29 replies to this topic

[Rifter7]

Hello. I really enjoy playing my jenner. I have 6 medium lasers, 5 jumpjets and an xl 300 and I rip around.

I try to stay with my team and scare off lights for the bigger 'mechs, and when I'm not I can be found at my lasers optimal trying to flank and harass opportune targets. I tend to stay away from CQC, but I'll jump in on bigger 'mechs if I see others distracting them and will just stand behind them shooting off weapons or their back/head.

I've been looking at medium 'mechs to fit this playstyle, but I want an upgrade. I thought the Cicada CDA-2A was that, but it is really just a sidegrade. I found that I couldn't fit much of anything besides making it a flightless Jenner, and unfortunately I prefer the Jenner.

Preferably I'd have large lasers and more damage, but still be relatively mobile and even perhaps have jumpjets still. I don't mind being slower, I understand that would go hand in hand with what I'm after or I'd just end up with another Cicada.

Thank you for reading and for any insight you have to offer.

[GroxGlitch]

I haven't played dedicated IS in a while outside Trial Mechs, but IIRC a few of the laservomit Blackjacks might work well for what you're looking for. With some of the larger XL engines they can get up pretty fast, with a decent laser payload. I believe one is quirked for lasers, the other for PPCs. For the laser-quirked one (BJ-1X) , you should be able to do high 80's, low 90's in speed with two LLs and, oh, 4 medium lasers with a couple DHS extra for cooling. Might be a touch hot but not too bad.
The PPC one (BJ-3) , while not necessarily quirked specifically for lasers, still has decent energy quirks and altogether similar hardpoints; the big boon is it can mount jump jets, whereas the 1X cannot.

That's all that comes to mind. Sorry I can't help more but Clan chassi are my area of experience.

[Anunknownlurker]

Cicadas rock imho. They are tougher than Jenners and just as fast. I do best with 1 large (or ERLarge) laser and 3 mediums on my X5, but you can mix and match. The reason for the large laser is that you can pick targets from range, that way you build up a LOT of assists and the damage earned stacks up. Honestly, if I do less than 500 damage in my X5 I consider it a bad game (yeah, yeah we all say that but it's true). The 6 medium build I sort of agree with you, it's like non-jj Jenner but don't discount the extra weight which allows for more DHS - you can't keep putting out the damage if you have overheated -and the extra structural points which allow you to trade with the inevitable FS or Jenner a bit better.

One thing I did notice moving from the Jenner to the Cicada was the CT hitbox seems harder for the enemy to hit, again, giving it additional survivability.

The only other medium that fits your description is the Ice Ferret maybe? Again, no JJs and a bit slower than the Cicada so I'm not sure what the advantage would be.

Good luck on your journey MechWarrior!

[Palor]

I would recommend buying 2 more Jenners and getting your mech mastery done.

Then find a medium mech with JJ's and hardpoints you enjoy, and do the same thing again.

[Night Thastus]

I'd suggest the Shadowhawk. It's underrated, but may just fit the bill.

Here's the metamechs version.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...27b12569b7113f5

Here's my suggested version for more speed:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...5affd55bfebc444

Here's a version that goes 97 w/out speadteak, but is generally more survivable:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9c5ca8a936cf78f

In the end, I'd mess around with the 2K in the mechlab and see what works. It has a high engine cap, high mounted weaponry, good quirks for large lasers, and the ability to mount jump jets. It's the perfect upgrade, in my opinion.

Edited by Night Thastus, 10 May 2015 - 02:07 PM.

[Zookeeper Dan]

I need speed too! Heavys and assaults feel like they are stuck in molasses!

Shadowhawks are a lot of fun. They were my first mechs I bought and mastered and I still play them. My 2H got me a lot of points in this last event. Including solo KO'ing a laser crow with my 2 AC5's and 3 SRMr's while brawling!

