Why do we Love the Orion?

[@ThelemicPotter]

You’ve got the best graphic interface of all the weekly BattleTech producers.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you. I put a lot of work into making sure there is "value added"

[@GeofftheIronwolf]

​@@MechanicalFrogYou have far surpassed opportunity cost on this one.

[@andresabourin2423]

It's crazy I was just scrolling down to comment exactly this. So pleasant to look at and easy to read.

[@darlito1]

hes the GOAT of Battletech

[@karmadyllic]

's the only one I leave on whilst trying to nap of an afteenoon to the dulcet tones of a Loresharer. Tbh it'd feel disrespectful to turn it off which something of a novel notion to me.

[@77professional]

Don’t forget that anti-air targeting and easy maintenance. This thing is reliable and versatile brick.

[@bthsr7113]

Very easily overlooked quirks that make a huge difference.

[@Xenophon_Xanthippus]

Playing MekHQ campaigns with quirks enabled, the Orion makes itself a core trooper mech because of the ease to take care of it and the Anti-air powers. The Rifleman and especially the Jagermech (regardless of my love for them) are too much a liability, but the Orion can ward off nasty bomber aerospace units and, slug is out in cities, and reliable dish out long range damage. I'm not an Orion-stan, but I don't turn down the chance to have one in a company. Just wish it had command mech quirk and you'd never see me without one.

[@purplefood1]

@@Xenophon_Xanthippus I feel like there should at least be a variant that does, Kerensky was using one at the Liberation of Terra so there should be some kind of extra command and control stuff.

[@ImBarryScottCSS]

She's a classic for a reason. Nothing flashy, just good honest stopping power, you're rarely out of options in an Orion. Plus the seats are comfy as hell, us veteran Mercs appreciate chassis that don't trigger our slipped discs with every impact.

[@drinkbleachramune9014]

FINALLY MY WALKING FRIDGE HAS GOT HIS VIDEO .

[@topcatcoast2coast579]

The Orion is more of an assault mech then half of the actual assault mechs. I love this guy. It doesn't even need helm memory tech to be a beast. It really hits that sweet spot of speed/armor/wepons

[@danduckyhoward]

Solid mech.... That has struggled to be captured in mini form for a long time. The new art helped this unit a lot

[@MechanicalFrog]

Agreed.

[@michaelkolano8686]

I legitimately believe that the art team at PGI singlehandedly turned the setting around, from becoming more obscure to having a healthy niche again

[@matthewbro3]

I am fortunate enough to have picked up a secondhand CityTech Orion and it is one of my favorite renditions of the mech, erroneous weapon placement and all, even over the CGL sculpt. It is probably a worse sculpt by any objective measure but it brings a certain charm to the lumpy, boxy design in my opinion.

[@milankostic2571]

Big Daddy Kerensky's personal ride, a true classic. Seyla!!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Seyla!

[@mbr5742]

A reason not to use it. Nothing good came from that guy

[@guitarhausdoesntknowwhatac3285]

When you can't afford an Atlas but want something solid regardless, go Orion.

[@lexington476]

37:50 Frog is totally a 'sponsored' 'influencer' 🙂. I'm waiting for him to start doing ads for Discount Dan 🤠😎.

[@Psychohistorian42]

Finally! Someone else who looks at the V series and just sees an SRM-sized hole in the armor. On a personal note, a couple years ago I came across that Short you made of the FWL Orion you painted up, and that was not only one of the very first of your videos I watched, but it inspired me to finally get off my duff and actually start painting my own mechs, starting with an Orion, naturally. 😊

[@MechanicalFrog]

Awesome. Well I'm glad I inspired someone around here... *looking around the smoking craters*

[@Vespuchian]

I'm genuinely staggered by the longevity of the Orion. Like the Griffon, it's one of those First-Generation 'Mechs that refuse to be left on the pages of history, seemingly destined to remain in service not just in backwater Periphery militias but in major House regiments for a full thousand years. Truly a Mech That Would Not Die.

