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 of the 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.
Credits
======
Cody (concept and lore)
Griff (models and basic textures)
another_commander (basic specular map escape capsule)
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.
Requirements
============
Oolite V 1.88 or higher.
Details
======
For additional details, please check the wiki-page: http://wiki.alioth.net/index.php/Enhanced_Vipers
License
=======
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
=============
V 0.50
initial release
Conclusion:
Surprise, surprise, this time no Uber ships with multiple lasers. These Vipers are not much stronger than the core-ships, but got better pilots.
The entire OXP was the idea of Cody, and the overview and history are his creations. I merely added some technical support.
