29 replies to this topic

[Thariel]

Orion looks and walks like an overly large elemental or even more like a Lego-minature figure animated.

[Xione87]

What a weird looking mech, at least from the youtube trailers. There's something really odd about it, it looks too 'neat' I guess. The clean and shiny red armor plates without any structure/decals make it look like an 80's transformer.

The weapon models also look weird, the PPC is much smaller than the srm tubes but on most other mechs this is the opposite. And does anyone have a good size comparison allready? In the mech lab it looks smaller than a 'phract...

Edit; looks aside, what's up with the ferro on a heavy? For a $30 mech you'd expect them to design it properly with endo at least. And how is a third (seperate) energy slot enough to warrant Hero status? Honestly, it looks really poorly slapped together to meet their quota.

Edited by Xione87, 03 September 2013 - 01:02 PM.

[Jeff505]

I actually really like this one, Has a lot of options for loadouts and I really dig the smooth look. A designer's mech if I ever saw one.

[Aleric]

Ugly assed mech that does not look like it belongs in a militay but in a factory hauling cargo. I am seriously not a fan of the theme the last couple months of mechs PGI has been releasing, not counting the Pheonix Packages which are far superior in both look and asthetics. Instead taking a lot of the well drawn out mechs with armor enchancements and the additional add ons that give them character these mechs look like mechanical skeletons with weapons tacked on.

[Middcore]

The Orion is canonically a very ancient design so it's not surprising it would look mort utilitarian and less advanced.

As for "well drawn out," I early hope you are not talking about the way the 'mechs were originally drawn for the tabletop game. I grew up with that artwork but objectively most of it is hideous.

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

With the introduction of the Orion Hero Mech there are also 4 standard models.

ONI-M
ONI-K
ONI-V
ONI-VA

The Orion was commonly referred to as "The Poor Mans Atlas"

Description
The Orion was first built in 2456 as the ultimate BattleMech. The Orion is a dependable workhorse design that can handle almost any combat role, thanks to its mix of long- and short-range weaponry and its respectable 14 tons of armor. As BattleMech technology has improved, the Orion has been surpassed by other 'Mechs, but still finds itself utilized extensively on the modern battlefield, especially within the FWLM. The Orion has a maximum ground speed of 64.8 km/h, which is average for 'Mechs in the heavy weight class. Technicians love the Orion, because its spacious interior makes performing repairs and maintenance far easier than many other 'Mechs.

Armament
The Orion has a varied weapons mix. The 'Mech's primary long-range weapon is a KaliYama Death Bloom LRM-15 launcher. For intermediate ranges, the Orion carries a KaliYama Class 10 Autocannon/10. Finally, for close-range combat, the Orion has an Irian Weapons Works Class 4 SRM-4 launcher and two Irian Weapons Works Medium Lasers.

ON1-M
The M variant is an upgrade using Star League technology. The LRM-15 has been replaced with an LRM-20 launcher and the Autocannon/10 has been upgraded to an LB-X Autocannon/10. The SRM-4 and the Medium Lasers have been retained. A Narc Missile Beacon was also added to the 'Mech.

ONI-K
As listed this standard variant carries the LRM-15, AC10, SRM-4, 2 x Med Lasers.

ON1-V
A basic modification of the ON1-K, the ON1-V removes three tons of armor to make room for an additional SRM-4 launcher in order to give the Orion even greater close-range damage capability.

ON1-VA
A modification along the same lines as the ON1-V, the VA model removes the LRM launcher, rather than removing armor to add the second SRM-4 launcher, sacrificing some long-range damage capabilities for superior close-combat capabilities.


As a note here:
This Mech was also a chosen ride for "The Great Father", see here:

ON1-K Kerensky
The personal BattleMech of SLDF commanding general Aleksandr Kerensky during the war against the Usurper. Designers removed the LRM-20 and LB-X Autocannon/10 to make room for other equipment. The removed space and tonnage was filled with the following equipment, is a snub-nose PPC in the left torso and an Artemis IV Fire Control System for SRMs. The right torso has a Gauss Rifle in the former location of the LB-X Autocannon/10. The medium lasers from the original model are retained. Finally, ferro-fibrous armor is used for added protection.
[Does this sound familiar, it should as it's the Hero Orion minus the snub nose on the PPC (not avail. till 3067)]

The Clans also have a version of this Mech:
Orion IIC
As the chosen 'Mech of the Clans' revered "Great Father", the Orion bordered on being a Totem 'Mech for Clan Wolf, who produced a IIC version of it. Jealously guarded by the Wolves, this design sports one Gauss Rifle, packed with one LRM-20, two ER Large Lasers and one SRM-4.


All for now,
9erRed

Edited by 9erRed, 03 September 2013 - 02:04 PM.

[Grey Ghost]

Bah, I was hoping they'd put a LosTech Protoype Snub-nose PPC on it or something. Regular PPC just got made worse for short range use.

[Shagz]

PGI wheres my Bush Wacker come on i have big plains for it yet nonething from high command


RUN PGI for i am comin for u hahahaha

[N0Clip]

Shagz, on 03 September 2013 - 06:51 PM, said:

PGI wheres my Bush Wacker come on i have big plains for it yet nonething from high command


RUN PGI for i am comin for u hahahaha

Be prepared to wait another 3 years or so. The Bushy doesn't show up till 3053, and as far as I know the timeline is pretty much frozen in 3050 for the game at this point.

[Kasiagora]

Gaslight, on 03 September 2013 - 12:19 PM, said:

The Kerensky variant with the snub-nose PPC is official. The tabletop sourcebook it was in didn't come out until December 2011, though. As for why Sarna didn't mention it...Sarna is a fan wiki with lots of errors/gaps/typos, it's not surprising.

And the snub-nose PPC was invented during the Star League era according to canon sourcebooks, they retconned it in. But it fell out of use and the Combine didn't recreate it until the 3060's.

Thanks so much for the heads up. I'd never heard about the snub-nosed PPC being retconned in, but I haven't played tabletop since... 1997 or so. I know that Sarna is fan supported, but they're usually pretty spot on with their information. Just sometimes something will pop up where I'll catch myself saying "Did some guy just sneak his own variant in here?"

And Shagz, we all want the Bushwacker. We all need it. But we gotta let the clans invade first so they'll get a false sense of security before unveiling it and putting them back in their places.