[@AndrewSmith-xs1cg]

Babe wake up, new mechfrog just dropped

[@tenchraven]

Why do we love the Orion? It's one typo away from making everyone cry. The one variant we've never seen outside of HomeTech but should be cannon swaps the ON1-K's AC/10 for an AC/20, either dropping the the SRM rack or my preference for reducing the LRM-15 to and LRM-10. Because it is Kali Yama and Hunchbacks should have someone to look up to. The first such mech should have had the nom de guerre of "Hercules", who stood in Atlas' place for a day so that the titan could see his daughter wed. It's called predestination. :P

[@Geeko170]

Just last night, I had an Orion tank a salvo from a Black Knight, Stalker and Longbow. The Orion is an amazing mech that can be a great brawler, but also it is a good shield other mechs looking to close. Sadly my Orion VA fell as it was bound to happen, by a second salvo guided in by a NARC beacon landed by a Kintaro. Its armor was finally scrubbed away by the SRMS of the Kintaro and the Longbows LRMs just managed to hit the SRM ammo in the torso. But the Orion never goes down without a fight, and it delivered vicious blows to the Black Knights rear armor causing it to fall, and scored a head hit and TAC to the stalker.

[@kalamander8563]

Punishment for the audacity of attacking it, I'm sure.

[@kalamander8563]

The Orion is one of those mechs that stand the test of time. If you have the room in your lance and don't have a niche you need to fill, you can't go wrong with an Orion.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Solid, dependable, and reliable.

[@henryjones3232]

It’s him, Battle Mech, from battletech

[@MechanicalFrog]

Guilty as charged.

[@Attaxalotl]

As designed by Kerensky BattleTech

[@sharlin648]

The Orion has always stood as a solid generalist, with weapons for every range, and enough firepower to make an assault mech wary, as always a great video about a great machine!

[@readwatchlisten2863]

The Orion is a beast. The ON2-M was my favorite because I'm a sucker for the Gauss Rifle.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It carried the pow, for sure.

[@kingleech16]

My soul calls out for autocannons because, well, dakka, but gauss rifles are my go-to in any piloting game.

[@readwatchlisten2863]

@kingleech16 i hate Autocannons so much that I think they should be removed from the game 😆 🤣

[@imglidinhere]

It never occurred to me until you said it in the video here. The Orion is a *First Generation* Battlemech and it's still wildly popular and actively produced in the current timeline (nuts to think it's been in use for over seven centuries)! People call it a "Poor Man's Atlas" but I think the more fitting statement should be "The Atlas is the Orion 2.0" and more isn't always better. :D

[@jameswright2623]

I am a Marauder pilot through and through. But if I couldn't have a Marauder I would have an Orion. It's just a damn solid mech with too many good variants to turn your nose up at. It may not be as pretty as my Marauder but it sure as hell has the fighting spirit to match. If not more so.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Solid, reliable, and tough.

[@ASNS117Zero]

Different roles, IMO. I like pairing Marauders with Orions as part of a heavy lance, along with an Archer and a T-Bolt or Warhammer. Lots of standoff firepower, but at the same time, it absolutely sucks to close against them because of the additional punch the lance gets when the Orion and T-Bolt/Warhammer are close - though they're not useless at long range either. They compliment each other well, I think, is what I'm trying to say.

[@subtlewhatssubtle]

We love the Orion because is the midpoint between the Atlas and the Centurion. You can put it in the line of battle and people will be _very_ aware of it. The Orion isn't my first choice of heavies when building a force composition, but it's almost always the second heavy 'Mech I add to a lance because it's just a solid all-round performer and complements everything equally. Fire support lance? Bodyguard that occasionally contributes LRMs. Main battle lance? It has all the battle you need and then some. Heavy recon lance? I've seen weirder things with the word "scout" attached to them. The Orion's true beauty is that it does most things at least competently, a straight B+ student in a field of _wildly_ varying report cards.

[@Vimes1982]

When I see those arms I think of a Large Laser on the right and a PPC on the left side. Those arms always seemed weird to me for holding a Medium Laser each. A artistic artifact of the old SRM4 in the left arm? Anyway - love the little Atlas.

[@lexington476]

Lunch time with Frog, and this time an interesting Mech. At least a 4 out of 5 video.

[@MechanicalFrog]

What are we having for lunch?

[@lexington476]

@@MechanicalFrog at home on the couch. Working from home today.

