13 replies to this topic

[razorjack]

Hi.
i'm a beginner, now walking in Commando with 3xSSRM2, gathering for a next mech.
What do you propose ?
Raven, Jenner or Cicada ? which one and why ?

i want to try fast hit and run, or just be able to outmaneuver bigger mechs.

Edited by razorjack, 03 November 2012 - 01:29 PM.

[JudgeDeathCZ]

cicada definitely

[razorjack]

but which one ? should i rely on lasers? missiles? ballistics ?

[JudgeDeathCZ]

i saw many builds with lasers 4xmplas

[razorjack]

i bought CDA-2A
but it overheats too fast!
i can do barely 45 dmg during battle
when on Commando (3xSSRM) i was able to do >200 dmg

Edited by razorjack, 03 November 2012 - 04:33 PM.

[Dingo Sparks]

I've been running a laser Jenner and it's extremely fast and maneuverable.

[Antony Weiner]

Don't count the Raven out, too. I had a Large PL, a Medium PL, and 2 MGs on my Raven, pretty good build if you are careful. Those MGs just look useless–they are good for softening up the components.

However, with that being said, SSRMs are much more deadly on a Raven (yet run expensive in rearming).

[JudgeDeathCZ]

razorjack, on 03 November 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:

i bought CDA-2A
but it overheats too fast!
i can do barely 45 dmg during battle
when on Commando (3xSSRM) i was able to do >200 dmg

You should tweak it a little.Stock variants sux in most cases -.-

[ChapeL]

In a cicada you have to speed to choose the where and when of you battles. If you heat becomes to hard to manage, break off your target and come back when you've cooled off. ( unless you're out on pest control aka hunting Light mechs, in that case some possibility of streaks might be better advised)

[Shaio]

I recommend the cicada, it's fast it turns tight and has good armor. That being said though the weapons on it kind of suck. This is easily fixed with double heat sinks and Endo steel internal structure. I have found that these 2 upgrades do not affect your repair costs to significantly and the extra heat dissipation and 2 tons are well worth the cost. I've been having a lot of fun lately running with 4 small lasers in the left and right torso and 2 medium lasers in the center torso.

[Walk]

Every single mech has many possible playstyles. You can buy the six laser spot Jenner, load it up with six small lasers, the biggest engine, and enough heatsinks to be completely heat independent. This turns it into a close range anti-assault mech. It's alpha strike is weak, but it can shoot those six little lasers every couple of seconds indefinitely.
You can also buy one of the other variants, load it up on armor and streak srms and turn them into light mech hunters. SSRMS are a pain in the **** to deal with for any light mech.

You could go for the raven, instead. You can buy the one with ballistics and load it up with a Gauss rifle and jump jets, then use it to get onto ridges or other hard to reach areas and make it a highly mobile spotter/sniper.
You can buy another raven variant which tops out at 150 kph with the right engine, and load it up with a couple of large lasers and ssrms for a decent alpha strike, and some anti scout potential.

Or you could go for a Cicada, which is just as fast, and turn it into a unrivaled light mech hunter. Seriously, I've gone against some Cicada's which have taken down 2-3 light mechs on my side, they are scary if configured properly. Can't outgun then, and you sure as hell can't outrun them

[Nokkeli]

If you want a light, fast and nimble mech stay with the commando.But if you really want a new mech I would get a cicada. Can't really motivate why, it's just how i feel right now. I hope you find a mech you like.

[Mason Grimm]

The Cicada is a medium mech but it feel like a light when tuned properly.
The Jenner is a killing machine, no matter how you slice it but it is geared towards a specific playstyle.
The Commando is probably the easiest machine to operate for a newer pilot due to the SSRM lock ons

I have piloted all three at one point or another and can say without a doubt the Jenner is still my favorite although the Cicada was really growing on me before the final wipe before Open Beta.

Builds I recommend can be found on MechSpecs.com and they are

Commando: "Intruder" Either build depending on your style and you are already used to the SSRMs
Jenner: "Find 'Em and Grind 'Em" as this uses both SSRMs and Lasers (get you used to beamers)
Cicada: "Cooler Than Garths Build" as it has speed, firepower and can still run pretty cool (but its all beamers)

[Dezereus]

Cicada is decent as others have already mentioned, but I like the Jenner or Raven. The jenner can have higher mobility with its jump jets across all its variants, and all their variants can reach the same and very good speed through a 300xl. The raven 3L has nice hard points and it can go almost as fast as the jenner with its xl 295. (also includes the fun electronics like BAP and Guardian ECM suite for when they are properly introduced). The major advantage I think a raven has is its profile. I just find it a lot harder to target when it moving fast as opposed to the jenner. If you are taking it to elite, I'm not sure how you'll find it as the other Ravens are limited to 113 with a 245 engine. Admittedly one of them has jump jets and you can really load them up with weapons if you pack an XL. Still running these and being slower than the other competing scout mechs(assumed upgrades) makes duelling a dangerous proposition without good tactics and gunnery.

As for the Cicada, if you want it at the same speed as a jenner or raven with a 300 xl or 295 xl, you'll have to go up to 340 XL and then all of the weight advantage is gone. Admittedly, on the cicada all but one of its variants have nothing in the arms, allowing you to strip them out and focus armour.

Dez