18 replies to this topic

[ginger]

Hello folks.

My friend and I have recently agreed that we're both going to dive into the Medium weight class and run together to gang up on targets and cause mucho grande mayhem. In my 300 or so matches so far I have almost exclusively piloted Ravens, and my friend mostly Thunderbolts.

He is pretty well set on the 2D2 meta brawler builds, and that is fine because they suit his play style fairly well. He does have a history of having trouble keeping lights at bay, so I'm looking at being able to watch his back.

Bearing that in mind I have been looking really hard at a variety of chassis, only ruling out the Cicada since I feel that it's speed demon style is too similar to my Ravens. I'm looking for the maneuverability to watch my buddy's back, but also the punch to get the knockout blow on heavier mechs. I was hoping for opinions and advice from anyone with some experience in this area.

Thanks for you help,
the ginger.

Edit: Been running the CDA-3M for a nice and fast sneaky flanker escort, and also the BJ-1DC as a slower but harder hitting direct fire support flanker. As long as we don't screw the pooch and over-extend ourselves early on we've been doing pretty well for ourselves. Can't wait to start Eliting/Mastering these chassis and their variants! Thanks again for everyone's input.

Edited by ginger, 10 February 2014 - 02:39 PM.

[TygerLily]

You could always plop a smaller standard engine in to a 3M Cicada. You could cover your buddy with ECM while mounting an AC/10 and a few medium lasers. Then you both stay around the same speed, use ECM to cover your approach and he brawls while you add some DPS.

A good light killer is the Shadowhawk 2D2 with 4 streaks, LBX and two ML.

Another idea is to LRM from medium range while your buddy brawls. Pick up a Treb and pack on 2 LRM 15s (or one 15, one 10) and a couple MLs. Trebs jump, so you can keep up with your buddy and the LRMs could help keep people's heads down as he moves in to brawl.

Edited by TygerLily, 29 January 2014 - 08:33 AM.

[Dawnstealer]

2A Cicada is a lot of fun with the six ML loadout. Wolverine, when it drops for the public, is a BLAST to pilot. Slap in streaks, the largest XL engine, and a MPL and then chase Lights all over the place.

[luigi256]

I pilot hunchbacks and cents along with my shadowhawk. If you want something different than the Shadowhawk i would go with hunchies. They have energy/ballistic/missle variants so find one you like and go with it.

Edit: I am super biased to the hunchbacks though they are one of my favorite mechs in this game.

Edited by luigi256, 29 January 2014 - 08:43 AM.

[Wrathful-Khan]

So I know you said no Cicada, but it's my favourite medium and indeed my overall favourite mech:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d3db1a6f8ab5fcd

Okay, so it runs a little slow without speed tweak. But honestly I don't buy into the whole "use a cicada like a big light" ethos. Rather, use it like a fast medium - You only need to be faster than anything bigger than a cicada.

This build is very flexible - It can snipe, flank, backstab, strike weak mechs, hunt strays/lrm boats, move quickly around the battle, fight peek-a-boo and has ECM to boot.

Really comes into its own flanking for heavier mechs, has enough range/firepower to be at home on the firing line and also makes a great "balancer" (uses speed and ECM to get involved in all the little 2v2 / 3v3 type fights as an extra man to turn the tide quickly).

Try it, you wont regret it.

Edited by Indiandream, 29 January 2014 - 08:51 AM.

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

2D2 build - Set lasers on left mouse, set missiles on right, set chain of missiles on another mouse button. Go kill lights and enjoy. All Shadowhawks are Trollhawks! Muhaha

[Werewolf486 ScorpS]

3M Build - The only Cicada to keep that doesn't cost real money. The X-5 is good, but I'd never spend real money to buy a mech in this game. This is a great long range ECM unit after you load up Arty and Air Strike and have all the efficiencies unlocked for those modules. Also good to have either Artillery or Air Strike Accuracy module since you can only have 3 modules. I used the same build on my Jenner-K since I have 4 module slots and can out fit 1 Artillery with Artillery Accuracy and 1 Air Strike with Air Strike Accuracy Module. Really makes the baddies mad! Enjoy!

btw Run this and the Jenner-K with this build for maximum irritation.

[Buckminster]

My only thought is this - if he's going Shadow Hawk, make sure you grab something with jump jets. You don't want to get stuck behind on a map like Canyon because he decided to go up and over.

The Griffins are very nice, and should be available for C-bills soon. I know some of the Trebs jump, but since you'll need to buy three to get to Elite and Master, you may get stuck there.

And I know you wanted something other than a Hawk, but there are advantages there too. You can coordinate your colors to confuse people as he moves in and out of the brawl as you dance around for support. The Hawks also have very flexible build options - each variant can mount all three weapon types.

[POOTYTANGASAUR]

I recommend the 4p for anti-lights and you like it so just fit it with the largest engine you can. Here are some of my builds that are very effective at what they do and have no issues smashing lights. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c6c7a8b4f63768f , http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5011db43043308f
, http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c5a58c763986105 , http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cdad9082f876c30 , http://mwo.smurfy-ne...930992f08d8a5ec
Love em all and all are effective as i said before.

[Koniving]

ginger, on 29 January 2014 - 08:22 AM, said:

My favorites so far are the HBK-4P, TBT-7M, and most of the Kintaros since the KTOs have lots of energy mounts in the arms for range of motion. I'll pilot a SHD if I have to, but would prefer to run a different mech than him.

