15 replies to this topic

[Kuaron]

BJ and CDA.
Both IS ML boats in their usual configuration.

I do have the BJ but I don't like it optically. It plays OK, though, tested different (also longer range) configuration and now it’s the boring metabuild’s turn (with MLs and MLPs).
I have no idea about Cicadas yet, but they look better.
What are the main differences?

I was thinking: If I sell the BJ now, where do I find a similar playstile later?
Or maybe one of the Crabs is an even better replacement?

Edited by Kuaron, 19 November 2016 - 07:05 AM.

[STEF_]

First of all: never sell a mech: you could regret it.
Pgi can change quirks, and suddlently a ****** mech becomes good.

bj1x and cda are not so similar.

CDA is a "light" mech: you can put a large engine and run really really fast.
Bj1x is limited at 295xl, run pretty fast too, but not like a light can do; You can trade a little less speed with more dhs, and more hardpoints too.
You must also consider their different yaw: BJ has lateral twist of 80° and CDA has 125°: you can see thier different roles here too: while the CDA can harass and brawl easier for its speed and torso twisting, the BJ likes mid range more.

It depends on what your style is. They are both energy boat, but different mechs.

[Tarogato]

^ can confirm.

Cicada is truly a light mech, while the Blackjack even with max engine still functions as a medium skirmisher.

[Kuaron]

And has a very broad front profile, which is annoying.
I bought it mainly for mastering the loyalty one, in the first place, and wasn’t planing on keeping it for long. Already sold the BJ-3, which was as slow and annoying as BJ-2 but without premium bonus. (I can stick PPCs on other Mechs and have more fun on a CPLT-K2.)
Now, the 1X is the only not annoying one, that’s why I’m wondering if I’d regret to sell it. It’s still ugly.

Cicada and Crab are both on the “maybe someday” list. That the cicada is half a light is well known, but maybe I’d like it more, and ML vomit is ML vomit. ^^
What about BJ vs. Crab then?
Crab MPL boat with large engine could run even slightly faster and be more similar overall, with a better front profile but not as high weapon mounts as the BJ. What is true?

Edited by Kuaron, 19 November 2016 - 03:46 AM.

[Audacious Aubergine]

That practically sums up the differences between the Crab and the Blackjack. Both have their pros and cons as far as shape and hitboxes go.
Probably the biggest difference though is the Crab is 5t heavier, which doesn't seem much until you remember that it means it can potentially carry a bit more armour than the Blackjack can

[STEF_]

Kuaron, on 19 November 2016 - 03:46 AM, said:

Crab MPL boat with large engine could run even slightly faster and be more similar overall, with a better front profile but not as high weapon mounts as the BJ. What is true?

Crab can be a mini Stalker with standard engine.
Don't put an XL. Tanking with torsi it's fun and favors your durability. So it's more a brawler than a skirmisher: also 115° torso twist.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...696acaf0592b54a

(if you feel it hot, above all when unbasiced, you can trade 1-2 mpl for ml and add 1-2 dhs)

[jper4]

crab also has the advantage of (if using std engine) of having no arms, no torso and 1 leg and still be packing a 3MPL or LPL/MPL to shoot the enemy with. probable winner of "best zombie mech". my current best is 16% of the mech left before finally dying- from being legged.

edit- update- survived at 15% with two dark orange legs and not much else!

Edited by Tanar, 28 November 2016 - 05:49 AM.

[Spheroid]

You also have the option of the Hunchback-4P. As the Grid Iron is a prize in this event, you might consider getting into that mech family.

The Crab is tough and good in a fight. I like them quite a bit.

[Nullmancer]

honestly, each of those chassis are good at different things, the Cicada is obviously good at being mobile and excels at intercepting lights, scouting duties, harassment and flanking. Its kinda squishy so you must play careful, hillhump, focus fire, watch your groups flanks and intercept lights, brawl if you have the advantage but don't chase 'em unless the game is almost over. The CDA-2B is fantastic for this.

the Blackjack excels at fire support, mostly because of the limitations of the chassis'. All but one of the variants are slow and can't really solo brawl very well and so ideally, should be near the main group to avoid getting overrun. The BJ-1X is ok for flanking providing you are backing up other mechs.

