Why Do We Love The Owens?

[@Dracobyte]

The Owens: when you want to be a missile boat, but you skipped Leg Day.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It only works out the glamour muscles... tragic.

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

Lol

[@Eulemunin]

The lack of double heat sinks just show how much the Combine is the goons of the Intersphere. Love the little guy.

[@MechanicalFrog]

They just like to help mechwarriors never get chilly.

[@meshuggahshirt]

The Draconis Combine read something about hot-blooded mecha pilots from the ancient samurai past and things got lost in translation

[@stormcrow28]

Omnimech technology is awesome, as are almost all of the additions Battletech has given us over the years. It allows for all of us designaholics to build custom configurations on the fly within a tonnage and critical limit. The Owens is an excellent scout and EW focused Omni that works well with an entire Omni or higher end Draconis Combine force. I love it. Great video as always Mechfrog

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks! This was a fun one to make. Go Owens!

[@scytheseven9173]

It fits the Draconis Combine of the time, but the lack of double heat sinks (and intregral electonics) really hobbles the Owens imo. The C config isn't bad, but the Owens tries to be a specialist when that isn't really taking advantage of Omni technology-it's like a confused take on an Omni-Raven. It's not bad, mostly, there's just little to justify not just making it a BattleMech with a fixed loadout.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I think the devs were afraid of making an IS Omni-Mech that was too good at the time.

[@scytheseven9173]

@@MechanicalFrog it does at least fit the lore-they were still experimenting, and they made a curious 'Mech that would be a better BattleMech than an OmniMech but it still quite useful as a support unit due to its armor, speed, and electronics package.

[@mal_dun]

The Owens is perfect to drop Battle Armor though. Since it's an Omni mech you can load up BA and just run near your enemy to drop it as it is very fast. A budget Firemoth in a sense.

[@AlexDenton0451]

The Owens, my absolute favorite light mech. It can kinda do everything you want a Light Mech to do, for cheap, while being a very simple machine to play. My custom config for it was inspired by the star league Locust 1Vb, installing a bunch of Inner Sphere Pulse Lasers into it to absolutely punish anything bigger than it with massive near guaranteed damage when caught out of position.

[@weaselwolf]

I always assumed the Owens was named after Jesse Owens, the famous Olympic runner... Which would also be a nod to the Jenner, which is also a reference to an Olympic runner

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be a cool alt-explanation. Jesse Owens was the goat.

[@gregdomenico1891]

One of my favorites Light's. With all of the electronic's, it's a omni Raven, with out all the stigma of being a Cappellan mech. I usually use one with a SRM 6 with 1 ton of Tandem rounds ( great for thru armor crits), a ER Medium and 2 ER Smalls. The extra ton goes in to armor. Great little Recon and back stabber.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Nice! I'm so glad when I can hit someone's favorites in a video.

[@warlok363]

"stigma" of being a Capellan mech? You would be so lucky to be blessed by the light of the Celestial Throne.

[@swiftdraw]

I really like the Mech Frog variant best, probably because it is reminiscent of Anubis 5Y. Firepower wise, it just exchanges the two LRM 5's for the scouting suite that the Owens comes with which isn't necessarily a bad trade. It really comes down to what is backing it up.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The Owens is very much a force multiplier light, so its utility is going to depend on that force, as you said.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Owens! When Liao cannot or want not deliver its Anubis to you! XD

[@GojiKaichou]

I always thought the development of the Owens stemmed from the Dracs' attempt at updating the Jenner as an Omni. But someone in R&D looked at the Jenner, saw that it was still useful despite its age, and made sure the Owens wouldn't be a next-gen Jenner.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's going to be good, but not too good...

[@jamesbeard5513]

The Owens, the dedicated scout and nothing else. I kinda dream the Owens and the Strider get a II upgrade, getting Double Heat Sinks and some weight saving tech on a new omni platform.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It would be nice to see an Owens Mk II. get those upgrades.

[@GojiKaichou]

Also, as naming conventions go... The Jenner and Owens are incredibly fast runners. Jenner = named after 70s-80s track star and Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner. Owens - Named after Jesse Owens, who won the gold at the Berlin Olympics before WWII kicked off.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I don't know where that came from but it's a fun head canon explanation.

[@riptors9777]

Actually the Owens was named after Garyowen wich is an old Irish drinking song associated with cavalry as a marching song XD Wich lead the different intelligence agencies around the inner sphere to scratch their head as to why it was named that way and if it had any special meaning considering that song has absolutely nothing to do with japanese culture.

