Why Do We Love The Viper?

[@Fallouttec]

I feel like the VP-9 exists purely to satisfy Mechfrog’s desire to watch the world burn in glorious plasma fire.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I cannot argue with this.

[@robrib2682]

It indeed is the praise Zorg loadout if there ever was one

[@TravisWilliam-m7k]

Yes let it 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@TravisWilliam-m7k]

For marshmallows of course 😊

[@TravisWilliam-m7k]

And Capellans can get some sweet plasma tanning treatment also...........yes plasma tanning for them all lol

[@Bomfunker91]

I can't blame the Kallon designers for using so much of the Crusader in making the Viper. When you're already producing the best-looking mech around, why not try to make another of it?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yep. Solid reasoning.

[@StarlightSocialist]

I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT MECH THE RECORD SHEET WAS DEPICTING! Thank you Mech Frog, you've cleared up a twenty year old mystery!

[@MechanicalFrog]

We all learned something this week.

[@milesrost6674]

"Mech Frog have you snapped? No, I'm saving that for 2026". Your ability to casually toss in humor with great narration is what keeps me coming back. Plus I support your endeavors. May the algorithm forever shine in your favor. Thanks man!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you. I appreciate that some enjoy the dry deadpan humor.

[@Ironclockwork]

"Maybe the real Vipers were the damage sheets we filled in along the way." Memes aside, this is a fascinating look at a "newcomer" 'Mech that I feel can be justifiably shoehorned into the official continuity without feeling like it's composed of pure cheese. Thank you for your hard work.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Agreed. Thanks for coming by, as always. Have a great week!

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

I had no idea that the mech outline on the mech sheet was an actual mech. The more you know.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's nice to have the story now.

[@th3b33f]

I had no idea this 'mech existed and always thought the Armor Doll was a Crusader. Thank you for the education o7

[@MechanicalFrog]

When I saw the backstory, I knew it had to be a video. Have a great week!

[@Psychohistorian42]

They used that paper doll in the Mechwarrior 2 handbook, as well, which lent the picture a little mystique because none of the Clan mechs look anything like it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The mystery deepened...

[@isaacrubin9606]

I love all the Lyran’s inefficient advanced lasers. So I know and am fans of most Blazer and Bombast-wielding designs. This one was an actual production model instead of a prototype, so that’s extra points in my book. And that white and purple color scheme keeps tricking my brain into thinking that’s Blitzwing.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah. I was just playing around with that one and something about it said it was a keeper.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

I miss the old ass, apocryphal Bombast laser from Mechwarrior 4: Black Knight. It sort of acts like a Charge Beam from Metroid, where you had to hold the button down to build damage, then release. The closest analog in contemporary Mechwarrior games are the Gauss Rifles in MWO. Honestly, I miss the original Bombast in that game. Seems far too gimmicky in actual Battletech to make effective, but maybe I'm missing something. What I do know is that I used to poke the heads off Annihilators and Supernovas with them in MW4 multiplayer LAN way back in the early oughts; keep in mind, the far more commonly-played (and distributed) MekTek variant of MW4 Mercenaries replaced the Bombast Laser entirely with the Continuous Laser weapon so odds are I'm one of the few souls left who both remembered the original Bombast from that game, and even fewer among those who actually liked it.

[@kryptonianguest1903]

​@atmosdwagon4656 Closest thing in BTC is PPC capacitors.

[@Andrewlik]

Thank you for covering the Viper! One of the coolest mechs. Now what about the Viper, the Viper, and the Viper? I'd love to see those covered

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm not sure about the Viper but I will be covering the Viper eventually.

[@Andrewlik]

@@MechanicalFrog thank you! The Viper is one of my favorite robits

[@ero9841]

That record sheet made me hunt for this mech when I was a kid. Now it has my favorite weapons the binary lasers. It's everything I could ask for. Finally a heavy mech that I truly like.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Today is a glorious day, then!