[@kingleech16]

“Like a hoosier Michelangelo, so awful ugly it becomes beautiful.” -Walt Whitman

[@clarkreamer4560]

The biggest defect in the Orion is the disconnect between the data sheet and the art in the 3025 Recognition Guide. The arms. Oh, the arms. Why?

[@cargo_vroom9729]

To me the problem with the 1MB isn't the Light Gauss per say, it's pairing some of the longest range weapons in the game with a NARC launcher. It doesn't want to be anywhere close to enemies.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good point.

[@ianjardine7324]

For me the NARC belongs on your fastest scout mech something that can dash close tag an enemy heavy or assault then book it back into cover before it takes too much damage. Far too many designs insist on adding systems to mechs that are very unlikely to ever be able to use them effectively simply because they're shiny and new. For example sticking LRMs on light mechs just annoys me they cannot fire large enough salvos to do any real damage or carry anywhere near enough ammo to be even marginally useful without sacrificing what little armour they have or reducing their speed which is the whole point of fielding a lightweight.

[@Blasterbot-ye2uk]

@@ianjardine7324 I can see having it on a close range brawler too. If you are facing loads of Clan pulse sticking it on a light mech will mean it just dies. al least with a heavy brawler you can ensure it is there for a few turns to try and get a shot to stick. but yeah it doesn't work with the Light Gauss.

[@sep0319]

Ahhhh... brings back memories of Half Blown Orion Standing on the Corpse of a Kodiak (Last Mech Standing (48hr game IS Merc vs Ghost Bears)).... 3rd Fav mech. As always, a very well-made video.

[@dubyag4124]

Orion was one of my favs in MechWarrior 3.

[@MechanicalFrog]

A solid pick.

[@hamder]

If it good enough for the great Kerensky, it's good enough for me. I'm pretty sure that's a passage from the remembrance.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It should be.

[@hamder]

Passage 2 And the great Kerensky did say onto us "The Orion is where it is at"

[@dalbancomline3394]

Just wanted to say I greatly appreciate these videos @MechanicalFrog Love your brand of narration, and doubly so the Lore. They bring a lot of much needed entertainment and nostalgia out here in Japan. Especially when on Deployment in the South China Sea haha

[@WolfHreda]

I adore the Orion. The most heavily armored heavy in TRO 3025, the personal 'mech of Aleksandr Kerensky, and a damn fine platform for any mission you could think of. My only problem is the custom ON1-K Kerensky. Kerensky has never struck me as the type who would bet his life on a prototype system like the Snub-Nose PPC that supposedly replaced his LRM-15 on this variant. The Gauss Rifle? Absolutely. It's a well proven system and used by many SLDF battlemechs at that point. Edit: Wow, MF, practicing restraint from the seething pyromaniac in your soul for this custom variant? Very admirable. Great design overall.

[@FluffyTheGryphon]

Ahh the Atlas Jr.

[@Richy0326]

The Orion reminds me of the M3 Lee tank - old, sturdy, and has a weapon for for every occasion. The ON1-M was one of the three mechs in the MW3 demo, so it stands alongside the Bushwacker as one of my original favourite mechs. I have distinct memories of piling ever weapon I could into the right arm, as the demo didn't limit the use of critical slots. Fun times.

[@ALECOS44]

When I first got into Battletech I was not big on the Orion, but the more I read, the more I got into the purple birds and then actually using the damn things in games and on tabletop, it’s quickly become one of my favorite heavies of all time. The thing is the Heavy class definition of Trooper and I’ll be damned if it does not fill the roll well. It’s an all time favorite now. Great video!

[@polaris198]

I love your dedication to these videos even after you died in that blackjack. Amazing work!

[@shadowdump2902]

I wholeheartedly approve of the second music track added in. It comes in at the latter half of the video right as we start getting into the juicy high-tech where lofty expensive dream machines that tickle the imaginations of humble mechwarriors everywhere begin to get mentioned. Also it sounds pretty.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank ya. I figured no one would notice.

[@DjornNorthfield]

Congratulations on resisting the urge to throw plasma cannons on your custom build!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Baby steps...

