63 replies to this topic

[Gabbatek]

The viper seems useless. Hardly any armor and nothing special about it. I personally think it needs ecm to make it a viable medium mech but i just wanted to hear everyone's opinion on this.

am i crazy?

[Ryokens leap]

Maybe some structure buffs. I was hoping it would be a smaller, faster Shadowcat with no ECM... but sadly it's not.

[Angel of Annihilation]

It is about the most agile and responsive mech in the game with extremely good jumping capability. Additionally it is rather small in size and has decent hitboxes. Lastly with the right omnipods available you can put together some very powerful short range builds. For example if you have the Medusa and the C variant you can put together one with 7 ER SL and 4 MGs which can be fairly devastating.

Overally I find it probably the absolute most fun mech to play in the game and do no regret my purchase, however, at best it is a mediocre mech if I have to be honest. Still it is no where near worthless.

[N a p e s]

I'm looking forward to the c-bill release despite the negative reviews.

It can't be any worse than the Phoenix Hawk, right?

[Champion of Khorne Lord of Blood]

Its basically a Cicada that jumps really high and has way more firepower and also doesn't die on side torso loss.

Its no world ender, but its something.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

N a p e s, on 14 October 2016 - 11:53 AM, said:

It can't be any worse than the Phoenix Hawk, right?

While it isn't as bad as the Pixie or the Vindi, it does suffer quite a bit compared to other mechs, including the Ice Ferret (only due to quirks though, if the Ferret had none, the Viper would be better).

Dakota1000, on 14 October 2016 - 11:53 AM, said:

Its basically a Cicada that jumps really high and has way more firepower and also doesn't die on side torso loss.

Its no world ender, but its something.

It doesn't have quite the sustainable firepower like the best Cicada does, the CDA-2B.

[JC Daxion]

Ryokens leap, on 14 October 2016 - 11:47 AM, said:

Maybe some structure buffs. I was hoping it would be a smaller, faster Shadowcat with no ECM... but sadly it's not.

Umm it is smaller, and faster than the shadow cat...



OP: No clue how a 140 KPH mech, with decent armor, and a good weapon load is considered useless. it can out run many lighter mechs IS side included.. It's also a good amount faster than the shadow hawk, and many cicada builds.

It is a VERY good light hunter.. probably one of the best outside of a streak mech, but most of those can easily be out run by most lights..

No it's not a KD3, but the thing is a beast.. I hate running across a good pilot in them when i'm in a light.. I'd almost rather go against an ARC, at least those are easier to leg..

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 14 October 2016 - 11:55 AM, said:

It doesn't have quite the sustainable firepower like the best Cicada does, the CDA-2B.

Maybe a bit more firepower, but lacks JJ's which can be a big difference, depending on where you are.

Edited by JC Daxion, 14 October 2016 - 12:02 PM.

[Quicksilver Aberration]

JC Daxion, on 14 October 2016 - 12:00 PM, said:

Maybe a bit more firepower, but lacks JJ's which can be a big difference, depending on where you are.

Sure, it can have a heftier alpha, but the point I was making is that the CDA-2B will have the better DPS in the end which is really important for mechs that can't match the raw firepower of the heavier mechs. The JJs are nice for certain maps, but considering what it sacrifices to mount that many it isn't as much of a plus as you think.

[Cyborne Elemental]

If you think the Viper is useless, go try piloting an Urby, then come back and tell us how useless the Viper is again.

[0bsidion]

Gabbatek, on 14 October 2016 - 11:41 AM, said:

The viper seems useless. Hardly any armor and nothing special about it. I personally think it needs ecm to make it a viable medium mech but i just wanted to hear everyone's opinion on this.

am i crazy?

Nope, I pretty much knew it was another Ice Fail It from day one. There are some mechs you just know are going to flop, barring ridiculous amounts of quirking.

Mister D, on 14 October 2016 - 12:13 PM, said:

If you think the Viper is useless, go try piloting an Urby, then come back and tell us how useless the Viper is again.

You just lost all credibility there, the Urbie is awesome. You're Urbieing wrong

[N a p e s]

So then, between Vipers and Cicadas, what should be my next acquisition?

[Y E O N N E]

My only issue with the Viper is that its arms are only marginally more durable than those on a Mist Lynx.

Otherwise, I find it solid.

[Gabbatek]

Viktor Drake, on 14 October 2016 - 11:53 AM, said:

It is about the most agile and responsive mech in the game with extremely good jumping capability. Additionally it is rather small in size and has decent hitboxes. Lastly with the right omnipods available you can put together some very powerful short range builds. For example if you have the Medusa and the C variant you can put together one with 7 ER SL and 4 MGs which can be fairly devastating.

