5 replies to this topic

[LCRacerX]

Last night I ran about 20 matches using a 1K loaded out as a MAD facsimile. I know some of y'all might groan about my AC choice, but I've grown to love the LB in its current form.

For some context of where I'm coming from - my first mastered Mech several times over since CB is the Catapult, the K2 specifically. Since then, I've jumped into the Cataphract, Jenner, & Cicada, mastering each. My passion, however, is in the heavy class, & the 70/75 ton range specifically. So I was pretty stoked to see the Orion become available, particularly since the Marauder won't ever see MW:O. And don't over look those Warhammer-like arms on the 1K!

I am also a 100% solo PUG'er.

So here's the loadout:

MAD-OR-1K

Perspective
Damn, this thing is tall as hellllll. Coming from the Cataphract & Catapult heavies, the Orion feels really, really tall. From the cockpit, it feels that it is nearly as tall as an Atlas and as tall as a Victor. A Victor, Atlas, or Highlander pilot probably wouldn't have much trouble adjusting, but since the Cata' & 'Phract have cockpits near center-mass, it's a big change-up.

This means that the weapons fire from very low in the cockpit POV. I found myself blasting terrain fairly often, not being used to how low the arms sit. I also found myself firing over targets at long range. The arms sit lower than the reticle, basically, so the PPCs & ML's have a slight degree-up angle on their trajectory. If you aim high naturally (like I do), you will fire right over the heads of shorter mechs at range.

The torso Ballistic spot feels exactly right - not too low, not high, about where you'd expect it to fire from.

Which means.... you shouldn't do any hill-humping. EVER. I tried a few times - prolly as a left over from my K2 days. Attempting to deliver some PPC and mech-shotgun justice to opponents in my wanna-be MAD was a bad, bad idea in virtually all of my attempts. Just don't do it. Let the K2's, VTR's, HGN's, JGRs, 3D's, & STK's have their fun.

Survivability
After reading the forum, I had the impression that the Orion's CT was a big damage-magnet. Which is why my kit includes a big-ole XL motor. To my chagrin during my very first match, the left torso (the one with the big ole missile pods) was stripped of armor almost immediately after first contact.

It was not cored because I beat feet & played dance-around-my-team's-assaults the rest of the match.

In fact, I didn't die until my fifth match. And wracked up a decent number of kills. In those 20 matches, I died 7 times, killing 22 times, & only 1 death was due to a LT/RT coring. All were CT cores. But I didn't feel like it was a damage magnet. Judicious use of torso-twisting will significantly help with survivability. Did I mention to NOT hill-hump? Just don't. Most of my deaths were due to feeling like I could do that.

The speed of the XL makes you think you can. But you can't. You expose far too much of your mech before you unmask your weapons to fire. Just don't.

What is the Orion good at? The push. Let those guys snipe for awhile, then when the push starts - go charging around the corner, out from behind your Atlas buddy.. The speed + armor of the load out makes you very dangerous on flanks. 2 PPCs & the LB are nothing to sneeze at. Twist the torso about as you rip into an enemy formation and you will have decent survivability.

Maneuverability
So, no surprise, it's not as nimble as a Cataphract & nowhere near as nimble a Catapult. But it doesn't feel sluggish, especially with a large XL motor in it. You will get hung up on terrain because of its "large" chassis designation. But it feels about right. I do not have Speed Tweak yet, but I do have all of the Tier 1 pilot efficiencies purchased, just not doubled yet.

I did feel that the torso didn't twist very far left or right, but the arms feel like they can reach out & smack someone. Chasing off lights with the dual ML's & a blast or three from the LB10 was relatively easy to do.

You can out maneuver the VTR's & HGN's & always an ATL and often any CTR that's not a 3D.

Conclusion
I enjoy my Pseudo-Marauder. I will probably try a version with LPL's & ERL's and maybe a UAC/5. I've had my hottest start with it of any mech so far and it's been fun to go into MW:O with what feels like a blend of three classic mechs: Orion, Warhammer, & Marauder.


How have you fared? Anyone else try the MAD-OR-1K ?

[Bront]

LB10X is fun for crit seaking. However, I think an AC10 would be a better pair with the PPCs, or the UAC5. With the LB10-X, Large Pulses might be fun, as you'll be able to chase down and destroy faster mechs.

[Jzaltheral]

I've done much the same thing, but with Large Lasers instead of the PPCs. I stuck with the MAD's original AC 5, and added two SRM6's along with the medium lasers for close-in work.

I'm still getting the hang of it, but I can post respectable (400+) damage with it regularly.

[Spoo Hunter]

I'm similar to Jzaltheral; 2x Large Laser, 2x Medium Laser and an AC/5 with an AMS system as insurance.

I agree with the no hill humping idea. This build seems to be at it's best pouring damage into 'mechs at close to medium ranges. Though as an jack of all trades it can play the long-range game too.

Though a poor MechWarrior, I inflicted 500 & 695 points damage tonight. The ON-1K as a Marauder is no slouch.

[Kjudoon]

I jjust may have to try this.

[Modo44]

Use 2xPPC+AC10+2xML with XL325 instead. The shotgun is a joke.