Enhanced Vipers

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Viper-E Patrol
Viper E patrol.PNG
Size (W×H×L) 50 m×18 m×65 m
Cargo capacity 1 TC
Cargo bay extension N/A
Maximum speed 0.35 LM
Manoeuvrability Pitch: 1.8
Roll: 2.8
Yaw: 1.8
Thrust: 35
Energy banks 3
Energy recharge rate

Excellent (4.5)

Gun mounts Fore: 1x
Missile slots 2
Shield boosters available Yes
Military shields available N/A
Hyperspace capable N/A
OXP or standard OXP
Available to player N/A
Base price N/A


Overview

This OXP adds enhanced Viper Patrols, Viper Pursuits, and Viper Interceptors, to richer, stable systems; GalCop Deputies to stable poor/average systems; and Bounty Hunters to unstable/dangerous systems. They are not über ships - far from it - but with the advent of heavy pirates and heavy assassins into the core game, some toughening of GalCop Vipers seemed appropriate.

Hopefully, the sight of a squad of Vipers being trounced by a gang of bandits, or getting slaughtered by a bunch of assassins, will become less common. Some enhanced Vipers have highly skilled pilots, so any players acting as bandits should beware.


History

In a dangerous Ooniverse, the richer stable systems had traditionally been safe havens for traders. However, in the poorer, less well-policed systems, piracy was increasing. When tougher ships became available, pirate clans grew bolder, and those safe havens became the target of increasingly frequent raids. GalCop Vipers bore the brunt of these raids, and their losses began to mount. When trade started to suffer, the wealthy merchant guilds got together, and decided something had to be done. After much haggling, they struck a deal with GalCop, Faulcon de Lacy, and Griff Industries, to finance the building of enhanced replacements for the ageing Vipers. With a view to spreading the potential benefits to poorer systems, the Bounty Hunters Guild was brought onboard. As is often the case though, budgetary constraints - brought about by spiraling costs and pocket-lining by unscrupulous bureaucrats - limited the scope of the enhancements.

Nevertheless, GalCop's enhanced Vipers are now starting to make their presence felt, and this it is hoped will eventually turn the tide, and perhaps restore some semblance of normality. The improved performance and durability of the enhanced Vipers has also attracted the more skillful pilots, and recruitment - which had been declining - is on the up.


Viper-E series

The Viper-E series is a combined effort of Faulcon de Lacy and Griff Industries. By using advanced technology, it was possible to improve the original Vipers to a certain extent. Moreover, even a cost-effective upgrade of the earlier models is possible.


Viper-E Patrol Viper-E Pursuit Viper-E Interceptor
Picture
(click to fully expand)
Viper E patrol.PNG Viper E pursuit.PNG Viper E interceptor.PNG
Size (meters: WxHxL) 50 × 18 × 65 50 × 18 × 65 50 × 18 × 65
Mass (tons) 34.041 t 34.041 t 35.218 t
Cargo capacity (tons) 1 (not expandable) 1 (not expandable) 1 (not expandable)
Maximum speed (LM) 0.350 0.380 0.520
Maneuverability Pitch: 1.80 / Roll: 2.80 / Yaw: 1.80 Pitch: 1.80 / Roll: 2.80 / Yaw: 1.80 Pitch: 2.00 / Roll: 4.20 / Yaw: 2.00
Thrust 35 40 55
Energy banks 3.0 3.0 5.0
Energy recharge rate Excellent (4.50) Excellent (4.50) Excellent (6.50)
Gun mounts & Turrets Fore: 1x
Rear: N/A
Port: N/A
Starboard: N/A
Turrets: N/A
Fore: 1x
Rear: N/A
Port: N/A
Starboard: N/A
Turrets: N/A
Fore: 1x
Rear: N/A
Port: N/A
Starboard: N/A
Turrets: N/A
Missile pylons 2 2 3
Shield Upgrades Boosters Boosters Boosters
Hyperspace capable No No Yes
Available to player No No No
Base price (Cr) N/A N/A N/A


GalCop Police Deputies

To protect the less advanced and average systems with stable governments, a contract with the Bounty Hunter Guild was signed. In exchange for a number of Viper-E Pursuits and some credits, their experienced pilots would act as deputies there.

Click on thumbnails to view full-size images:


Remarks

Additional to the enhanced Vipers the GalCop police emblem and individual escape capsules are added to all core-vipers. Viper Pursuit, in the core-game just shown as Viper, is now correctly named.

The package is adjusted to Illicit Unlock OXP, Sniper Gun.OXP, Carriers.OXP and Carriers with turrets.OXP.


Credits


Requirements

Oolite V 1.88 or higher.


Download

The Enhanced Vipers could be found on the Expansions Manager or alternatively here: Enhanced Vipers OXP


License

CC BY-NC-SA.png
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).
To view a copy of this license visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0.


Version History

  • Version 0.52 / 2021-12-03 / Montana05:
small tweaks to adjust better with other OXP's
  • Version 0.51 / 2021-10-07 / Montana05:
removed a test routine in the script
  • Version 0.50 / 2021-10-07 / Montana05:
initial release


Quick Facts

Minimum Oolite versionCPU usage lowMemory usage lowGPU usage low

Tag-colour-blue.png Stronger GalCop Space Police will offer better protection for traders


Version Released License Features Category Author(s) Feedback
0.52 2021-12-03 CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Ship Ships OXPs Montana05, Cody BB


Links

  • Piracy (pirates in GalCop space)
  • Law (the law in GalCop space)