Ships I hate to say it, but...

[Deleted member 110222]

This vessel absolutely wipes the floor with the Cobra Mk III, as a long range trade ship.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/vip...AP3OGxL5VLFnAQAA.EweloBhBGA2H4FMCGBzANokMK6A=

Cheaper, higher range, better armour, more effective internals, IMO superior canopy, better weapon placement.

Only thing the Cobra does better is speed and agility.

I however, want to move to Colonia. Assuming all the outposts there now mean what I think it means.

And in my opinion, the Viper Mk IV is the better ship to go there in.

 

[wrmiller]

This vessel absolutely wipes the floor with the Cobra Mk III, as a long range trade ship.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/vip...AP3OGxL5VLFnAQAA.EweloBhBGA2H4FMCGBzANokMK6A=

Cheaper, higher range, better armour, more effective internals, IMO superior canopy, better weapon placement.

Only thing the Cobra does better is speed and agility.

I however, want to move to Colonia. Assuming all the outposts there now mean what I think it means.

And in my opinion, the Viper Mk IV is the better ship to go there in.

Never flew a Cobra. Skipped right over it and when with the Vipers. It's been a long time, but I do remember liking the Mk IV for exactly the reasons you stated.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Never flew a Cobra. Skipped right over it and when with the Vipers. It's been a long time, but I do remember liking the Mk IV for exactly the reasons you stated.

Oh yes. I find the Viper Mk IV to be better optimised in part that it has a size 1 slot. The ADS uses its slot to maximum potential. I'm OCD like that.

 

[Madrax573]

This vessel absolutely wipes the floor with the Cobra Mk III, as a long range trade ship.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/vip...AP3OGxL5VLFnAQAA.EweloBhBGA2H4FMCGBzANokMK6A=

Cheaper, higher range, better armour, more effective internals, IMO superior canopy, better weapon placement.

Only thing the Cobra does better is speed and agility.

I however, want to move to Colonia. Assuming all the outposts there now mean what I think it means.

And in my opinion, the Viper Mk IV is the better ship to go there in.

I've said it for some time. The viper IV is the Cobra III killer for me. Give me the raider kits for it and I'll be super happy pilot.

Interesting point for you. In the 0-3 Eng pip range the Viper IV is faster and more agile than the Cobra III (Non boost). But the Cobra III is faster and more agile at 4 pips.

Again this is non boosted. The boost bonus for the cobra III is crazy! but unless you have some heavy engineering you can't perma boost in the Cobra III. So I find that the agility or the Viper IV + the military slot + better internal optimisation IMO makes the Viper IV better than the Cobra III in pretty much every role I have use it....

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I've said it for some time. The viper IV is the Cobra III killer for me. Give me the raider kits for it and I'll be super happy pilot.

Interesting point for you. In the 0-3 Eng pip range the Viper IV is faster and more agile than the Cobra III (Non boost). But the Cobra III is faster and more agile at 4 pips.

Again this is non boosted. The boost bonus for the cobra III is crazy! but unless you have some heavy engineering you can't perma boost in the Cobra III. So I find that the agility or the Viper IV + the military slot + better internal optimisation IMO makes the Viper IV better than the Cobra III in pretty much every role I have use it....

Yeah, out here in remote space, the Viper is wonderful. Granted I'm still reliant on the various outposts for repairs, (though I'm a sensible pilot. I've never taken heat damage out here), if you do plan your journeys in such a way the outposts are within reasonable reach, an AFMU isn't needed. Actually IMO, you only need one now if you're going beyond the core. The space between Sol & Colonial is easily accessible to any ship now, so long as it carries a big fuel scoop.

 

[racer1]

It is a great for combat too.

I still prefer my cobra as a run about though.

 

[Jethro49]

I agree OP. I had a long hesitation between the Viper IV and Cobra III for a medium combat-trader, and finally choosed the Cobra. After a first encounter with a wing of pirates in Eagle, I finish my trade run, return to the shipyard and bought a Viper IV ! Same weapon loadout, less agility, less speed, a little less cargo and jump range, but nearly the double in armor and shield for the Viper IV !!

Even on then engine sound design they are even ! The main drawback of the Viper IV is the lack of paintjobs IMO.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

I agree OP. I had a long hesitation between the Viper IV and Cobra III for a medium combat-trader, and finally choosed the Cobra. After a first encounter with a wing of pirates in Eagle, I finish my trade run, return to the shipyard and bought a Viper IV ! Same weapon loadout, less agility, less speed, a little less cargo and jump range, but nearly the double in armor and shield for the Viper IV !!

Even on then engine sound design they are even ! The main drawback of the Viper IV is the lack of paintjobs IMO.

Thankfully, it does have Squadron skins. I use the black and red.

 

[Madrax573]

Tactical paint for me!

Why do people keep saying the Viper IV is slower and less agile than the Cobra III? In normal use where you have 1-3 pips in the ENG and not boosting (because you can't perma boost with a class 3 distro) the Viper IV outperforms the Cobra III. It's only during boost and at 4 pips to ENG does the Cobra step ahead.

People need to look further than the max numbers in coriolis to understand how a ship performs.

This and the better shields/armour coupled with it's tiny size make it so much more capable than people give it credit for.

 

[wrmiller]

Tactical paint for me!