[@Ultra_Hlebus]

Such an awesome mech! Thanks for your work. I'm rather new to BattleTech Universe, but your insightful videos and remarks in them help me to understand what kind of tactical role modifications of different mechs fill on the battlefield and how to utilize them. It helps a lot. Keep it up!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot. Welcome to the fray, Mechwarrior!

[@knightmarethe1st]

Love the video. I love the Orion and it and Thunderbolts were common in my games. The Atlas is basically just a scaled up Orion.

[@wminsing]

Been a long time favorite of mine, great video as usual. I've driven her in plenty of fights both tabletop and virtual and she's never done me wrong.

[@mikeheimlich1303]

In the games I've played the Orion has been a key player in almost every game, on my side or my opponents. It is also so very cool that a mech with so few heat sinks can still be so nasty because of its well chosen load out.

[@drewgilbertson]

Ah, the OG heavy generalist. Proving you don't have to be flashy to get the job done. I'd pilot one of these in any century. Sir Mechanical Amphibian, perhaps you would consider a detour to Jumping Tanks next?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Jumping tanks aren't high on my to-do list at the moment... maybe next year?

[@drewgilbertson]

@MechanicalFrog sounds good.

[@JonDoee2343]

I think that we all have put a load in our pants when playing table top or any variant of Mechwarrior and seeing an Orion in anything less than a 65 ton mech. Great video.

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

I think you've told us why the Orion is loved. It's a super trooper of the old guard, along with the T-bolt and the OG 55-tonner Mediums. Great armor, heavy & diverse loadout, and its quirks are very useful. It's also great that the alts and upgrades don't try to reinvent the hovercraft, but just try out some different LRM and AC swaps. The Orion ain't broke, so no one is fixing it! 😄 ON1-K: Yeah, no CASE, but with armor like that, it's really only the lucky snake eyes that will cause crits. Also good to have a mech that can take a PPC hit in the back and not have to roll a crit! Plus, you can shoot the AC & LRMs all through the match, so the enemy can't wait for ammo depletion. ON1-K "Kerensky": A good example of why we 3025 grognards wax nostalgic about the Star League. Utter badass version, sadly unavailable for a long time. ON1-V: A good example that trying to do it all might not be so good. Even if a close-range strike has the potential to turn a Phoenix Hawk into a confetti drop! ON1-VA: 3025 era brawler version. For when you absolutely, positively, need to make another Heavy or even an 80-ton Assault back up! ON1-M: See kids, this is how you use the Helm advance to get the best mileage out of the new stuff! ON1-MC: Hey, we can have a missile boat version too! Damn, that's a lot of MRMs. ON2-M: Who needs SRMs, we have pulse lasers now! ON1-MF: It's a nice combo of the updated standard Orion & brawler version.

[@h.a.9880]

There is something oddly satisfying about a Lance of an Atlas, a Highlander, a Cyclops and an Orion together on the field. I just love the design of those 4 mechs, a variety of weapons spread out so you always get something that'll be able to get a firing solution. Though, when it comes to the Orion, the SRM should really be in the left arm, makes much more sense than the left torso. Otherwise, the left arm is just way too cumbersome and oversized, but I could buy that there's an SRM4 crammed in there.

[@williamjanak2013]

Great video as always. I have a feeling the Wolf Empire didn't much in the Fight to keep a Cockpit. Yes it has much history behind it. But the people that were trying to get it would take very good care of it. And the Empire was a bit busy at the time if I remember right.

[@Attaxalotl]

I like the ON1-K. And I do think it makes sense; it's the result of the most powerful man in the Star League building his own mech with which to assault the most heavily fortified planet there ever was, of course it would have the best of their tech.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm more forgiving of this one as Kerensky's personal mech than I am for royal divisions of min/maxed machines.

[@kierdalemodels]

Excellent vid again, Mech Frog👍 Now I want one! I see it’s in the Inner Sphere Direct Fire Lance: Atlas, Marauder II, Orion, and Crusader. Nice.

[@hideshisface1886]

Orion... It's so ugly... I love it. I must say, the good old Orion is a pinnacle of introtech "soldier" mech to me, at least in heavy class. A versatile "do-it-all" machine - tough and usable in every scenario at all possible ranges. It is a Kerensky's favourite for a reason, and it served as a basis for Atlas for a good reason. The only problem I have with Orion and many of its variants is that they tend to be pretty... explody. This mech is a walking ammunition storage in large portion of its configs, which may be problematic on a mech designed for prolonged heavy combat. Unfortunately, I never really had a very good luck with it. This thing, for some reason tends to be a massive shot magnet every time I try to use it.

