*** This mod IS COMPATIBLE with the Next-Gen Update! ***

Description
This mod simply changes the .xml of the Viper gear so that the game recognizes it and treats it as Light gear instead of Medium gear.

Why, you might ask?  I personally like an aggressive combat style of play, and I basically hack-and-slash everything to death.  The Medium gear does not allow me to use the Cat School Techniques bonus because it applies to Light gear instead of Medium.  I also like the look of the Kaer Morhen (Viper) gear.  So I constantly found myself toggling between the Viper gear (which I love based on the appearance) and the Cat gear (which is not as attractive IMHO) just to get the higher attack bonuses and faster stamina recharge.  I didn't see another mod out there that does the same thing, so I decided to create one myself.  By changing Viper to Light gear, I can now get the benefit of using the Cat School Techniques and faster stamina while enjoying the look of the Viper gear.

Taking it a step further, I decided to add a variant that gives the Viper set some of the bonuses from the Feline set, making the Viper set now the best of both worlds.  It looks great, functions as a light gear, and provides balanced attack and defense.

Note: I recommend pairing this mod with another mod that scales Witcher Gear to remain at the same character level.  Using this mod, my Viper gear is at level 73, same as Geralt's character level.  I recommend the mod, which makes it so that I can just use the Viper set all the time without worrying about it becoming weaker as you level up and being replaced by inferior gear.  However, please note - the mod makes the stat changes permanently to your set.  Be aware that if you use it, whatever gear it levels up will not go back down to vanilla levels if you remove the mod.  To the best of my knowledge, it does not require you to keep the mod active - it saves your gear's level in your save file but does not give you an error message if you load the game without it installed.


Version Details
Type A: Very simple, all it does is change from Medium to Light.

Type B: Complete overhaul to give the Viper gear the combined best of Viper and Cat gear.  Changes are:

• Gear is Light instead of Medium
• Added protection from bludgeoning, which was missing on the Viper gear.  Stats were set at 30%, 5%, 5%, 10% for a total of 50%.  This is consistent with the slashing and piercing protections already present on the armor.
• Added stamina regen for each piece (10%, 3%, 2%, 10%) for a total of 25%.  This is consistent with the stamina regeneration rate of the Feline (Cat) gear.
• Added Attack Power bonuses for each piece (22%, 11%, 11%, 11%) for a total of 55%.  This is consistent with the attack power bonuses of the Feline (Cat) gear.  For NG+, Attack Power bonuses were set to 34%, 17%, 17%, and 17% for a total of 85% to match the Grandmaster Feline set in NG+.
• Increased the Poison percentage on the Viper swords (both Silver and Steel) from 15% base to 50%,
• Increased the Critical Attack percentage on the Viper swords (both Silver and Steel) from 10% to 25%.
• Increased the exp bonus on the steel sword from 5% to 20%.  This is consistent with the 20% for killing monsters already present on the silver sword.
  

Type C: In the vanilla game, when you start a NG+, the game carries over the Viper gear in your possession.  The game only minimally increases the stats, which makes the carryover versions outdated very quickly (especially on harder difficulties).  In the Type C version, I increased the stats on the gear that is carried over, as well as increased some of the stats to the Viper gear acquired in NG+.  The idea behind this was to provide some separation in stats between the base game, the carryover items at the start of NG+, and then the versions acquired later in the game during NG+ to really feel like the NG+ versions are the ultimate versions. Changes are:

• Gear is Light instead of Medium (no change from Type B).
• Added protection from bludgeoning, which was missing on the Viper gear.  Stats were set at the following for carryover gear: 30%, 5%, 5%, 10% for a total of 50%.  Stats were set at the following for NG+ gear: 40%, 10%, 10%, 15% for a total of 75%.
• Stamina regen for each piece set at: 10%, 3%, 2%, 10% for a total of 25% (no change from Type B).
• Varied Attack Power bonuses for each tier: Base Game is 22%, 11%, 11%, 11% for a total of 55%.  Carryover gear is set at 26%, 13%, 13%, 13% for a total of 65%.  NG+ is set at 34%, 17%, 17%, 17% for a total of 85%.
• Increased the Poison percentage on both Silver and Steel Viper swords.  Base Game is 50%; Carryover is 75%, NG+ is 100%.
• Increased the Critical Attack percentage on both Silver and Steel Viper swords.  Base Game is 25%; Carryover is 50%, NG+ is 100%.
• Increased the Critical Attack damage on both Silver and Steel Viper swords.  Base Game is 75%; Carryover is 75%, NG+ is 100%.
• Increased the exp bonus on the Steel Viper sword to 20% (no change from Type B).
• Added Bleeding Ability to Steel Steel sword.  Base Game is 0%; Carryover is 50%; NG+ is 100%.
• Added Armor Piercing Ability to Steel Viper sword.  Base Game is 0%; Carryover is 100; NG+ in 250.
• Added Freezing Ability to Silver Viper sword.  Base Game is 0%; Carryover is 50%; NG+ is 100%.
• Added Armor Piercing Ability to Silver Viper sword.  Base Game is 0%; Carryover is 250; NG+ is 500.
• Changed sign bonus from Aard to Quen on both Silver and Steel Viper swords and increased effect.  Base Game is 25%; Carryover is 35%; NG+ is 50%.
• Added Vitality Bonus to Armor.  Base Game is 250 points; Carryover is 500 points; NG+ is 750 points.
  

***Please Note: I am not planning any additional updates to these mods.  They are considered Final.***


Installation
Install by placing mod in the game's \mods folder or use a mod manager.  Use script merger to resolve any conflicts.


Other Works
My collection of mods:

• Brothers In Arms - Ultimate Bug Fix Collaboration
• Crones Tapestry Replacement
• Cyberpunk Gwent Cards Collection
• Dandelion Gigolo
• Dedicated to Lady of the Lake
• Geralt the Unstoppable - Skip Fist Fighting Quests
• Grammar of the Path: TW3 Text Cleanup Project
• How to Edit Gwent Card Attributes Using WolvenKit
• How To Make Character Edits Tutorial
• Kaer Morhen Frescos Collection
• Master Mirror Challenge Time Extender
• My NSFW Gwent Cards Collection
• My NSFW Portraits Collection
• My Nudes Collection
• My Textures Collection
• Names from the Path
• New Eye Mods Collection
• New Wall Decor for Passiflora and Belles of Beauclair
• No More Underwear
• Replacement Loading Screens
• Restored Content - Omelet Quest
• The Witcher's Secret - Sexy Outfits Collection
• Unique Character Textures
• Viper Set as Light Gear
• Weather Machine