[@GojiKaichou]

@@riptors9777 I was thinking more along the lines of the guys at FASA coming up with mech names, and considering the fact that the Jenner was one of the fastest mechs, they named it after a recognizable olympic track star of the time. Same when it came to naming the Owens. They probably were like, "well, we've already got a mech named after Bruce Jenner, so why not name this new one after Jesse Owens?" I wasn't referring to game lore.

[@riptors9777]

@@GojiKaichou Well i havent found any info on your claim but it does make somewhat sense. Just as it makes sense for the combine to name it after a famous irish song instead of an by 3056 obscure olympia runner

[@jeremysaklad6703]

A particularly painful aspect of the Owens G is that TSEMP Cannons inflict self-interference for the turn after firing. That means that the Beagle Active Probe and C3 slave are dead weight much of the time. Personally, I enjoy the TSEMP Cannon most on a VTOL, where it can rush up, fire, then reposition without much issue.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah I'm just really not a big fan of the TSEMP cannon as a thing in the universe or tabletop.

[@Arvyn992]

My first encounter and use of the Owens was from MechAssault 1 Game on the Original Xbox

[@MechanicalFrog]

Love at first sight...

[@andrewamann2821]

This little Digitigrade bastard was the mech that put battletech on my radar, the year i got my 3rd edition Warhammer 40k starter kit. It would be a while before i dug into the game from there, but i got in, eventually...

[@freeranger00]

The Owens is a cool early attempt at IS omnimech design. I like that it leans into the Combine's strengths with the C3 equipment and that it doesn't try to be anything that it isn't, but it is so hampered by those single heat sinks. Just an upgrade from singles to doubles make the mech so much more flexible. Even so, it's a fun mech with a great appearance. I always liked it in MW3.

[@andrewfsheffield]

I think this guy was usable in Mechwarrior 3 or 4. Fun little Omnimech. Love a light that can drop 10 LRMs and has a nice suite of EW equipment to boot

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah I think it was a blast in the older MW games.

[@Brigand231]

You didn't narrate the intro text. ...and it probably would have been the best one ever! The Owens is a prime example of "it just works". It's amazingly flexible and durable for a light mech. It scouts, it marks, it can take a little bit of punishment, it can provide fire support, it can ambush, and it's easy to repair since it's an omni. What's not to love? It's one of the few light mechs I'm never disappointed to salvage.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I wouldn't subject anyone to my singing. That would be a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

[@imasspeons]

​@@MechanicalFrogeveryone ignores those anyway.

[@Brigand231]

​@@MechanicalFrogI'd record it for you if'n you want. I'm sure there're plenty of royalty-free recordings of it out there too.

[@EarthsDM]

Something to note about the ECM on the Owens config F - it’s not just for sneaking. It’s been a long time since I’ve read the tabletop rules but if I recall correctly it can counteract an opponents ECM that would otherwise shut down your all important C3 link.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good catch.

[@sim.frischh9781]

The single heat sinks really limit the Owens, they would be the first thing i upgrade on such a mech. Because the Owens has tremendous potential, the MF variant is a great example for that, nice layout! I myself liked the design in the TROs and MechWarrior 3 already, but i was at its best in MechWarrior 4 with the David White redesign, in my opinion.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Any re-design on the Combine's part would absolutely need DHS.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@MechanicalFrog Yeah, i don´t know what they were thinking, it´s China that makes the cheap stuff, not Japan! XD

[@AnimeSunglasses]

Ok, your Owens-MF fills a light mech loadout that I've wanted already, almost perfectly...

[@MechanicalFrog]

Great minds...

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

"Sentient Bird Aliens" I understood that reference! I was introduced to the Owens via Mechwarrior: Living Legends. While it tends to play fast and loose with some of the building rules in favor of good game balance, MWLL does keep the spirit of the Owens intact. It's fast, can take a few hits from light mechs and vehicles, and has a nice set of electronics for being a team player. If I were to make a custom configuration for the Owens, I'd focus on the C3 slave it carries and try to make it a good scout for the rest of it's network. First thing I'd add would be a supercharger so it can sprint into and out of close range better. For extra defense, I'd add a AMS (with one ton of ammo) and a ECM suite. I'd love to give it stealth armor as well, but Omni-mech rules don't allow for that. Using the last three tons for offensive weapons, I'll consent to a little more advanced tech and add a IS ERML to each arm, and a small pulse laser to the head. It'll run a little hot because of the single heat sinks, but I think the ability to keep a target at arm's length is worth it. I think the mix of high speed, AMS, and the ECM buggering a lot of aim-boosting electronics would make the Owen's a even better scout and spotter than it already is.

[@keebbles]

Far Country, right?

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

@@keebbles Yup!

