CDA-3M 'Honey Badger' (4x MLas, 1x AC2, ECM, XL300)

This build was a collaboration between Mythweaver and I to make a 3M we found aesthetically pleasing. Primarily because it was hard to make use of the ballistic hard point. After some time, trial and error this is what we came up with and began testing. We found it to be surprisingly pleasing to pilot and is pretty mean in pairs.

As far as weapon grouping we find it cool enough to run the mediums in an alpha group most of the time. Even though I assigned a chain fire group for running hot I have yet to use it.

*Update*

After some play time with us running these mechs in pairs it became evident that Myth was operating more as a suppressive fire role and I was being more accurate with my shots. We agreed that the AMS wasn't seeing the use we expected so we dropped it. The way I dealt with the change resulted in this punchier version for those with a bit more deliberate aim. Ultimately this build fulfilled my original goal with the 3M to achieve speed,armor, ECM and UAC in a manageable package.

 

It is important to note that this 'Mech is a Scout/Harrasser. It isn't intended to be extremely killy but to provide an ECM umbrella as well as distracting fire from the AC/2. Not to say that it isn't capable of killing. For the most part we finish matches with at least one kill each.

Hope you enjoy it.

Myth.h34r:

 

I just made a slight change to my "Mech; I ditched the AMS and Ammo in exchange for a Beagle Active Probe. Since this is a Recon' 'Mech I figured I'd give it all of the best available kit. Wait till you see the changes that Zero made to his. I also mount the Improved Sensors, Target Information Module and once it's Mastered the Capture Excellerator Module.

Enjoyh34r:

 

Nice. I the 3M (and Cicadas in general) I've been running the 340XL with a machine gun in the hardpoint. I do like the higher level of firepower. Has the slower speed hung you up at all?

 

The slower speed hasn't been a problem thus far. We are running in tandem all of the time, so I'm not sure how it will fair solo. I run my X-5 with the XL340 and love it. You can see Zero's configuration of the X-5 on the Cicada Thread. It is what I use.


Mythweaver.

 

My experience so far with the slower speed is sometimes it's annoying but it isn't anything there isn't a solution for. Just knowing how to maneuver or hard turn well helps make up the speed gap in a close fast on fast brawl. I do not foresee that being as much of an issue after I unlock speed tweak. The UAC is unreliable as always but I do not rely on it. If you use it sparingly on large targets sometimes you will get some very satisfying jam free trigger rages on someone. For the most part it is nice to just use it here and there when the opportunity presents it's self.

If you have speed tweak you will notice you are a bit slower but it shouldn't be anything unmanageable.

 

Having some time to use this build more, I particularly like the strafing runs the UAC can do. If I decide to escort the anchor lance then this mech has proven to cause a moral dilemma with the mech it engages. The UAC strafing from behind is as impossible to ignore as the assaults coming from the other side. Sometimes the UAC will have a good run and manage to send a half dozen rounds down range in the strafe. Other times it jams after the first round, you pop your lasers off and break the attack run a bit early to get back in a position with more room for another strafe.

The speed is just enough to allow it to keep up with cap groups in conquest. If you become a decent twitch shot with the UAC I find it is easier to hit other lights with than standard SRMs and for more focused damage.

In either case the real underlying trick with the UAC version is the pilots ability to adapt quickly and decisively when the immediate plan changes (due to jam). It isn't worth sticking around engaged waiting for the UAC to unjam, rather it is more beneficial to break off and restart the run. The jam time offers you the optimal amount of time to do so. Because of this I believe the stock upgrade UAC version should maybe have it's own name. Maybe Kenny Rogers or the Gambler since you gotta know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to turn and walk away.

 

More like "Turn and Run Away!"

All of those dilemma's are what your "less accurate" (rolls eyes) suppression fire teammates are for...LOL.

You do outstanding work with that UAC/5, I just prefer more reliable weaponry.

In regard to the speed issue, I agree with Zer0. 133 KPH is faster than most really heavy hitters but doesn't have trouble keeping in the effective range of the fast movers. I find that these 'mech really work well together, it may be because we work together so often but I'm willing to bet that any pair of pilots will be able to compliment the other well in these builds.

Myth.

 

I decided to run this as I grind through the Cicada class. Not really a grind as this is a fun mech. that I will continue to use. I am running the alt. build with the Ultra AC5. Great on maps with cover, just don't try to be a hero. Running around with your assaults annoying the heck out of their attackers is a blast. I have picked up a couple kills, but mainly just some decent damage.

Its strange but why does this 3M feel faster than my X5? Dunno, but its is fun.

 

I'll definately give this a go when i get my 3M .... too bad you couldn't stick to the stock xl320 thou

Did you consider testing the LB 10-X in this, or cant you find another 2 tons ?

 

Another 2 tons starts dropping speed and you don't really want to drop below 130kph. Going 130 you have already sacrificed escape speed so to sacrifice more speed would begin to destroy the speed advantage you have. Lose that speed and you can't flank or engage as easy. Also, the LB10X is a great weapon but in this instance it doesn't do enough focused damage to warrant the loss to speed. With the UAC you are at least doing focused damage to one location so when you do a strafing run on the CTR of an assault you can deal all the damage right there.

 

If you want to keep the speed, you could downgrade the MLASes to SLASes, then upgrade the UAC/5 to the LBX-10. However, your firepower goes down, and a mere 2 tons of LBX-10 ammo doesn't go very far. On the plus side, you'd be more heat efficient.

The crit-seeking nature of the LBX-10 may make a worthwhile build, but only after the crit system is fully implemented.