[@ursulcx299]

The Orion to me is intrinsically linked with Kerensky. I love its almost franken mech look and i have good memories of brawling in mine

[@MechanicalFrog]

Awesome!

[@CanuckWolfman]

I kind of like the idea of what's almost an ON2-A variant of the Orion. An LRM-15 and a Gauss Rifle with three tons of ammo each. CASE in the left torso to cover the missile ammo, along with a Streak SRM-2 feeding from an one-ton bin all its own. We keep the two medium lasers, and we use a 300 fusion engine with double heat sinks for mobility and heat management. Mass for all of this is saved by building the 2-A on an endo steel chassis and sheathing it in thirteen tons of ferro fibrous armor.

[@duncanmackenzie7795]

When you need to knock on Amaris's door with attitude.

[@ASNS117Zero]

One of my favorites, along with the Warhammer, Marauder, Jenner II-C, Nova, and Stalker.

[@haconen3201]

Great video mate. Love the Orion, I always feel like I can just 1 hit KO someone when I field it hahaha

[@pete7872]

We love the Orion for its suave sophistication and awesome taste in belts? Or is it because it's stompy?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yes, yes, and yes.

[@lexington476]

36:52 wait, two snob-nose PPCs???? He created a light Marauder. 4 out of 5.

[@sebastiang.5032]

If it's good enough for Kerensky, it's good enough for the amphibian crew! 🐸🐸🐸

[@MechanicalFrog]

4 out of 5 starmates agree.

[@bryanmcmahon8593]

We like the Orion for the same reason we like the Atlas, its simple violence and armor. It has LRMs, SRM's, Medium Lazers and a big gun. It exists to reply in telling fashion at every range, plus Kerensky preferred it, so that has to count for something.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Well put. It just works.

[@GF1045Prime]

I really like how you can see the bigger Atlas design derived from Orion. LRM 15 > LRM 20 on atlas. Ac 10> ac 20. SRM 4> SRM 6. You can see how Kerensky was inspired by his own ride as he designed the Atlas.

[@JohnnySmithWhite-wd4ey]

Because everyone loves a hunter in the sky with a soon to supernova Red giant in it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

...yes.

[@voidofhope6259]

Kerensky’s personal “chariot”. A mech that lives up to its legacy.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It can leave an impression.

[@bthsr7113]

Also, neat to know that that Wolf Empire took a straight L by losing the last of that chariot to the Scorpions.

[@GamesGoneBy]

No plasma rifle? Are you feeling ok, MechFrog?

[@135forte]

Kerensky piloting an Orion means he didn't think the Atlas was ugly enough.

[@VickyAmaru]

Love the Orion. One of my favorite heavies in HBS BattleTech and MechWarrior 5. Definitely solid in the tabletop too. Your MF variant is absolutely brutal. I hope we get more variants in plastic from Catalyst soon.

[@brianthurlow1067]

A classic mech I am always happy to run when it rolls up.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm happy to give it some limelight.

[@haileysaint5443]

Gotta love the classic. I have to confess, I prefer the ON1-M to your MF variant; sorry. My ON1-ISM is mixed-tech, of course, but I actally restrained myself on the Clantech. It has a Light Fusion engine instead of an XL, but uses Clan FF armor and 12 Clan DHS. Its internal structure is IS standard, and its speed remains virtually unchanged (I say 'virtually' as I gave it TSM). To bring that TSM into play, its loadout consists of a Medium Re-Engineered Laser in each arm, though the left arm also carries a Clan SRM-4/w Artemis IV. A Clan LB-10X/w 3 tons of CASE II protected ammo is in the right torso, while an IS Enhanced LRM-10/w Artemis IV is in the left torso - along with 2 tons of ELRM and 1 ton of SRM ammo, protected by CASE II. A Clan LAMS is mounted in the CT, while rounding out the tonnage is an emotional support Small Laser in the head. I like to think of it as a slightly harder-hitting version of the ON1-K.