[@scotbot2016]

My Owen’s build is a pair of mml in the arms and a ap gauss and a tag to round off the mech making it a quick fire support mech and 2 er medium lasers to at least defend itself when ammo runs out

[@PaperworkNinja]

It's so nice to see they made a full song out of the Irish Spring soap commercial jingle

[@MechanicalFrog]

Great. Now I'm never getting to sleep tonight.

[@tripwire31]

Out of the OG Inner Sphere Omnis, the Raptor, Avatar, Sunder, and Blackjack are my gotos. The Owens fails at doing what the Raptor or Strider can, it's a good scout and I enjoy the TSEMP config, but there isn't much that the Owens can do that a Mercury can't. Would love to see more of the original IS Omnis if possible since they are beloved by those who use and know them, but unknown to the general public.

[@nexusofice9135]

Hell YA! My FAVORITE light Mech! In all it's cuteness and shortcomings!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Huzzah! I like it when I hit someone's favorite in a video.

[@riptors9777]

The owens, turning the jenner from a jumpy backstabber with massive heat issues into a hightech team player. It has enough electronics stuck in it you might think the capellans cooked it up, but this time it was the draconis combine. Fast little mech that packs slightly more firepower then a Valkyrie while at the same time carrying all that nifty electronic gear. A TAG, a BAP and a C3 computer make it a perfect team player. That being said: Thats also where the downsides come from. To use the Owens to its full potential you need other equipment that is not carried by it. You need Arrow IV launchers, mechs with C3 master computers or mechs with Artemis LRM launchers. And as a mercenary commander that reacks up to ALOT of highly expensive equipment that is not easaly replaceable in the field.. so a unlucky crit here or there can drastically lower your combat effectiveness. Not to mention that the Dracs are guarding their in-house mechs like the literal dragon they are named after... they are not exactly known for selling their designs on the open market. Also the A configuration is a bit schizophrenic... the light mech is perfect for spotting and getting close in to the enemy to relay targeting Data back to its lance/C3 mates... but its main weapon systems want it to stay at long range. The B and C variants adress that, but also cut into the potential firepower it can bring to bear. Also while in the fluff it was stated that it was a modernized jenner, it might aswell be a completly new machine. It fullfills none of the combat roles the Jenner was designed for except scouting in wich it is superior to the jenner if it wasnt for the lack of jumpjets. All that being said: If you have the sources to replace lost equipment, and the necesary bank account to afford a high tech lance, or work for the dragon, this is an excellent scouting mech comparable to machines like the Raven. Fun fact: The owens was the first enemy mech you encountered in mechwarrior 3.. wich is quite the feat considering that smoke jaguar realistically had no way of procuring their own owens seeing that they where only introduced 3056 and the game is set somewhere in 3059 when operation bulldog and task force serpent had allready devastated the clan barely leaving any survivors.

[@ogrehaslayers605]

My only experience with the Owens, besides just reading about it over and over in the TRO, is one of the older video games had them, and I liked running it when it was available. Never used one on tabletop, but it's not too late to start! Looks like fun. I just never think about it, as I don't own a mini for it. We do a hybrid type game. All of our mechs are custom, but a custom variant of whatever mini we are using . We allow you to use whatever you want, but we each design around the minis. But a Locust could easily be an Owens!!!

[@rickusjamesus]

I've never thought the Owens was all that useful but it looks so cool I always want to play it

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's adorable...

[@DadalorianCreates]

I actuallty ran a lance of two Taser configs and pair of lt ppc configs and went head hunting. we were tasked with Capturing a couple of high profile mech pilots and were offered their mechs as reward, so we decided to go this route, we had one crippled lt ppc, one almost crippled taser, and the others had damage. BUUUT we did get to keep the cougar and the phoenix hawk :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

High risk / High reward.

[@haileysaint5443]

As always, I have a config of my own, lol. The OW-1-ISM is based off of the Owens-G, but swaps the standard for Stealth armor and a Guardian ECM. It switches to DHS, and is armed with 2 Small Pulse Lasers and 2 ER Flamers to operate as an anti-infantry scout. A head-mounted recon camera rounds out the tonnage.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh that would be a sneaky one.

[@carlwells9504]

With a C3 and TAG I love an IS LPL in the CT (med range is 7 hexes which fits well with LRM/ ER PPC/LL and Gaus units in network). Doubles as a light mech/infantry killer. Sure after 2 turns you will need to cool off but can push it quite abit if you don’t mind the small movement point drop and even some minus to hit with the accuracy of the pulse laser.

