OBT Forum

I was reading about first and second generation OmniMechs trying to determine what the differences actually were. Basically that just made me realize the only difference was later generations took advantage more of the tonnage saving technologies like Endo, XL and Ferro armor after it was discovered how to blend the multiple technologies.

BUT these lines on sarna threw me for a loop in my research.

While they can be considered structural components, the lower-arm and hand actuators are themselves Pod-mounted and easily removed to provide additional Pod Space in the arms. However, the mounting points for them in the arms are also utilized by larger bore weaponry such as Gauss Rifles, Autocannons, and PPCs, so the lower-arm and hand must be removed to carry these weapon types on OmniMech arms, hampering the close-combat abilities of these configurations.

Even with deployment of the Coyotl, modular OmniTechnology required years of further refinement to ease compatibility between XL fusion engines and Endo-steel internal structure on an OmniMech chassis, and researchers never improved (or never attempted to improve) arm OmniPod attachment points in order to make large-bore weapon systems compatible with certain arm actuators

I always assumed they removed the lower arm and hand a lot on their designs for the flexibility of flipping their arms. But perhaps it was just a benefit found in this flaw of their design.

So question was anyone else really aware of this little rule and follow up did the designers actually follow them. I haven't looked through the canon designs yet to see if they actually followed it.