In 3067, Clan Steel Viper was still smarting from its ejection from the Inner Sphere by the hated Jade Falcons.
One of the lessons it took from the conflict and from various skirmishes with the Inner Sphere was the importance of cost efficient designs. The Battle Cobra and Crossbow omnimech designs were excellent concepts, but their limitations were also starkly revealed as the Falcons targetted their arms and disabled them easily.
So for their new mech, the Ebon Boa, instead of relying on arm mounted pods only, the Vipers wanted a fully functional omnimech, with the only caveat that it uses a standard engine.
The Ebon Boa is an excellent demonstration of the evolution of clan thinking. Tough and durable, with good speed for its weight, the Ebon Boa can stand toe to toe with many clan assaults and heavies.

The Vipers took the Matador chassis and modified it to support more armor and weapons, while using endo steel to increase its strength. Ferro fibrous armor was used to armor the Ebon Boa almost to the maximum, which increases the survival rate of the Ebon Boa when compared to other mechs like the Hellbringer and Summoner mechs.
Even without an extra light engine, the Ebon Boa has more than enough space to carry a diverse and deadly loadout.
The primary configuration is a versatile battler at all ranges, with particle cannons, missiles, and autocannons.
The alpha variant carries two gauss rifles and some extended range lasers. It is a fearsome long range slugger.
The beta variant carries no less than 4 LRM 20 launchers, along with the ammunition to fire them for two full minutes. It is unlikely there will be any target that can withstand such a barrage.
The gamma configuration is a close range fighter, with heavy lasers, pulse lasers, and a targeting computer to back it up.
Delta is similar to gamma, but puts in some jump jets and streak launchers instead of the heavy lasers.

Ebon Boas have been seen in the Touman of many clans, as the Steel Vipers have offered several runs of the mech to the Coyotes and Diamond Sharks in exchange for territory on New Kent. The Diamond Sharks accepted the offer, and have received at least a cluster worth of Ebon Boas since 3067 from the Vipers. The Coyotes, disdaining the idea of an omnimech without an XL engine, were ejected from New Kent in just two months of furious fighting as the Vipers demonstrated to them the folly of refusing their generous offer. The Vipers were soon in full possession of New Kent, their first exclusive world in the clan homeworlds.
Ebon Boas were soon pouring out of the Novy Minsky Armaments Plant into the toumans of clans unable to afford better omnimechs. Clan Blood Spirit purchased quite a number of Ebon Boas that were later salvaged by the Star Adders on the battlefiels of York, while the Wolves bought two stars for evaluation. The Cloud Cobras bought it for its name, while the Goliath Scorpions saw the potential of the mech for extended Seeker quests. The Fire Mandrills also bought the mech for its price and potential.