89 replies to this topic

[Dunning Kruger Effect]

I tried the "trial" version and it simply seems like a larger, less mobile Jenner. Without jump jets - which is a massive additional hit. Is there any time it is a better choice then a Jenner?

I realize there is an ECM version - but is it that much better than a Raven/Spider?

I kinda like the "idea" of a Cicada but I can't see the value in it.

[IraqiWalker]

If you like a jenner that can mount an LB10X, has actual armor not the paper-thin armor jenners have, and can mount heavy duty firepower, then yes, you'd want the Cicada. The playstyle is very similar, however, the cicada allows you to be a bully and engage bigger prey with less fear of being killed outright.

Now the real question is whether or not the mech fits your play style. Are you a jenner pilot? Do you like piloting lights, do you like running around the battlefield skulking, scouting and assassinating? If so, then yes, you should try the Cicada. If not then the chassis might not be for you. I'd say give it a few more tries, since the trial version isn't exactly the best one out there.

Also, yes, it has no Jumpjets, but then again, many other mechs don't have Jumpjets and are still considered top notch. Not to mention fun.

I will help you with designing builds for it if you are interested.

Edited by IraqiWalker, 09 February 2014 - 03:33 AM.

[Samziel]

3M Cicada is just awesome. Like IraqiWalker said it can mount LBX-10 and I am using it alot. That thing is a beast when mastered!

[Dunning Kruger Effect]

Thanks for the replies. I suspected the trial version wasn't the best. I haven't bought any yet - I'm just trying to convince myself to. I'm just not sure it'll add anything "new" playstyle-wise (I have a Jenner F and ECM Raven) which is my main criterai for getting a new mech.

The 3M is the only one that looks interesting but it is naturally the most expensive. A "beefier Raven" sounds better to me than a "slower Jenner minus the JJs".

That said if I splashed out using MC, the trial version comes with a 340XL which I could use on other things.

I do enjoy the Jenner, and the trial Cicada was pleasant. I do miss the JJ a bit as it limits you a lot in where (and how) you can go.

"the cicada allows you to be a bully and engage bigger prey with less fear of being killed outright."
Wouldn't the Cicada's larger hitbox/s, lack of JJ and slightly less agility mitigate the extra armour?

[Modo44]

It is the lightest thing that can reasonably do the small mech with a big gun thing (for a heavy-hitting ballistic or energy setup). For Jenner-like things, stay with the Jenner. Sligthly more armor will not make up for Cicada's size and relative lack of mobility. If you want to go that route, the Trebuchet 3C is uniquely qualified.

Edited by Modo44, 09 February 2014 - 05:37 AM.

[TercieI]

Do they look like fun to you? That's the question that matters, IMO. I love mine, the 3M and X-5 are the best of the lot, then choose between 2A/2B, IMO.

But if what you're asking is "are these top tier mechs," the answer is no. I cannot think of a really useful thing that they do that another mech doesn't do better.

[MadCat02]

Cicada can chase light mechs and win 1 vs1 if you into that .

[Koniving]

Lately I've been encountering a lot of Cicadas using PPCs either singly (to never overheat) or in pairs (to pack an AC/20-style wallop). Two PPCs = a Gauss Rifle + an AC/5 at the same time or an AC/20 but with more heat and no ammo.

These things also get considerably more range than AC/20s and with that high speed you can fire, dive through some buildings and pop out somewhere else and fire again before the enemy can even figure out what the heck you just did.

Since I haven't used many Cicadas since they first came out in Open Beta (I have 91 mechs, 100 mechbays, and that's after having sold more than 40 mechs since the final reset of open beta), I haven't got many recent videos.

But here's the X-5 Prototype (a hero mech) where back then beyond the then extinct Noisy Cricket design no one packed PPCs on a Cicada. It sports an ER PPC and small LRMs.

And the very start of this Ember video has me talking about the joys of being a slow light mech when BAM! PPC Cicada blasts me to death. There was three or four of them running around that match sporting ER PPCs and making very short work of the assaults.

[Redshift2k5]

It depends o what you what to do with it, and a little bit of personal preference. As the number of mechs increases, more and more often we will be faced by mechs with smaller and smaller differences.

• Cicadas have a few more tons to work with
  
• More armor
  
• An ECM variant
  
• Can mount ballistics
  
• The only small mech that can bring ECM and a ballistic
  
• More torso twist than a Jenner
  
• No jumpjets

If you want to use it as a 6 medium laser fast runner harasser, well, maybe you should get a Jenner or wait for the Firestarters, but there may be something in the details that can help you make a final decision.

[Motroid]

CDAs are great when knowing your place.
When going 150 km/h with a 340 it is very tempting to think that it is like in a Raven or Commando. But it's worlds apart.
CDA have this big shiloutte and these vulnerable legs. You just CANNOT dive in and out of battle like light mechs do.
However CDAs acceleration and deceleration plus torso twist range is just hilarious. Not to mention the fun.
I use the CDA-3M as a Techsupport/(Anti)Scout with 4 ML, 1 AC/2, ECM, BAP, AMS. Long range AC/2/AC/5 is a great deal for CDA-3M only for bullying from second line. (Cockpitshake and smoke ftw)
Just don't pilot CDAs as if they were RVNs or COMs and you will be fine and see the point in a CDAs.

[Wispsy]

If you like pain, buy a Cicada. If you like to inflict pain, wait 2 weeks for Firestarter.

