22 replies to this topic

[BoomDog]

First off, I'm a newb.

So I made the newb mistake of buying something that turned out to not be what I expected. Buyer's remorse?

I saw the Cicada's speed and thought, "Nice, should be hard to hit".
I saw the 3C's PPC and thought, "Awesome, a powerful iconic weapon".
I saw the 2 MGs and thought, "Good enough for up close and personal".

Apparently, it's not as hard to hit as I thought. The PPC is crazy hard to hit anything while moving at 113kph, and MGs don't seem to do anything. (Put almost a 1000 rounds into a heavily damaged Jenner and still didn't kill him.)

I guess there's a reason you don't see any "OMG NERF PPC and MG" threads.

My plan for this thing is as a LRM boat disrupter. Track them down and just be a nuisance that can't be ignored. Hit them hard with something big, then run around in circles.

So, what should I do? I'm very limited on hard points. I got one energy, and 4 ballistic. If I can't hit with a PPC, is it going to be pretty much the same with autocannons? Or is the PPC just a hard weapon to use? I might be able to squeeze a gauss on it, but I'm not convinced that's a good idea. I'm fairly good with a Lasers, but I'm extremely limited by the other ballistic slots.

I don't want anymore buyer's remorse, so I'm asking for some tips please.

[Vassago Rain]

PPCs and machineguns are currently useless, but your mech is good. Reconfigure for multiple AC2s, gauss rifle, or something similar.

[Ironbound]

PPCs and MGs are two of the worst weapons in the game by far right now. With that variant I would use two AC/2s and chain fire them, be a knock about harasser. If you can get behind a big slow assault with two AC/2s you can really put that sick dps to use, as that build has more dps than a gausscat, it just does it over time. So yeah, I'd go with that.

[Dagnome]

Meh its not that big of a deal. The cicada is a very delicate flower and not many people will use it. I love the cicada I call it my "up-armored jenner".

But Iron gave you some good advice, anything stock in any mech is pretty much garbage and will always need some tweaking (In most cases). When your planning your build I reccomend using OHM's guide, it gives detailed information about mech chasis, weapon values etc. Give it a read.

http://mwomercs.com/...s-excel-inside/

Edited by Dagnome, 05 November 2012 - 06:43 AM.

[Phemeto]

yes unfortunately stock ANYTHING is generally bad. for the cicada, its even more apparent.

id advise you to hold out until tomorrows patch and see how DHS work for you and if you can afford them. for the 3C build i would try to mount an AC/2 or AC/5 to disrupt LRMS (the shaking effect works really well with the high RoF). then mount a Medium Pulse Laser or Large laser for some damage. it should work ok.

Im waiting to see if the 6ML cicada becomes viable, because unless it does theres still no reason to use a cicada over a jenner

[MeiSooHaityu]

When I had a 3C, I ran with 2 AC5s and a MLaser. Seemed pretty descent.

[Tabrias07]

PPC and MGs is a terrible load out right now.

2 AC/2s or an AC/5 and a laser of some kind would be better.

Or drop it to a standard 200 engine and take a Gauss and MLas.

[BoomDog]

I was debating going to a build with a large laser and an AC2, but was worried about another surprise with the AC. Thanks for the tips. I might try out the AC5 idea too. I want to make this work.

PS. Does AMS work well against streaks? That seems to be my biggest problem right now.

[Chrithu]

Well I've tried different things on that chasis. No loadout is able to make that chassis equaly effective as the other CDA variants.

Still my best experience is a LPL + 4x MG loadout taking 8000 rounds (4 tons) of ammo along. You even can score kills with that and I occasionally reached over 400 DMG in a single match but that's RARE.

A fun loadout also is 4x AC/2. BUT (very big butt) it is limited to sticking behind the team and doing fire support from the distance as the tonnage allows only for a very small engine cripling this mech down to below 50 KPH (It just hurts if even the Atlai in your team run past you).

All in all I came to the conclusion that this variant makes absolutely NO SENSE AT ALL, given the mech's maximum tonnage and the weight requirements of ballistic weapons.

Edited by Jason Parker, 05 November 2012 - 06:59 AM.

[BoomDog]

Also, what's the best way to free up tonnage. I'm using endo-steel right now. Should I buy an XL engine? I'd hate to lose it's speed by dropping the engine power down.

[Raalic]

BoomDog, on 05 November 2012 - 07:03 AM, said:

Also, what's the best way to free up tonnage. I'm using endo-steel right now. Should I buy an XL engine? I'd hate to lose it's speed by dropping the engine power down.

If you can afford an XL, get one. Put an XL 280 in there, and you'll be able to customize to your heart's content. Make sure to take advantage of the Cicada's armor potential, as it along with ballistic hardpoints are what separates it from a Jenner. I like the idea of running dual AC/2s and a large laser, personally.

[Chrithu]

BoomDog, on 05 November 2012 - 07:03 AM, said:

Also, what's the best way to free up tonnage. I'm using endo-steel right now. Should I buy an XL engine? I'd hate to lose it's speed by dropping the engine power down.

Though they make you more vulnerable (side torso dead = mech dead) and are very expensive I prefer XL Engines for the freed up tonnage especially on light mechs as it is speed more than anything that protects them from dying (even without lagshield). Endo Steel i snice too, but it only get's you 2 tons, still those could be used for two Heatsinks.

