Orbit Core Equipment Review by David McCallum #701548

Sometimes I don't like this job.


And I'm not necessarily talking about having to constantly put up with Patrick's socks. Or his snoring after he's had one too many at one of his 'executive lunches'.


No, its the fact that to do a decent review, you actually have to spend some hard earned coinage (and yes, it is hard earned putting up with socks and snoring) to get hands on experience with the kit we have to give our opinion on.

So it was with the Fext. Anecdotal evidence on that beasty and its potential 9 x damage meant that I had to get hold of one, but of course freebies are limited to 1st division clans only. And my recovery raccoons can recognise mechs to recovery but aren't discerning when it comes to specific types.


So my own Fext, actually purchased with actual fundage has been a work in progress. It's a good job that the progress on my Fext has coincided with progress on gear for it being released.


Of course the big problem with these beasts are their speed. While not as slow as a Potatotron, the Fext still has a speed rating somewhere between Patrick's hand heading towards his wallet when there's a round of drinks to be purchased and Kenneth doing a video piece.


In other words, the very opposite of fast.


At least the Orbit Core goes some way towards addressing that issue.


2068 Ferrite, 1432 Bioptics and a hefty 58 Niodes gets you a speed rating of 7, the ability to slow an opponent by 3 on a successful hit and of course a 4% increase in Laser output.


That's it, and I don't mean that in any form of a derogatory manner.


Kindly note the complete lack of drawbacks. Check for yourself. None.


Finally the designers have got the kinks out of the big kit pieces, meaning that it is now more worth it than ever.


Let's just have a quick comparison with some of the other engines around.


Crystal, there's the good old Kinetic Converter with a speed rating of 5. Slower and without bonuses.


Anzus, slower with the dreaded Kickback. VASMIR, slower, geared for flame and missile vulnerable.


Even going up to Niode engines, all have drawbacks apart from the Gigabot Swarm which is slower than treacle in midwinter and the Zentron Thrusters.


Ah, Zentron. Lovely engine. Come back to me on them when I have a Notos, because as good as they are, it makes about as much sense fitting one of these on a Fext as it does asking the A.N.N. crew to go teetotal for a week.


Nope, if you have the funds for a Fext, make sure you have the simoleans for engines as well, because these things are just the right fit.



Submitted by David McCallum #701548