I'd also recommend picking up an Oxide. No jump jets but it still has the speed and the 4 SRM4 build can pack a punch and plays a lot differently from the ML/MPL Jenners. I started with the F, then got the Oxide. I just bought a K with my challenge winnings so I can master the chassis.

[ShinVector]

I would suggest going to the heaviest mediums, the Wolverines are interesting since it has two different useful variants.

• 6K is an LL vomiter with some very nice quirks.
  
• 6R is a quirked AC5 assault rifle with JJs.

Edited by ShinVector, 10 May 2015 - 07:05 PM.

[TheCaptainJZ]

It's still a light, but the Firestarter can do everything the Jenner can do and it has better hitboxes.

[SnagaDance]

Palor, on 10 May 2015 - 02:00 PM, said:

I would recommend buying 2 more Jenners and getting your mech mastery done.

This. If you're enjoying the abilities of your Jenner now just wait and see how much more agile it becomes with Elite finished. In addition you'll probably be able to alpha one more time as well before you need to cool off (the last bit is true for my Jenner-F, but I've got 1 DHS more at the cost of only having 3 JJ, YMMV)

[Rifter7]

thank you all for the replies.

shortly after i posted this I went ahead and tried out the nova prime.

what a horrible mistake. i regretted being slower and having all of those guns immediately, I fit my cicada out and will look into buying more jenners or a firestarter. if anyone knows of something similar to cicada with jump jets I'd be really grateful.

in the meantime I need to read all of these messages and process the infomation since i dont understand most of it at a glance.

on my phone sorry for grammar, thanks!

[eFTy]

I think you'd really enjoy the Sparky. Not exactly as fast as the Cicada (no medium is), but very fast for a medium, has lots of jump jets and plenty of lasers. Unfortuantely, however, it's a hero mech and thus requires spending real money on it. If you wait for a sale, it won't be a lot of money, though, and it comes with the added benefit of generating more c-bills.

But I'd suggest getting it ONLY if you also like missiles, as all the other Griffin variants rely heavily on them (except the 1S, but that mech kinda sucks - only try the trial version).

In order to get the most out of any mech, you need to get the Elite skills, and those require having 3 variants of the same chassis with all the Basic skills completed. Once the elite skills are all done on a variant, the values of the basic skills are doubled. This is huge, as it means you double the bonuses to heat dissipation, acceleration, deceleration, torso twist range and speed, and turning speed too.

The Blackjack 1X is also right up your alley, unfortunately the other variants of the chassis rely on lasers and ballistics, and are slow (93kph with the speed tweak bonus).

[Anunknownlurker]

@Rifter7 - don't give up on the Nova, it's honestly a lot of fun. Yes, it's huge and slow compared to a Cicada but it's a totally different machine that needs a different playstyle. It can pack a huge amount of firepower and, once you have the elite sills, the heat becomes, well, maybe "manageable" is the word. There are a lot of different builds available from 12 small lasers to long range ERL or ERPPC sniping; but it's not for everyone and that's the wonderful thing about MWO, there is a mech or a build for everyone, it's just a matter of finding it.

[Rifter7]

i dont mind spending money for hero mechs. i have a (c) jenner, do i need to buy 2 more with money to get elite?

im at work, sorry if u feel im ignoring u. im reading everything but cant research and properly respond.

Edited by Rifter7, 11 May 2015 - 06:32 AM.

[JC Daxion]

Cicada's are not mediums, they are fat lights, i really love them. I would skip the 2A as like you said, it is basically a flightless jenner, (i own one, and wish i didn't but i bought it before it was quirked, as i use pulses on it, the 2B would of been a much better choice for me. The 3M is great, and the 2B is a brawling monster, again it plays like the 2A, but has the medium pulse quirk, verse the medium laser, and the 3C is a sniper, with a bunch of guns to finish mechs off and add DPS on strafing runs. So honestly, if you really enjoy the jenners after you get one to master, you could really enjoy cicada's as they play similar.