[@baker90338]

My personal favorite refits take ideas from the Jenner, and upguns it significantly by experimenting with a pair of standard medium lasers, and a pair of clan ER mediums, and then giving the rest to single heatsinks. It’s a bad idea, but you’ll overheat by only 5 on an alpha while running, making you a highly durable piece. I’d then try and see if I can strap TSM, giving you an easy sniper and annoyance mech that can go at speeds previously unseen by this design. It’s a bad idea, but by god, I’m going to try it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good ideas. I might have to tinker with the TSM while I drink my morning hot cocoa.

[@baker90338]

@@MechanicalFrog I’d recommend Espresso. It lead to my Thunderbolt-15 based hunchback with TSM called the 6JP.

[@rmcdudmk212]

That sounds like a fun build. 👍

[@baker90338]

@@rmcdudmk212 it goes 4(5)/6(8)/4 with a Xpulse medium in the head, 4x ER mediums (2 in each arm) and a Thunderbolt 15 in da hunch with 12 rounds of ammo in the right torso. It works ok, and is scary because it goes 5/8 with only a light engine as a downgrade. It’s a mech for mechwarriors whom want to experience the 4H in the modern era, while not compromising on armor. It’s a durable thing, but it ain’t built to live forever.

[@rmcdudmk212]

@@baker90338 solid I'll give it a go in MegaMek sometime. Thanks 😁

[@Gigas0101]

My leggy friend from MW:4 Mercenaries! The primary configuration feels like something I could throw into a game to fill out a list, either running around as a scout providing missile support as part of a light lance, though I'm probably just being too kind to it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a bit of an odd duck, but still fun.

[@tehpw7574]

0:40 It is Undeniable that you figured out, that you could NOT song even a bar of those lyrics... :D

[@MechanicalFrog]

Subjecting anyone to my singing would be a crime against humanity and doom the channel.

[@Alizardwithdaftideas]

The Owens gives me axolotl vibes looking at the tip of the nose. Kind of has eyes a mouth in some of the art.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I see it.

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

I would suggest a somewhat bizarre surprise backstabber built upon the MF variant Owens, a single Clan ER PPC with a Capacitor. You get the ability to hit with the equivalent of a AC20 every other round, with no ammo issues, from a mech moving at speeds that make it very hard to hit. Add some double heatsinks and an ECM to help keep it safe and you have a nasty little surprise for your enemy who falsely think this mech non threatening. This build also happens to be something the Drac's would love to use in their en mass light charges, in place of the less survivable much slower Panther.

[@keebbles]

IS version of the Pack Hunter?

[@chrisbritt4266]

I'm a big fan of the mechfrog variant It sounds like one I would have put together. Have liked to C3 computer but do like that owens

[@MechanicalFrog]

It would be pricier for sure, but the mech was in dire need of some tech updates to make it competitive.

[@moustacherie7042]

Config A is a dedicated BA taxi for me!

[@bthsr7113]

Looking at the prime, I am reminded of the Raven with all the fancy electronics paired with missiles on a 35 tonner. Though it does have a tasty feature that most Ravens didn't. C3. And I see the D config only makes the similarities increase.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Quite similar in role and loadout.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

The Owens has a special place in my heart for being one of those MW4 staples that really grew on me, albeit, perhaps for the wrong reason. See, in the original retail release of MW4: Mercenaries (the third game released in that time, after the original MW4 and the Black Knight expansion) there was something of a minor bug: Its engine speed scalar for upgrading/downgrading the engine was overtuned (yes, you can do that to Omnimechs in MW4 because that game is a very weird one...perhaps because it was the very last official product FASA Corp ever sold in the Battletech/Mechwarrior franchise before going under). In short, the Owens could be built into the fastest mech in the game; blazing along at close to 300kph when maxed out; a speed that's faster than even the Osiris and Firemoth (Dasher) could reach (which sucked for them, because I'm pretty sure they were intended to be the actual fastest mechs available for MW4). This bug would be patched in due time, but not before the Super Owens left an impression on me and my friends at many a LAN party. (Good grief I miss LAN parties...I feel so old now. :( ) Programming errors in apocryphal games aside, I still like the Owens for its pure "out of the box" versatility. There are many that call it an omni-mech variant of the Jenner, but it's really more of its own thing since the more radical modifications of the Jenner revolve around changing its internals, and that's kinda the one thing can't touch on Omnimechs. What I don't like about the Owens is its lack of double-heatsinks; this is an especially painful limitation for its time, since there's a lot of neat/powerful energy weaponry popping off during its heyday (the Clan Invasion and FedCom Civil War Eras): X-Pulse Lasers, Light-PPCs, and all the salvaged ClanTech weaponry especially stings to miss out on. As an SRM missile-boat, the Owens performs quite well, and in combined arms forces the built-in EW suite (and especially TAG) means having a unit that can safely paint targets for indirect fire attacks from artillery/LRMs/Arrow IVs. As stated in the video, it's a respectably durable for a 35 tonner. If I were a DCMS unit stuck doing the usual light mech skirmishing/harassment duty expected of me, I could certainly do worse than a stock Owens.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Super Owens huh? O_o The lack of DHS really really hobbles the design.