[@infernodelta70]

Why do I love the Orion? Because as ugly as the thing might look to others, it is a brick house of a mech and will always take considerable effort to take down. And I will always love taking Kerensky’s mech of choice into battle.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Well put.

[@LeftMech]

The Orion is a mech which I've owned one of for a while but have severely under utilized in local games. Strangely for such an iconic design, I rarely see them in opposition forces on the table either- even on the occasions I have traveled beyond the local shop where I typically play. Clearly I need to play it more often and try some of the variants that appear later in the timeline as well.

[@michaelpfister1283]

Well. I am going to have to give that ON2-M a closer look. 🙂

[@rafale1981]

The Orion is a true MBT of mechs: The right mix of toughness and firepower to act as a centerpiece in attack or defense against any force. And just like an MBT it needs more specialized designs snd infantry alongside

[@grimlock1471]

I've never had an Orion be the star of the show, but they always the king of assists.

[@vivalkyrie1530]

I really want to love the Orion. On paper is a great mech, everything I want in heavy mech, a baby Atlas. But then I look at the design and I just... can't. Why do you make it so hard to love you, Orion!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Life is full of little challenges.

[@thil2894]

He's very honest; he looks like a brick shithouse, is a brick shithouse and makes no effort of not being a brick shithouse.

[@kalamander8563]

At least it looks better than a Cataphract.

[@thil2894]

@@kalamander8563 which mech doesn't? it's a capellan mech.

[@Kingofdragons117]

Honestly I just want one with a light fusion engine, LB10X, pair of MML7s and some lasers in the arms.

[@FoxxofNod]

While I know you don't much like Royal variants I have a VERY early rejected Royal Orion that I am quite proud of. The ON1-Kb has an endo steel frame and 14 tons of standard armor, 10 DHS and CASE in both torsos. The weapons are an LB-10X with two tons of ammo, prototype Artemis IV on the LRM-15 and SRM-4 launchers and prototype medium pulse lasers. Intro date... wait for it... 2595.

[@xt6wagon]

Its a mini atlas. A source of compliant is the use of everything weapons class wise, but strangely it works here. Smaller lacks tonnage, while the atlas never feels like 100 tons as more focused designs feel better. The lack of focus means it works if it's the sole heavy or it's supporting assaults.

[@TheArchaos]

There is an Orion for everybody! You get an Orion! You also get an Orion! Orion's for everybody!

[@MechanicalFrog]

"Remember to check under your chairs for a coupon for free Gauss Rifle ammunition."

[@jiiaga5017]

I really like just the baseline Orion K. My only mercenary tweaks would have been add the later versions LBX-10, 3 LRM-5's instead of the single LRM-15, add in an extra medium laser. Then you can bring smoke or whatnot to dedicate a single LRM5 to, and you've got more options to shoot with up close or can ditch the SRM ammo and still have the extra medium laser. Add case or an extra heatsink. I'm disappointed we never saw a light fusion variant. Light Fusion and Double Heatsinks would give you enough weight to make some good simple firepower upgrades without sacrificing too much of the Orion's Orion-ness.

[@RalphyNoPants]

Everything's a bit better with a little onion to season it and who would expect this one to have the AA quirk?

[@MechanicalFrog]

pew pew pew.

[@georgesulea]

I love this mech BECAUSE it is ugly, tough, and a real bastard on the battlefield. Thank You Monsieur Frog, another video well done. Happy Brain Chemicals!!

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a solid pick. Thanks for giving the video a go. Have a great week!

[@Vulpine407]

The Orion is "old AF" for a very good reason. It works. It was weaponry for every range and enough ammo and armor to stay in the fight for a considerable amount of time. It has only one serious problem. Heat dissipation. Now you do NOT want to be on the receiving end of an alpha-strike by this mech at a range of 5 or 6 hexes. But you also do NOT want to be the pilot when you cook yourself by +7 to +9 heat (depending on how fast you move.) Now, +9 heat ONCE is not that bad, but you can do nothing but move the next turn if you want to vent any sizeable amount of that heat load. At roughly 6.5 million c-bills, the original (not-primitive) Orion is a decent buy for a mech that has the weaponry and armor of an assault mech, but moves like a heavy mech. Just watch that heat scale, eh?