Kintaro + Shadowhawk combinations are actually very effective, especially if both parties have at least 2 to 3 streaks each. The Kintaro might pack some PPCs or large lasers or LRMs to give it a punch of its own. The Shadowhawk will likely run a meta-rig of cannons to go with its streaks.

I particularly run Kintaros a lot and really enjoy them for their ability to torso twist and hit things behind them while running. The Shadowhawk lacks this ability. It makes for a team similar to lore's Centurion + Trebuchet combination. The Shadowhawk's the muscle and the Kintaro is the protective support (ironically, the Trebuchet was the main fighter and the Centurion was the protective support).

Wolverine + Griffin combinations seem quite effective as well, as Griffin + Shadowhawk, Wolverine + Shadowhawk, Griffin + Kintaro. Haven't tried Wolverine + Kintaro yet though.

[Voivode]

There are quite a few options. If he wants to be a brawly Shadowhawk don't dismiss the Cicada outright. It is CAPABLE of running just like a light, but that doesn't mean you HAVE to run it like a light.

The 3M has a ballistic slot and ECM, so you can run an AC10 or UAC5, or just say to hell with it and slap a couple PPCs on there for a little ranged support for your buddy. The 3C has the same hardpoints as a spider 5K but more weight. I ran this on my 3C and had a blast and got quite a few kills.

The Blackjack is another good mech to consider. It packs considerable firepower into a small package. The armor is thin and with the exception of the 1X it is much slower than a Raven.

Hunchbacks are a hard mech to run because it takes very good pilot skill to be effective. Worthwhile if you can do it.

Trebuchets make good medium LRM platforms but are weak in a brawl.

Centurions are very maneuverable and two of the models carry ballistic arm slots. The hero variant is the only one that can carry an arm mounted AC20 if you'd like a powerful punch. The 9A with 2xMPL and and AC/10 is also good.

All the 55 tonners are pretty solid and can take a decent beating.

Edited by Voivode, 29 January 2014 - 09:45 AM.

[TygerLily]

^^ Blackjacks are good fun!

[Voivode]

TygerLily, on 29 January 2014 - 10:11 AM, said:

^^ Blackjacks are good fun!

Indeed they are. Run a 1X at max speed with 4xML, 2xSPL, 2xSL, good little light hunter/striker. It sounds like an awful build, but I run a BJ-1 with an AC/2 and an AC/10. I swear it kills things so much!

[TygerLily]

Voivode, on 29 January 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Indeed they are. Run a 1X at max speed with 4xML, 2xSPL, 2xSL, good little light hunter/striker. It sounds like an awful build, but I run a BJ-1 with an AC/2 and an AC/10. I swear it kills things so much!

Nice! The 1X is also very fun with 2 PPC, 6 smalls (in the arms), max XL.

[ginger]

My very first mech purchase was a BJ-1X, and I ran a 2LL/4ML build and another build w/ 1 ERRPPC and ML's. Although I like the chassis, I did NOT perform well and shortly after made the jump to Ravens. So I'm a little nervous about trying the BJ chassis again.

[TygerLily]

ginger, on 29 January 2014 - 11:20 AM, said:

My very first mech purchase was a BJ-1X, and I ran a 2LL/4ML build and another build w/ 1 ERRPPC and ML's. Although I like the chassis, I did NOT perform well and shortly after made the jump to Ravens. So I'm a little nervous about trying the BJ chassis again.

Yea, it's all about playstyle. I could see an analogy between the Shadowhawks and Ravens (jumping, missile points, speed) but not between the BJ and the Raven. I'd say they are more analogous to the Jenners...but I love all 4 of those mechs.

Edited by TygerLily, 29 January 2014 - 11:24 AM.

[skamage]

Thanks for that SHD light hunter build. Made me decide what new mech to start working on.

[Voivode]

skamage, on 29 January 2014 - 11:37 AM, said:

Thanks for that SHD light hunter build. Made me decide what new mech to start working on.

Glad you found what you were looking for. I look forward to blasting your new Shadowhawk into the ground, Steiner scum!
See you on the battlefield!

[ginger]

Thank you everyone for your input on this thread. FYI I DID end up going with a Cicada, the 3M in fact, and I have started to catch my stride with it. Me and my buddy stick together and focus fire targets, and my providing him with ECM cover seems to help our longevity in matches quite a bit. We like to flank around the main body and pick off stragglers, with him melting their face off with dakka dakka while I gnaw at their backside with my pew pew light show.

I'm currently running with the 320XL, 2ML, 2MPL, ECM and AMS. Not a lot of up front firepower but good DPS over time by alternating between the 2 lasers groups. I do like how well the pulse lasers perform against light Mechs, and I don't seem to be a priority target very often. I tend to end up in those last man standing situations quite a bit regardless of what chassis I'm in, and I like this little fellas performance in those situations. I usually do pretty well in those, and the no ammo dependency/ECM combo serves me well at the end of the match.

Edit: For those of you who like to underestimate the CDA-3M, just today I had a last man standing 1v3 Assault on River City against a K2, ON1-V, and a Misery. I kept my distance, stayed patient, and quite simply picked them apart one component at a time. That match solidified my love in this chassis without a doubt. I just wish I had recorded or even taken a screenshot of the match!

Edited by ginger, 02 February 2014 - 06:42 PM.