Vipers
Melee RV 10 |
Coordination RV 6 |
Brawn RV 6 |
Fortitude RV 10 |
Intellect RV 6 |
Awareness RV 6 |
Willpower RV 10 |
Lifestyle RV 15 |
Repute RV -5 |
Health: Fortune: |
32 22 |
Origin:
While heavily armed, lightly armored, and supremely motivated, Cobra Vipers are still only human. While they may seem more on occasion, these light infantry forces are naught but normal humans, lacking ascendant powers whatsoever, but sometimes wield more advanced gear.
Known Powers:
(none)
Limitations / Enhancements:
(none)
Equipment:
Grenades: supplementing the launcher on their RDT-7, Vipers carry several grenades strapped onto their combat vests. They can toss these explosives within their normal range, which then detonate to inflict rank value 30 Slashing damage to their target sector.
Helmet: made from modern acrylic / composite materials, Viper helmets feature a mirrored face shield that serves as an homage to their Commander. This gear provides Vipers rank value 10 protection against physical assaults, reduced -2 RS versus energy-based damage.
In addition to the raw defense they offer their wearers, Viper helmets are equipped with a basic Radio Telecommunications suite, which allows them to send and receive audio signals to Tele-Vipers, or other Cobras similarly equipped, with rank value 4 ability - within five miles.
Knife: Cobra Vipers carry a blade to cut their way through foes or obstacles in a pinch. These are implements made from m.v. 40 materials, and can either be used to inflict Slashing damage in melee combat, or to slice their way through items of up to a like m.v.
Multi-Layer Body Armor: Vipers dress to survive the missions Cobra sends them out on. Their multi-layered armor is a vital component of this goal, which offers their torsos and lower arms rank value 10 protection against physical assaults, or rank value 4 defense versus Energy damage.
RDT-7 Assault Rifle: the Viper's best friend, this versatile weapon can fire a single round to inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage, a short burst to inflict rank value 10 Piercing damage, or fire continuously to inflict rank value 20 Piercing damage, as is needed.
But that's just the beginning! Each RDT-7 has an underslung grenade launcher that can bloop explosives anywhere within three sectors of its wielder's person, which detonate to inflict rank value 30 Slashing damage to everyone occupying the sector it explodes within.
Finally, Vipers can make use of an advanced, light-intensification night vision telescopic sight with a built-in range finder, allowing the RDT-7 to serve as a sniper rifle, as well. It can only effectively discharge one round per turn when utilized in this fashion, however.
Sidearm: in the event that their RDT-7 is indisposed, Vipers can make use of a backup piece in a pinch. They can discharge a single round with this weapon to inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage, or a semi-automatic spread of lead to inflict rank value 10 Piercing damage.
Quirks:
(none)
Skills:
Guns: all Cobra operatives have the ability to wield firearms in combat, and Vipers are no exception to this rule. They may discharge any standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol as if their Coordination was +1 RS higher than is listed above.
Martial Arts style A or B: furthermore, Vipers are well-versed in the art of self-defense. They either wield style a, allowing them to Pound or Concuss foes regardless of their comparative Brawn or Fortitude, or b, granting them a +1 RS to hit in unarmed combat.
Military: those Vipers who didn't master this skill before joining Cobra have definitely earned it by the time they are promoted to this rank. It allows them to function effectively within a combat unit, and gives them insight into Cobra's byzantine organizational structure.
Contacts:
As members of Cobra who have proven themselves to the organization, Vipers can theoretically consider the entire organization a reliable contact. However, it may serve the Command's interest to decline assistance to a given Viper, thus making 'reliable' something of a misnomer.
Costume:
The Viper uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared Cobra blue shirt beneath a black flak jacket with red trim, Cobra blue trousers with red racing stripes, black leather boots, a black leather belt, red wrist guards, and their distinctive blue and silver helmets.
Notes:
Vipers are an official step up from Cobras, being those who have proven their effectiveness in battle, whether before signing up with the organization or on several missions for the group. As such, they're looked upon somewhat more favorably than their predecessors overall.
Sure, they're just as disposable as most of Cobra's teeming masses, but the organization pays Vipers better, at least. And, given the choice between salvaging a Cobra and a Viper, the Command is more likely to stick with the villain they know is more likely to further their goals.
1989 Variations
Equipment:
Wraith Suit: the primary benefit of being a member of the Python Patrol, other than the further increase in pay, is that Vipers are given a wraith suit. This ensemble makes them invisible to infrared scanners and radio wave detectors with rank value 50 ability.
Costume:
Vipers joining the Python Patrol wear a uniform which includes a Pythonized gray collared shirt beneath a Pythonized gray and yellow vest, Pythonized gray and yellow trousers, black leather boots and wrist guards, a yellow leather belt, and their distinctive black and red helmets.
1990 Variations
Equipment:
Colt Commando Rifles: these replacements for the Viper's RDT-7s can fire a single round to inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage, a short burst to inflict rank value 10 Piercing damage, or fire continuously to inflict rank value 20 Piercing damage, as is needed.
