22 replies to this topic

[shark4179]

I'm looking to get a cicada, any tips or builds would great

[Ed Anger]

shark4179, on 30 October 2012 - 05:03 PM, said:

I'm looking to get a cicada, any tips or builds would great

looking five posts down is hard: http://mwomercs.com/...cicada-chassis/

[The Velociraptor]

Fact is ed anger, the post you linked only shows the stats from the stock chassis you can see in the shop.
The OP was probably asking for more optimised builds, not stock version...

[Mason Grimm]

Go here: http://www.mechspecs...y.php?25-Cicada

Register. It's free.

There are 5 Cicada builds available right there in addition to dozens of others for other mechs.

[Túatha Dé Danann]

Cicada 3C:
0 points of armor
Std engine 100
Endo steel
6 heat sinks
2x Gauss rifle
1 ton of gauss ammo

Thank me later.

[Darwins Dog]

I wrote a pretty good Cicada guide, including 11 good builds (contributed by myself and several other players). More are getting added on a regular basis.

Check it out.

For the short version I recommend starting with the 2A, or 3M.

Edited by Darwins Dog, 26 January 2013 - 02:32 PM.

[Symbiodinium]

CDA-3M

300XL
EndoSteel
Ferro-Fibrous Armor (maxed)
15 Double Heat Sinks
4 Med. Pulse Lasers
ECM

A great, pure dogfighter. Dart through larger mechs, pick off limbs and any weak points. Also good for hunting other fast mechs if you can aim well. Doesn't run hot, heat efficiency (for what it's worth) is 1.42. A bit expensive to set up, but by far the best of the Cicadas at the moment. A CDA-2A with 6 med. lasers is also pretty good, but lacks ECM.

Edited by Symbiodinium, 26 January 2013 - 04:11 PM.

[Phoenix Gray]

Is it worth putting a larger weapon on the Cicada for a concentrated punch, or loading up on the small stuff and just grinding your opponent down?

[Darwins Dog]

Phoenix Gray, on 27 January 2013 - 09:33 AM, said:

Is it worth putting a larger weapon on the Cicada for a concentrated punch, or loading up on the small stuff and just grinding your opponent down?

I find that you just can't support anything much larger than a MPL (in terms of heatsinks and ammo) without sacrificing speed, but that's just me. I know plenty of people do well with large lasers, or even PPCs, but generally speaking you are better off with small things. Big ballistics (AC10, LBX, AC20) are just too heavy to use at all.

EDIT: fix the quote.

Edited by Darwins Dog, 27 January 2013 - 10:41 AM.

[TowerDiver]

Fitting a heavier balistic weapon(such as the LB-X10 or lower) can work as long you generally have an engine that's lighter than a 300XL.

For me, I like running around with a LB-X10 and two medium lasers. I prefere the LBX10 just because it's easier to use when you're running ~120 mph than trying to line up a prcise shot. Say what you will with the LBx10 being bad cuz of the spread, but it still works great on chasing away lights.

Edited by Lighthorn, 27 January 2013 - 06:27 PM.

[Phoenix Gray]

That's what I'm seeing from what everyone else is doing. But that 4ERPPC Cicada YouTube video was a bad influence on my impressionable young mind. I've worked out a model over at Smurfy's and you're right about the sacrifice in speed, but as the rangers say, I don't have to be faster than the bear, I just have to be faster than you.

Anyway, these are what I'm looking at just fer shoots'n'giggles, especially since I found out I have to upgrade my graphics card (if possible) even to play the game. Irksome.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9e46ba9697a2a70

[Darwins Dog]

Phoenix Gray, on 27 January 2013 - 09:28 PM, said:

That's what I'm seeing from what everyone else is doing. But that 4ERPPC Cicada YouTube video was a bad influence on my impressionable young mind. I've worked out a model over at Smurfy's and you're right about the sacrifice in speed, but as the rangers say, I don't have to be faster than the bear, I just have to be faster than you.

Anyway, these are what I'm looking at just fer shoots'n'giggles, especially since I found out I have to upgrade my graphics card (if possible) even to play the game. Irksome.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9e46ba9697a2a70

Well, someone will be giggling...

I don't even know if one MG can use 3 tons of ammo in a match. I've run 4 MG and t tons of ammo and never run out.

If you want an honest critique, drop the AMS and MG for more armor and a bigger engine, and swap the small pulses for ML. The SPL is just not worth it.

If you don't want an honest critique, then I think it's awesome! It will totally destroy any atlas out there.

[Phoenix Gray]

I was planning on tripping them. *g*

You're probably right about the ammo; I don't have a feel for how much you can go through in a game yet.

I was considering dropping the SPL for ML or MPL's. Maybe one MPL. I also have to get a feel for how hot this thing runs. If I can afford to drop a heat sink and add an ECM it would be a great support light for a heavier unit (that I can hide behind).

[SenseiDeath]

My favorite build for a Cicada. Works well just remember keep your distance..


Specs:
XL265
13 Double Heatsinks
FF
Endo
ECM
2 PPC's

Edited by XXxxDeathxxXX, 28 January 2013 - 01:18 PM.

[Darwins Dog]

For 1.5 tons, ECM is 1000 times better than AMS for missile protection.

And yeah, 128 armor is less than I would put on a commando. You should really run closer to max armor.

[Phoenix Gray]

I was still trying to get Smurfy's to LET me add armor. Working on it. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. There's no way to change the number, type or location of hardpoints either, is there?

[Darwins Dog]

Nope, the hardpoints are fixed. That's how they keep the variants unique.

[Phoenix Gray]

Yep. figured out the armor control. (When all else fails, push the button and see what happens. Lost me that cushy post at SAC but it usually works.) I paid attention to your advice. The build is both more survivable now (for me) and less survivable (for the guy on the other side of the monitor). Your feedback is appreciated.

[Win Ott]

CDA-3M
Spd: 129.6
Tons: 40
Firepwr: 15
Heat Eff: 1.67
Armor: Ferro 125
Endo-Steel
10 dbl heat sinks
XL320 engine
ECM
Sensor Range Module
2 med lasers
ultra ac/5
TAG

Currently my favorite ship to pilot.

Edited by Win Ott, 28 January 2013 - 07:17 PM.

[Phoenix Gray]

OK, this how I've reworked my idea. The first is an all-the-bells-and-whistles model. It has max armor and enough speed to let it get in close enough to the enemy to neutralize their ECM with ECM and TAG, and the ranged firepower to engage them within that envelope:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ef21ad7a3e3be6c

Building this one will take a lot of C-Bill grinding or winning the Capellan Lottery I keep getting those HPG's about.

The second is a no-frills, low-cost grunt. It utilizes no advanced tech, and is best suited for an escort, fast enough to stay close to a high-value heavy and still maneuver intercept enemy lights or give an enemy heavy something else to worry about . On its own its comparatively low speed and short-range weapons leave it vulnerable to faster lights:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...dc0294735ce3eb3

I may take another look at the other Cicada chassis and see what inspires me... Thanks again to everyone who answered the noob!