Depending on the figure, I try for 6 of each trooper. There are exceptions, though :D .

I just picked up 20 of the black and gold Sand Vipers, I have well over 30+ Vipers (all different colors etc). I LOOOOVE army building. I told this to my GF and she ended up getting me 11 Cobra Legions for X-Mas. I do it simply because I like the figure. Like Craig said I don't buy for pics, just my own love.

11 Cobra Legions??? All at once??? Wow... That means you have 11 Air Troopers and it also means that you have 11 Storm Shadows. Course, at least you can use 1 stormy as a default and the other 11 can be his ninja clan, right??? I actually did that but in an opposite way. The Legions Stormy is my default and the 4 Stormys from the 1st 5-pack act as the White Lotus Society.

I tend to get a little crazy when it comes to army building. It's HIGHLY addictive and not to be taken lightly. Especially with the 25th since they can be bought locally. I think Techno Viper and Strato are the only Builders I have that I've only got 1 of. :o

For scenes I try not to clutter the shot with endless masses, but at the same time like to show Cobra as having a huge army. So it's a 50/50 swap for me.

I go for 10 of each special vipers (Frag/Flack/incinerators/night/range, etc.) As for Regular vipers and blueshirts (to include Nightwatch) I try to build platoons of 30.
Squads= 2 fire teams of 4, RTO and OIC.
Platoon = 3 squads.
This doesn't always work. I also have a platoon of Neo Vipers and CLAWS.

The Claws I use as Extreme heavy weapons experts, mine carry .50 cals, mini guns, Grenade launchers, etc.

But for a dio, 6 is more than enough. If you can fit more than that into your shot, you're probably doing a "Show of Force" pic of troops at a rally!

I really only collect figures from before 1990, I only keep mint or near mint figures. I am not Donald Trump, so this limits my army building. My biggest army is 1982 & 83 Cobra Troopers & Officers which is up to 20. I have 6 CGs & 6 Vipers, most of my specialized troops are about 4 each. On the Joe side the only thing I Army build is Steel Brigade, I have a version A,B,C & 2 Ds & looking for a Gold head. :mad:

Yup and I only use 3 of the SS (1 regular, 2 private SS force) I'm looking to unload the rest so if any one is interested PM me, they're just taking up space here.

I used the 11 CC as my Cobra Storm troopers which worked out nicely for me as army building a super elite squad went.

I'd like to army build but back when i was able to spend money of stuff i was an idiot and just bought the cool named ones, and of coruse they all poofed when i moved out so i'm down to 1 half of a viper some where a wild weasel (who i use as a crimson guard pilot rather then mr Weasel) and a razor trooper.

Not much of an army builder, but I like small squads of 2 to 6. I made an exception on the Viper Pit and bought two 6 packs...it was cheaper than trying to eBay v.1's. They need to be modified though...

I noticed from another thread that Family Dollar has VvV single carded figures for $2/ each. Are there any of those worth "squad" building? Sand Viper? Tele-Viper? Black Snake-Eyes for customs?