Generic Cobra viper
Context
These are primer notes for the Cobra troops that appear in the vintage G.I. Joe toys and storylines. They’re essentially the equivalent of Star Wars stormtroopers.
This article is *heavily* based on the one from Firebomb , so if you like the material you should visit his site too. We have replaced most of the G.I. Joe material we adapted from him with original material, but not this article yet.
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Overview
At one point there were numerous specialized forces of Vipers, including Tele-Vipers (coms), Alley Vipers (urban assault), Medi-Vipers (medical units), Toxo-Vipers (hazardous environments), as well as various pilot specialties : Track Vipers (HISS II tanks), Air Vipers (FANG autogyros) and Strato-Vipers (Night ravens).
Another corp was the Python Patrol. Those troopers were issued Wraith technology incorporated into their uniform (BODY 04, Invisibility: 11, Limitation: Invisibility only against Thermal vision and Radar sense).
Description
The standard Cobra trooper uniform consists of a blue jumpsuit, accompanied with a blue helmet and blue gloves, and bearing the Cobra sigil, in red, on the front upper torso. The uniform is then complemented by black boots, black knee-pads, a black strap-on knife sheath, a black, pouch-riddled belt, black webbing with a shoulder holster for the trooper’s pistol, and a black face mask.
Those Cobra troopers who were admitted into the Python Patrol wore a uniform that, while recolored, strongly resembles that of a Cobra officer’s. This snake-skin wraith suit consists of a red turtleneck sweater under a long-sleeved, green and yellow snake-skin shirt, black snake-skin trousers, gray boots, gloves, holsters, sheathes, and webbing, and a black helmet and face mask.
After their rank’s re-creation, the bottom-of-the-barrel Cobra soldier’s uniform was actually changed into a variant of the Viper’s. It consists of blue trousers, a blue vest, and a blue, short-sleeved shirt, coupled with a blue helmet that bears a mirrored, golden face plate that completely obscures the features of its wearer.
The uniform also has a black belt, black boots, and steel wrist guards.
Personality
Originally, the Cobra trooper represented a highly trained and highly motivated terrorist, one who hooked up with the organization in order to further his own, personal agenda. While criminal minded, these folk still knew what they were doing, and though they might fail in their missions, they weren’t necessarily bumbling fools. They were either ex-military or trained by Cobra to fight.
After Cobra re-created this particular rank, the general mindset of these folks was somewhat different. Being made up of the dregs of human society, these folk were the crackpots, the mass murderers, and all the insane anarchists who needed an outlet for their personal violence.
These people may or may not have the talents listed above, as their qualifications aren’t as high as they used to be.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Cobra Viper
| Dex: 03 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 02 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Goon |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 02 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 005 |
Skills:
Martial artist*: 03, Vehicles (land): 03, Weaponry (firearms): 03
Advantages:
None.
Connections:
Cobra (Low).
Drawbacks:
Individual drawbacks are likely.
Equipment:
- BODY ARMOR [BODY 05, Radio communications: 09, Shade: 02, Skin armor: 02, Limitation: Skin armor only against bullets (-2)].
- Assault rifle [BODY 04, Projectile weapon: 06, Ammo: 08, R#03, Advantage : Autofire].
- Handgun [BODY 04, Projectile weapon: 04, Ammo: 10, R#02].
- Frag grenade [BODY 02, EV 07 (Area of effect 1 AP), Grenade drawback, R#02].
- Incendiary grenade [BODY 02, Flame project: 06 (Area of effect 1 AP), Grenade drawback, R#03].
- Combat knife [BODY 05, EV 03 (04 w/STR)].
Source of Character: GI Joe universe.