Overally I find it probably the absolute most fun mech to play in the game and do no regret my purchase, however, at best it is a mediocre mech if I have to be honest. Still it is no where near worthless.

but because of the lack of armor the mech gets obliterated in close range combat more than a standard light!

agreed that its the best jumper in the game though. It makes good large laser trolling

[Navid A1]

Mister D, on 14 October 2016 - 12:13 PM, said:

If you think the Viper is useless, go try piloting an Urby, then come back and tell us how useless the Viper is again.

At least the urbie can mount 2 LPLs!
Or an AC!

[Quicksilver Aberration]

N a p e s, on 14 October 2016 - 12:28 PM, said:

So then, between Vipers and Cicadas, what should be my next acquisition?

Cicadas have their own glaring issues, they certainly aren't as perfect as the leaderboard made them look. If you were going to choose between them, I'd say the Viper simply because it is more fun to pilot, but if you are looking for raw potential, I'd go Cicada since the CDA-2B can be a powerhouse in the right circumstances.

[Rekkon]

The Viper is a fine machine once you forget it is a medium. In many ways I think of it as a bulked up Mist Lynx (faster, jumpier and with more hardpoints). If you have figured out how to pilot one of those effectively, you will do fine in a Viper. If not, the learning curve is going to be painful. You can be absolutely all over the place with it, and that is exactly what you should do because fighting like a normal mech is going to get your extremely long face punched in. Accept that there are very few opponents you can take toe-to-toe and harass the **** out of them instead. The Viper has its niche but is certainly not a mech for everyone.

[Snowbluff]

Viktor Drake, on 14 October 2016 - 11:53 AM, said:

It is about the most agile and responsive mech in the game with extremely good jumping capability.

Lastly with the right omnipods available you can put together some very powerful short range builds.

Does it have piece of ************* **** design set quirks for the omnipods? If so then these two points are mutually exclusive.

[Mole]

I do pretty well in my Viper with 6 ER Small Lasers and an SRM6+ART. No quirk set bonuses because I switched omnipods, it still scoots around and kills stuff just fine. Dunno what you all are complaining about.

[JC Daxion]

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 14 October 2016 - 12:06 PM, said:

Sure, it can have a heftier alpha, but the point I was making is that the CDA-2B will have the better DPS in the end which is really important for mechs that can't match the raw firepower of the heavier mechs. The JJs are nice for certain maps, but considering what it sacrifices to mount that many it isn't as much of a plus as you think.

well to tell you the truth, the 2B is the only cicada i don't own, outside of the Hero... and i can't recall the last time i even saw one in game


that said,, I have run into a viper quite a few times in my raven 4X and huggin over this event, and it rarely goes well.. lol

Like i said, i'd rather take my chances verse an ARC

Quicksilver Kalasa, on 14 October 2016 - 12:35 PM, said:

Cicadas have their own glaring issues, they certainly aren't as perfect as the leaderboard made them look. If you were going to choose between them, I'd say the Viper simply because it is more fun to pilot, but if you are looking for raw potential, I'd go Cicada since the CDA-2B can be a powerhouse in the right circumstances.

Yea, i have been meaning to get the 2B, but i just haven't yet. You can run the 2B build on the 2A though with some slight differences.. the 2A runs hotter, BUT has more range, and shorter duration during your shots. Tthe 2B can burst multiple times a bit better and do it again sooner., the movement quirks are in the realm of not to noticeable. the 2A also has it's weapons in the torso, and the arms are kinda fragile, so that can be a bonus. tank some damage with the arms and still keep all your fire power, though your firing becomes a bit more limited, but honestly it's not that bad.


That said.. I have been running the 3F with Dual large pulse, XL300 and some JJ's, been loving it! I should try loading up my 2A Again with the pulse build (i used to run it before quirks hit, but then swapped to ML because of quirks). I just hated the 6 ML and parked it long ago and basically just kept using the 3M. I never really even ran my 3F till this event when i found this build.. I am surprised i don't see it in game more often, the thing is pretty PUG-Tastic! I built it to have an IS version of my shadow cat.. funny part is, i do better in the Cicada than the shadow cat, even though the cat has much further range, and JJ's.. I guess the greater agility of the cicada and just being a bit over all faster, makes it work better for me despite the lesser range, and no stealth mode.


all this said.. It kinda makes me want the viper, but i am not sure it is different enough than the shadow cat to warrant it at this point in time. (i have ARC, shadow cat, nova, and stormcrow) Kinda think i'd rather get an adder and kit-fox with the heroes coming at this point..

Edited by JC Daxion, 14 October 2016 - 02:26 PM.

[Yellonet]

I haven't seen a viper in quite a few games, so they don't seem very popular.