Why do people keep saying the Viper IV is slower and less agile than the Cobra III? In normal use where you have 1-3 pips in the ENG and not boosting (because you can't perma boost with a class 3 distro) the Viper IV outperforms the Cobra III. It's only during boost and at 4 pips to ENG does the Cobra step ahead.

People need to look further than the max numbers in coriolis to understand how a ship performs.

This and the better shields/armour coupled with it's tiny size make it so much more capable than people give it credit for.

I laugh every time someone starts quoting their spreadsheet or coriolis numbers when talking about their ships. There are just too many other variables to take into account to make that nonsense the end-all-be-all (like pilot skill or lack thereof, for example). But to each their own...

 

[Almont]

After a first encounter with a wing of pirates in Eagle

Against a wing of anything, in any kind of Cobra or Viper, you're probably going to want to bug out & continue on your way.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Against a wing of anything, in any kind of Cobra or Viper, you're probably going to want to bug out & continue on your way.

Oh absolutely. I'm not daft. I'll only be engaging lone pirates when I hit Colonia.

 

[Madrax573]

Against a wing of anything, in any kind of Cobra or Viper, you're probably going to want to bug out & continue on your way.

Oh I don't know.

I've taken on wings in the viper iv ok. It's a surprisingly tough ship if kitted out for a fight.

 

[Jethro49]

Oh I don't know.

I've taken on wings in the viper iv ok. It's a surprisingly tough ship if kitted out for a fight.

^ This. I'm not a good pilot so I'll talk for myself only but I can take on 2-3 NPC of average skills in small ships with a Viper IV. Quite stressing, and unforgiving, but still a better chance to fight AND live another day than in a Cobra !

 

[Almont]

^ This. I'm not a good pilot so I'll talk for myself only but I can take on 2-3 NPC of average skills in small ships with a Viper IV. Quite stressing, and unforgiving, but still a better chance to fight AND live another day than in a Cobra !

Wow, I must be absolute dogsh*t. I was scanning satellites @ the Civilian Installation when a wing of 3 Terrorists in Eagles showed up. I was in my Viper IV at the time so I thought "Eh, why not" & engaged one of them. They proceeded to evaporate first my shields, then my ship in under 30 seconds. Now given, I didn't have the ship configured for anything resembling a Bounty Hunter or dedicated fighter at the time but it still shocked me how quickly they destroyed it.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

Wow, I must be absolute dogsh*t. I was scanning satellites @ the Civilian Installation when a wing of 3 Terrorists in Eagles showed up. I was in my Viper IV at the time so I thought "Eh, why not" & engaged one of them. They proceeded to evaporate first my shields, then my ship in under 30 seconds. Now given, I didn't have the ship configured for anything resembling a Bounty Hunter or dedicated fighter at the time but it still shocked me how quickly they destroyed it.

Don't worry, I'm a terrible fighter too.

 

[Jethro49]

Wow, I must be absolute dogsh*t. I was scanning satellites @ the Civilian Installation when a wing of 3 Terrorists in Eagles showed up. I was in my Viper IV at the time so I thought "Eh, why not" & engaged one of them. They proceeded to evaporate first my shields, then my ship in under 30 seconds. Now given, I didn't have the ship configured for anything resembling a Bounty Hunter or dedicated fighter at the time but it still shocked me how quickly they destroyed it.

Don't charge yourself so much Although someone without skills will blame his tools, it's difficult to do a good work with bad tools

The way I equipped and engineered my Viper is mostly dedicated to combat, except for a FSD interdictor, a fixed weapon loadout (I use gimballed MC and pulses), and a SBC. Also I didn't tank it much on hull as I used only the specialized slot for a hull reinforcement mod. So yes, if your ship is not prepared, I guess it can become quickly hot in a fight ! One of the difference between the Cobra and the Viper IV is that it's easier to set up a Viper as an efficient combat ship. In fact, both ships are more or less equivalent if you plan to fight only like Brave Sir Robin

 

[Almont]

Don't charge yourself so much Although someone without skills will blame his tools, it's difficult to do a good work with bad tools

Agreed, but I've read more than a few posts on here about people taking down even large ships with a Viper so... I'm well aware I have a lot of room for improvement in combat skills!

 

[[VR] optimal_909]

Yeah, out here in remote space, the Viper is wonderful. Granted I'm still reliant on the various outposts for repairs, (though I'm a sensible pilot. I've never taken heat damage out here), if you do plan your journeys in such a way the outposts are within reasonable reach, an AFMU isn't needed. Actually IMO, you only need one now if you're going beyond the core. The space between Sol & Colonial is easily accessible to any ship now, so long as it carries a big fuel scoop.

I've covered 100kly+ in an FDL without an AFMU.
Even if you make mistakes here&there, you'll make it back with 80+% on all modules. It is certainly not a must, but it comes handy.

BTW: I have the very same GPU, but the rest of my rig is inferior to yours.

 

[Jethro49]

Agreed, but I've read more than a few posts on here about people taking down even large ships with a Viper so... I'm well aware I have a lot of room for improvement in combat skills!

Well I tried yesterday to take on a deadly NPC Anaconda, one on one, as he was hunting me... Piece of cake I thought. I managed to wear down his shield to an half, but in the time, mine was left with only 1 ring. I think with a SBC it would have been easily feasible, but I hadn't one, and didn't want to put at risk the set of missions I was carrying on, so I bravely high wake If you have room for improvement, so do I