19 replies to this topic

[TangoUniform]

So...I checked out the viper...figured, hey it's fast. It's jumpy. Looks like a medium that plays like a light. Cool. No ecm, but with that speed, should be ok. Paid mah $20.

They drive great. Fun to run--but....

First thing is, I figured, hey, vipers should be great for Scouting missions--fast and brawly right?

Well... They have to go up against 50-55 tonners. Every scouting mission I've gotten in with one, I have received complaints (justifiable ones now that I see the Viper for the lemon it is).

Ahhh, it's just guys griping because they lost, right? Hmmm, nope. Even in general play, it's an underperformer. I do better with lights.

Well organized teams going against me as a viper IGNORE ME. They realize that these mechs have less firepower than most 30-35 ton lights so they just save the viper for last.

Yes, I see there are some other viper threads out there, and some commenters have come to the same conclusion. Even if you use all your hard points, you'll be undergunned and for some reason still running hot. The viper needs to be revamped. It should be able to have more firepower than lights with better heat management options.

So yeah, fun to drive, if you didn't have to shoot things.

As is, save your money.

[Snazzy Dragon]

If you get the hero you suddenly can mount enough small pulse lasers to match a nova's firepower, and have far more maneuverability to use them. Otherwise though they are very underwhelming mechs.

[RestosIII]

Honestly, it could really use a quirk pass a-la the Linebacker. Relatively good quirks on the pods, with a nice 8/8 bonus set of quirks. With its current quirks, and it just being the Clan equivalent of a Cicada with more rockets strapped to the legs, it isn't really worth it IMHO.

[Spheroid]

Nobody forced you to buy them. Also they are available for c-bills.

Edited by Spheroid, 27 November 2016 - 10:13 PM.

[Lucian Nostra]

The Viper doesn't have many builds to run across all the chassis but 8x ERsmalls or 4-5 SPLs + 4 MGs are vicious on the Viper. There really isn't a reason a Viper shouldn't be beating the crap out of light mechs it runs into (better heat management, more armor) or being a bigger pain for enemy teams while run in the same vein as lights.

[Gas Guzzler]

Lucian Nostra, on 27 November 2016 - 10:19 PM, said:

The Viper doesn't have many builds to run across all the chassis but 8x ERsmalls or 4-5 SPLs + 4 MGs are vicious on the Viper. There really isn't a reason a Viper shouldn't be beating the crap out of light mechs it runs into (better heat management, more armor) or being a bigger pain for enemy teams while run in the same vein as lights.

The reason is size/geometry

[Y E O N N E]

The Viper needs some armor quirks on the arms.

It can join the club.

[The Unstoppable Puggernaut]

I absolutely love this mech. It's a great purchase (I waited for c-bills) but I am going to get the Medusa for definite tonight. It is very flimsy but dont expect this to get fixed. I am hoping the Ferret gets tanked up just to make sure it's not obsoleted, else the Viper completely stomps it.

Someone posted, there's not that many flavours to take but while I feel this might be true, I think the following builds need to be setup:

4 x med lasers
6 x sml puls + 4 m-guns
3 x srms 4's (perhaps with some sml lsers)
8 x sml lasers.

There's a lot of options but it is very restrictive so be warned.

I'd say this mech is a 9/10 for sure !!

[Lucian Nostra]

Gas Guzzler, on 28 November 2016 - 12:01 AM, said:

The reason is size/geometry

Size isn't that bad, geometry it's just the arms which is why the Medusa fell out of my favor so it would be nice if they quirked viper arms but all in all I'd take a Viper over a Cheetah

[Johnny Z]

I guess its Cicada chat day for me today. But the Viper is like the Clan Cicada, it cant dodge fire like a light, just has the speed of a light, and more the firepower of a medium.... Its a good combo if used right. The Viper is tougher than the Cicada also. If I did pilot Clan mechs it may be one of my favourites because a fast mech can dictate where to fight.

Poke and fall back and then again.

Edited by Johnny Z, 28 November 2016 - 08:31 AM.

[Gas Guzzler]

Lucian Nostra, on 28 November 2016 - 08:23 AM, said:

Size isn't that bad, geometry it's just the arms which is why the Medusa fell out of my favor so it would be nice if they quirked viper arms but all in all I'd take a Viper over a Cheetah

I'm not sure. I initially said I would too early on, but I think the ECM makes it easier to flank and harass because you don't broadcast a red dorito should you happen to slip into someone's FOV. Its definitely not as bad as people say though.

[Lucian Nostra]

Gas Guzzler, on 28 November 2016 - 08:31 AM, said:

I'm not sure. I initially said I would too early on, but I think the ECM makes it easier to flank and harass because you don't broadcast a red dorito should you happen to slip into someone's FOV. Its definitely not as bad as people say though.

/shrug to each his own. Some will prefer ECM of the cheetah for sneakage and some will prefer the greater hitting power speed and armor of the viper

[Johnny Z]

Lucian Nostra, on 28 November 2016 - 08:40 AM, said:

/shrug to each his own. Some will prefer ECM of the cheetah for sneakage and some will prefer the greater hitting power speed and armor of the viper

Yep go with all mediums mostly, exactly because if some light does get close your not screwed with long range weapons. Don't want to be in a short range fight with CERLL.

I use 2 LL(LL have very short duration compared to CERLL or even ERLL, both CERLL and ERLL good only under certain circumstances) and 2 mediums on my X-5 and that works well and 6 mediums on my 2A(C). Both work well but not ideal for short range fight, I just hope they are badly damaged by the time they get to me.

CERML can do damage quite a ways out.... Or go all short range and hunt lights to your hearts content...

Super fast mediums can beat larger mechs, but only on their terms, and that's after they are softened up from range or similar.

If it was faction play invasion maybe an all long range load out would work. May be some epic scores with that even.

Edited by Johnny Z, 28 November 2016 - 08:57 AM.

[Nameless King]

Seems to work well enough

[QuantumButler]

Viper is a quality ****mech, one of those mediocre to bad robots some folks fall in love with anyway due to endearing traits or playstyles.

For example, since the resize, the Wolfhound is bad, but I still like it all the same.

Just so long as you don't bring it to comp drops or FW you're fine.

[Albino Boo]

The Vipers isn't a bad mech but its not a great one either. It has no niche that it excels at, so there is no reason beyond personal play style to take the Viper instead of any other clan medium.

[Johnny Z]

Albino Boo, on 28 November 2016 - 09:04 AM, said:

The Vipers isn't a bad mech but its not a great one either. It has no niche that it excels at, so there is no reason beyond personal play style to take the Viper instead of any other clan medium.

I think being the fastest Clan medium mech gives it a good role. It is the fastest isn't it? I don't pilot Clan mechs.

Anyway speed gives the best armor in the game, cover.

[Appogee]

Lucian Nostra, on 27 November 2016 - 10:19 PM, said:

...4-5 SPLs + 4 MGs are vicious on the Viper C.

The C was fun to level for this reason. The others were a chore as they just die to easily.

[CygnusX7]

Bought the VPR-C with CB for it's JJ's.
Decent fun and relatively HE with 7 ER-Smalls.

Will I buy 2 more? Did I buy 2 more? Meh.

[Mcgral18]

They seem adequate


By far the best HeadHunter, with 3 Flamers and 6 SPLs
Gotten me 20+ in the past 2 days.

Edited by Mcgral18, 28 November 2016 - 11:38 AM.