16 replies to this topic

[627]

i recently bought some cents as my second medium mech beside Cicada (I'm more at home in the heavy class).
With the YLW i have no issues, simple AC20 build, fun and powerful. The same goes for the CN9-A, using it with 3x LRM5, AC10 and 2 ML, a nice supporter (and kill stealer).

And then there is this CN9-D... I bought it because of speeeed, but i realised it's a promise the mech can't hold.

My biggest problem besides dying to that XL fast is that arm mounted LB-X, at the moment it's "too fast" for me for a good aim (needs some training i think). And besides that, you need to get close. So i swapped it out for UAC5 or AC10 but both didn't do it for me.

So i build more or less a kind of joke build:
CN9-D

And i run up those folks and kill em. And not only one time but over and over again. In my last round, i killed 3 in 6 seconds, all lining up for me

But that was luck i think. I can't get that everytime so i'm looking for the niche where the D is good in and what builds fit that playstyle. I'd like to keep that 300XL, that or a 315XL which i have in my inventory. I see no reason to swap in a STD engine because then you only get a gimped A-Version.

So what to do with it? What's your build of success?

[Bloodweaver]

I gave up on trying to get any enjoyment out of the -D.

Jokes aside, it really is just a crappy 'mech IMO. Yeah, of course, some people do well wiith it... wait for Koniving to swoop in and show what an amazing 'mech it is But anything it can do, others can do better.

[BlackJackRaider]

The fast D is a far superior flanker/light hunter to the other Cent variants. The majority of my 900-1000 dmg games have actually come in this version of the Cent-D:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cbe6a5a98c9762e

Sneak up on an assault which is engaged with someone else, move into his rear cone, and blast away at that armor until he falls down. If he has help come, run away and find an isolated mech. You have enough speed to surprise and intercept lights and avoid the mechs that can hurt you.

Another build suggestion: if you want to keep running this config, move the external dhs to the engine and you have enough crit space for the FF armor upgrade. Do that and there is enough extra armor to completely max armor on all components. Unfortunately you don't have the crit space to switch back to a ballistic based build and would have to pay to return to normal armor.

[627]

actually i did this repay twice because i struggled to find a good build. and btw, engine is full with HS.

I saw that i have a 360xl in one of my Quickies, lets see if that can be of any use in this cent...



/edit:
thats it, drop those heat sinks, put that XL360 in and ativate armlock. Most important thing is stay alive for the first five minutes, after that, it's a nice striker

Edited by 627, 19 July 2013 - 01:55 PM.

[Victor Morson]

A classic for the Cent 9D:

2x LRM15
1x TAG
BAP
Biggest XL engine and as much ammo as you can jam

It's one of the very best missile boats available, or was before the spread system changed. Still, a very nice raider. Don't mount backup weapons or you'll be going too slow.

Other than that, the Cent 9D is built for being a medium that can move with lights, and is really useful as a light hunter: A mech that can reenforce lights in a fight with more armor / firepower.

Don't get me wrong, the 9A is way more useful, but the LRM build is actually pretty viable in casual games. Check it out.

[Op4blushift]

Personally, I use this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bf7a954ddf7f7a2
I'd rather use a smaller engine like a XL 370 so I could fit Artemis, but the 380 is all I have on hand right now (I use it on my Aws 9M). Its pretty fun going as fast as a light though.

Edited by Op4blushift, 21 July 2013 - 10:03 PM.

[xengk]

This is my old 9D build.
Work as a brawler support, shadow a brawler teammate and support with your UAC5 and 2Mlaz to work on a weaken component.
Slap someone with a dozen SRMs whenever the chance arise.
CN9-D

1 UAC5 w/ 3t ammo
2 Mlaz
2 SRM6 w/ 2t ammo
300 XL
320/338 amour
10 DHS
ES

[Padic]

xengk, on 22 July 2013 - 02:51 AM, said:

This is my old 9D build.
Work as a brawler support, shadow a brawler teammate and support with your UAC5 and 2Mlaz to work on a weaken component.
Slap someone with a dozen SRMs whenever the chance arise.
CN9-D

1 UAC5 w/ 3t ammo
2 Mlaz
2 SRM6 w/ 2t ammo
300 XL
320/338 amour
10 DHS
ES

Aside from armor distribution, this has long been my mech of choice. It might not look like much on paper to you, but I definitely suggest trying it out.