[Bront]

IraqiWalker, on 09 February 2014 - 03:33 AM, said:

If you like a jenner that can mount an LB10X, has actual armor not the paper-thin armor jenners have, and can mount heavy duty firepower, then yes, you'd want the Cicada. The playstyle is very similar, however, the cicada allows you to be a bully and engage bigger prey with less fear of being killed outright.

The armor difference is negligible (238 to 274, so a ton of FF effectively). That said, the arm shields on the Cicada (and Raven) do as advertised and hell you spread damage to non-essential points.

The 3M is nice from an ECM perspective and has a Balistic option, or can mount larger energy weapons than a Jenner. They are a bit less mobile, but once you've elited out a Cicada, it's pretty mobile with a large engine in it. I enjoy mine with an LL and 3 MLs.

The other Cicadas are less exciting. The 4 Balistic one is fun at times and can be deadly with an LPL and 4 MGs, but the others are just not that exciting unless you want more MLs or SLs/SPLs.

Is it worth it? The Cicada is a light mech in the medium class, so there's some usefulness in tournaments that limit you by class, and can be effective, but it's not an ECM Raven (Larger profile), nor is it a Jenner (Not as maneuverable), but it can duel with Lights well enough, making it a reasonably fast escort mech, can ad some size to your scout lance, and the ECM mechs are generally useful. I don't regret working on them reciently, and it gave me a new appreciation for the finer points of Jenner piloting.

[Fuggles]

There are a lot of better mechs out there, if that's your concern then don't buy one. You can do some interesting things however, such as the dual ppc + ecm 3m or machine guns and an ac20 on the ballistic variant. The energy boat versions play like a cross between a hunchback and a Jenner. Play it like a really fast hunchback and you'll be fine. Play it like a heavily armored Jenner and you won't do so hot.

The biggest thing that hurts them, and it's really obvious if you play a fast light and the cicada is the acceleration isn't there. You get hung up on a rock in mordor and it feels like your stuck there with the eye of sauron on you unable to move.

[NovaWasp]

The Trial Cicada is a good load out on the 2A, but it wasn't elited. That does matter. Speed Tweak kicks in and it takes 6 seconds longer to overheat alhpa firing non stop.

6 x 7.5 = 45 points more damage.

If you want to play a cicada I'd recommend the 2a, 2b, and 3m. X5 is good, but with missiles like they are, the good loadouts can also be ran on the 3m. You might as well have ECM.

[Unnatural Growth]

Terciel1976, on 09 February 2014 - 06:08 AM, said:

Do they look like fun to you? That's the question that matters, IMO. I love mine, the 3M and X-5 are the best of the lot, then choose between 2A/2B, IMO.

But if what you're asking is "are these top tier mechs," the answer is no. I cannot think of a really useful thing that they do that another mech doesn't do better.

^^This.

I bought the X-5 when I first started playing MWO, and tried playing it like my Jenners. I admit it was kind of "meh" and I mostly put it away in storage. After Skirmish mode came out, I started seeing a much higher percentage of light mechs in battles. I started thinking the X-5 would make a good light mech hunter, and I loaded it with ML's, streaks and a big engine. I found it was fun in that role. So I bought the 3M and the 2B to finally xp up my X-5.

I think the 3M makes a great support mech. I use it for ECM cover for my team, and constantly scan the area for incoming enemy lights. While "maybe" the X-5's streaks are a more effective anti-light weapon, I think I play the 3M more for the dual purpose ECM support. For some reason I'm seeing less ECM mechs being fielded recently, at least at my PUG elo level, and I think ECM cover does benefit the team overall when it's deployed.

Once I basic'd up the 2B, I put it away, as I just don't find it "does anything" that I want.

But I think both the X-5 and the 3M can be very effective light mech repellant. Maybe not true light hunter-killers, like say a Streak-taro could be. But most lights don't stick around once you engage them. And driving enemy lights out of your team's formation is a useful role.

The real question is, is that a role you would enjoy playing?

[luxebo]

Dunning Kruger Effect, on 09 February 2014 - 02:34 AM, said:

I tried the "trial" version and it simply seems like a larger, less mobile Jenner. Without jump jets - which is a massive additional hit. Is there any time it is a better choice then a Jenner?

I realize there is an ECM version - but is it that much better than a Raven/Spider?

I kinda like the "idea" of a Cicada but I can't see the value in it.

There would also be the Firestarter coming in later. Could be potential to be selected as well. Cicada 3M as everyone said is the ECM light that can be good as a sniper/mini ballistic holder. X-5 is the grinder with missiles. 2A and 2B are similar, but 2B has arm lasers, which sucks more than 2A as those usually used as shields can't be anymore. 3C can be used with 2 AC20s, or as a bigger Spider, but I don't really like it.

[990Dreams]

Yes.

[mailin]

One thing that's really nice about the Cicadas is that they have 40 armor points available on the legs, and generally the shield arms both get destroyed before a side torso, so they have decent survivability. I like the X-5 the most followed by the 3M. I currently have mplas on my 3M but I will sometimes swap them out for mlas and an AC5.

[Damon Howe]

Reason to run Cicadas?

Mount 2 AC20s.

[Koniving]

DavidHurricane, on 09 February 2014 - 12:46 PM, said:

Yes.

Totally not worth it. But now it is.

But more seriously.