[@ero9841]

@@MechanicalFrog now we just need a model

[@StarlightSocialist]

You know, it wasn't until today that I finally "got" the Binary Laser. When I started playing Battle tech, I only looked at the numbers (in Heavy Metal Pro) and the Binary Laser seemed out of place. It had more heat than damage, so it's not an 'efficiency' weapon, and it had the same range as the standard Large laser, so it wasn't Extended Range either. I thought, for just one more ton you could get two regular large lasers and have MOAR damage for the same heat. So what gives? Today I realized that it deals 12 damage, which, coincidentally, is the amount of armor+structure of the head location. It's the lightest Inner Sphere weapon that can decapitate in a single shot. Also, it's got the flair of being a double barrel laser! Good choice for a favorite weapon!

[@Yacovo]

VP-9: "I have heat issues, and I am going to make that everyone else's problem as well." Thanks for the video.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah. Thanks for giving it a go.

[@georgesulea]

As a human/rhino/unicorn hybrid, I thank you for bringing our plight to light...and thanks for doing this piece, I really did think that mech in the template was a crusader:) And, as usual, cool MF variant:)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you could come by. When I saw this fluff I knew it had to be a video asap.

[@Ruggedtoaster]

Love it, my gaming group doesn’t understand why I keep trading things to get crusaders, but soon they will learn to fear the viper’s sting!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yes! This is the plan.

[@zachklopfleisch8501]

I always thought the mech on the record sheets was a Chameleon, for some reason. And the VPN-5 is a nasty introtech machine: You can walk and fire 2 LL while closing and remain heat neutral, then switch to 6 ML at close range while only building up a couple heat a round? This is some serious competition for the Grasshopper.

[@georgesulea]

BTW, I think we fans need mech frog merch, would love a shirt or even a coffee mug I could sip from as I watch mech history:)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Guess what? www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/58013127-mechfrog-avatar?store_id=40734 :D

[@georgesulea]

@@MechanicalFrog YAY!

[@BoisegangGaming]

I really love the concept of this. Taking a design that didn't make it into the end product and giving it a new lease on life is great. Sure, we haven't really heard of it before, but I like to imagine that's because it's like that one friend everyone has where they forget their name and face but are still able to sort of recognize them.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The explanation is plausible and fun, and the mech itself isn't game-breaking. If new mechs are going to be added to the timeline, this is how it should be done.

[@theintern2960]

They already made a 'Mech with four plasma cannons? Poor MechFrog. A solid MF variant was born, regardless.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I probably wouldn't have gone with a mace but, I'm glad they did.

[@kryptonianguest1903]

​@@MechanicalFrog"Oh, did you overheat? That's such a pity." *BONK!*

[@ogrehaslayers605]

I was absolutely confused by the comment section of your post yesterday. Viper? I picture a Dragonfly in my mind, but i kept seeing Crusaders, lol. Really great video, man! I learned so much!

[@MechanicalFrog]

It definitely threw a few people off the scent yesterday.

[@Brigand231]

Ok, I'll admit it. I didn't know this one. When I read Viper I was expecting a clan mech loaded with pulse lasers and a targeting computer.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Got ya. :D

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

Thank you so much for all the effort you put into making this video, I enjoyed it. I really like this mech both the looks and the loadout. I like all the variants especially because I’m a laser boat fangirl but I love the VP-9 and I can’t wait to try it out especially against clanners.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregdomenico1891]

You got me on this one; I thought we were going to get the Clan Viper.

[@MechanicalFrog]

:) Lots of people thought they were getting the Crusader.

[@gregdomenico1891]

@@MechanicalFrog Yeah, I was going with the title and not the paper doll, which TBH I always thought was a Crusader. Learned something new today.

[@lukedudley5030]

Those were the best record sheets...all the information easy is to read and set out much better than the newer ones....ive used the viper but was a bit meh with it...cheers for the great vid and keep my battletech addiction fed :-)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks for giving it a go. Have a great week!

[@ashhawk7489]

I did a custom build using improved heavy large lasers, one in each arm two medium pulse lasers and all the clan doubled heat sinks I could stea... tactically aquire. Thing runs hot but has a mean alpha strike.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Quite the light show.