That said, Get 2 more jenners, you will be shocked on how much better you will play once elites, and then masters are unlocked. Some mechs it is night and day and your 6 ML jenner i think would fall under that catagory, adding the extra % heat dissipation on a hot mech is key and you will really notice it being much more maneuverable too which is the life of a light.

You could try contacting support to get your c-bills back for that nova, they will typically give you a one time i screwed up trade in, though most of the ones i have heard of have had MC involved, but ya never know. Just be nice, and ask them if it is possible as you screwed up and didn't understand about how unlocks worked.. They might help ya out

Of course you could keep the nova for a later date, i never played one, but they do look like fun, but are not considered a power house like the stromcrow, but who knows what will happen down the road. The nova could become a goto mech one day!

If you don't mind spending some MC, the hero is nice, Its a powerful little SRM boat. But if not, just grab the normal K and the D and get grinding. Once you at least master your F, you can decide if you want to get into a new class, or just keep grinding the rest to master.. after you have 3, i highly suggest buying medium laser range/recharge modules, and radar deprivation before you jump into another set of mechs. They are modules you will use on other mechs.

Edited by JC Daxion, 11 May 2015 - 06:42 AM.

[Spleenslitta]

Since it seems you're still looking for a new mech Rifter7 i'll pitch in some advice.
I went from using Commandos to Jenners To Firestarters to BlackJacks and finally the Vindicator.

The Vindicator. All have JJ's. Good quirks if you like PPC's.
All have extreme torso twist both to the side and up/down. You can shoot straight backwards with your arms while retreating!
1 energy in the head and 1 missile slot high mounted regardless of variant.

1AA has a top speed of 116.8 kph (elited) with max engine and 6JJ's. My favorite.
1R is kind of an average style Vindicator.
1X is an either or mech. Either you go all out ballistics or PPC.
Hero mech St.Ives Blue. LL quirked. 99kph elited.

It's the first medium mech that satisfied my need for both speed and loads of JJ's.
It may not have loads of firepower or heavy armor in comparison to 55 tonners but that torso twist range is really good.
Wolverine and Griffins can compete in that though.

It comes down to whether you want weapons in both arms or not i guess. I think the Vindicator is slimmer than the Griffin and Wolverine too.

[mailin]

I completely disagree with the previous statements about the Nova. Throw 6 small pulse lasers and 4 mgs and this thing is a BEAST. My first drop in it I had 5 kills and a bunch of assists. The only problems are 1) speed and 2) the short range. Having said that though, stick with the fatties and circle them a bit. You WILL be amazed.

Honesty and first though, the OP needs to get 2 other Jenners so that he can master them. Period.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Your Nova is bad because, once again, you have no skills unlocked. Once you finish elites on any mech it doubles the bonuses of the basics which means it's even more manuverable and cools faster.

[Repasy Cooper]

If you really like the Jenner and want a similar medium mech, have you considered waiting for a Shadow Cat? I think it could be just what you need. It's got JJ's, speed (MASC boost), ECM, and plenty of tonnage for weapons. Definitely a prime example of a hunter-killer mech, which I think would fit your playstyle perfectly.

If you don't want to wait, Ice Ferret also has great speed. Other than those two mechs and the Cicada, you're probably not gonna find much else that will satisfy speed.

If you don't mind sacrificing speed, the Shadow Hawk, Griffin, and Stormcrow have great potential.

[Zookeeper Dan]

mailin, on 11 May 2015 - 09:50 AM, said:

Honesty and first though, the OP needs to get 2 other Jenners so that he can master them. Period.

I totally agree. Pick up an Oxide and then the K. Once you've gotten them to elite it will feel like your're driving an entirely new mech. Imagine only driving Corvettes and thinking they are great, then getting in a Ferrari. Between the speed increase and double all the basic skills you will wonder how you were ever satisfied before.

With the money you will make getting all the skill unlocks you should have plenty to invest in your next mech.

[Lugh]

Hunchback 4p also works though it lacks JJ