior Officer w/Handgun
Instructor w/Handgun (Hunter Skill)
Senior Student w/Spear (He now has +1A and +1I)
Underclassman w/Spear (WS4 BS2)
Underclassman w/Spear (Old Bones and Sprint)
3x Marksmen w/2x Handgun and Hochland Long Rifle
1x Pistoleer w/2x Pistols (WS5 BS3)
Hired Sword - Tactician

I have 176gc after last nights games. I have to spend 20gc to keep my Tactician, which leaves me with 156gc. I have been planning on getting an Ogre since we started the campaign that would be 80gc but my upkeep after each game would be a total of 50gc for Ogre and tactician. Was thinking about trying for a Hand-Held Mortar (or two!) to combat the Skink horde (which he uses to screen his Saurus (and is getting good at it!)). Have been wanting a second Long Rifle (that 27" half range is amazing!). Thinking about switching my Senior Student to a Double-Handed Sword and giving him the Strongman skill asap, that would be WS4, I4, 2A S5 and not auto-striking-last. Also thinking about a second Pistolier w/2x Pistols. Also was thinking about a horse for one of my heroes (we role Breakthrough a lot, having a horse and a guy with sprint will keep those Lizards on their "toes"!). Or I could do 2x Marksmen w/Handguns for the firepower and the theme. So comment on my options and/or give me suggestions I have not thought of! Thanks!

Ithink you should buy man power.

You only have 10 warriors including the tactican.

For me this would be not enough warriors.

How did you eatn 176 gc in one game? I am just curious.

Crossbonesx11 wrote:

I have 176gc after last nights games.

He is writing: last night games... plural.

Not that familiar with the Gunnery school list, but if the hand mortar functions as an area -effect weapon, it is a better option than another Hochland LR if you are having problems with a warm of opponents. I usually use blunderbusses in this type of situation.

SerialMoM's point is a good one - beefing manpower never hurts. I would be inclined to do that before hiring an ogre. The upkeep on the ogre will really slow the growth of your warband, which seems to be money-hungrey (given the existing upkeep for the tactician and the expense of buying black powder weapons).

You could also spend a few gold on superior gunpowder for your HLR.

I agree with SerialMoM. You want to hit 13 members in your warband before you think about that money-sucking ogre. That way you have the higher route test, and you're in a stronger position against two numbers warbands -- Lizardmen and Orcs.

Yep, doods with guns - that way both practicality and game efficiency are satisfied as well as fluff.

SerialMoM wrote:

How did you eatn 176 gc in one game? I am just curious.

We played 2 games a piece so noone gets ahead of the other. After the first game I could sell 4 shards for 65gc or 3 shards for 60gc, so I was going to sell 3 and then decided to just sell 1 shard so I could pay my upkeep and kept the other 3. After the second game I found 4 shards, so I sold 7 shards for 110gc. Also my Senior Student defeated a Gladiator after being "Sold to the Pits," so that earned me 50gc and I already had 16gc. 176gc.

mweaver wrote:

Not that familiar with the Gunnery school list, but if the hand mortar functions as an area -effect weapon, it is a better option than another Hochland LR if you are having problems with a warm of opponents. I usually use blunderbusses in this type of situation.

You could also spend a few gold on superior gunpowder for your HLR.

I used Blunderbuss in a few test games, in most cases I always wished they were Handguns. Great, great, GREAT idea about the Superior Gundpowder for Hochland Long Rifle. I was looking for a character (man I hate that Shaman and Totem Warrior) killer and that sounds perfect.

I was planning on this:
Upkeep 20gc
Double-Handed Sword 15gc
Pistolier w/Brace of Dueling Pistols 70
Hand-Held Mortar 70 (Rolled it in 3 tries)
175 gc

However I like the idea of Superior Blackpowder and I am really liking the idea of SBP with Blunderbusses and Hand-Held Mortars.

Edit - Maybe this:
Upkeep 20gc
Hand-Held Mortar 70gc (Give it to my Instructor)
Marksman 30gc (Give him the Instructors Handgun)
Superior Blackpowder 25gc (HLR)
Superior Blackpowder 25gc (HHM)
170gc