[@scytheseven9173]

Thanks for the video! Very funny to use Death From Above attacks against the Jade Falcons. Love the MF variant!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Bold and brave.

[@LeftMech]

I find this mech to be a rather interesting Inner Sphere design. In some regards I feel like the Viper would likely pair well with mechs such as the Grasshopper, Guillotine, and Enforcer. Jumping heavies or heavier weight mediums are very potent brawlers with enough mobility to perform in urban, wooded, or hilly terrain. In such a lance, I imagine the Viper would be the opener and hole puncher, with the rest pouring on the fire closer in.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It would absolutely go well with a Grasshopper and Guillotine.

[@jamievandyke2354]

Awesome job frog love the Viper vid then I'm a little bit of a simp when it comes to the crusader and crusader like mechs

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@andydogdad4349]

Love seeing obscure mechs I haven't seen before! Great video as always

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@fusfauxpas]

Was only previously aware of the clan-medium Viper. Great videos

[@MechanicalFrog]

Now we have three to sort through.

[@samuelbennett3441]

We love it because "Blazer" is very fun to say

[@Tatsu_of_Liao]

Very informative, as well as fun. Thanks ‘Frog!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ZacharyChristy-Aronson-wg5ki]

Thanks for the heads up on this one both in Game and those cool developer notes. I still thought we were dealing with a crusader on the record sheet.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The cool fluff story was too good to pass up when I saw it.

[@jalakor]

This is my first time finding out that the Viper wasn’t just the Clan Medium…

[@MechanicalFrog]

So now we have three Vipers to sort out...

[@jalakor]

@@MechanicalFrog is the other non-Clan-Medium one a Dark Age/ilClan era thing?

[@doomed_fireman]

@@jalakorIt's a Clan Heavy Battlemech from TRO 3055, but this time it's the name the inner sphere call it ;)

[@jalakor]

@@doomed_fireman what’s the Clan name?

[@doomed_fireman]

@@jalakor Black Python. Later renamed White Raven when the Raven Alliance brought it back, so it's got *3* names.

[@nichweidman7858]

Your timing is amazing. Literally the day before this dropped, I was looking at an old record sheet and wondered if there was ever an actual mech to go with the outline.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah! Well, there you go. :D

[@tripwire31]

The Viper VP-1 and VP-7 are definitely favorites of the new mechs. Due to many reasons, the main is a dedicated Blazer mech. It's a weapon that's my personal favorite weapon to have on a mech. Now the VP-9 is a FUN mech, I just wish it had a Blazer. The mech itself shows how great the rec guides can be, adding mechs that aren't the most optimal mechs ever made, it's just a fun mech to run that can be used in earlier eras, that's always going to be a plus in my book. PS Originally (in universe) the Viper was supposed to be a dual ER PPC mech, but due how extremely rare they'd gotten, they had to settle with the Blazers they had in mass.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm glad they didn't go with the ERPPC route.

[@devalk_]

4 Plasma cannons and a mace is such a beautiful build Never expected something like that to actually be canon

[@MechanicalFrog]

A bit cheezy but it can be countered, which is important.

[@devalk_]

@@MechanicalFrog Yeah I think Plasma Rifles would do far better against heat-sinked targets But I still love that a unit like it even exists in canon, The Mace especially doesn't get enough love, weight/4 that's TSM capable is nothing to sniff at

[@g3heathen209]

2 binary and 3 pulse medium lasers that's a grasshopper build I use in mechwarrior online.

[@MechanicalFrog]

:O You were a secret Viper this whole time.

[@readwatchlisten2863]

I'm 100% with you when it comes to reconing in new tech and mechs into the old time line. Seems wierd to me. That said, I didnt know anything about this mech. Been learning a lot lateley from this channel. Good work.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks for giving it a shot. Have a great week!

