6 replies to this topic

[Appogee]

I apologize in advance because I think this is a stupid question. However, just in case...

Is there any way for me to achieve the Elite level Pilot unlocks for a Mech, without my having to grind through unlocking basic on two other variants?

I bought a Cicada X-5, played it a lot, unlocked all the basic Pilot unlocks, and I still have a spare 16000 Mech XP.

Do I really have to buy two other variants of the Cicada, and grind out about 14000 experience on each of those variants, before I can achieve the Elite unlocks for the Cicada X-5...?

Because that would be tedious... The other variants are significantly underpowered (alpha strikes in the range of 13 points only), it'll take me ages to get to 14000 XP on any of them, and it'll screw up my (meager but getting better) K/D ratio.

So, is there any other way for my to unlock the Elite levels on my X-5?

[Deathlike]

The short answer: You have to pay real money to do it (MC).

The long answer: You still have to buy the chassis to upgrade them (via c-bills or MC). You have to convert extra mech XP to GXP.. which will require money.

To get all the basics, you need something like 14+k of free mech XP laying around... of course that's for one mech.

You know you can mod the "crappier" Cicadas to deal more than 13 pts of damage...

Cic-3M and Cic-2A are worth the effort.

Edited by Deathlike, 09 April 2013 - 01:41 PM.

[Appogee]

Thanks for your response. So you're saying you can buy unlocks with GXP? (I can't tell until I buy another chassis.)

Sounds like it's either gonna be expensive or slow - pick one!

I was just mucking around with Smurfys and found a way to get 5 MLs on a CIC-2A. It would still be a long road to get those 14000 XP per variant though, sadly.

I'll look up with the conversion cost for Mech XP to GXP and see whether it's not too extortionate

[Deathlike]

Appogee, on 09 April 2013 - 02:24 PM, said:

Thanks for your response. So you're saying you can buy unlocks with GXP? (I can't tell until I buy another chassis.)

Yes. You can grind with your X5 (or any other mech) if you wish to get that extra mech XP to be converted.

Edited by Deathlike, 09 April 2013 - 02:47 PM.

[Mercules]

Appogee, on 09 April 2013 - 02:24 PM, said:

It would still be a long road to get those 14000 XP per variant though, sadly.

The basis of F2P. You can either grind it, or spend money and skip over some of the grind.

[Koniving]

Deathlike, on 09 April 2013 - 01:38 PM, said:

The long answer: You still have to buy the chassis to upgrade them (via c-bills or MC). You have to convert extra mech XP to GXP.. which will require money.

He (you) means variant not chassis. Chassis is the type of mech. Variant is the model or variation.

Cicada would be the chassis. The variant would be the 3M, 2A, 2B.
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Appogee, on 09 April 2013 - 01:28 PM, said:

I apologize in advance because I think this is a stupid question. However, just in case...

Is there any way for me to achieve the Elite level Pilot unlocks for a Mech, without my having to grind through unlocking basic on two other variants?

I bought a Cicada X-5, played it a lot, unlocked all the basic Pilot unlocks, and I still have a spare 16000 Mech XP.

Do I really have to buy two other variants of the Cicada, and grind out about 14000 experience on each of those variants, before I can achieve the Elite unlocks for the Cicada X-5...?

Because that would be tedious... The other variants are significantly underpowered (alpha strikes in the range of 13 points only), it'll take me ages to get to 14000 XP on any of them, and it'll screw up my (meager but getting better) K/D ratio.

So, is there any other way for my to unlock the Elite levels on my X-5?

To make this easier, I'll give you some build ideas.

If you're a laser fan or someone with high pings I recommend the 2A and 2B variants.
Otherwise, if you like cannons then I recommend the 3M and the 3C.

The 3M is a recommendation regardless due to its ECM.
What I've done with the ballistic mechs is I have removed the fast engines in favor of a standard, and equipped an AC-20 (or kept an XL and equipped two AC-10s). Either way it brings a lot of firepower that a Cicada usually does not have. No one suspects it and when given a choice between taking out an Altas or taking out a slow Cicada, they usually go for the presumptuously more dangerous Atlas.

No one suspects the AC-20 Cicada.

Another interesting build was a slow but extremely effective 4 ER PPC Cicada built easily out of the 2A and 2B. I suggest arm-locking on the variant with separate arms. This allows you to blast mechs larger mechs with ease. Pick a target that is softened for an instant kill, or soften a target up to help the team.

As I've been spreading around in Ask the Devs 35, speed isn't everything. Nothing says the small fast guys can't trade it for insane firepower. I mean my Spider has a Gauss Rifle! O_O! And it's not too far from canon as there's a fanon story about a spider that is dropped days earlier than the rest of his battalion, equipped with a gauss rifle, to stealthily dwindle down enemy mechs and defenses without detection. While the fight in Forest Colony rages near the water or the paths, I'll be up in the high trees where no one ever looks, systematically shooting down cockpits, dwindling down enemy mechs. Most fun I ever had in the ever "useless" Spider.

Be unorthodox! Sometimes the best builds are not the cookie cutters.

Good luck!

[Deathlike]

There's a point where I get that stuff mixed up...