Slight Viper buff needed!

[Hitsuke]

Firstly, this isn't about the combat capability of the Viper. As far as I'm concerned, it handles itself brilliantly in combat and having tried out both the Cobra & Viper with maxed loadouts (and flown both extensively), I still favour the Viper quite strongly.

However... the Viper needs improvement in a few areas for me personally, starting with the fuel tank. The 4t fuel tank should be increased to an 8t in my honest opinion, it just restricts the ship far too much. The jump range of a fully pimped Viper is also terrible, but that could be offset somewhat by a fuel tank size increase.

The second part of the buff I propose is an additional utility slot. For a combat oriented vessel, 2 slots seems to be a bit lacking. It makes sense on the Cobra due to it's multi-purpose role, but the Viper should really edge it in this area, and it would allow the viper to fulfill it's role more efficiently. We should really be able to run a wake shift scanner, kill warrant scanner and a third piece of equipment (Chaff or PD). At least then, you could bounty hunt very effectively, whilst maintaining 'some' defensive utility.

As a counter balance, you could just increase the initial ship cost by 100k and slightly increase repair costs. It's already lacking in so many areas outside combat, you could at least make it a little bit more rounded

 

[Philip Coutts]

I would honestly leave the Viper as it is, it's actually pretty cheap to buy and fills it's role nicely. I think that the Fer-de-Lance is going to be the ship you really want, it's basically going to be the Viper's bigger, badder brother.

 

[StayFrosty]

It's part of the reason why the Eagle is a "long range fighter". A Viper is more of a "short range fighter".

Furthermore, a Viper is already better than a Cobra on almost all aspects- if anything, it needs a slight nerf, or the Cobra needs a buff.

 

[Hethwill_Khan]

Viper is a light fighter. A local system combat ship. As we have it in game it suits that role perfectly.

 

[gr4474]

If the Viper was a real ship, those things would probably be done...but this is Elite, and things are balanced different than life would be.

 

[Hitsuke]

It's part of the reason why the Eagle is a "long range fighter". A Viper is more of a "short range fighter".

Furthermore, a Viper is already better than a Cobra on almost all aspects- if anything, it needs a slight nerf, or the Cobra needs a buff.

It's not really better in all aspects at all though. The Cobra has advantages in power distribution, pitch rate, fuel capacity, jump range, boost speed, fuel tank capacity, cargo capacity, internal compartment slots, hard point placement and greater hull strength.

The Viper beats it in shield strength, yaw rate and base speed... that's it. So I really don't know how you came to the conclusion that the Viper may need a slight nerf or the Cobra a slight buff lol.

The FDL could well be the solution, but at this point we know virtually nothing about it. I'm hoping you're right though Coutts (Is that a reference to our little Brazilian magician by any chance?), I'd love to see a combat specific ship that I can wander off in, searching for bounties... without having to fuel scoop every 3 jumps >.<

 

[Morbad]

Viper is fine and does not need any buffs.

The 4t fuel tank should be increased to an 8t in my honest opinion, it just restricts the ship far too much. The jump range of a fully pimped Viper is also terrible, but that could be offset somewhat by a fuel tank size increase.

Anyone with any sense runs a 2T fuel tank on the Viper and scoops fuel.

An 8T tank would cripple your jump range (that's what excess mass does), and is utterly pointless because the best FSD can only burn 1.5T per jump. That much extra dead weight also harms acceleration and top speed.

The second part of the buff I propose is an additional utility slot. For a combat oriented vessel, 2 slots seems to be a bit lacking.

This does force one to make trade-offs...which being a 100-110T vessel, on average, I have no problems with.

It's already lacking in so many areas outside combat, you could at least make it a little bit more rounded

It's the fighter, it doesn't need to be more rounded. You want more rounded, just by a Cobra, it can fight fine too.

The Viper beats it in shield strength, yaw rate and base speed...

The Viper has vastly better acceleration, which translates directly into maneuverability, if you have good thruster control.