[@laggybum3218]

I learned to play Battletech using those sheets and playing with the little metal mechs! I was just getting into painting them when my group shifted focus to rpgs. I remember one match, I had my mech, a Battlemaster, partially hidden by a small hill and an enemy Warhammer shot me in the head with a PPC blast. Shortest match I ever played. MWO is adding their new weapons on 03/19 and I can't wait to slap those plasma cannons on them!

[@JohnDoe-oh7gf]

Didnt know of it before your vid. I really like the design with the cockpit resembling a snakes head. The artist should be commended. Cheers

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

OK, I'll admit I was a little mad at first because this mech shares a name with the Dragonfly. But I actually really like the Viper now. It's a new old mech done right. I really like how a point is made to use the Binary Lasers as it's main weapon, it brings interest to a weapon people might have ignored. In taking a stab at making a custom variant, I originally wanted to strap on some Heavy Large Lasers, but I also wanted to keep the double barrels on the arms. After puzzling over it for a bit, I have a rough idea (though I'm still polishing it a bit). I'm going with a pair of Light PPCs with capacitors in each arm. Engine is a light 280 with 4 standard jump jets, and the armor scheme is 14 tons light ferro-fiberous. For close combat, it has 2-4 medium pulse lasers, mounted in the center and side torsos. The part where I'm having trouble is figuring out if a targeting computer counts PPC capacitors. This won't affect the design too much, it's more of a space issue than anything. All the remaining space possible will be devoted to Double Heat Sinks, though it's looking like I'll run out of space. I might be able to switch it over to a standard engine though, which would be interesting.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Light PPCs + Capacitor is a nice combo.

[@maximusdarc]

VP-9 is so wild, it combines my (ill-advised) love of melee mechs and infernos into one package. I'll take a company.

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

Thankyou for answering the long troubling question of "What mech is that?" from the blank mech sheet art. You got me here for sure, as I never heard of the 70 ton Viper before. I was expecting the Clan Viper which I am not a huge fan of. I will have to spend some time looking into this mech for sure.

[@FixBot_GER]

I wasn't aware that we had a case of mistaken identy on the record sheets... ;) Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sure thing!

[@gregkun1]

I have a nice variant of the Viper as well. VP-OZ BV: 2,238 Cost: 17,058,707 C-bills Movement: 5/8/4 (4 IS Improved JJs LL/RL & LT/RT) Engine: Clan 350 XL Clan Double Heat Sinks: 18 [36] HEAT: 37/36 Gyro: Standard Gyro Armor: Internal: 107 (Clan Endo-Steel) Armor: 217/217 (Clan Ferro-Fibrous) 11.5 tons Weapons: 3x Clan ER Medium Pulse Laser in the RA, CT, & LA 2x Improved Large Lasers in the LT & RT Equipment: Clan Targeting Computer in the LT I wanted to try out the improved lasers on this one. I was thinking of Improved Heavy Lasers but I thought it was a little too much heat and less range for it to handle with the already hot ER Pulses. Now with all the Clan Gnocchi Upgrades towards Structure, Armor, and a little help from the IS in speed. Getting into that 14-hex sweet spot for all its weapons to come online all the easier and the Targeting Computer to assist even under fire. For another variant, I took out all the lasers and put 2x Clan ER-PPCs in the LA&RA. Added a Clan ECM in the CT, and Clan LAMS in the RT. All this for a Mobile Armored Sniper Role. HEAT is 38/36 with this one. I left everything else the same.

[@kierdalemodels]

I do now love the Viper. And want a model!! Particularly the 9 to charge it in, burn stuff and batter my foes with that mace! Thanks again for an excellent video, MechFrog, and the colour versions were *really* good and striking schemes this time!👏👏👏

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's one of my new favorites. Thank you!

[@VickyAmaru]

If you put LFF armor on the VP-1 and change the pulses to regular mediums, you save enough weight to switch out that XL engine for a light engine. It's a nice way to make the 'Mech more durable.

