Hi all, after my first attempt at assembling an Epic detachment was foiled a few years back due to no-one else in the area playing, I'm now trying again having just moved to Sydney. I'm looking to field an absurdly mobile force, probably using the Saim-Hann rules most of the time (that's also how they're painted), but also Biel-Tan (largely for access to Vampire Raiders). I've only got a small number of models at the moment, from two Warhosts plus an Avatar and some Spears, but creative basing and conversions have expanded that a little bit from the normal. Here's what I'm looking at, if not quite all painted yet:
Avatar/CotYK
12 Jetbike stands
7 Ranger stands
3 Farseer stands, 14 Guardians, 5 Wraithguard

Aspects:
6 Shining Spears (will quite possibly rebase two-to-a-base so I have 9 stands)
6 Dire Avengers
6 Fire Dragons
6 Striking Scorpions
7 Dark Reapers
7 Swooping Hawks
7 Warp Spiders

The question is, what to add next? I obviously need a lot of Wave Serpents and a blister of Vypers, along with other Falcon-chassis vehicles. A flight of Nightwings and perhaps a Vampire or two would fit nicely, along with a Scorpion or two: I don't want to have too many "slow" EoVs, but Scorpions with their range would probably work. My thoughts are along these lines to give me enough to learn the system properly with:

FW:
3 packs of Wave Serpents
Two packs of Nightwings
Vampire Raider

GW:
Vypers (x1?)
Falcons (x1?)
Fire Prisms (x1)
Firestorms (x1)

As well as as many Jetbikes I can find on eBay.

So, thoughts? I don't have any army lists yet, but this would I think give me a reasonably force to add things to.

The FW stuff looks good, but you may want to add Firestorms to that list instead of the GW list; they're cheaper. From what I hear the gun barrels are very fragile though, so if you want a more durable piece the extra cash may be worth it to you. Vypers are great to add a ranged component to Jetbike formations. 5 Jetbikes and a Vyper is an optimal mix: it combines maximum FF ability with just enough shooting to lay a BM to prep assaults.

Falcons (more specifically Swords of Vaul) are your best AT formation, and primary source of flak, so 6 Falcons and 4 Firestorms would be a good start. Fire Prisms can wait, but 5 or 5 and a Firestorm are what I'd consider optimal setups if/when you get them. Don't bother mixing them with Falcons; the ranges don't synergize well and you either end up getting close enough you'd rather have more Falcons, or you waste half your shots.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

scorpions are awesome, but not forget about void spinners, their long range and disrupt makes them an awesome long range support, really interesting in a mobile list as it would be able to support your army nearly anywhere

But unabailable to Saim Han.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.

ouch!

Small update: Painting continues, slowly (I should really take some photos), and I've ordered 6 Falcons, 6 Vypers and a Scorpion. Once I get those done, and buy/paint some serpents, the army should be ready for some small games. One more question: any ideas about the best way to get more jetbikes? Running Saim-Hann I'm going to need quite a few, but buying lots of Warhosts seems a bit silly. There's one person selling them on eBay at the moment, but their prices are barely better than buying Warhosts. Anyone have any wonderful ideas?

Beg. Plead. Threaten.

Seriously, Jetbikes are one of those things that are always in demand, like Wraithguard. Keep an eye out in ebay and trade sites, but getting Warhosts and selling off excess to defray the cost may be the least frustrating option.

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SG

Ghost's Paint Blog, where everything goes that isn't something else.