29 replies to this topic

[Alekzander Smirnoff]

Being the busy time of year that it is, I had the IIC mechs drop in my hangar but haven't been touched yet. I've been reading over the other three chassis but I've yet to see a topic on the Orion. So, to anyone that has used them, what are your thoughts? I've read that the IIC's are pretty much functioning as glass cannons, which tbh, is probably the best way to ballance IS chassis with clan equipment, especially since you can completely customize the loadout on the IIC's.

[RagingOyster]

Haven't used one so my insight is limited but my observations from fighting with/against them:

1. Possibly the ugliest mech ever conceived! Lopsided, cobbled-together look is not for me lol

2. Wide torsos make it pretty easy to pick which weapons you want to disable even from long range.

3. Pretty quick on its feet and reasonably maneuverable, but not enough to make it a truly good brawler. Arms don't do much to shield you when you twist.

4. Can pack a very mean alpha, and if you play second-line fire support you can blast through armor and snag kills.

Overall, it seems to be very much a fire support mech. You can put up some very nice numbers if you don't get overzealous. Clan XL engine is an absolute must.

[Zookeeper Dan]

Alekzander Smirnoff, on 22 December 2015 - 04:02 PM, said:

I've been reading over the other three chassis but I've yet to see a topic on the Orion..

We think alike, I was just coming to start this very post. I haven't had time to play in mine, just been theory crafting, but here is what I'm going to try. (Note, I didn't balance back armor on any of these, I usually play with 10-14 on Heavies).

ON1-IIC (???)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4e7b92c6a3f75cc
C350XL UAC20, 3 ERML, 2 SSRM 6, 1SSRM 4, 15 DHS, Clan Active Probe
This is my least favorite. It is too balanced so I don't think it will do anything well.

ON1-IIC-A (Mini Atlas)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2b4e711a75424b7
C350XL, LB20-X AC, 4 ASRM 6, 1 ERML, 15 DHS
This is the best brawler I could come up with. It's a mini Atlas. The LB20-X AC and ASRM 6's all refresh at the same rate so you can shoot a massive 68 point alpha, twist, aim and shoot again. LB-X over Ultra because it requires less face time. It's pretty quick with the 350 engine. I kept 1 ERML to hopefully scare opponents back into cover as I approach brawling range.

ON1-IIC-B (Direct Fire Support)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...4da03eca5b06741
C300XL, Gauss Rifle, 4 ERLL, AMS, 19 DHS
This can put a lot of fire down range and stays pretty cool. All the low mounts may doom this build.

ON1-IIC-C (LRM and AC Fire Support)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9cbc945013197d4
C300XL, 2 UAC10, 3 LRM10, 2 MPL, 15 DHS
This is built around the two UAC10's. I added LRM10's to be used in direct fire, their range overlaps nicely with the UAC10's. 2 MPL's round out the build for extra support against lights.

I'll be testing them all out slowly (I have Marauders and Hunchback IIC's that I want to play also). I'll report what I find from T5 play!

[AesopTails]

I really dig that Gauss rifle and 4 ERLL build. Looks like beast mode at long range. I'm going to try that one!

I've had fun with this build, my take on the mini-Atlas: ON1-IIC-A. 4x ASRM6's, 1x UAC10, 1x LPL with XL325. From my games people are not expecting this kind of firepower. UAC10 and LPL gives it OK damage up to 600m, but it's really fun when you get in close.

[Alekzander Smirnoff]

Excellent, I've been thinking of mid to long range on a few of these, that gauss/erll looks real nice. I'll have to give that a go.

[Zookeeper Dan]

You will have to let me know how they do. All I had time to do before I went out of town was build the ERLL Gauss B before I had to pack and wrap gifts.

I tried it in the testing grounds and it still runs hot, but that's without any skills unlocked. At least you can keep the Gauss firing while you wait to get cool enough for another laser shot.

[Panzerjotun]

The much maligned Orion is my favorite Mech. I almost have all my IIcs elited and the CT reminds me of the old Awesome. It goes down way to fast from CT deaths. Hopefully it will get a looksie by the design team.

[Voivode]

Yeah, bought these and the hitboxes feel like something really funny is going on. Almost like the damage is being multiplied. I'm a huge fan of the Awesome so I know how to deal with a mech that has an outsize CT, but this thing is absurd. Someone just looks at you and the damn thing explodes to bits.

[Voivode]

OK, so I spent some GXP just to rush the mastery since I was having a hard time. With full mastery they are quite a bit better. I think I've found some solid builds for them.

Orion IIC(O) - XL 355, 2xSRM6+A, 1xUAC10, 3xMPL. Nice brawler, with speed tweak tops off at over 80KPH, very nimble.

Orion IIC-A - XL315, 4xLRM10+A, 1xLBX20, 2xERML. Good missile support craft, the LBX and mediums are pretty good at convincing harassing lights to move along.

Orion IIC-B - XL300, 2xLPL, 2xERML, 1xGauss, 1xSSRM4, 1xSSRM6. Bit of an odd build but very effective in the mid range game.

