Laser-Vipers
| Strength 6x * |
Agility 5c * |
Intellect 3d |
Willpower 4d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
2 (10) 0 |
* Laser-Vipers generally know either Boxing or Martial Arts, but not both. If a Laser-Viper goes with Boxing, he or she will have a d code for Strength and a c code for Agility, but if they go with Martial Arts, Laser-Vipers will have an x code for Strength and a b code for Agility.
Origin:
Cobra's Laser-Vipers are normal humans, aside from dressing up in an outlandish uniform to commit high tech terrorism, that is. Though they wield undeniably advanced gear with which to commit their crimes, Laser-Vipers possess no super-human powers to speak of.
Powers:
(none)
Hindrances / Augmentations:
(none)
Equipment:
Helmet (s): wielding energy emitters on each side of their head, Laser-Vipers utilize serious headgear. These large helmets provide their heads intensity 8, or +2, protection against physical and thermal assaults, and offer their wearers' vision Screened Senses of like capability.
Laser Cannons (a): rigged up on a powerful battery backpack, these twin cannons flank the head of Laser-Vipers in the midst of their work. They inflict one's Agility +5 in Armor Piercing energy damage each, though the overall damage Laser-Vipers inflict is boosted +1 if both are used.
The trick with these directed energy weapons is that they have a short range, thanks to atmospheric dispersal. Outside of near missile distance, the damage they inflict is reduced by half, and past far missile distance, they inflict no damage whatsoever.
Though their direct danger radius is small, Laser-Vipers can incur devastating damage by 'lighting up' targets with their laser beams. Sure, they won't do damage if they're far enough away, but these beams act as a perfect means for other Cobras to home in on their targets.
Skills:
Advanced Guns (a): their claim to fame, Laser-Vipers are capable of handling all manner of directed energy weapons with ease. Whether wielding their laser cannons, or items such as an ionic blaster, disintegrator rifle, or sonic disruptor, Laser-Vipers do so at a reduced difficulty.
Boxing (s): Laser-Vipers are well-versed in the art of self-defense. For some, this takes the form of the boxing skill, which lets them divide their pre-card play action score between two unarmed melee assaults, the second of which they may attempt as a contingent action.
Engineering (i): while the physical demands of the job are hard enough, Laser-Vipers must also become accredited engineers, if they are not already. Thanks to this essential occupational skill, Laser-Vipers may reduce the difficulty of card play required when building things.
Guns (a): all Cobra operatives have the ability to wield firearms in combat, and Laser-Vipers are no exception to this rule. They may discharge any standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol at one difficulty level lower than is usually required.
Martial Arts (a): Laser-Vipers are well-versed in the art of self-defense. For some, this takes the form of the martial arts skill, granting them a reduction in the difficulty of actions intended to dodge attacks, catch thrown weaponry, or to strike in unarmed melee.
Military (w) all Cobra operatives possess this skill, even if the organization they belong to isn't a real military. It nonetheless has a structure, however Byzantine, and Laser-Vipers are taught how to effectively fight in groups, if they somehow haven't been previously.
Contacts:
The Laser-Viper corps are often given a hard time, discounted as simply 'waving flashlights around' in the midst of a fight. But when they call down precision airstrikes after having the nerve to keep a laser lock on targets while taking enemy fire, other Cobras can't help but notice.
So while they may get guff, Laser-Vipers are nonetheless held in high regard by their fellows, and can generally rely upon them for assistance under most circumstances. It depends, ultimately, on how well-liked an individual Laser-Viper is to his or her compatriots.
Calling:
Various Callings: the vast majority of Laser-Vipers joined Cobra for their own, evil purposes, so choose a villainous calling and go with it! Nominally, Laser-Vipers are motivated by Greed for material possessions or aspirations of World Domination, but anything else can apply.
Costume:
The original Laser-Viper ensemble includes a dark gray, long-sleeved shirt, belt, and trousers, black leather boots, blue leather gloves, blue web gear to secure their battery back packs in place, and a dark gray mask worn beneath a steel bucket helmet with a black visor.
Notes:
It takes a special kind of Cobra to become a Laser-Viper. For one thing, prospective candidates for the Laser-Viper corps require pinpoint accuracy coupled with steady hands, for reliably aiming lasers manually at any distance is folly without both of these characteristics.
Furthermore, a considerable amount of backbone is necessary to do their jobs. They're the guys that have to stand up and 'paint' their foes with targeting beams until ordnance fired by Cobra air support can vaporize them, after all - usually while taking concentrated enemy fire.
On top of all that, prospective candidates for this corps need to be an accredited engineer, whether before their Laser-Viper training commences or in the midst of it. Naturally, this is a stumbling block for many Cobras, because let's face it, most Cobra operatives aren't all that bright.
Any Cobra who has these qualities can likely earn themselves a Laser-Viper uniform and pay. And while most of them do appreciate the pay, it takes a special kind of Cobra to fill this niche. The members of this terrorist organization aren't well known for being team players, you know.
2001 Variations
Equipment:
Knife (s): though they didn't carry one previously, Laser-Vipers recently started hauling blades with them in a boot sheath. Made from m.s. 12 materials, they can either be used to cut through items of up to like m.s., given enough effort, or to inflict +2 slashing damage in melee.
Laser Rifle (a): this time around, Laser-Vipers carried a much smaller laser rifle, instead of their twin cannons. Much lighter, it allowed them better mobility in the field. Of course, this weapon still inflicts their Agility +5 in Armor Piercing energy damage per deadly blast.
Costume:
The second Laser-Viper ensemble is completely different, and is comprised of a long-sleeved blue shirt under a red vest, blue trousers supported with red belts along the legs, black leather boots and belts, a black sheath, red leather gloves, a red face mask, and a blue helmet.
2003 Variations
Equipment:
Wraith Suit (i): the primary benefit of being a member of the Python Patrol, other than the further increase in pay, is that Laser-Vipers are given a wraith suit. This ensemble makes them invisible to infrared scanners and radio wave detectors with intensity 15 ability.
Costume:
The third Laser-Viper outfit is a variation on the first. It consists of a black and red Pythonized, long-sleeved shirt, belt, mask, and trousers, black leather boots, gold leather gloves, pouches, and web gear, and a golden bucket helmet with a black visor.
2017 Variations
Equipment:
Laser Pistol (a): in the event that the use of their main weapon isn't viable, Laser-Vipers now carry a spare in a handy hip holster. They can discharge this much smaller weapon to inflict their Agility +4 in Armor Piercing energy damage, up to six times per charge.
Laser Rifle (a): Laser-Vipers once again carried a much smaller laser rifle in 2017, instead of their twin cannons. Much lighter, it allowed them better mobility in the field. Of course, this weapon still inflicts their Agility +5 in Armor Piercing energy damage per deadly blast.
Costume:
The fourth Laser-Viper ensemble is like the first, and includes a dark gray, long-sleeved shirt, mask, and trousers, a light gray belt and holster, black leather boots, blue leather gloves, blue web gear to secure their battery packs, and a steel bucket helmet with a black visor.
Extra Goodies:
Cobra directories featuring a version of Laser-Vipers:
| 1990 | 2001 | 2003 | 2017 |
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