[@randomnetsurfer]

I'm wary of using the plasma cannon as a main weapon, given that it does no damage. But that quad-mount is *scary* so... okay! Haha I also had no idea that the Viper was the record-sheet mech. Someone told me once that it was a Crusader and I just went with that.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah I think many just assumed it was a Crusader and moved on with our lives... :D

[@randomnetsurfer]

@@MechanicalFrog "Moved on"?? What is this sorcery of which you speak?? :D :D :D

[@elchjol2777]

I like the look of this mech,though it doesn't scream Viper to me. It seems more like a bug version of the Crusader. The cockpit design just screams bug mech. Either way I want one just think of some enemy MechWarrior seeing Viper show up on the target system when they were near extinct and just say "What the blue blazes is a Viper?!"

[@thecommuterzombie]

Wait, that's a lot bigger than a Dragonfly! 😆

[@MechanicalFrog]

*gasp*

[@haileysaint5443]

I think my Mech Factory up needs updating because this one isn't in it, lol. I do remember reading about it in the Rec Guide, and this video was pretty informative about it, too. Your video did let me create it in the app, though as a 'custom' design sadly. That said, I still decided to make my own custom variant after I re-created the VP-1. The VP-ISM follows my usual penchant for the Re-Engineered Lasers as well as my preference for the Partial-Wing. It mounts 1 ton less armor than the VP-1, but utilizes Clantech for the engine, structure, and Double Heat Sinks as well as the armor (while Clan Standard is virtually the same as IS Standard, using Clan makes it seem cooler, lol). While it keeps the same ground speed as the VP-1, that is 4/6, replacing the 4 Jump Jets with 4 Improved JJs gives it 4/6/5. Of course, I did also mount Triple-Strength Myomer and a supercharger on it, so its movement profile is now 4(5)/6(10)/4(5) - at least according to my Mech Factory app. I had to drop 3 DHS so now it only has 14, which should work perfectly for using the TSM. To borrow a Mech Frog phrase: "Now for the fun stuff." It carries a Large Re-Engineered Laser on the right arm, with 4 Medium Re-Engineered Lasers split between the left arm (2), and both side torsos (1 each). An Alpha Strike would generate 33 heat, and the 14 Clan DHS can bleed off 28 of that, leaving 5 left over. It has a BV1 of 1605, and a BV2 of 2008. Pretty costly at 20,726,173 C-bills, but it was developed in the ilClan Era (specifically 3150), so I don't think the C-bills matter anymore. But it can deliver a total of 37 points of damage alpha striking, not counting when it gets in your face and pummels said face with its fists. But, hey, if money's no issue and the battle value doesn't matter, go for it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah the Viper isn't in MegaMek either. I had to build them myself.

[@Richy0326]

New toys to play with in MWO, AND I find out who the record sheet mech is? Today has been quite the day! The stock build for the Viper is an absolute beast - it's got as much armour and an Orion, and excellent firepower. I like it! FWL: "We want a mech that's rugged" Kallon Industries: "You want an Orion with jump jets. Got it."

[@MechanicalFrog]

The customer is always right... to ask for a rugged brawler.

[@Zues120]

I feel like i just learned about this mech listening to wolfnet the other day i had no clue there was an 'inner sphere viper' and that the 'viper' im aware of is really a 'dragonfly'

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

I recently discovered it and love it. A jumping heavy with binary lasers, amazing in raw power. Just what I needed to round of the Thunderbolt and Crusader.

[@jeremysaklad6703]

I really appreciate that the Viper has balanced quirks, too. Clearly *someone* cares about that.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Absolutely.

[@LadyNightscale]

First! And great work as always, froggefriend

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yay, thank you!

[@0Elmilo0]

I love the Viper, its my mech of choice in my friends RPG campaign. One day I won't be able to close the gap for my VSP lasers but it hasn't happened yet.

[@KingMakerRook]

I actually have two Vipers printed out and in my book of laminated sheets, it’s such a cool machine. I want to try and get a model painted up in my merc livery, it rocks

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a great mech. One of my new favorites after this.

[@harbingerx7793]

Interesting Mech I've never heard of before. Thank you sir.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Very welcome

[@AnimeSunglasses]

18:00 What would, indeed. It sure works on me!