[@atmosdwagon4656]

@@MechanicalFrog Yup. ER Small Lasers and 288 kph running speed due to the bugged engine scalar.

[@gregkun1]

I like the Owens, my wariant was: Chassis: IS Endo Steel, Power Plant: 280 XL, Cruising Speed: 86.4 kph Maximum Speed: 118.8 kph, Armor: Hardened, Weapons: 2 ATM6 in the RA&LA with 2 tons of standard ATM/6 ammo (10) in the LA&RA, and 2 tons of High-Explosive ATM/6 Ammo (10) in the LT&RT, 8,025,469 C-bills. Fast, and tanky with harden armor. TAG+ATM's with different ammo types for versitile hard hitting. The owens would of made a good 40ton mecha for some extra goodies but oh well. lol

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be a little monster with those ATMs

[@DanielIsberner]

I like the Owens as a Battle Armor taxi. That's why it is used by my Silent Reapers and once the novel releases, it will get some screen time. :)

[@MechanicalFrog]

It is quite useful for that... :D

[@SHDW-nf2ki]

I used to have an Owens that instead of NARCs used a TAG in the CT to call arty and it worked well

[@MechanicalFrog]

Useful for that.

[@Xeno426]

The MF version feels more like an Owens II, given that it changes the heat sinks, internals, armor, and fixed C3S. None of those are otherwise changes that can be done for an omni. And honestly, at that point, if you're in the Dark Ages, might as well go full in on a proper Owens II. Give it something like Ballistic-Reinforced armor (something the DCMS has), or Reflective to combat those pesky Clan Pulse Lasers that make speedy light's lives more difficult in that era. The same kind of treatment could honestly be given to the Strider, though I suppose the B-R armor would be more appropriate on that platform. Still, the fact most Owen configs don't have much heat issues is kind of testament to how most of the configs were pretty well designed given the restrictions the thing has in place.

[@ARCCommanderOrar]

I thought for a while this was just an Omni version of Locust.

[@MechanicalFrog]

There is a resemblance.

[@KnightofRome01]

Ahh the Owens, loved this dude in MW4 mercs... Hang on need to go reinstall that and relive my younger years

[@MechanicalFrog]

The sounds of hundreds of PCs reinstalling MW4...

[@nemo35383]

Sentient bird aliens were almost the best thing to happen to battletech. The possibilities just flew over too many fans heads.

[@MechanicalFrog]

"Squawk!" - Reginold Featherbottom III Esq.

[@fenny1578]

Always loved the base version, so nice to see the locust 1m all grown up. Lol

[@MechanicalFrog]

Right?!

[@kaisiegfried425]

That song played a role in the defence of Sky in the first Jade Falcon Battle

[@MechanicalFrog]

Long history.

[@kaisiegfried425]

@@MechanicalFrog It would be interesting to hear your take on the first two Battles on Sky, how Insuverable Stupid the Hazens were and Hob bad shit insane the Defenders by taking on claners with Batteltechs version of the combat refited Toyota or "Diggerking" why Putting a medium Laser on my Miner mech isnt stupid.

[@kaisiegfried425]

Also the first Major Warship engagement since the Blakist curfafule.

[@mr.hungryloser]

I've been waiting to see this peppy little gear hauler

[@MechanicalFrog]

It has the zoom zoom.

[@Zeeke01]

I love the Owens... My experience with it is rather solid! I used config A and always did infantry mop up and artillery spotting with it. Though I remember one time with the Owens... I got unlucky... Got hit badly in the leg and fell, then pilot unconscious, then infantry swarm, then ded... Sad, but sometimes the dice gods just hated that mech in particular.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oh no... unlucky Owens down!

[@Zeeke01]

@@MechanicalFrog all is fair game in the eyes of the dice gods...

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I do like how yhe Owens has standard Heat Sinks even as an Omnimech. The DCMS had a hard time making them in the early days of the tech Renaissance and it makes the Jenner -K-0 lore friendly.

[@derekburge5294]

Always interesting to see the light ppc get some play on lights... I still can't decide if the weapon is good or a waste!

[@MechanicalFrog]

It is really warming on me.

[@carlosrgns]

remember that one time it all worked out swimmingly with the TSEMP

[@MechanicalFrog]

Ah yes... that one time...

[@KeystoneCarcajou]

Pair that with units carrying semi guided LRM's and you have a devastating combo.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Absolutely.

