17 replies to this topic

[Mad Dog Morgan]

Well, I just acquired the BlackJack 3, and I'm not entirely sure on how to build it. I feel like an asymmetric cliff-hugging build might do best, but I want to gather multiple opinions on the thing.

It's very much a red-line mech, no matter what you do to it, so it's best to have a means of going relatively unnoticed.

Here's a quick look at the build I have
BJ-3 Cliff-Hugging LPL Build

Edited by Vaskadar, 03 March 2014 - 10:56 PM.

[Modo44]

2xLL+4xML, or 2xPPC+2xML. I would not bother with asymmetry. The BJ does not have articulated arms nor a huge/wide torso that would make it work in such a manner.

[xengk]

Modo44, on 03 March 2014 - 11:57 PM, said:

2xLL+4xML, or 2xPPC+2xML. I would not bother with asymmetry. The BJ does not have articulated arms nor a huge/wide torso that would make it work in such a manner.

I run similar BJ3 but with different weapon placement for better convergence and peek-shoting.
BJ-3 - 2x PPC 2x ML
BJ-3 - 2x ERLL 2x ML

[Curccu]

BJ-3 3xERLL

For ranged fun, can do insane amounts of damage if played smart.

[That Dawg]

This is the BJ-3 I ran with great success.

[Akerlof]

Modo44, on 03 March 2014 - 11:57 PM, said:

2xLL+4xML, or 2xPPC+2xML. I would not bother with asymmetry. The BJ does not have articulated arms nor a huge/wide torso that would make it work in such a manner.

I disagree, the convergence of having both big weapons in one arm is amazing. My BJ3 is almost the same as xengk's, and having both PPCs in one arm noticeably increased its effectiveness. It's like haveing an AC20 with long range.

Vaskadar: Your build looks interesting. I'd personally drop the small lasers in favor of another heatsink. Make sure that you keep moving: You can't always keep terrain between you and the bad guys, so run, turn, twist and _jump_ as much as possible. I usually die to CT damage or legging, but often have completely stripped side torsos and both legs before I go down. Jumping lets you spread damage to your legs.

[jper4]

i just went with a generic 6ML and max std engine on mine. actually lucked into 6 kills with it once somehow. plus enemy mechs look at you funny when you don;t die after they take out your side torso. actually has my best kdr of all my blackjacks

[Jody Von Jedi]

Akerlof, on 05 March 2014 - 01:44 PM, said:

I disagree, the convergence of having both big weapons in one arm is amazing. My BJ3 is almost the same as xengk's, and having both PPCs in one arm noticeably increased its effectiveness. It's like haveing an AC20 with long range.

Interesting thought. I've always tried to keep my loadouts symmetrical too. I'll have to give this a try.

Jody

[Modo44]

I never saw convergence as an issue on a thin mech like the BJ. It would be on a barn like an Awesome. Either way, you can try it safely -- the arms are so small, you will rarely lose them before blowing up from torso shots.

[clantic]

Vaskadar, on 03 March 2014 - 10:55 PM, said:

Well, I just acquired the BlackJack 3, and I'm not entirely sure on how to build it. I feel like an asymmetric cliff-hugging build might do best, but I want to gather multiple opinions on the thing.

It's very much a red-line mech, no matter what you do to it, so it's best to have a means of going relatively unnoticed.

Here's a quick look at the build I have
BJ-3 Cliff-Hugging LPL Build

Hey dude! I tried out your build and I got THIS score my SECOND GAME with it! http://imgur.com/PLE2vep
I was the last man standing 3 to 1 and I was able to kill them all hahaha! Thanks dude, this build is SICK!

Edited by clantic, 10 March 2014 - 11:04 AM.

[NRP]

I've always liked the 2 PPC, 4 ML build. It's hot, but whatever.

[AlmightyAeng]

NRP, on 10 March 2014 - 11:15 AM, said:

I've always liked the 2 PPC, 4 ML build. It's hot, but whatever.

Running this is a little cooler, and great fun

[ginger]

Tanar, on 06 March 2014 - 04:55 PM, said:

i just went with a generic 6ML and max std engine on mine. actually lucked into 6 kills with it once somehow. plus enemy mechs look at you funny when you don;t die after they take out your side torso. actually has my best kdr of all my blackjacks

I love my Dakka Dakka x2 AC2 BJ-1DC.
I absolutely LOVE my AC-10 4ML BJ-1.

But in all seriousness I have been a killing machine lately with the 235STD engine 6ML BJ-3 build. I have seen many players chop off one of my torsos and turn away, thinking they finished the job. WRONG, BAM back in your face still fighting with 50% of my firepower.

This mech is also a beast in high maneuver close range situations like when fighting within a group of structures. He's a short little ******* that can hide behind most forms of cover, and all of the weapon hardpoints are mounted pretty high so you don't have to show much skin to pop a shot off. If you really want to ruin someone's day fire on the move while laterally jump jetting, rotate while still in the air but invisible behind cover, and come at them from the opposite direction that they were expecting you to come at them from.