[BoomDog]

Update:

The only build that I could afford was the large laser and 4 MGs. Wow, what a difference. More than doubled my damage. Actually had a hunchback run away from me, lol. He kept overheating, so I just got up in his face and aimed for his cockpit with the 4 MGs. Wasn't quite enough to finish him, but made him run away.

It's sad though, I really wanted to like the PPC.

[Dagnome]

BoomDog, on 05 November 2012 - 07:44 AM, said:

Update:

The only build that I could afford was the large laser and 4 MGs. Wow, what a difference. More than doubled my damage. Actually had a hunchback run away from me, lol. He kept overheating, so I just got up in his face and aimed for his cockpit with the 4 MGs. Wasn't quite enough to finish him, but made him run away.

It's sad though, I really wanted to like the PPC.

I have heard talk of the PPC having a "EMP effect" possibly in the future making them a bit more viable in combat. I can neither confirm or deny this though as it was just whispers in the wind. This game is not so much about using the highest dmg weapons possible it is being able to do constant effective dmg. Sometimes taking 4 medium lasers over 2 or 3 large lasers is much more effective. You gatta know and understand good heat management and dont be afraid to test out new builds.
What I tell people is if you can have good heat management on Cauldera with good damage output then you have a pretty good build.

[5th Fedcom Rat]

BoomDog, on 05 November 2012 - 07:44 AM, said:

Update:

The only build that I could afford was the large laser and 4 MGs. Wow, what a difference. More than doubled my damage. Actually had a hunchback run away from me, lol. He kept overheating, so I just got up in his face and aimed for his cockpit with the 4 MGs. Wasn't quite enough to finish him, but made him run away.

It's sad though, I really wanted to like the PPC.

No one likes to get plinked by MGs, even when they know it's not doing that much damage. So not only is 4x Mgs fun to use, but they are surprisingly useful for harassing and hearding enemy mechs that have more powerful weapon configurations. If you prove hard to hit by continually moving, while plink plink plinking them, they will actually break off from you to attack another target. Just remember you're more bark than bite when using such a loadout.

[LokVokun]

Nice thread, If I could so kindly interject.

I've been seeing quite the amount of hate on the CDA style mech vs the JNR. I understand that.

However In my current build with my CDA I can cram 6 medium lasers, a 260 engine, endo steel, and ferriours (or what ever it is) armor type, WITH double heat sinks.

Crazy? Yes.

Armored to the brim? Hell yes.

Can I throw my weight around? Bet your britches I can.

Currently some CDA builds/types make no sense, and literally force/limit you to crappy builds. So the best thing you can do is experiment drop a few million, and balance that b*ich.

[salmjuha]

LokVokun, on 11 November 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

Nice thread, If I could so kindly interject.

I've been seeing quite the amount of hate on the CDA style mech vs the JNR. I understand that.

However In my current build with my CDA I can cram 6 medium lasers, a 260 engine, endo steel, and ferriours (or what ever it is) armor type, WITH double heat sinks.

Crazy? Yes.

Armored to the brim? Hell yes.

Can I throw my weight around? Bet your britches I can.

Currently some CDA builds/types make no sense, and literally force/limit you to crappy builds. So the best thing you can do is experiment drop a few million, and balance that b*ich.

How did you get ferro fibrous? I run out of slots. Managed to fit everything else though, only low on armor, 143.

[zverofaust]

BoomDog, on 05 November 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

First off, I'm a newb.

So I made the newb mistake of buying something that turned out to not be what I expected. Buyer's remorse?

I saw the Cicada's speed and thought, "Nice, should be hard to hit".
I saw the 3C's PPC and thought, "Awesome, a powerful iconic weapon".
I saw the 2 MGs and thought, "Good enough for up close and personal".

Apparently, it's not as hard to hit as I thought. The PPC is crazy hard to hit anything while moving at 113kph, and MGs don't seem to do anything. (Put almost a 1000 rounds into a heavily damaged Jenner and still didn't kill him.)

I guess there's a reason you don't see any "OMG NERF PPC and MG" threads.

My plan for this thing is as a LRM boat disrupter. Track them down and just be a nuisance that can't be ignored. Hit them hard with something big, then run around in circles.

So, what should I do? I'm very limited on hard points. I got one energy, and 4 ballistic. If I can't hit with a PPC, is it going to be pretty much the same with autocannons? Or is the PPC just a hard weapon to use? I might be able to squeeze a gauss on it, but I'm not convinced that's a good idea. I'm fairly good with a Lasers, but I'm extremely limited by the other ballistic slots.

I don't want anymore buyer's remorse, so I'm asking for some tips please.

This is pretty much MWO in a nutshell. Un-learn everything you thought you knew about Mechwarrior, and prepare for Call of Mechs with bland, uninspired cookie cutter balancing.

[Chrithu]

Thge only even remotely usefull lodout I found was ER PPC or ER LL + 4 MGs.

But even then it's nothing more than a lottle fun project. Not anything that could ever be effective.

The 3C is like the Jenner K. Itz's only purpose is providing enough variants to unlock elite. Might aswell be removed again.

[Trauglodyte]

Well, your loadout is really dependent upon what sort of engine you have. If you're running a 320 xl, you've got 10 tons to play with (PPC + 4 MGs) with max armor. Unless you're dropping down to a 280 standard, you won't be able to mount anything with max armor. And even then, you'll have enough tonnage for a Md Laser and a couple of MGs.

Simply put, you're running the absolute worst of the four versions of the Cicada. There are a few joke variations that you can run but you're going to be super slow and essentially ineffective.