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

Thank you for all the work you put into this video, it was nice and I enjoyed the watch. I’m not going to lie a light mech that is built around a xp engine and ammo doesn’t appeal to me much. Even if the design is cool. So my favorite would have to be then F variant. Lots of fun tech and a solid energy loadout.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Definitely not a mech with wide appeal. But a fun attempt at an omni-mech.

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

@@MechanicalFrog Very much so, also I did find it interesting that MF variant didn’t have a plasma cannon on it.

[@lukedudley5030]

Another fun watch :-) this is a mech ive never actually encountered but seems pretty OK:-)

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's pretty niche but the lore saves it. And it's cute.

[@thomasgiles2876]

Another childhood KNex mech in my collection

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah, yes!

[@ImRuined666]

Love the Owens... I tend to run something like the R variant, but rather than the Clan ER mediums, I'll run standard IS mediums, mount Ferro, and give it an ECM... Relatively cheap upgrade, fairly good on heat, and highly effective as both a spotter and harrasser...

[@MechanicalFrog]

Sounds like it would be fun and sneaky.

[@bogatyr2473]

Normally with clan mechs I loathe fixed equipment that could be podded in. With IS mechs I don't mind it. They have the industrial base that every mech doesn't have to be a jack of all trades. The Owens is a scout, you can tune the weapon load out but it's a scout.

[@MechanicalFrog]

My working theory is that the devs were a little concerned at the time that IS omni-mechs might make a wide swath of the IS mech pantheon obsolete, so they were hobbled a bit with the permanent gear.

[@marshall104]

Ah, the first mech I ever destroyed in a Mechwarrior video game. I liked the Mini Missile Mech

[@MechanicalFrog]

So many dead Owens... so many...

[@tuckerodonnell9269]

I always drop the small lasers for more ammo And switch the LRM 5 for MML 5 ot helps alot when dealing with other lights and you have an archer or long bow in the back line

[@scytheseven9173]

The MechFrog variant is good, but it can't be done as a config-you made an Owens II, something the Draconis Combine itself should have done when it could make more double heat sinks

[@MechanicalFrog]

Correct. It would be a massive upgrade.

[@boneshaman8912]

I think the DCMS could do this. Issues a recall for all active owes. All the heat sinks are in the engine, so they wouldn't need to relocate fixed equipment.

[@Prich319]

I think the MF is less of a configuration, and more of an Owens Mk.II since the base heat sinks, armor, and chassis are all considered fixed equipment on an omnimech, and cannot be changed normally.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah it really is a significant upgrade to the machine.

[@Anotherguy-O7]

My Owens build is an Apollo MRM 10 with 4 ER Small Lasers, this makes that thing a monster for back stabbing, crits everywhere, damage ahoi Edit: Since I forgot that Owens can't use DHS (in BTA 3062 it can, but oh well), I would cut out 2 ER smalls and put an extra heat sink, so its more manageable

[@jasonmorello1374]

I have to say that twin ppc actin has me interested, but I have almost always leaned into sniper style mechs, no matter the weight. If jumps would work, I almost you pull them in for a slightly smaller plant, the light ppcs, as a tree line jump sniper hitting 10s could shred a lot before the even had to do much more than dance a circle.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It'd be enough to make the enemy at least consider it a problem.

[@mikeheimlich1303]

I like the E variant, it seems very useful overall.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It is!

[@theyellowjesters]

I love the Owen's. Gonna be honest I like the standard load out with the lrm 5s. Sure it's not packing a lot of damage but it makes for a good harasser with its speed and can take a hit it seems, better than a locust at least. I do like your custom variant though! I might add that to the table if I can ever get our group into the clan invasion.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a unique fun little mech. I dig it.

[@Mortifactor]

The Argus wishes it was this cute.

[@MechanicalFrog]

True.

[@jeremysaklad6703]

It is *really* hard to defend an OmniMech with single heat sinks. If anything cries out for a Class F refit, it's the Owens.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Really limits the options.

[@Richy0326]

A sorely under appreciated mech. It's an excellent scout & spotter. It looks quite expensive at first, until you factor the investment in artillery, and how the Owens can greatly amplify that damage. No personalized variant from me today. I'm just going to steal the MF variant and be on my way. Would you mind opening the hanger doors for me? Thanks.

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's definitely a force multiplier with the proper fire support.

[@neobushidaro]

The G makes sense in weird assasin lance of 3 or 4. couple others owens to keep up with it to clear out the little things while larger things in the back catch people's attention. The little guys run up. Tag a target, attempt to taser. Get out a try again as needed. The tag will help some big missle boat way behind rain death down with indirect missiles, while these little bastards tag. Maybe a E and a F (add another E if you think light and med mechs will be a problem, the F if you think battlesuits and infantry)

[@MechanicalFrog]

An Owen for every need and want...

