Viper Mk IV: Difference between revisions

The Viper MkiV is a beefed up variant of the Viper MKIII; sacrificing mobility for overall toughness. Its appearance is very similar to that of the MKIII and it can be difficult to tell the two apart, especially with the former's ship kit.  

By default, the MKIV has weaker shields than the MKIII due to its higher hull mass. However, the MKIV is capable of fitting a larger, class 4 [[Shield Generator|shield generator]], whereas the Viper MKIII is limited a class 3. This results in the Viper MKIV potentially having much stronger shields than the MKIII. Stronger shields combined with a higher base hull and more space for [[Hull Reinforcement Package]]s can make the Viper MKIV substantially more resilient than the MKIII. These improvements come with the drawbacks of slightly reduced turn rate and speed. This makes it vulnerable to attacks from more nimble ships like [[Eagle]] and [[Cobra MkIII|Cobra]], and can be a disadvantage in a direct firefight against a Viper MKIII. Worthy of note is that the Viper MKIV suffers from [[heat]] dissipation issues similar to that of its predecessor, though it does run slightly cooler.

The Viper MKIV's [[hardpoint]] options are identical to those of the Viper MKIII. It has two small hardpoints located on either side of the cockpit and two medium hardpoints located beneath it. However, unlike the Viper MKIII (which has underside-mounted class-2 medium hardpoints on a horizontally flat plane), the class-2 medium hardpoints of the MKIV are on a slightly angled part of the hull. The hardpoint placement on the Viper MKIV gives it excellent convergence with fixed weapons but a narrow field of fire when using gimballed or turreted guns. Additionally, with a Class 4 Distributor, it can more easily power more effective weaponry such as [[Railgun]]s and [[Shield Booster]]s. Though it is one of the least agile small ships, it is also one of the toughest. It is far more resilient than any other ship in its price range and can hold its own in a pure combat role. Additionally, a fair cargo capacity makes it a viable option for a [[Pirate]].

The Viper MIV can be useful in multi-role. With 50T of capacity it is a surprisingly effective trader for a fighter class and an above average jump range lets the ship take on an explorer role. Compared to the [[Cobra MkIII]], a similarly priced ship, the Viper MKIV is slower with a worse turn rate, but faster acceleration in all directions. It has a lower cargo capacity and a slightly worse jump rate than the Cobra MKIII. What sets the Viper MKIV apart from the Cobra MKIII, however, is its substantially stronger shields. Even with a Class 3 shield generator the Viper MKIV has almost 2x the shield strength of a Cobra MKIII. With a Class 4 it has even stronger shields than that. This means that the Viper MKIV can sacrifice hull reinforcement for cargo space without making as large as a sacrifice in terms of defensive capabilities compared to the Cobra MKIII. Commanders looking for a ship that can deliver similar multirole performance to that of the Cobra MKIII and still be able to take a few hits may appreciate the Viper MKIV.

The Viper MkIV has a delta-shaped hull which is significantly wider than the MkIII. The cockpit is situated just behind the bow, slightly raised. Compared to the MkIII, the MkIV's cockpit is less exposed. The MkIV lands on two small rear struts and one large front strut which doubles as a boarding ramp to the cockpit.

 

Overall the Viper MIV is a trade of mobility for defensive capabilities and can more appealing to commanders used to bulkier ships. Whether it is better or worse comes down to player preference and skill, though it does have a much higher price.