Does the Viper Mk III need a buff?

[Poy]

You conveniently forgot about its abysmal jump range.

That's barely a weakness. An inconvenience if anything.

 

[CMDR Corlas]

Could the Viper be better? Sure... lots of ships could.

Is it good enough? I think so.

Are there better combat ships in terms of price/performace? Probably, doesn't matter though. They make the Viper better, then next day there will be a thread saying Viper has better price/performance than Ship X, and away we go again.

Spent many hours flying a Viper and loved it to bits. Great little combat ship. It doesn't need a buff to do what it does. It could be better, it doesn't need to be better.

I think this is probably the wisest course of action. Ultimately, I would be happier with a new Viper Mk V, returning to the fast & agile fighter roots, than a buffed Mk III.

A zippy and long ranged Mk V with 4 small hardpoints would be almost a dreamship for me.

 

[Trafalgar Law]

I think this is probably the wisest course of action. Ultimately, I would be happier with a new Viper Mk V, returning to the fast & agile fighter roots, than a buffed Mk III.

A zippy and long ranged Mk V with 4 small hardpoints would be almost a dreamship for me.

I was hoping the mk IV's (and other variants) would have been proper upgrades for their respective ships, which would have been a nice compromise between those who wanted buffs and those who hate the very idea of balance passes. Instead they turned out worse in most respects. I can't see a hypothetical Mk V being any better/different.

 

[CMDR Corlas]

I was hoping the mk IV's (and other variants) would have been proper upgrades for their respective ships, which would have been a nice compromise between those who wanted buffs and those who hate the very idea of balance passes. Instead they turned out worse in most respects. I can't see a hypothetical Mk V being any better/different.

I disagree. They were buffs for the ship, just not buffs in the aspects you wanted. Not buffs you like doesn't equate to not buffs. There's enough people playing the game that one revision of a ship will never please everyone.

There are many people who love the new Cobra IV, Viper IV, Eagle III, Keelback, and Asp Scout. There's enough room (given dev time) to make multiple modification types to suit every style though.

 

[the100thmonkey]

you have to hit fa-off right when boost starts, and pull the stick. the sudden acceleration at an angle of your travel direcction will make the ship spin, just like when releasing a baloon. the effect is lesser if you are already fast and it doesn't work at all if you boost straight ahead too much.

Has anyone actually done the stats for FA-off boost turning Vs. standard FA-off turning in the blue-zone?

In my experience, the difference between turn rates when boosting is minimal on the Viper. Other ships in the light fighter class are almost comically exaggerated in comparison. It just pitches like a bathtub - the same manoeuvre in almost any other ship, including some freighters, yields better pitch rates. It's an anomaly, from my perspective - the Vulture, for example, has a very small difference between 0/2/4 pips to ENG when turning: fast, faster and fastest. In the Viper, even in the blue zone, it's a case of tree sap, molasses and warm honey.

And yes,I know exactly what you're talking about with regard to when you time the joystick input. Every other ship still embarrasses it.

 

[Trafalgar Law]

I disagree. They were buffs for the ship, just not buffs in the aspects you wanted. Not buffs you like doesn't equate to not buffs. There's enough people playing the game that one revision of a ship will never please everyone.

There are many people who love the new Cobra IV, Viper IV, Eagle III, Keelback, and Asp Scout. There's enough room (given dev time) to make multiple modification types to suit every style though.

Buffing some aspects while severely nerfing others isn't an upgrade, it's a sidegrade. I'm sure there are people who like them, however I consider them to be a wasted opportunity.

 

[znôrt]

Has anyone actually done the stats for FA-off boost turning Vs. standard FA-off turning in the blue-zone?

In my experience, the difference between turn rates when boosting is minimal on the Viper.

i did some informal tests yesterday and you are right, my memory wasn't serving me well and the viper doesn't flip so much as other ships. weird.

i also forgot to mention that throwing in reverse thrust helps too, seems i do that somewhat inconsciously.

i'll do some more elaborate testing when time permits.