[@blackbird7620]

I love most things about the Orion. Its lore, design, and armor are all great, but I just wish most of the varients had more hitting power. Its a bit undergunned for its weight in my opinion.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Opportunity cost spares no one.

[@thil2894]

I think I agree one hand, on the other I think it is thougher than a maurauder, easier to acquire than a Blacknight same for a Flashman.The Orion also a great generalist with something to do at every range, however it depends on ammo, carry a decent amount of it and if not careful with his heat will burn you. My favorite mech without being a uber meta mech.

[@tenchraven]

Remember the balance of firepower/armour/mobility/heat. This has less throughput of pain than other 75s in 3025, and mobility is normal, but but it is well sunk and the armour is better than a lot of 80 and 85s.

[@raifsevrence]

That might be the best MF variant so far.

[@Bomfunker91]

Sometimes, you just need a walking brick.

[@HazopGaze]

"Mechs are already naked." Okay, real quick... For nearly the past decade I've been working on a robotic civilization with tons of Battletech inspiration. The Kyrusyl, more commonly known as Mechanized, or Mechs for short, don't wear clothes coz they're machines. "What's with the look, knight commander? You don't dress your siege engines, so don't you dare suggest I dress mine." Sorry, that just... That joke struck me so much more than it was probably meant to. Never change, MechFrog! It's always a good morning when I can sip my coffee while you talk Battletech.

[@GeofftheIronwolf]

Honestly had rhe SLDF stayed, it would of been spit on the griddle.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Very likely.

[@bthsr7113]

The official setting where they stayed is implied to have been even more destructive to the sphere than the Succession Wars. It's called "Worlds Aflame."

[@brothersgt.grauwolff6716]

I've only run the stock Orion in most games of Battletech it's been a solid performer the results are usually 50/50

[@emmitanderson9379]

I was wondering how could this day be better

[@gregkun1]

Playing the IS Orion was a stroke of bad luck for me. I've lost two great pilots to the damn thing. I was hesitant to play the IIC version as the GM forced me to use it once. Though to my surprise I did extremely well with it back-to-back campaigns. I finally decided to make a personal command mech perk variant. The rule was: "You can have up to 3 Mech perks free. 4 or more you have to take 2 negative quarks for every 1 extra perk. Weapon quarks are rolled with a 1d4 a 1 or 4 you get no quarks for. 2 is one quark, and 3 is two quarks. GM rolls the die." I got a three for 2 quarks and two for 1 quark for my other 3 weapons. Here's the build: Onion-OZ ONI-OZ Base Tech Level: Standard Mixed (Base IS) Level Era -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weight: 75 tons BV: 3,309 Cost: 18,737,250 C-bills Source: (Unknown) Role: Striker Movement: 4/6(8)/4 Engine: 300 XL Double Heat Sinks: 17 [34] Cockpit: Standard Cockpit Gyro: Standard Gyro Internal: 114 (Endo Steel) Armor: 192/231 (Standard) Internal Armor ---------------------------------------- Head 3 9 Center Torso 23 28 Center Torso (rear) 9 Right Torso 16 22 Right Torso (rear) 6 Left Torso 16 22 Left Torso (rear) 6 Right Arm 12 19 Left Arm 12 19 Right Leg 16 26 Left Leg 16 26 Weapons Loc Heat ------------------------------------------------- Improved ATM 12 (Q) (Clan) LT 8 Large Pulse Laser (Q) (Clan) RA 10 Large Pulse Laser (Q) (Clan) LA 10 Large Pulse Laser (Q) (Clan) RT 10 Ammo Loc Shots ----------------------------------------- Standard iATM/12 Ammo LT 5 Standard iATM/12 Ammo LT 5 High-Explosive iATM/12 Ammo LT 5 High-Explosive iATM/12 Ammo LT 5 Equipment --------------------- MASC (Clan) RT CASE II (Clan) LT Quirks ------ -1 long/+1short Variable Range Targeting (long) -Difficult Ejection -No Ejection System +Multi-Trac: No secondary Modifiers in front and arm arcs +2 init: Battle Computer +Improved Sensors: Active Probe Weapon Quirks ------------- Improved ATM 12 (LT): Stabilized Weapon: -1 to hit when running, Accurate Weapon:-1 to hit Large Pulse Laser (RA): Improved Cooling Jacket: -1 to heat Large Pulse Laser (LA): Improved Cooling Jacket: -1 to heat Large Pulse Laser (RT): Improved Cooling Jacket: -1 to heat

[@Gigas0101]

Always liked the Orion, big dumb kitchen sink design of generalist heavy 'mechs. I loved the big barrel left arm design, makes me think of Stan Hansen's Western Lariat.