Grenade Launcher: these replacements for the Viper's RDT-7s can bloop explosives anywhere within three sectors of its wielder's person, which detonate to inflict rank value 30 Slashing damage to all uncovered targets occupying the sector it explodes within.
Laser Pistol: supplementing their knockoff sonic cannons, all Vipers testing such gear are also given a highly dangerous laser pistol with which to combat GI Joe. These weapons can be fired to inflict rank value 6 Armor Piercing Energy damage per deadly blast.
Sonic Cannon: though derived from only partial schematics stolen from GI Joe, Cobra's sonic weaponry is effective - if defective. It can be fired to inflict rank value 20 Force or Energy damage, depending on their settings, but fails explosively on a white operations check.
Costume:
Vipers testing new Cobra weaponry wear a uniform comprised of a brown collared shirt beneath a brown vest with gold trim, brown trousers, black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, golden knee and arm pads, and distinctive golden helmets with a red mirrored face shield.
1994 Variations
Equipment:
Helmet: the fourth Viper uniform has a helmet which includes all the features of its predecessors, in addition to a built-in air filter (rank value 20 filtration of toxins), as well as a third generation night vision mode that can be toggled on or off as is required.
Laser Pistol: supplementing their jury-rigged Master Blasters, all Vipers carrying such gear are also given a highly dangerous laser pistol with which to combat GI Joe. These weapons can be fired to inflict rank value 6 Armor Piercing Energy damage per deadly blast.
Master Blaster: this heavy duty, multi-purpose weapon can fire a single laser beam or a cyclical burst of such, inflicting either rank value 10 or rank value 20 Armor Piercing Energy damage, as is necessary. It can also launch missiles with these characteristics:
Handling RV 20 |
Velocity RV 75 |
Durability RV 20 |
Damage RV 30 Slashing (fragmentary) |
Costume:
The Vipers' fourth uniform is different than its predecessors, consisting of a long-sleeved purple shirt over a purple vest with orange trim, purple trousers beneath gray and orange hip-hugger boots, gray gloves, an orange utility belt, and a purple helmet with an orange visor.
1997 Variations
Equipment:
Flight Pod: the so-called 'Trubble Bubbles', these one-man aircraft consist of a flight chair strapped to a jet turbine, which is armed with a few missiles and a chin gun. Some Vipers are actually adept in the use of these contraptions, which are described in their own entry.
Costume:
The fifth Viper uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared burgundy shirt beneath a blue flak jacket with black trim, burgundy trousers, black leather boots, a black leather belt, black and burgundy wrist guards, and their distinctive burgundy helmets with silver face plates.
2002 Variations
Costume:
The Vipers' sixth uniform is comprised of a short sleeved, collared camouflage gray shirt beneath a gray flak jacket, camouflage gray trousers, gray leather boots and wrist guards, a gray leather belt, and their distinctive gray helmets with silver mirrored face plates.
The seventh, Crimson Strike Viper uniform, includes a collared crimson shirt beneath a crimson flak jacket with silver trim, crimson trousers, black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, silver wrist guards, and distinctive crimson helmets with a silver mirrored face plate.
The Vipers' eighth uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared camouflage blue shirt beneath a black flak jacket, blue camouflage trousers, black leather boots and wrist guards, a black leather belt, and distinctive black helmets with a blue mirrored face plate.
2003 Variations
Equipment:
the Venom Cycle (v1, v2): a match for GI Joe's various fighting motorcycles, the Venom Cycle is equipped with a plug and play weapon arsenal, not to mention a heavily armed, detachable sidecar that can serve as its own gun station! It is described in its own vehicular entry.
Costume:
The ninth Viper uniform includes of a short sleeved, collared camouflage brown shirt beneath an indigo flak jacket, camouflage brown trousers, indigo leather boots and wrist guards, a black leather belt, and their distinctive gray helmets with gold mirrored face plates.
The Vipers' tenth uniform is comprised of a short sleeved, collared gray shirt beneath a crimson flak jacket, gray trousers, black leather boots, crimson wrist guards, a black leather belt, and their distinctive black helmets with gray mirrored face plates.
The eleventh Viper uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared Cobra blue shirt beneath a red flak jacket, Cobra blue trousers, black leather boots and wrist guards, a black leather belt, and their distinctive Cobra blue helmets with silver mirrored face plates.
2004 Variations
Equipment:
Climate-Controlled Suit: the third generation Viper uniform, in addition to providing their head and torso the usual defense and utilities, also had built in heating and cooling implements, which provides them rank value 20 protection against cold and heat.
On top of this, those Vipers who were previously associated with the Python Patrol were given new suits of this stripe that also functioned as wraith suits. In other words, they have a further benefit of making their wearer invisible to radar and infrared light with rank value 50 ability.
Costume:
The Vipers' twelfth uniform is an all-new creation. It is comprised of a red and purple jacket, red and purple trousers, purple gloves, black leather boots, knee pads, and wrist guards, a brown leather belt, and a red, serpent-themed helmet with a black, mirrored face shield.