[Kaldrenborn]

I have found these to do really well if you build them balanced. I do a ton of damage with them because I have a weapon for every situation, this is the only one I can remember at the moment, ignore armor distribution.
ER Large and gauss for direct long range, LRM for indirect fire support, streaks for scaring off and sometimes maiming lights. I do have 5 weapon groups (4 weapon types, but the ERLL are split between my mouse buttons), but with a multi button mouse and use of the F key for LRMs its very manageable.

[Bespoke Cheese Cake]

After a bit of stuffing about trying to make the Orion-IIC a long range mech and failing I decided to make them all brawlers.

1. Balanced Brawler

2.More SRMs Brawler

3. More Lasers

They are all very similar: x1 UAC-20 with different laser and srm combinations.
Unfortunately I do not yet own the early-adopters variant, but it would follow the same formula using x2 UAC-10 instead of the 20.

[Bluttrunken]

Hmm, Onion IIC seems like a top brawler or, conversly, superb LRM boat. I can imagine how it only becomes effective with double basics.

Well, Maddocks first, then I'll consider the IICs, they seem to be fun mechs at least.

[Cabusha]

It doesn't have the structure for today's brawling. Works best with a mixed load out, say a ALRM 15 or 20 in the arm, Ultra 10 in the torso, then lasers (LPL or ERLL) as you see fit. Used as a second-line support mech has been the best for me.

[Bespoke Cheese Cake]

Cabusha, on 03 January 2016 - 07:06 PM, said:

It doesn't have the structure for today's brawling. Works best with a mixed load out, say a ALRM 15 or 20 in the arm, Ultra 10 in the torso, then lasers (LPL or ERLL) as you see fit. Used as a second-line support mech has been the best for me.

I disagree. My personal experience has been consistent 500 to 900+ damage games with several kills using close range builds (see above).

Edited by Bespoke Cheese Cake, 03 January 2016 - 08:24 PM.

[Audacious Aubergine]

Haven't played much with this thing, but here's the builds I've done up - not all of them have seen combat and not all of them have seen much combat, but here goes:
ON1-IIC - the stockman. ERLL and gauss rifle in one group, srm on another and lrm as tertiary/cheesing. Works well from the rear, srms are some kind of deterrent/short range damage.
ON1-IIC-A - the missileman. Haven't used this one yet, I may change the LRM20 and MPL for another pair of LRM15 and ERML instead. Results pending.
ON1-IIC-B - the sprayman. First game I had in this thing ended up with 4 kills (armour distribution is the same as the other two, forgot to change and can't be bothered now). Seems like fun regardless of actual effectiveness. smurfy won't let me put an external DHS in the CT and 2 more in the engine, but that's where I have them instead of the arm and ST
ON1-IIC-C - the everyman. This thing does everything - LRMs for long range indirect fire, ERLL for long range direct fire, 2x UAC10 for mid-ish range potato spamming.

[Zookeeper Dan]

Bespoke Cheese Cake, on 03 January 2016 - 08:23 PM, said:

I disagree. My personal experience has been consistent 500 to 900+ damage games with several kills using close range builds (see above).

I agree with you. First game out with IIC-A I have listed above with LB20-X and 4 ASRM6's I had about 550 damage and two kills. I melted the first two mechs with two 68 point alphas each. I remember the way that Hunchback panicked after the first shot, he tried to run away and twist but it didn't save him from the second shot, it was delicious! Then had my normal low FPS problems and couldn't aim while brawling with a King Crab. Still wound up removing a side torso before my teammates took him out. I only lost my missile arm.

I can't wait to get double basics!

Edited by Danth Reduviid, 04 January 2016 - 10:10 AM.

[Audacious Aubergine]

Took the lrm-boat out for a run to horrendously good effect. Got back to the mechlab and swapped out the MPL for ERML and the LRM20 for another pair of LRM15. So far, so good, but I feel dirty after using it

[Widowmaker1981]

While im not normally a proponent of LRMs, the Orion-IIC has a very interesting feature which could make it a very nice LRM mech. The first missile mounted on the left arm mounts up in the top of the shoulder, but still aims at the arm reticule.. so you can put a NARC launcher in there and be able to ridge poke and narc something very easily (narcs are a pain to aim from torso mounts i find due to the slow projectile, and the fact that you DEFINITELY do not want locked arms in an LRM mech) then back up and shell the crap out of it.

Some build like this:

ON1-IIC-A pr ON1-IIC-A

or this (less LRMs, more direct fire)

ON1-IIC

Edited by Widowmaker1981, 07 January 2016 - 04:33 AM.

[JernauM]

Low-mounted hardpoints, disadvantageous geometry, no jump jets, no quirks, nothing to recommend it really.

[Kaldrenborn]

Widowmaker1981, on 07 January 2016 - 04:10 AM, said:

While im not normally a proponent of LRMs, the Orion-IIC has a very interesting feature which could make it a very nice LRM mech. The first missile mounted on the left arm mounts up in the top of the shoulder, but still aims at the arm reticule.. so you can put a NARC launcher in there and be able to ridge poke and narc something very easily (narcs are a pain to aim from torso mounts i find due to the slow projectile, and the fact that you DEFINITELY do not want locked arms in an LRM mech) then back up and shell the crap out of it.

Brilliant!