Guilds. Guilds, I believe, are more efficient for plunder-making. Many suggest being a guild hansel for hlbc.
Guilds/hansels usually skim Epics and Wars, doing so keeps you at max plunder but you have to be very active to do such. Skim- Hitting the Epic two to three times every five minutes, keeps your plunder near or at max. Causing your income to be higher than full unloading. It is said that skimming with both Troops and Spies is a good income, and that the amount of assassinations you do is what you get back in your "bonus". Bonus- The reward you receive for completing an Epic Battle, some say this reward is calculated by how many assassinations you do and not how many total actions you did.
I think it really depends. Fiddler's stuff are great. Explanation. Explanation. For me, I prefer a Volary Hansel any day. Preferably with TWO attack buildings. A Colony n a Tortured Gardens. Why? Besides making great plunder at Hauntings or hitting a Pure Spy. It's able to steal another Hansel n also pin a Tower Build.