The Crab is sturdy, even with an XL, and can go pretty fast. In my opinion, it makes for a good flanker and harasser. With its low stance and surprising speed, (with a big XL), it can maneuver around maps pretty well. Alternatively, you can run a standard engine and be difficult to put down. It's easy for the enemy to identify if you're a standard or XL crab and so you must be cagey if you're running the XL. The extra speed the XL engine provides does helps mitigate the vulnerability some.

The Cicada and Blackjack both have more advantageous hardpoints and peek much better, the Crab usually has to commit to full exposure to deal maximal damage.

I personally prefer an XL in my Crabs and use the speed, low profile and cover to compensate. Recently had a game where I was the last left vs three other mechs and when they finally put me down with a ST loss, the guy who did it crowed a bit, essentially calling me a noob for not running a STD engine. The Crab does well with a XL, don't dismiss it out of hand. You are in ways more vulnerable, but their are advantages to doing it and if you adjust playstyle accordingly, it won't be a problem at all.

CRB-20

Edited by Nullmancer, 19 November 2016 - 11:58 AM.

[stealthraccoon]

Cicada is a zooming harasser, Crab can be a zombie laser monster and Blackjacks are good a peek-a-boo and mid range.

Love them all, but the Cicada is the one I'm most comfortable with (lights are my thing).

[Kuaron]

Spheroid, on 19 November 2016 - 10:36 AM, said:

You also have the option of the Hunchback-4P. As the Grid Iron is a prize in this event, you might consider getting into that mech family.

Already have, which is the main reason I have no crab yet. Just another 50t lasvom. But the Hunch has different chassis with different roles while the Crab only has different shades of vomit.

[Rattler85]

Spheroid, on 19 November 2016 - 10:36 AM, said:

The Crab is tough and good in a fight. I like them quite a bit.

The Crab is a fantastic mech. It can go very fast with a standard engine and still have 2 LLs and 3 MLs for the CRB-20/27 and the SL can mount jump jets. My only gripe is that only one has jump jets.

As stated earlier the Cicada is a light and a harasser.

The Blackjack is more of a medium ranged mech. One of the variants is a very good medium laser boat. I wanted to like the Blackjack, but I could not get it to work.

[Kmieciu]

Kuaron, on 19 November 2016 - 12:38 PM, said:

Already have, which is the main reason I have no crab yet. Just another 50t lasvom. But the Hunch has different chassis with different roles while the Crab only has different shades of vomit.

Recently I used the Crab-27B in scouting during the Nova-ember.
It's so much tankier than HBK-4P. The hunchback simply cannot hide his hunch. Loose it and you are left with 2 lasers.
Crab tanks with the arms, then with the torsos. I've had games where people shot off my arms and side torsos then changed their mind and started shooting at my legs because I refused to go down. MPL 27B is best for sustained brawl thanks to heat generation quirks.

CRB-20 is worth running with XL350 simply because it is so unique for 50-tonners. You can join light-lances and run with them. It has STD Lasers duration quirks that makes Medium and Large lasers extremely accurate.
You can go with XL350 5xML 20DHS or XL340 3xML 2xLL 15DHS. It's so funny when an enemy Cheetah is unable to outbrawl or outrun you. With only 20 kph difference in speed you'll be able to place numerous alphas into its legs.

Edited by Kmieciu, 28 November 2016 - 01:53 AM.

[Beaching Betty]

Sell your mech, dont listen to all these tryhard people saying "Dont sell it, PGI might change it blabla", sure you can keep it if you can wait forever or if you have tons of CB to buy another different mech. If you dont like the mech, why keep it? Even with added quirks, you still wont enjoy it.

[WrathOfDeadguy]

I've survived below 10% health more times in a Crab than in any other 'Mech I own. They're masterful tanks. You can absolutely stand in line with the bigs in one and expect to live as long as they do, which cannot be said of the Cicada or Blackjack. Both of those are hang back and peek or flank and surprise 'Mechs... the Crab is a fighter. The Jack can take more firepower, and the Bug can run faster, but the Crab is a heavy wearing a medium as a flesh-suit.

[Kuaron]

Thank for the recent answers.
I have sold the BJ long ago (it was for the Mechbay before the Mechbay sale, not for the CBs) and am running the Crab now.
Since after different sales, new Steam packs and the MAD-IIC-release there are a couple too many Mechs requiring attention at the same time, I haven't played the Crab so often in a row to actually tell if it would annoy me if I did, as the Blackjack did.
But so far it feels comfortable, and I don't feel ugly looking out of the canopy.