 

[Defacto]

Viper is a light fighter. A local system combat ship. As we have it in game it suits that role perfectly.

Well, technically it's a Heavy Fighter, with a hull mass of 60 tonnes. Compare those to the carrier-based fighters.
Still, what you say is 100% right. Vipers are not for long journeys. They're not for going away from civilization. They're for going to civilization and beating the crap out of the less civilized parts of that civilization, and chasing after those parts if they try to run.
If anything, I think it could be a bit faster and more manueverable. Increase the difference that already exist between this and the Cobra. You'd runt he risk of making the Eagle look a little bit useless then, of course.

 

[StayFrosty]

It's not really better in all aspects at all though. The Cobra has advantages in power distribution, pitch rate, fuel capacity, jump range, boost speed, fuel tank capacity, cargo capacity, internal compartment slots, hard point placement and greater hull strength.

The Viper beats it in shield strength, yaw rate and base speed... that's it. So I really don't know how you came to the conclusion that the Viper may need a slight nerf or the Cobra a slight buff lol.

The Viper costs a lot less, seems way more manoeuvrable to me than the Cobra, and while it's indeed poor at carrying cargo and jumping, it still has four hardpoints, which are way better placed as they're much closer to each other. Overall, it's a better fighter than the Cobra, and obviously, the Cobra is better a hauling stuff.

If we increase its jump range, what does the Cobra still has over it? Larger cargo capacity? Greater hull strength to make up for its large size and low manoeuvrability?

 

[salad]

No way dude, keep it as it is. Its already a fine ship for its cheap price.

 

[Niewinter]

The viper is good how it is no need to buff or nerf it i fly mine with out cargo and 2t of fuel.. its a fighter supposed to fight not to travel long distances or haul any cargo.. there are other ships for that.

 

[kelticfury]

It's part of the reason why the Eagle is a "long range fighter". A Viper is more of a "short range fighter".

Furthermore, a Viper is already better than a Cobra on almost all aspects- if anything, it needs a slight nerf, or the Cobra needs a buff.

REALLY!?!?!? A combat specific ship compared to an all-arounder? They are both fine as they are. This nerf this nerf that hysteria has to stop.

 

[mono]

But my viper doesn't take down condas with three shots of my mining laser, it's not fair and needs balancing

**rage quit**

 

[StayFrosty]

REALLY!?!?!? A combat specific ship compared to an all-arounder? They are both fine as they are. This nerf this nerf that hysteria has to stop.

The point is precisely that buffing the Viper would make it an all-arounder too.

 

[Shads]

MODS.....can we please include the words Buff and Nerf to the profanity filter

 

[Kyokushin]

Viper should be nerfed. Cobra too.... like the Python.

 

[Muzz UK]

I think personally the Viper is weak at purchase but once you invest it's a beast.

The thing is I think it's a really skill dependent ship. A skilled Viper pilot should be able to beat almost any other ship where as a poor pilot will come unstuck against heavily armored ships.

 

[Belsameth]

Viper is fine and does not need any buffs.



Anyone with any sense runs a 2T fuel tank on the Viper and scoops fuel.

An 8T tank would cripple your jump range (that's what excess mass does), and is utterly pointless because the best FSD can only burn 1.5T per jump. That much extra dead weight also harms acceleration and top speed.



This does force one to make trade-offs...which being a 100-110T vessel, on average, I have no problems with.



It's the fighter, it doesn't need to be more rounded. You want more rounded, just by a Cobra, it can fight fine too.



The Viper has vastly better acceleration, which translates directly into maneuverability, if you have good thruster control.

Well, crap. Why didn't I think of that. Reducing the fuel tank, that is. Because, yes, it really does have very limited use anyway. (personally, I basically don't even take it out of the system its parked in)

 

[Ghostickles]

Throw in the new ships so they quit nit picking the ones that work fine.

 

[Lanatir]

The viper needs to be nerfed. it has too much firepower for a ship that size. totally out of whack compared to other ships that tier. also, shields are too strong. Its like a mosquito wearing a machine gun and a full plate armor.