13 replies to this topic

[Umbravox]

I understand this is a longshot with the tournament going on but can you guys who are doing well give any hints as to what build you are using? Ive been desperately trying to find a black jack that works for me and cannot figure it out.

[Jungle Rhino]

I don't have any Blackjacks but if I did one of them would be something like BJ-1X

It is basically a mini-4P laserboat, and absurdly fast. Can drop the XL for a STD 225 or thereabouts if you want the extra survivability but I think the raw speed is better.

Drive it as you would a 4P.

[heleqin]

BJ-1X

strip the flamers and equip 4 more MLas. Double heat sinks, endo-steel structure, the biggest engine you can fit (std250 or XL250 at minimum) and max armor and as many heat sinks will fit.

its really the only BJ build that's good. the others have benefits, but they're really too slow and run too hot, other mechs just do the same jobs better. until there's a weight cap system making the tonnage important the BJ is really underwhelming.

[Deathlike]

Already posted them in a different BJ thread. Gotta find them all!

[Umbravox]

Deathlike, on 24 May 2013 - 10:45 PM, said:

Already posted them in a different BJ thread. Gotta find them all!

Imma goin hunting!

[Deathlike]

I will say that I've changed a build or two during the tourney, but I'm under zero obligation to reveal them.

[Devil Fox]

I've posted mine up elsewhere, but it's the BJ-1 I use for my tourney games as I find both the BJ-1X and BJ-3 to be sub-par in damage output and survivability due to heat capacity issues with the chassis. Mind you it's getting hard to get the good games to increase my score... so I'm just trying to stay in the top 10 after my highest hit of 4th place overnight.

[Deathlike]

Apostal, on 26 May 2013 - 02:33 AM, said:

I've posted mine up elsewhere, but it's the BJ-1 I use for my tourney games as I find both the BJ-1X and BJ-3 to be sub-par in damage output and survivability due to heat capacity issues with the chassis. Mind you it's getting hard to get the good games to increase my score... so I'm just trying to stay in the top 10 after my highest hit of 4th place overnight.

I don't see how the BJ-3 is that much different than the BJ-1.. unless you actually USE the ballistics slot. The BJ-3 is technically superior than the BJ-1 if you solely use the energy hardpoints.

The BJ-1X requires a different mentality altogether.

[1453 R]

BJ-1X 8xML, maximum speed/heat sinks.

Purely theoretical, I've been working on Trebuchets and Ravens recently rather than saving for Blackjacks, but this particular 1X maximizes the chassis' excellent speed potential as well as loading the highest possible number of double heat sinks in order to compensate for the machine's rather brutal heat load. Armor is shaved a bit, but not really dangerously so given the size of the 'Mech and the heavy bite it can defend itself with. Not really a brawler so much as an epic backstabber and a highly capable vulture, and if the player is a good shot it can also take legs off lights with little trouble.

Also pretty much the only type of Blackjack likely to get any sort of attention from high-level players, if I'm any judge. Not necessarily that exact design, but the high-speed laser-bomber in general. The rest of them have some interesting tricks, but aren't really the sorts of things that SRS BSNS tournament players tend to favor.

[SchwarzerPeter]

My first thoughts were about the 8ml laser blackjack. Those are absoluteley deadly (like in the 4P). And this at 110 km/h is just brutal.
But cant say how well you can survive in this. The sides seem rather big and the arm wont protect anything, so im interested how durable it is.

As for the other variants: the jj makes them somehow special, but the speed is just meah. If you want to use the ballistics you end up using just one gun otherwise its to heavy.
Dual dakka for the ac2 is possible, but these guns are hot and you have to face the enemy. So no poparting with this one.

[Devil Fox]

Deathlike, on 26 May 2013 - 09:29 AM, said:

I don't see how the BJ-3 is that much different than the BJ-1.. unless you actually USE the ballistics slot. The BJ-3 is technically superior than the BJ-1 if you solely use the energy hardpoints.

The BJ-1X requires a different mentality altogether.

The BJ-1 outshines the BJ-3, because I used a 200XL, Endo, 4 ML and a Guass (3 ton ammo). With 10 DHS and max jumpjets you have a low heat alpha platform, and if heat is high you can just use the arm based lasers and Guass... alot of damage potential in a brawl or riding the heat. To be honest I've mastered the BJ-1 from the tourney and finished 11th (I study Monday's so couldn't hold top 10 in Aust.)... I find the sway back variants in the higher ELO brackets were just poppers, they went bang too easily to high alpha builds due to their range deficiency and the PPC BJ-3 in long term isn't heat efficient enough to finish off targets.

Still trying to find enjoyable builds for them that are effective enough to level against poptart heavy rounds.

[Berserker]

Apostal beat me out in the leaderboards long ago, I stopped at #3 Saturday morning. Was rocking more or less the BJ-1X that others posted. Happy to see his build because I was doing 500+ regularly in my 1X and I'm working on the BJ-1 now and doing <300.

Edited by Berserker, 27 May 2013 - 04:03 AM.

[Deathlike]

Used this one during the tourney:
BJ-3

It's based on the default design (2 PPCs + 4 meds), but it's made more brawl worthy by replacing the PPCs with LPL and its somewhat more heat efficient... it's not great, but not terrible either.

Edited by Deathlike, 27 May 2013 - 10:18 PM.

[Arc Viper]

Deathlike, on 26 May 2013 - 09:29 AM, said:

I don't see how the BJ-3 is that much different than the BJ-1.. unless you actually USE the ballistics slot. The BJ-3 is technically superior than the BJ-1 if you solely use the energy hardpoints.

The BJ-1X requires a different mentality altogether.

I disagree about the BJ-3 being technically better than BJ-1. I prefer having the greater cooling efficiency of the ac-5s. You can hit farther, and keep hitting before pulling out the 4 med lasers. Also something to consider, ballistics are less of a position giveaway than energy weapons. Works wonders on a mech that needs a low profile.

I pulled out with 737 in my last game with it. It's all about playing it's strengths to the fullest.

Edited by Arc Viper, 01 June 2013 - 07:16 PM.