I'm wondering what the general view is regarding the production of artillery sets.

Bearing in mind the new HaT French limber set, do people prefer sets combing guns, crew, limber and horse team such as the new Zvezda sets (which are more expensive), or do you prefer basic gun and crew sets such as Italieri and HaT, with separate limbers and team sets for those who want them?

I prefer those which have been better researched and have been better made. With regard to the Zvezda and HaT French artillery sets this means that I prefer the Zvezda set - which offers all in one - to the HaT sets, first of all because HaT has not succeeded in producing limber and caisson accurately enough, after all (just look at the diameter of the wheels, for example). Anyway, as a diorama builder I must say that HaT sets tend to sufficiently meet the needs of wargamers, but for the passionate diorama builders (call them the "artists" among the collectors of plastic soldiers), they are just not good enough.

I would have to say I prefer the separate box approach, so you get exactly what you want. Since there are already lots of guns-only sets out there, all they need do is the limbers. Maybe several would actually be the same such as napoleonic and crimean limbers?

As long as producers like HaT provide us with the rolling material and ammo caissons etc - and I hope they, or some other will give a follow up that includes also other armies - then producers can concentrate on more variety with respect to gunners' poses. For a diorama-builder, variety of poses is essential. What we usually get, with a few exeptions, is a repetition of the same 4-6 figures manning a gun. No gunners defending themselves against e.g. a cavalry attack, no casualties (a deficiency for most sets). I once suggested that Strelets produce a set of Russian gunners defending themselves against the attack by Saxon, Polish, Wuertemberg cavalry in the Raevsky redoubt at Borodino. It was just one example of many I could give that would provide the diorama builder with lots of potential to produce dramatic scenes. In short, if some manufacturer provides us with the hardware, others - e.g. Strelets, can concentrate on giving us variety in poses.

I like both sets (better than the Airfix limber!). However, since the horses appear to be interchangable, I wish Zvezda and/or HAT would've made one team staionary and one team in motion. It would've given more flexibilty to diorama builders. I don't know if it matters to wargamers.

Well one of the most exciting ways i play with my artillery is racing the guns into action after an ambush or racing to get them away from the enemy covering a retreat etc.

Therefore i like the sets with the limbers.
But manufacturers make the teamsters so wooden, a bit more urgency please. Be great to see a 1/72nd artillery set with Brit Pith helmets (or egyptian/turkish fez) ,sure would spice things up.

i think there's a need for both 'action' and 'static' poses in all branches of a miniature army. static poses make excellent reserve formations for wargamers.