The surprising durability of this mech is the key to unlocking it's true potential. If you suck balls at torso twisting ground/air to spread damage, don't bother with this build. I learned right quick that if you try to stationary poptart with this guy you'll just get CT smoked anyways, wasting your STD engine durability. You can also be pretty useless on larger maps like Alpine Peaks if all of the fighting is taking place out in the open.

6ML, Standard engine, max armor, 4 JJ, and the Heat efficiency to stay in the fight for a bit makes for a fistful of hurt in an unsuspecting package.

(Also works really well for sawing off limbs or specific component targeting if you are at brain surgeon skill level with lasers, i.e. cutting Jagermech's arms off for example.)

Favorite Module Setup:
-Advanced Zoom, for component stripping or Side Torso coring at medium range.
-Target Decay, for keeping track of mechs when we're bobbing in and out of cover, i.e. Frozen City buildings around B4 area.
-Seismic Sensor, for getting some nice point blank airborne Alpha Strike ambushes.

Obviously, I love this little beast. Try it out sometime!

Edited by ginger, 23 March 2014 - 10:53 AM.

[jper4]

ginger, on 23 March 2014 - 10:46 AM, said:

I love my Dakka Dakka x2 AC2 BJ-1DC.
I absolutely LOVE my AC-10 4ML BJ-1.

But in all seriousness I have been a killing machine lately with the 235STD engine 6ML BJ-3 build. I have seen many players chop off one of my torsos and turn away, thinking they finished the job. WRONG, BAM back in your face still fighting with 50% of my firepower.

This mech is also a beast in high maneuver close range situations like when fighting within a group of structures. He's a short little ******* that can hide behind most forms of cover, and all of the weapon hardpoints are mounted pretty high so you don't have to show much skin to pop a shot off. If you really want to ruin someone's day fire on the move while laterally jump jetting, rotate while still in the air but invisible behind cover, and come at them from the opposite direction that they were expecting you to come at them from.

The surprising durability of this mech is the key to unlocking it's true potential. If you suck balls at torso twisting ground/air to spread damage, don't bother with this build. I learned right quick that if you try to stationary poptart with this guy you'll just get CT smoked anyways, wasting your STD engine durability. You can also be pretty useless on larger maps like Alpine Peaks if all of the fighting is taking place out in the open.

6ML, Standard engine, max armor, 4 JJ, and the Heat efficiency to stay in the fight for a bit makes for a fistful of hurt in an unsuspecting package.

(Also works really well for sawing off limbs or specific component targeting if you are at brain surgeon skill level with lasers, i.e. cutting Jagermech's arms off for example.)

Favorite Module Setup:
-Advanced Zoom, for component stripping or Side Torso coring at medium range.
-Target Decay, for keeping track of mechs when we're bobbing in and out of cover, i.e. Frozen City buildings around B4 area.
-Seismic Sensor, for getting some nice point blank airborne Alpha Strike ambushes.

Obviously, I love this little beast. Try it out sometime!

we think alike it seems. my BJ-DC had the dual ac2 with some token lasers (i forget if small or mediums) for quite a while. i recently switched back to the AC 20 version because most people expect the ac20 from the BJ-1 not the DC. had it on both for a while and kinda missed it (really upset one raven when i first started running it back in the "blackjacks suck" days of its early release- raven powered down in front of me on frozen, i alphaed it and exploded into lots of tiny pieces- guy yells in chat "who the F#$@ puts an ac20 on a blackjack!?").

the BJ-1 though i also went with the ac10, 4ML version for a change of pace of late from the usual ac20,3ML build.

but yeah the BJ-3 has probably been my least tinkered with mech out of all of them. some matches you get slaughtered on and then you get 5 kills the next match- it REALLY loves alpine- seems to have my best matches there- probably because of the bonus cooling factor.

[Modo44]

ginger, on 23 March 2014 - 10:46 AM, said:

I absolutely LOVE my AC-10 4ML BJ-1.

Why not go all out, and bring Gauss+4xML?

[ginger]

Modo44, on 24 March 2014 - 03:38 AM, said:

Why not go all out, and bring Gauss+4xML?

The way I play my BJ-1, Mr. Punchy, I just don't think the Gauss would work for me. I usually snap fire that AC-10 as fast as it will recycle in the midst of lots of maneuvering and jumping. Spinning around in the air and whatnot, I don't really feel like a time delay weapon will work out for me. I also usually build my mechs with max armor and if possible max JJ.

I wouldn't want to tangle with one of those though!

[Modo44]

I see. The Gauss build does play differently. You want to spend as much ammo as possible before getting closer with lasers.

[Leartes]

I play this (2xPPC, 4xSL) build and it works well for me. I don't own an XL225 or XL235 but I'd put it in if I did. Could use the tonnage for 1 more heatsink and a jumpjet.

Imo the PPC works great with SLsince they cover the short range well enough and the build would run crazy hot with 4xML. Also I don't using just 2xML since they don't do enough compared to the higher risk.