Thanks for bringing up the topic of the Cicada. This 40-ton medium mech is generally considered to be a "light mech".
It is an effective (but not perfect) counter to a Raven 3L and (because of ECM) the Jenner D. The Jenner F is a especially difficult opponent due to its JJ and 6 laser configuration, it's a pilot fight!
Remember that light mechs depend on their max speed to survive. I don't ever recommend reducing the size of the engine to fit in a larger weapon payload; doing so requires a team to support you. As a scout and counter-light, the cicada needs to have its top speed match that of the jenner with its 300XL engine and 138.9 kph and the raven 3L with its 295 XL engine and top speed of 136.5 kph. ( FYI: The other raven variants are terrible, buy the 2X, 4X only to get elite and master on the 3L - spend MC to unlock the basics on the raven 2x, 4x - spend your time and cbills on the jenners. )
That all said, the cicada gives me some consternation - having played the cicada on my friend's account, I have yet to buy them on my main account, as my team plays a 2-2-2-2 meta and we use our medium mech slots for 4SPs. I am generally in a Raven 3L (for serious play) or in the Jenner D or F (for PUG play). I will be buying the cicadas after I buy the stalkers this week (thanks PGI!).
I wish the Cicada could carry 1-2 missile points to make it a true counter to the Raven Jenner, but truthfully, this would make the Cicada completely overpowered (OP) if the game goes towards tonnage limit. As it stands, if the game goes (and as we play in tournaments) as a 2-2-2-2 light-medium-heavy-assault meta, the Cicada has difficulty in finding a home with its 4 laser layout.
That said, it's a fun fast mech and you will be the headache of any foolish light pilot who underestimates you... or any Atlas that turns it's back to you!
It's your choice of 4 medium lasers or 2 medium lasers with 2 medium pulse lasers. The latter variant requires adjusting your armour levels to fit in the 2nd medium pulse laser. There is never a reason to not take 13 double heat sink because the 13th DHS is in the engine and functions as a full 2.0 heat sink rather than a 1.4 (outside of the engine) heat sink.
When adjusting armor levels, consider that in a duel you will often be spreading damage across the back of your mech (or only the back if you're a terrible pilot
) and that when trading with larger mechs you may need to turn your back to them - for this reason I increase my back armour significantly! After you play a while, adjust the armour levels depending if you're getting cored most often from the front or the rear.
With regards to the former variant, you can fit in 4 small lasers with extra heatsinks, but the 4 ML variant has excellent heat efficiency so why loose the range and max alpha damage? The 4 SL is very similar in damage per second to the 4ML, but the range is lower. Another alternative which is viable and deadly is exchanging 4 ML for 4 small pulse lasers.
GL HF HH!
Mav
PS: Although I would not find this variant fun (I'm too competitive!) -- you could put in an AC2 with 1 ton of ammo, drop the engine down to ~310XL, loose lots of armor on the arms and focus on taking out rear-torsos of heavy - assault mechs. It's a pure PUG-only, TROLL-only variant and frankly, any good light mech in a Raven3L or Jenner will eat you alive.
I shouldn't even post this..... but not everyone thinks of "fun" in the same way I do!
===================================================
Chassis Name: Cicada
Model Name: CDA-3M
Variant Name: 4ML 340XL ENDO FF ECM (May exchange for 4 SPL)
Engine Cost: 5,440,000 C-Bills
Heat Sink Cost: 8,000 C-Bills
Armor Cost: 90,144 C-Bills
Weapons Cost: 320,000 C-Bills
Equipment Cost: 200,000 C-Bills
Ammo Cost: 0 C-Bills
Engine: 340 XL Engine
Internal Type: Endo Steel
Armor Type: Ferro Fibrous
Heat Sinks: 14 (13) Double Heat Sinks
Tonnage: 39.65
Speed: 137.7 kph
Armor Total: 274
Alpha Strike Damage: 20.00
Alpha Strike Heat: 29.52%
Firepower: 5.00 dps
Heat Efficiency: 64.00% (Wow!!)
Effective Range of Loadout: 270m
Head: 18/18
Right Torso: 28/40
Right Rear Torso: 12/40
Center Torso: 36/48
Center Rear Torso: 12/48
Left Torso: 28/40
Left Rear Torso: 12/40
Right Arm: 24/24
Left Arm: 24/24
Right Leg: 40/40
Left Leg: 40/40
Weapons Locations
Right Torso:
Medium Laser
Left Torso:
Medium Laser
Center Torso:
(2) Medium Laser
Heat Sink Locations
Left Torso: 1
Equipment Locations
Left Torso:
ECM
Ammo Locations
File created using MWO Mechbay
===================================================
Chassis Name: Cicada
Model Name: CDA-3M
Variant Name: 2ML 2MPL 340XL ENDO FF ECM
Engine Cost: 5,440,000 C-Bills
Heat Sink Cost: 6,000 C-Bills
Armor Cost: 80,128 C-Bills
Weapons Cost: 400,000 C-Bills
Equipment Cost: 200,000 C-Bills
Ammo Cost: 0 C-Bills
Engine: 340 XL Engine
Internal Type: Endo Steel
Armor Type: Ferro Fibrous
Heat Sinks: 13 (13) Double Heat Sinks
Tonnage: 39.98
Speed: 137.7 kph
Armor Total: 250
Alpha Strike Damage: 22.00
Alpha Strike Heat: 32.37%
Firepower: 5.70 dps
Heat Efficiency: 51.86%
Effective Range of Loadout: 180m
Head: 12/18
Right Torso: 28/40
Right Rear Torso: 12/40
Center Torso: 36/48
Center Rear Torso: 12/48
Left Torso: 28/40
Left Rear Torso: 12/40
Right Arm: 20/24
Left Arm: 20/24
Right Leg: 35/40
Left Leg: 35/40
Weapons Locations
Right Torso:
Medium Pulse Laser
Left Torso:
Medium Pulse Laser
Center Torso:
(2) Medium Laser
Heat Sink Locations
Equipment Locations
Left Torso:
ECM
Ammo Locations
File created using MWO Mechbay
Edited by MavRCK, 15 December 2012 - 03:02 PM.