[@KeystoneCarcajou]

made a variant of the old warhorse with Endo/Ferro, LBX10, 2 ML's, and three MML5's. two tons of LBX ammo and two tons of MML5 are protected by CASE II. add a Beagle and a Guardian, and its frosty with DHS.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sounds fun.

[@Tellos]

ON2-M is a favorite of mine. Even if I somehow rarely have good luck with it.

[@reighniz4488]

I run an Orion in MWO: LBX-20, 2 Med. Pulse Lasers, SRM4. Solid build and I once got 6 kills in a single game with it. I was legitimately surprised. My brother outfitted it for me. Wait... you DIDN'T put a Plasma Rifle on this one!?

[@ocde5395]

ive loved the Orion since the orginal MW2 mercs, still remember the most ludicrious variant I came up with dropped the LRMs & AC for an Arrow IV

[@Blade40688]

I've always thought the Orion pined for an AC 20 refit. With Lyran contacts you could LFE to buy space for the AC20 and pull the MLs to upgrade the SRMs to 6packs and possibly add Artemis. Might just be the hunchback pilot in me though

[@SulliMike23]

I didn't have a good introductory to this mech on tabletop. In the game I fired its gauss rifle, and it fell over, damaging its leg. I tried to get it to stand again, only to lose both legs and I was out. In MWO I had much better luck with it.

[@philipgard6762]

The Orion has so darn many variants, lol.

[@randyfant2588]

The Orion is a decent mech, not one of my favorites, but solid and usable with some decent variants. The -1M and its offshoots are just. No mech this size has any reason to carry and IS-XL Engine. The savings in weight (9.5tn) is not worth the massive increase in vulnerability. As for the LGR, this is an interesting weapon. While not the aw inspiring brute of the standard GR, its 8pt damage is still enough to serve as a can-opener and the weapons 25 hex range is almost unmatched even among Clan tech. Another interesting feature, which I think has gone completely unnoticed by others is that it weighs 12 tons with 16 rounds per ton of ammo, making a simple 1tn loadout adequate for most operations. This makes the whole standard weapon 13 tons, the same as an LB-10X with 2tn (20 rounds/10 per type) of ammo. It is also the same as a RAC-5 with 3 tn (60rounds) of ammo. the 3 weapons loadouts are also similar in total crits 6/8/9 respectfully, meaning that it is possible to fit out mechs with a semi-pod system (rather than a full omni-mech) for 13tn 9 crits and make pods for each of these 3 weapons so they could be swapped out in the field with relative ease - allowing the pilot to choose between a long range sniper/mid-range general purpose or close in Buzzsaw depending on the mission. This would certainly be the case for any Heavy or Assault omni-mech.

[@mirrorsandstuff]

My first Catz pet on my Windows 95 box was a weird blue thing called Orion, so I like to think of them randomly bashing the controls of any time I use the mech instead of a mechwarrior pilot.

[@lexington476]

1:51 mostly functioning 😊? Does that mean the battlemech starts three out of four tries 😀?

[@MechanicalFrog]

They can't all be winners.

[@BK2207]

Kerensky's Best Brick. Reliable and good hitter, even without any hand.

[@Primearch-GG]

Frog, your Orion on1-MF is nice stack of inner sphere tech, but I would have compromised on either the endo steel or ferro fibrous armor in other to have the space to install enough DHSs to be heat neutral when running as well as using the remaining weight to up the armor to 14.5 tons or above. P.s. you forgot to put Kerensky's belt on him.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Alas, we can't have it all...

[@Primearch-GG]

@MechanicalFrog which all? The min-maxed heat scale and full armor or Kerensky's belt?