18 replies to this topic

[Alistair Winter]

Has anyone tried a build like this?

Cicada 3M with Gauss + ECM

Seems like it might be fun. Not a world beater, but seems like it would be kinda cool to hang back with that invisible ECM cloak and snipe people.

[Kaijin]

CDA-3M with Gauss, 2 ML + ECM

Fixed that for you.

You want at least some chance at killing the scout mechs that will come for you.

[Bagheera]

Mini-snipers like that can be fun, until a light or faster medium finds you. 100 kph, even tweaked to 110 is pretty slow for a Cicada.

Then again, I used to have an ac20 raven in closed beta, so I get where you're going with it.

[Alistair Winter]

Yeah, I'm going to have to be smart about it. The main threat will be light mechs, no doubt. I may experiment with 2 medium lasers, but the problem is that they won't be enough to stop anyone unless they're already nearly dead, and having only 3 tons of ammunition means that I'm out of a job as a sniper pretty fast.

[Shadey99]

I made a few 'Hollander Cicadas' awhile ago...

• Hollander CDA-3M
  
• Hollander CDA-3M 3T
  
• Hollander G2 CDA-3M
  
• Hollander G1 CDA-3M

The first 2 mount Gauss the second two mount LB-10X...


I'm actually a good gauss shot in close to mid range, so the 3T version actually did ok for me. Sadly 2 tons of ammo means 300 damage max from the gauss and even 3 tons is 450... So that eventually leaves you running 2 SL, but I've killed a spider with 2 SL before...

Edited by Shadey99, 24 September 2013 - 05:27 AM.

[Gaan Cathal]

Alistair Winter, on 24 September 2013 - 03:50 AM, said:

Yeah, I'm going to have to be smart about it. The main threat will be light mechs, no doubt. I may experiment with 2 medium lasers, but the problem is that they won't be enough to stop anyone unless they're already nearly dead, and having only 3 tons of ammunition means that I'm out of a job as a sniper pretty fast.

Two ERPPCs, if you're worried about ammunition. If you keep the same engine/armour as your current setup and simply replace the tons spent on gauss+ammo with a pair of ERPPCs and heatsinks you get ~35% cooling efficiency which will screw you if anything gets up on your face, but a single gauss means you're screwed under those circumstances anyway. You're looking at 20 damage, as opposed to 15, at a longer optimal and without the ammo constraints. The only real downside is the slower projectile velocity and the more obvious firing origin.

[Carrioncrows]

Best spider in the game right now is a Spider-5D with XL225, Endo, FF, 2 jumpers and x2 ER Large lasers + ECM

[Alistair Winter]

Gaan Cathal, on 24 September 2013 - 04:19 AM, said:

Two ERPPCs, if you're worried about ammunition.

Makes sense, but after the Age of PPC's, I still have problems equipping them on light and medium mechs.

Carrioncrows, on 24 September 2013 - 04:37 AM, said:

Best spider in the game right now is a Spider-5D with XL225, Endo, FF, 2 jumpers and x2 ER Large lasers + ECM

Seems like a fun build.

[Kaijin]

The trouble with an ERPPC ECM sniper is they know roughly where you are with your first shot, so you've got to move more often...unless you kill em with the first shot.

For those who missed it,

The Noisy Cricket

[Carrioncrows]

Cricket is far from viable with the heat damage @ 100%

[Kaijin]

Yes. The Cricket is no more. And a good thing too.

[Shadey99]

I've done the ninja sniper Cicada in various forms before (2xPPC+ML, 2xER PPC, 2xPPC+2xSL). The key to success is the ability to stay hidden and strike from the rear. From the front your a big fat target. Also up close your a big fat target, so you never want to be under 400m from your target. It also runs hot, very hot (more so now and on maps like Terra Therma).

In fact Terra Therma is the map rotation made me build my 'Hollander Cicadas'. All of which are basically impossible to overheat.

Edited by Shadey99, 24 September 2013 - 09:12 AM.

[Training Instructor]

AC20 ecm ninja.

Don't worry only 3 tons of ammo. You're not going to live long enough to use it all anyways.

CDA-3M

[Flagrant]

I still have it in my mechbay. CDM 3M ecmed with only gauss and 3 tons of ammo. I wanted to test the new gauss. In a match however, I was useless. I was hitting mechs from far away alright but couldn't kill diddly because I was the only one engaging from that distance. And when I was trying to hit damaged mechs, being so one dimensional was a definite handicap, especially with a weapon that needs a lot more attention to use. I was easy pickings for anything that found me as I was concentrating so hard on shooting.

[Murzao]

Just strap on 3LLs, still go 125kph with max armor. 27 alpha but for the most part only do a 2LL wait 1LL combo unless you're shooting someone in the back. Using this build light mechs will steer clear of you as you should be able to legsweep them ultraeasy with your speed and constant LL barrage.....and you will pwn any heavy/assault from long range under your own ECM bubble.

[Bishop Steiner]

Gaan Cathal, on 24 September 2013 - 04:19 AM, said:

Two ERPPCs, if you're worried about ammunition. If you keep the same engine/armour as your current setup and simply replace the tons spent on gauss+ammo with a pair of ERPPCs and heatsinks you get ~35% cooling efficiency which will screw you if anything gets up on your face, but a single gauss means you're screwed under those circumstances anyway. You're looking at 20 damage, as opposed to 15, at a longer optimal and without the ammo constraints. The only real downside is the slower projectile velocity and the more obvious firing origin.

PPC projectile speed is the downside, along with heat.
I do use the ERPPC one, it is ok, I plan to try the Gauss like this for kicks.
AS7-RS

But don't expect it to be better than an ERPPC/ECM spider, since i's faster and has JJs (and is smaller)

[Alistair Winter]

My first match over with.

My build here.

My result here.

558 damage and 1 kill.

Of course, Alpine is the ideal map for this mech, but still... pretty happy with this. And so fun to play.

[Ace Selin]

Ive tried an Ultra AC5 Spider, packs a punch but died to lights too easily.

[CaveMan]

Training Instructor, on 24 September 2013 - 06:39 AM, said:

AC20 ecm ninja.

Don't worry only 3 tons of ammo. You're not going to live long enough to use it all anyways.

CDA-3M

I ran one like that for a while back during the heyday of ECM, it was a lot of fun.