The Powder Kegs, while technically their own group, were initially part of the Workshop class of hunters. The difference is that the Powder Kegs were considered heretics in the eyes of the normal Workshop hunters because of their choice of weapons. Essentially speaking the Powder Kegs liked things that go boom, whereas the normal Workshop hunters preferred weapons that were impractical and more for causing painful and slow executions rather than quick and merciful endings.

The way to think of it is this: Everyone started with the original Workshop, introduced by Gehrman's Burial Blade. Some hunters liked more steampunk-themed weapons and formed the Oto workshop, which eventually became the Powder Kegs, whereas the "traditional" Workshop hunters hated new and improved weapons and decided to stick by the books (although they eventually refined their own weapons as well, like in the case of replacing the Beasthunter Saif with the Saw Cleaver/Spear that were more effective at ripping beasts up). So even some of the Powder Kegs still wielded weapons from the Workshop because they were technically part of the Workshop at one point, but in the case of the Gatling gun hunter, it's pretty clear that he used something the traditional Workshop hunters would've hated on.

I think the split may have been influenced by the original Workshop's desire for discrepancy and subtlety that's been extrapolated from the lore, whereas the Church Hunters and the Powder Kegs were more ostentatious, with the former even going so far as to recruit citizens to join the hunt. Perhaps it's the inevitable result of realizing that the Beastly Scourge was too much to sweep under the rug, but things would never be the same again, so it would seem. I wonder what Yharnam would be like if the Hunt had remained a secret, and the beasts could be contained?

Almost, but not quite. The saw spear can only be bought after getting the saw hunter badge, and the lore on that badge talks about "those who have dedicated their lives to hunting beasts" like a Workshop hunter but even more so. There's also a line in the saw spear's lore saying "a trick weapon commonly utilized by those who have dedicated their lives to hunting beasts" versus the saw cleaver, which only states "commonly used by those in the beast hunting business", implying there's a difference between a Workshop Hunter and a Saw Hunter, like those with Saw badges are more elite than a "typical" hunter

Just a suggestion: Use this with with a physical build and just buy fire papers. Way higher damage output. My build: Cursed Heavy Abyssal Blood Gem (Str goes to A rating, if I recall correctly), 27.2 Cursed radial, 27.2 waning. = Normal version (note: have not tried going for 2 Cursed STR scaling yet, as the physical might go higher due to the additional damage added by STR)

Cursed Heavy Abyssal is +65 STR scaling, so yes, it does give a lot to lower STR rating weapons. I think, 1 cursed heavy is good, though, if you want it to go S in STR scaling, just farm the +27.2 from the watchers. (Saves you time from the gut wrenching RNG drops of headless bloodletting beast)

^wow it goes to A scaling? looks like ill have to farm 3 of those gems now lol

^update, it goes to S strength scaling with the +65 gem, just got one today

If you're gonna make a Fire Saw Spear get the Lost Saw SpearUncanny Spear is used for Physical builds not Arcane

Depends what shape your best fire gems are! If you've only got an abyssal fire gem thats a waning shape then the uncanny version probably not as affective since it has 2 radial slots and a triangle

Oh, forgot to say, the other 2 gems i have on the weapon are 27.2 physical gems.

Yep, forgot to correct that. Its not that much of an addition to damage, but hey, i'll take whatever adds damage XD. Btw, Cursed Heavy Abyssal works great with Amy's arm, or any weap with a possibility to get an S rating when equipped with the gem.

Never mind, found a working one.