Sellswords vs raiders

[Storm]

Aside from a single hedge knight, I usually hire those guys as my late game melee brothers. They seem to be almost identical stat-wise.

So far the differences I've noticed:

Sellsword:
- higher ranged skill (irrelevant for melee)
- can teach other backgrounds

Raider:
- cheaper to hire
- can get into fights with caravan hands

Is there anything else that makes one or the other stand out? Which one do you prefer?

[Trapmaker]

I prefer raiders, They're just more value for money.

[Trapmaker]

Raiders can get that same lawman event, i've had it happen to two, but didnt lose either one of them, But raiders cost 1-2k less to recruit than sellsword and have lower wages, The only people in my mind worth a 50+ gold per day and 4k + signing bonus are hedge knights and swordmasters (I use them with dagger spec to open tin cans and get free scale/plate coats), I dont know sellswords seem OK but they dont seem to be majorly better than the raider in any shape way or form.

[Caveira]

Raiders often have low base resolve, around 35, sellswords have the potential to be anything due to they high starting stats, good for hybrid build xbow/polearm.

[vlad728x]

Myself I don`t use such backgrounds. Only 1-2 if I`d found especialy gifted. They are expensive. Salary might rise up to 100+ gold and higer in later game, so you must allways take contracts to handle 1000+ expences for every day.
I prefer hire cheeper backgrounds but with good traits such us "Iron lungs", "Brute", "Athletic", and talents. Wich might have good base stats, almoust no difference with raider or sellsword at level 11. And if there is no difference, why pay more, better invest in equipment.

Sellswords often ask to raise their salary "Becouse another team offers more". Easy way to keep them agree to pay, but that way he will be rob you for every day. Hard way may lead to losing experienced brother. Thats why I don`t like sellswords much.

[the dark wizard]

sellsword:
+10 Melee Skill
+10 Ranged Skill
+5 Melee Defense
+5 Ranged Defense
+5 Resolve

raider:
+ 10 Melee skill...

If you get a chance take the one with better stats.

[Trapmaker]

Originally posted by the dark wizard:

sellsword:
+10 Melee Skill
+10 Ranged Skill
+5 Melee Defense
+5 Ranged Defense
+5 Resolve

raider:
+ 10 Melee skill...

If you get a chance take the one with better stats.

Actually we dont even know if this is how it works in the full release, And i've seen tons of raiders with great stats (Except for resolve), And since resolve is lesser than baseline on raiders ie they didnt have a -resolve before but do now, we can infer the +10 +5 system isnt in play anymore, I honestly dont get why people like the sellsword so much, They're greedy bastards with no real sense of specialization, At least raiders are reasonably priced for a high end frontliner.

[awc]

Raiders also enjoy playing dice with you, same as Gamblers.

[Storm]

Originally posted by the dark wizard:

sellsword:
+10 Melee Skill
+10 Ranged Skill
+5 Melee Defense
+5 Ranged Defense
+5 Resolve

raider:
+ 10 Melee skill...

If you get a chance take the one with better stats.

That's old data, raiders get +5 to defenses now.

[Storm]

Originally posted by Trapmaker:

Actually we dont even know if this is how it works in the full release, And i've seen tons of raiders with great stats (Except for resolve), And since resolve is lesser than baseline on raiders ie they didnt have a -resolve before but do now, we can infer the +10 +5 system isnt in play anymore, I honestly dont get why people like the sellsword so much, They're greedy bastards with no real sense of specialization, At least raiders are reasonably priced for a high end frontliner.

I don't think raiders get a penalty to resolve, saw a bunch with around 40 at lvl 1.

I didn't notice the resolve bonus on sellswords, so yeah, that's a plus.

[vlad728x]

Originally posted by the dark wizard:

sellsword:
+10 Melee Skill
+10 Ranged Skill
+5 Melee Defense
+5 Ranged Defense
+5 Resolve

raider:
+ 10 Melee skill...

If you get a chance take the one with better stats.

But 25 gold base salary copare to 15. And you`ll sweat to find one with stats close to maximum, even without talents and traits.

[deathmaster snikch]

The sellsword can train both the Squire and Aprentice so i'll take him but the downside is that the sellsword ask for raise quite alot

[the dark wizard]

Originally posted by Trapmaker:

Actually we dont even know if this is how it works in the full release.

I took it from the wikia, and I have seen nothing that indicates that the information from before the patch (where most backgrounds info where displayed) has changed....

Originally posted by Storm:

That's old data, raiders get +5 to defenses now.

Okay, didn't know that. You could perhaps edit the wikia then.

Originally posted by vlad728x:

But 25 gold base salary copare to 15. And you`ll sweat to find one with stats close to maximum, even without talents and traits.

It's true that they are a bit more expensive, but what you are buying are ekstra levels in stats. The sellsword got about 2 levels worth of ekstra bonus stats from the beginning, which is usefull.
Now I won't say that the sellsword is ALWAYS better, there is plenty of times where the raider or heck the farmhands laying around, have better talent (star) placement and/or starting stats.

But what you are buying with the ekstra gold is the possebility of greatness.

[Barahur]

From a purely stat perspective, the Sellsword wins out. A Sellsword with the right stars can become either a good melee fighter, ranged fighter or a hybrid as they start out with high melee and ranged skill. They also have fewer negative events. I've only had one ask me for a raise once in quite a few hours of playthroughs.

EDIT - Look at those stats on this Sellsword. Only Level 13 too.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=906367303

[WastedTrojan]

Originally posted by Barahur:

From a purely stat perspective, the Sellsword wins out. A Sellsword with the right stars can become either a good melee fighter, ranged fighter or a hybrid as they start out with high melee and ranged skill. They also have fewer negative events. I've only had one ask me for a raise once in quite a few hours of playthroughs.

I think this event was changed to happen more frequently. My sellswords always ask me for a raise now, but its always like 5-6 extra crowns. My last one was getting paid 56 per day and demanded 61.

[Sendos]

I would prefer sellswords over raiders because of those stats, but I am really after a skilled fighter, I might prefer a raider instead.