[@keebbles]

Heck add armored cowl to give it a more snakelike flare. Claws each arm, TSM, improved JJs, 6 med pulses, tc, two cool shots . That'd be my version. But when I saw it on phone (360 dp) I thought it had 2 lasers each arm, 2 srm 4s, 2 torso lasers and those were on shoulder turrets too. (So 1 srm4 1 laser) on a turret rt/lt. Would adding a PWS to this mech help alleviate its inherent heat problems as well as enhance its mobilty? Save in heat sinking or a couple smaller weapons. How would you use PWS on the Viper? Aka Flying Snake.😊

[@AtreidesT660]

Thank you Frog for making vids on mechs I didn't know anything about. There's an abundance of videos on popular mechs and unless they're a deep dive vid, I find them somewhat meh. Similar to "Oh look an Ultramarines video ! Haven't seen many of those."😂

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you. It's important to me that the lesser known mechs/tanks/tech get their 15 minutes of fame. BT is a big universe with lots of fun toys in it.

[@chaosknight9131]

In its canon form, the Binary Laser is just not worth it due to the heat. But thanks to ever-flexible house rules, I always bump them up to the 18 damage that they're worth

[@wraith7989]

For some reason I thought that mech on the original record sheets was a chameleon.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hrm... sneaky Chameleon.

[@135forte]

I like the blazers because they head clip, but that 9 seems like a play it once before your table bans it mech.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It is a friendship tester. Use sparingly.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

"Grasshopper's long lost brother." A very basic, durable laser boat. I'd probably take a Swayback over one of these for the role, but it's not bad. The Plasma spammer seems like a nasty customer to meet up close, especially if they have a friend covering the approach with an Angel ECM.

[@MechanicalFrog]

One nasty customer.

[@bigjollyeammon]

Jumpy mechs with pulse lasers is my new favorite thing so I do enjoy the MF Viper.

[@rahjar]

Thank you, I played back in the day, and didn't know about the sheet. It feels like a missed opportunity(with hindsight) that the mech on the sheet wasn't the training mech that impersonated other mechs(the chameleon) to me though, thoughts?

[@MechanicalFrog]

I just always assumed it was the Crusader.

[@Star-qc4br]

Maybe it's just the "aesthetics nerd" in me; but, I'm really loving this mech! Perhaps it's a death trap but, I can't think of too many COOLER ways to leave the world of the living than sitting in the cockpit of one of these... Have minis of this mech been produced by anyone before? I can't find images of any.

[@caarn6940]

Immediately made it in Megamek soon after I watched the video yesterday, and probably going to make one that could fit as non-canon during the clan invasion. Don't have a crusader yet model wise, but I love the way it looks beefy. The Viper is that but has that killing power before it comes in and punches the poor bastard fighting it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Viper has become on of my favorite new mechs as a result of this project.

[@PraetorGix]

Thanks Sarna for the disambiguation page. Honestly if this mech was going to be retconned into the lore they could have taken 5 more minutes and give it another name, something along the lines of I dunno, Poochie.

[@MechanicalFrog]

RubberDucky.

[@elijahsnow3119]

Had no idea about this one. But it makes me want to get a mixed Lancer or variant viper variance. Perhaps with a CR-3L. For missiles AND lasers that jump.

[@MechanicalFrog]

They would make a good pair.

[@elijahsnow3119]

@@MechanicalFrog Same movement profiles.

[@mahazkei7709]

Realise I'm two months late after discovering the Viper, but I'm looking to MegaMek a Viper VP-1R that uses the originally intended ER PPCs, but puting aside the issues of the tech becoming scarcer, I have to question the original placement of all the lasers. I figured one arm would have two MPLs, the other only one, and both side torsos would have the Blazers split between them. But the original configuration puts most of it too far onto the right side of the mech, leaving the left as a slightly more balanced design much like the Crusader that it was based on, or the later Succession Wars era VP-5. Any comments on that? I'm trying to rework the design to better match what could have been if the design was issued a little earlier, and less rushed.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a bit of an odd duck.