[@ben2741]

The Owens: because let’s face it, if you could afford a Vulture, you would.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I do need a few more Mad Dogs...

[@WolfHreda]

I'm not much of a purist, but I've never really liked the snub-nose PPC. Giving up the weapon's long reach to shore up one weakness that has already been solved seems silly. That being said, I _adore_ Light PPCs, and I enjoy figuring out fun loadouts that include them. My best to date is my MWO Blackjack. It keeps the two medium lasers in the side torsos, but the arms looks freakishly reminiscent of the Warhawk, with two Light PPCs in each. I've taken to calling it the Chickenhawk.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I definitely get that the Snub-Nosed PPC is not for everyone.

[@ChaosTicket]

Inner Sphere omnimechs are more rare than Clan Omnimechs to this day. Many of them have teething problems with fixed equipment or missing something as essential as Double Heat Sinks. I first learned of the Owens from Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries standalone expansion pc game. I liked it a fair bit there, even if I mostly used it like a Jenner. The limited loadout and lack of double heat sinks of the Owens prevents it from being much use for combat. None of the official variants uses Jump Jets, something the Jenner and Jenner IIC have. The Owens could have been better.

[@MechanicalFrog]

My personal theory is that the devs were worried about accidentally making the IS Omnis too good.

[@ChaosTicket]

@@MechanicalFrog Maybe, but the only other Inner Sphere Omni I know that doesnt used Double Heat sinks is the 40ton Strider. I like the Templar as a pretty solid Assault Omni.

[@iananderson6530]

Why didn't you sing that intro?

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

[@danielmegow966]

Id like to see one with 2 srm 6 and 2 medium lasers. Make it a vicious little back stabber. Artemis if the weight xan be found

[@hermes7587]

The Owens doesn´t have enough pod space and heat sinks for such a loadout. You could install two SRM-6 with a single ton of ammo but this would run out of ammo very quickly. Artemis is a waste of tonnage for SRMs. A loadout with one SRM-6, two MLs and an additional heat sink would turn it into an improved Raven.

[@randyslater199]

Love this; but no MF Owens sheet this time. I took a snipit instead. Got the OW-1C stl off cults too. I feel the Irish in me bones.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Oops! www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z8wr288sg8g9iz2j2ws0y/Owens-OW-MF.pdf?rlkey=ej17pmg8wyx0k6ay8hcxg58r7&dl=0

[@thomasrobson6370]

My auntie infantry version of the locust replaces the medium laser with two more machine guns.

[@MechanicalFrog]

All the machine guns...

[@thomasrobson6370]

@@MechanicalFrog I love the rules for infantry for when it comes to machine guns

[@jasonfarley9025]

I have never liked the play of the early IS Omnis, But I do like the design of this one, at least!

[@MechanicalFrog]

My theory is that the devs were worried that the IS Omnis might be too strong, so they were hobbled a bit.

[@TehSquare]

Huh, I always thought that Owens was a reference to Jessie Owens, kinda like how the Jenner was a reference to Caitlyn Jenner, both being Olympic runners and the respective mechs both just being speedy legs with a cockpit

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be a fun alt-explanation.

[@HouseDavieMerc]

Good video. Other then this one guy that wanted to use all the mechs from Mechwarrior 3 in table top, I've never seen the Owens fielded. Actually his mini is the only one I've ever seen in person. I realize that in universe the DCMS was short on double heat sinks, but spending the coin for an XL Engine as well as Omni-tech without securing adequate 2X HS first doomed the Owens to obscurity. A switch to doubles makes this an excellent mech. Anything else seems like someone just wanting to burn C-Bills and not fix the problem. Meanwhile older non-omnis were getting those double heat sinks and taking the spotlight that could have easily been the Owen's. I can understand the in-universe explanation on early units, but to still be putting singles on new units past 3070 with no retrofit seems-misguided.

[@MechanicalFrog]

My working theory is that the devs were afraid of making the Inner Sphere omni-mechs too good early on which might end up leaving wide swaths of the IS mech pantheon useless.

[@roshee5573]

I always thought it looked dorky. Like a husband trying to carry in all the groceries at once 😂

[@MechanicalFrog]

But... a 2nd trip to the car is just...wrong.

[@georgesulea]

The little Omni that could:)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Choo choo...

[@MrHeadphones64]

This thing kinda looks like a little kid tried to draw a longbow from memory

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hah!