 

I ruled out the Slas as a viable option since they do not deal enough damage to open armor for a crit. Therefore you would be entirely dependent upon the rest of your team. Even with the new crit system I have yet to see any real advantage with 'crit seeking' weapons that good ole fashioned damage can't do just as well or better. Not to downplay the LB10X as I believe it is a great weapon. Just too far of a stretch to be effective on this chassis.

 

I've also found, with SLs, that the 90m range is far shorter than people assume. Under 90m they may be very efficient, but at 120m the MLs are more efficient.

I assume you run into a similar problem trying 2xML instead of 4x, the lack of armor-ripping power.

 

LB10X - I guess its a matter of how you want to fly it, and what you consider "effective" ... me, I view this as a psychological weapon. I've seen many a mech pilot run for cover from an LRM volley hit ( spray of dmg lighting up multiple zones ), and I imagine this having the same effect. And, when you get in close for the coup de gras, its fairly accurate for pinpoint dmg.

This is all from observation only thou, I have yet to actually field this weapon myself ( new pilot and c-bill poor atm ). I do intend to at least try it out on my DD Jag at some point here soon.

 

For me it's the reverse. When I see everything light up, initially I have alarm - but then I realize everything is just lightly dinged and I realize that I'm just getting hit by not-pinpoint-damage, which isn't too bad.

I also know when I go up against something that's loadout is extreme for its size, that I'm probably going up against a compromised build. If I see a Raven with an AC20, I know it's slow. If I see a 6-PPC boat stalker, I know it probably has an XL engine. If I see a mech moving fast with a bit more than it should be carrying, I know I've probably got a glass cannon in front of me that I can rip apart real quick. Seeing an LBX or 2x-ERPPC on a Cicada tells me it's going to be much easier to hit.

 

Yeah, and in the group drop game, thats probably right. Me, all I am doing is PUGs atm, where the pilots are less skilled, the teams are less disciplined, etc ... and in that arena, it would seem to be very effective.

In any case, just finished eliting all my jenners, so its time for some Dakka Dakka with the JM6-DD for fun, before I pull this out later tonight and get the basics done.

 

Don't be fooled by the idea that PUGer's are less skilled; there are some out there who are hell on wheels in a 'mech because they practice so much. You don't need to be in a team to do well and being in a team doesn't make you a better pilot. An LB10-X is a very dangerous weapon if it has the high output energy to back it up; like 4x Med.Lasers etc...


Myth.

 

I completely agree there are exceptions to the rule, and some pilot's in specific PUG drops are very good. But my experience so far has been, on the average, less then stellar. But I will stand by my statement that, on the whole, they lack tactical skills/reaction, piloting skills, aiming skills, and coordination. Manys the time I've straifed a line and broken it for my team ( changing the odds / tactical advantage ) only to have my efforts be wasted. Same with draging 5x the tonnage away from the firing line by giving them a rabbit to chase, and then the team folds on the line.

I'm not sure which I hate more, the ones that try to spread out and turn the game into individual battles, the lemming teams, or the capfags. I do know that focus fire is more then just 2 words in the dictionary, thou I have yet to recognize it much in actual play so far.

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Oh, and to actually add to the OT of this thread ... initial PUG drop sample with this build :

20 9 11 0.82 4 13 0.31 2,121 6,302 1:44:15

So, 20 drops, 1 under 50% on the win loss ratio. Kills/Death is on par for me ( I don't hunt kills ). I tend to get a lot of assists (5+ a match ), but very few opportunities to core. I also tend to be a little reckless at times, which skews the ratio down.

XP > 300 is what im shooting for atm, as my marker ... means I'm getting 100+ "extra" xp over the average for a 50/50 w/l. So this mech fits right in that ballpark. Not particularly better or worse then the others I'm driving atm.

It seems to drop well, if you run it as a support and stick close to the fatties. The speed I don't think is optimized. It either needs to go up, to increase your odds against lights and for survival, or down and truely embrace the fire support role. Thing is, I dont know what you can really add to the loadout with 2-3 extra tons you'd gain from dropping down to like a xl260, that would make it more effective, if your set on keeping the UAC. And now that I've driven it, I sure your right that the LB10X is not the right system for the balistics hard point. Getting in tight is a death sentence in this ride, unless your sneaking in from the rear, or your alter is already too busy to notice you.

The limited drops so far have my wishing more of the torso armor is on the front instead of the back, so I will likely start shifting some from the 3:2 ratio you designed to probably more of a 7:4/2:1 or even a 5:2 config. Most likely will "steal" a bit more armor from the head/legs/arms to add to the core. With the way the hit boxes are on this mech, I might drop the arms down to 4 to start, and shift all that to the core ( 7 more pts inside lets you max all 3 torso locations ), take 5 more from the head plus the 1 left over from arms, and boost the legs to 35 each. Then it will just be a matter of the best front:back ratio.

 

I will agree with Christmas Jones regarding PUGs, although maybe without the same emotion. In group drops you have better coordination, by combination of knowing each other, being in comms, and generally being more dedicated to the group. You generally try to find groups that are similar to your abilities and personality, so if you are a better-than-average player, you will probably group with better-than-average players, and you might get more coordinated drops in terms of what is being brought.

For example, when I'm by myself, I might be levelling a fun build, or levelling a non-FOTM chassis. When we group up, though, and say "let's all bring lights and go Conquest" or "everyone, what do you have that has PPCs?", we tend to do better.

I'm not sure if I like this build. It's just a tad slow for my tastes (I've used the 2D with 200 XL as my minimum, which is basically 140 kph+). Next time I can play around on Smurfy I'll see if I can do the AC2 without AMS, but with a 320 or 325 XL. Hmm...if my math is right, it would take removing AMS, a DHS, and a half-ton of armor...basically what was done to get the UAC5 on instead of the AC2.