[@zzbeers]

After hearing the words "it needs more snoot" i noticed the head is that of a hognose snake.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Always needs more snoot.

[@zzbeers]

@@MechanicalFrog and that snoot needs to be booped.

[@GraniteGhost778]

Heh, I remember that record sheet. First time I ever played, I had a friend over after school and he started explaining everything to me. We used chess pieces as our mechs.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Excellent use for chess pieces when not... playing chess. :)

[@RalphyNoPants]

Here, I sent some happy brain chemicals to delay the mind losing to 2028, hopefully. Good work. Keep it up!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot for giving the video a go.

[@Dokdiamant]

Also, if I had to build the VP-7, and I know it will become a "Hot Boat", I would have taken out the BAP, and placed in a MASC System to use the Heat for extra fast movement. I mean, it should be an 70 Ton "Hit and run" mech, but it cannot really run right? :D (I think the BAP is wasted on this one) And... Idk how much Tons it would cost, but wouldn't it make sense to make the whole Head an Escape Pod?

[@Radical.J]

your VP-MF is what I wish the Battle Cobra was, even though the cobra does a phenomenal job at 40 tons, poor weapon placement was always the death of me :(

[@MechanicalFrog]

Life is full of little challenges and less than optimal mech variants.

[@Gigas0101]

I wonder how this thing would do with variable pulse lasers? I appreciate the VP-MF still having some anti-infantry, though I love seeing 'mechs that can cover multiple bases.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Always good to have a flamer or a few machine guns around to remind the infantry and battle armor who's in charge.

[@ftako9028]

Blazers! My favorite obscure and impractical weapon.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Big warm Zap.

[@R17inator]

Curious to see what the title for the vid of its Clan namesake is going to be when we do get that. Maybe "Why do we love the _other_ Viper (AKA Dragonfly)?", hehe.

[@MechanicalFrog]

"Why Do We Love The Glorious Viper Darling?"

[@Cadiangrunt99]

i knew abou hte viper if I recall right I saw an interview with the guy who formalised it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sweet!

[@Cadiangrunt99]

@@MechanicalFrog also love listening to your videos while I paint BT and other minis!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Awesome to hear. Thank you.

[@MrFleem]

So many mechs with VF-1 Valkyrie DNA. Which was inspired by the F-14 Tomcat. I could keep going...

[@MechanicalFrog]

I do love me a Tomcat...

[@Arcalargo]

That is a mystery solved. I always thought that was the silhouette of the Chameleon since that was the training 'Mech from 2nd Ed

[@SRTifiable]

Haven’t been around much due to work/life/etc but I saw the post about your son. How’s he doing?

[@MechanicalFrog]

He is staying home from school today and probably tomorrow as well to remain immobile and resting. So long as stitches don't pop and there's no infection, he should be back to full health soon.

[@SRTifiable]

@@MechanicalFrog Glad to hear he’s on the mend. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

[@TAVAAR7]

So what you're saying is that while there's mech friends we made along the way, the Viper is the mech friend we had at home the whole time but just didn't know it? 😆

[@brianhead4720]

I've been playing sense Fasa And I never knew about it I always thought it was a charger

[@defiantmechwarrior2397]

I dont know why but I feel a close range brawler with this one. 8 clan mp laser in rt and la. Mace ra. Supercharger. One extra jumppy pod. For those hard to reach itches. With light engine and standard plate

[@MechanicalFrog]

8 Clan mpl... sorry we already crowned this year's war crime build. :D

[@defiantmechwarrior2397]

@@MechanicalFrog they're only meant to soften them up upon approach. The big hatchet now that's for crushing clan cockpits.

[@paladinslash4721]

I see you’re covering Ghost Bear’s 40 ton infantry shredding light chasing monster. Wait what?

