From my experience lvl 1 vols make about 100k more ally plunder per attack than a level 4 guild. Overall SOS makes more after your lowlands are finished than a level 4 guild. Guilds might make more per attack, but your bonus tends to be a lot higher with SOS. It sort of evens out, with SOS slightly ahead in the end.
If you're worried about cash and want to make the conversion go a little easier, build a colony and upgrade it asap. Those extra hits per unload really add up over time. However, I wouldn't do it if you plan on ever converting to pure spy.
I've dropped all my SOS in the lowlands for level 4 guilds. I have 12 t5 volaries in the highlands (half level 1, half are level 2). Since level 4 guilds make more plunder than level 3 SOS, I'll now be able to upgrade my t5 much quicker.
I have 33 maxed sos's and have better end plunder then my friend with 37 maxed guilds. He gets more per hit but I'm allowed more actions. So he gets a few mil more per hit while I get a couple bil more at the end.
How are you allowed more actions? You get the same as all spy buildings. 27 standard assassinations or something. You get 24 attacks per hour with a troops building and 27-28 with spies.
He may lose more spies than he should if he's hitting a harder eb than his build can take. But apart from that you should be both equal on actions.
Anyway once I get hlbc I'll keep eb'ing and wait until devs release t5 for lowlands. I'm aiming for 21 volaries on highlands and 4 t5 spy defense towers as I want to war next season.
@andromeda - you still cap at 76 scouts, 19 steals, or 37 assassinations, and between 24-26 attacks (depends on attack builds) that will only prove true if he is hitting outside his build's capability
Thanks TDD and not dont want to go hybrid. I want to play the game and not have to worry about things like being stripped etc. that's why I love the hansel build. Takes a while to get going but dominates in war and we don't really keep allies. I have a few allies but no more than 100-200b at a time.
One thing For sure, my end bonus is lots better. Next haunt I'll take ss. Even if I do partial unloads or skim. He has to hit over 40 times more to match plunder.