[@keebbles]

RA/ LA 2 er mdm + 1 hs each CT top turret mount with 1 mdm pulse w benefit of coverage of rear arc when needed. The Tag gets moved here too. Parthean shot anyone? @+3 too. Chin mounted AP gausses with 1 ton ammo each torso. Ammo isn't explosive like big gausses. The gauss rifles though? They can boom on crits. Drop C3 slave add ecm and IFF jammer. Keep Tag . This could be even better with reinforced frame and FF armor. Frame boost ensures it can make escape or get home. Makes it a Roach. A very fast roach. Id change to light engines over xl to save crit space. If converted to dhs the base 10 dhs is plenty and arms can get another er mdm, or drop it in favor of another mdm pulse. Look, it's running away. And shooting at us? Why is there a flashing red dot on your mech? /Final words of scout team Bravo after a brief encounter with a turreted owens.😊

[@Magermh]

The Owens one of the mechs that I closely associate with IS Standard Battle Armor and the Schiltron Fire Support Vehicle. Mostly because that was the first time I had seem them used and used together. The mech on its own is not impressive.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Being able to carry battle armor is another nice little benefit.

[@kirkkeichinger4534]

2 clan LRM 10s with 2 tons of ammo, 2 clan er medium lasers, 1 clan er small laser, and 11 double heat sinks.

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would be nice.

[@rookiemechwarrior]

Ah the owens, my intorduction to C3.

[@MechanicalFrog]

For better or worse...

[@ero9841]

Probley my most favorite mech of its era for the inner sphere. A proper scout mech. Edit. I don't believe you can change endo and heat sinks on omni mech

[@MechanicalFrog]

Nope. It would require a complete overhaul.

[@oninojohn]

l like the b variant, the the mf one looks good too

[@MechanicalFrog]

The B- shows promise.

[@scotteverroad4545]

Ok Great Video! but how do you build one of the Damned-things' from IWMetals'???? I had ONE Put together and left it, thinking the Loc-Tite superglue gel would do it's majic. Left for 5 minutes max! It had a siezure and was broken on the floor. Do a Video on HOW to assemble one hahaha

[@Spartaner251]

my though at 7t pod space: ER PPC! on a 2nd thought, Large Pulse Laser might work better

[@MechanicalFrog]

Zap!

[@jonathanscott5932]

I'm just getting into this franchise. Im more into the miniature side but I had a question. Does battle tech have any affiliation to the mech assault games I played as a kid. They had Owens mech in that game that absolutely ripped. It was too fast to hit when running 360 around another mech.😊

[@MechanicalFrog]

Mechassault is set within the larger BattleTech universe though it is considered only vaguely so because the video game took a significant departure from established lore/tech.

[@J.Hawker]

With the R-configuration, you mentioned doing an overhaul for DHS. Doesn't that break the omni-mech creation rules? I thought if you alter engine, armor values/type, internal structure, fixed components, or heat sink types, you turn the mech into a BattleMech?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yes it would break the Omni-Mech creation rules. It would require a refit/reconstruction.

[@J.Hawker]

@@MechanicalFrog How does that work within the tabletop rules, short of it being a 'new variant' of mech, rather than an omni-refit? I'm trying to get into campaign ops to run a RPG-style game for some friends, and homebrewing omnimechs is definitely going to come up.

[@VaciliNikoMavich]

I want to ask: What was the Draconis Combine up to/what did they do during the FedCom Civil War? MechWarrior 4 back then mostly showed off Davion, Steiner and Liao doing things, but that’s it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Mostly dealing with the Ghost Bears, Nova Cats, and the Davions tried to nab a few worlds too.

[@VaciliNikoMavich]

@@MechanicalFrog Ghost Bear and Nova Cats? I thought they all ran away after losing the Clan Wars?

[@kierdalemodels]

Thanks again for the great vid, MechFrog. It’s a weirdly ugly-but-attractive mech🤔 In AlphaStrike I think if you’re playing with/if you need the probe/recon/etc. tech then it a good, quick package. If you’re just having a straight up battle…you’d be paying for gear you wouldn’t need. But to use those rules and that gear adds spice to a game👨‍🍳

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks a lot for giving it a go!

[@Aladine11]

Why we love /dont love the scorpion(or any quad mech)

[@MechanicalFrog]

Clearly a conspiracy against quad-mech manufacturers. :D

[@randomnetsurfer]

Awww~! You didn't try to sing the intro? :D

[@MechanicalFrog]

That would violate the Geneva Convention and murder the channel.

[@sebastiang.5032]

Love your MF variant. Will er get the Owens in the upcoming Kickstarter loot? I don't think so...?

[@MechanicalFrog]

It would be nice to see in plastic soon.