The thirteenth Viper uniform is a variant on the twelfth. It includes a Pythonized red, gray, and black jacket and trousers, black leather boots and knee pads, a black leather belt, golden arm braces, gray gloves, and a black, serpent-themed helmet with a golden, mirrored face plate.
2005 Variations
Equipment:
Climate-Controlled Suit: the third generation Viper uniform, in addition to providing their head and torso the usual defense and utilities, also had built in heating and cooling implements, which provides them rank value 20 protection against cold and heat.
Costume:
The fourteenth Viper uniform is a variant on the twelfth, and consists of a red, blue, and black jacket, red and blue trousers, blue gloves, black leather boots and knee pads, red wrist guards, a black leather belt, and a blue, serpent-themed helmet with a silver, mirrored face shield.
2006 Variations
Costume:
The fifteenth, squad leader Viper uniform includes a short sleeved, collared Cobra blue shirt beneath a black flak jacket with red trim, Cobra blue trousers with red racing stripes, black leather boots, a black leather belt, red wrist guards, and their distinctive blue and gold helmets.
2008 Variations
Equipment:
the CLAW (v3): Vipers are often assigned vehicles on the job, assuming they demonstrate at least a passing competence with them. Enough Vipers have managed this with the CLAW that they have their own, specialized uniform! These vehicles are described in their own entry.
EK-99 Missile (v2): allowing Vipers to hit far above their weight in the middle of combat on the tundra, these single-shot anti-tank weapons are great against Maulers, Snow Cats, and other GI Joe vehicles. These man-portable weapons have the following characteristics:
Handling RV 10 |
Velocity RV 50 |
Durability RV 10 |
Damage Rank Value 30 Slashing (fragmentary) |
M-60 Machine Gun (v2): Vipers working towards a promotion to SAW-Viper often carry these weighty weapons in the field. They can fire a short burst of ammunition to inflict rank value 20 Piercing damage, or be fired continuously to inflict rank value 30 Piercing damage.
Costume:
The Vipers' sixteenth uniform includes a long-sleeved, collared Cobra blue shirt under a gray and black flak jacket, Cobra blue trousers with black racing stripes, black leather boots and gloves, a gray leather belt, and distinctive blue helmets with silver, mirrored face plates.
The seventeenth Viper uniform is comprised of a short sleeved, collared Cobra blue shirt under a black and white vest, Cobra blue and white trousers, black leather boots and gloves, a brown leather belt, and distinctive blue helmets with silver, mirrored face plates.
The Vipers' eighteenth uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared red shirt under a gray and blue vest, red trousers with blue racing stripes, gray leather boots, gloves, and knee pads, a black leather belt, blue wrist guards, and black helmets with silver, mirrored face plates.
2009 Variations
Equipment:
Wraith Suit (v1): the primary benefit of being a member of the Python Patrol, other than the further increase in pay, is that Vipers are given a wraith suit. This ensemble makes them invisible to infrared scanners and radio wave detectors with rank value 50 ability.
Costume:
The nineteenth Viper uniform includes a short sleeved, collared Pythonized gray shirt under a gray and yellow vest, Pythonized gray and yellow trousers, black leather boots, gloves, and wrist guards, a gray leather belt, and black helmets with red, mirrored face plates.
The twentieth, Crimson Strike Viper uniform consists of a short sleeved, collared crimson shirt under a black and silver vest, crimson trousers, black leather boots and gloves, a black leather belt, silver wrist guards, and crimson helmets with a silver, mirrored face plate.
2011 Variations
Equipment:
Missile Launchers: allowing Vipers to hit far above their weight just about anywhere, these weapons (of varying types) all fire powerful anti-armor weaponry, which can be launched as many times as they can be reloaded. Their projectiles have the following characteristics:
Handling RV 10 |
Velocity RV 50 |
Durability RV 10 |
Damage Rank Value 30 Slashing (fragmentary) |
Costume:
The Vipers' twenty-first uniform includes a short sleeved, blue collared shirt under a black and red vest, blue trousers with red racing stripes, black leather boots, knee pads and gloves, a black leather belt, blue wrist guards, and a blue helmet with a silver, mirrored face plate.
The twenty-second Viper uniform includes a short sleeved, blue collared shirt under a black and red vest, blue trousers with red racing stripes, black leather boots, knee pads and gloves, a black leather belt, red wrist guards, and a blue helmet with a silver, mirrored face plate.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of Vipers:
1986 | 1989 | 1990 | 1994 | 1997 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
2008 | 2009 | 2011 |
Note: 2002 saw three Viper releases (Versions 6, 7, and 8), as did 2003 (Versions 9, 10, and 11), while 2004 saw two (Versions 12 and 13). 2008 also saw three Viper releases (Versions 16, 17, and 18), while 2009 saw two (Versions 19 and 20), as did 2011 (Versions 21 and 22).
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