[@MechanicalFrog]

:O

[@Melding]

I've known about the viper since it was published, because a friend messaged me with "they finally made the paper doll mech real!" It's a neat mech, i like it a lot though I have one complaint and it's about the VP-8. How the heck do you look at a mech using binary lasers and not go "Hey this would be perfect for heavy lasers" Sea Fox? Would heat be a problem, sure. but now you have a viper that instead of doing 24 damage with its two main weapons doing 36. That's 50% more damage. keep it at 4/6/4 and it can probably be sinked well enough to also throw in the er mediums. Eitherway, the MF version is also very good. a jumpy mech that can almost always hit is a good one.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm not the biggest fan of heavy lasers so I'm ok with forgetting they exist. :D

[@Melding]

@@MechanicalFrogyeah but you have to admit, it's a logical next step from coming off the blaser.

[@michaelpfister1283]

I really like the Crusader, and the Viper is just cool. I recently played a campaign and my unit found one, buried under a collapsed building. We were able to salvage it "off the books" and it is currently being repaired in our 'mech bays using Crusader parts where necessary. Not sure what I am going to do with the Bombast lasers, though that MF variant got some interesting grunts from the head of my elite tech crew. He's in the break room now with his team, a pot of blonde expresso roast coffee, and a pile of napkins working on something... ;-) Just one question: Why did they have to put a horn on the head???? That's the one thing I absolutely do NOT like about this design.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's part of the improved communications system.

[@ITDonker01]

Thank you.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks for coming by and giving it a go.

[@radwolf76]

So, elsewhere on the Tube, I had been watching someone reviewing the various classic MechWarrior games and I remember them complaining that the armor status display switched from one that matched your mech's outline to a generic one that "didn't match anything". Maybe I should go into my history to let them know it's just a Viper. [Edit: Has the Frog's mouth always been animated, or is this a new detail?]

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a recent addition to the lore, so they weren't technically wrong.

[@roguerifter9724]

I love the VP-5 but I would remove two of the Medium Lasers and replace them with Heat Sinks. As someone who has never been happy with the shortage of official post Star League pre-3040s all energy weapon jump jet Heavies I just wish it had been published much, much sooner. Soon enough to have been in Mechwarrior 5 would have been great but oh well. I'm wondering if they'll ever make an ER PPC version since according to the Battletech Wikia the original plan was to use ER PPCs instead of Binary Laser Cannons but a lack of ER PPCs at the time led to the switch. If I were making an ER PPC version I think I would use the saved weight for a fourth Medium Pulse Laser. Put one medium Pulse Laser in each arm along with the original two forward Medium Pulse Lasers then add extra heat sinks.

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

Pretty good video. Needs more snoot, though.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Always needs more snoot.

[@arrgylerawrgyle3784]

BOOP!

[@spencerjones841]

How to get mechanical frog to like a mech in 1 easy step. Have a variant with plasma weapons

[@MechanicalFrog]

I cannot argue with this logic.

[@ironwarriorhonsou9303]

Not me here waiting excitedly for the day the Crockett/Katana gets covered

[@MechanicalFrog]

I actually have started collecting art for the Crockett.

[@ironwarriorhonsou9303]

@MechanicalFrog I find all the Crocket variants to be remarkably reliable and steady combatants. The Royal and the regular actually fill slightly different rolls and are wonderful companions to eachother. And the Downgrade is still quite potent and surprisingly resilient

[@mathewkelly9968]

When i saw the thumbnail i was that aint a Viper ...... New mech for me , which is something , very niche I feel ......... But sad face that you forgot Kallon Industries is also in the Confederation on Nanking

[@MechanicalFrog]

Not so much forgot as just focused on the applicable locale.

[@freeranger00]

I'd never heard of this mech. I would totally use the downgraded Succession Wars version, but really, really like the loadout on the VP-9. This is a mech that I just want, I love the way it looks and I adore 70 ton IS jumpers. My Grasshopper needs a partner mech...

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you like it!

[@omegavulture8379]

It does it all, soaks up liquid, picks up solids, can be used to clean… wait Viper, not Wiper? I guess it’s alright too.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm going to get sued by Mr.Clean...