Viper Mk III: Difference between revisions

Added some lines on the weaknesses of the Viper.
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The '''Viper Mk. III''' made its first appearance in the game in Standard Beta 1. It is the main vessel used by station security forces and law enforcement, and is currently the fastest ship available to purchase. It is a highly effective combatant, with a turning rate comparable to that of the Sidewinder and the same weapon capacity as the [[Cobra Mk. III]]. This has resulted in a "run away from whatever you can't beat" ship which has been known (with sufficient skill) to defeat any other ship class released thus far in single combat.
The '''Viper Mk. III''' made its first appearance in the game in Standard Beta 1. It is the main vessel used by station security forces and law enforcement, and is currently the fastest ship available to purchase. It is a highly effective combatant, with a turning rate comparable to that of the Sidewinder and the same weapon capacity as the [[Cobra Mk. III]]. This has resulted in a "run away from whatever you can't beat" ship which has been known (with sufficient skill) to defeat any other ship class released thus far in single combat.


Its main drawbacks are that its heat dissipation, power generation and hyperspace capacity do not equal that of the Cobra, which limits the value of having the same hardpoint capacity; mounting the ship's full weapon weight makes it very short-ranged, and an energy-heavy armament causes it to either overheat or use all available power very quickly.
Its main drawbacks are that its heat dissipation, power generation and hyperspace capacity do not equal that of the Cobra, which limits the value of having the same hardpoint capacity; mounting the ship's full weapon weight makes it very short-ranged, and an energy-heavy armament causes it to either overheat or use all available power very quickly. Fuel is also an issue as the ship comes with a tank with a capacity of only 4, and it can be extremely difficult to find a fuel efficient setup that does not compromise combat ability.  


In addition to its official police/security role, the Viper's speed, range and combat capability make it ideal for bounty hunters, small-load couriers, mercenaries or smugglers, while its small cargo capacity makes it a very poor choice for merchants, and a survivable but inadequately profitable platform for pirates.
In addition to its official police/security role, the Viper's speed, range and combat capability make it ideal for bounty hunters, small-load couriers, mercenaries or smugglers, while its small cargo capacity makes it a very poor choice for merchants, and a survivable but inadequately profitable platform for pirates.