In my opinion, Vipers have a big weakness: their utility depends only on an order (RO obviusly), BUT:
-I cannot backup their LD like I do with cruiser that are squadroned
-they don't have an option like the Cobra Widowmaker
I think that this escort should have the option to increase their LD like the Cobra (that is also dependent from RO )
otherwise, take this escort represents a huge risk to waste their points (that is very limited with Cobra)
did I say anything wrong? If I roll 1 for LD of the Vipers squadron (LD=6 as you know) I can bet that I won't use them! Am I exaggering? Ok that I may have 2 rerolls for example, but I will give them orders after all the other ships for sure, so on one side I must have luck to have the possibility of giving them orders, on the other side they would preferentially fail the LD check! It is the same reason becase the cobra widowmaker option exist!
To fail an order is NOT an option for a ship that relies fully in it as Vipers
Am I wrong if I say that another ship so order-dependant doesn't exist? Come on, Vipers cannot even ram for absurd, they have the lowest armour of the game! They only can reload ordnances all the game at the best