It's an extremely versatile build that will take care of you if you take care of it, and still has just a smidgen of resilience for when you make a mistake.

[That Dawg]

BlackJackRaider, on 19 July 2013 - 07:22 AM, said:

Sneak up on an assault which is engaged with someone else, move into his rear cone, and blast away at that armor until he falls down. If he has help come, run away and find an isolated mech. You have enough speed to surprise and intercept lights and avoid the mechs that can hurt you.

^ that

in spades!
Just got mine and so far like it much more than the zombie other two

[Grrzoot]

I run mine as follows:

360xl, 2 ml, endo ferro, max armor, 2xsrm6 4t ammo, 2machine gun and 1 ammo
or
380xl 2ml and 6's no machine gun

both are fun, fast and scare lights and unsupecting assaults. i usually keep the machine guns though just cuz i love dakka.

[J I N]

Your Build up there is quite nice (2 ml, 2 MG, 2 SRM6) and works pretty good in a brawl, but I feel like the 300XL is not enought to get near some of the enemys, so I would try to get a 325XL or 350XL. (I didn't try that engines for myself, because I don't own them, so I only have the 300XL, which is used for my Jenners most of the time^^)

If you did well with the YLW, there could be another build for you: CN9-D: 2 AC5, 2 ML
This build works like a typical AC20 YLW, but it has got more range and is able to target easier, thanks to the lower arm actuator, in brawls. Also the DPS of the double AC5 are higher than the AC20s for 1t more weight.

I can't or don't want to handle XLs in anything except for lights (I love speed, but I think lights are the better lights ;-D ), so this is the thing I came up with to use the D in a way no other Cent could do.
(2 ballistics + lower arm actuator are really great and the new mechs coming up will have the same option, like the Thunderbolt or Battlemaster... so maybe this is a good chance to test it)

[Polk738]

So i build more or less a kind of joke build:
CN9-D

It's funny you say that's a joke build However I now run a setup closer to what JackBlackRaider has only with a 335XL and 2MGs. The MGs work great for blowing off components and chewing up internals as soon as you crack that armor with the SRMs. Oh btw that vid was done before the buff to SRMs hence why my highest damage recently was 931.

Edited by Polk738, 28 July 2013 - 12:18 PM.

[ZeProme]

Bit off topic but is the CN9-D a viable choice? I don't feel comfortable with an XL engine when I have many battles in my CN9-A, CN9-YLW and CN9-AL which almost all are mastered researched.

Brawling with the centurion series is really fun. They are sturdy and as ever hard to kill. XD





YLW FTW!

P.S. Proud CN9 pilot (especially the YLW)

[Johnny Reb]

Cent-D was my fav mech. However, since the streak nerf I haven't run it. When I do will prolly go the xl 370 with 2 srm6 and 2 med laser build.

[Thorqemada]

Sell it and buy a Jenner or Cicada when you be fed up on Missile Balancing.

[Elizander]

Most of the time you will have to sac the heavy ballistic in order to get the mech moving at high speed. Just keep it simple and having one less weapon than your standard zombie Centurion at the cost of going much faster isn't such a bad tradeoff, kinda.

CN9-D 2xSRM6+A 2xMedium Pulse

You'll want Medium or Small Pulse Lasers so that you can twist faster after firing. You can even drop some DHS to get a Large Pulse Laser there. If directly engaging, it's best to just stick with the SRMs to twist and turn away immediately after firing and use the Medium Pulse only when you are sure that return fire isn't imminent.

This is mostly for brawling though so you have other options if I prefer long-range fights I usually just plug a Gauss Rifle and an ER Large Laser on my Centurion and call that a day. It goes a little slower with the 280XL I got from my Ilya.

CN9-D 1xGauss(4tonsammo) 1xER Large Laser

I like brawling so I do not put UAC/5s on smaller mechs because you need to constantly face and fire at your opponents with it, meaning less twisting time. Same goes with MGs. If you prefer hit and run then those weapons are fine.

[Johnny Reb]

Screw that the Cent-D is meant for speed not a xl300, xl 350 at worse. Still don't have a build yet.