This build is one of my favorites. You're carrying a Guardian ECM, 2 PPC's, and you're a very small mech, so most people are going to straight up ignore you. Keep close to your friendlies who aren't lucky enough to have ECM and help them damage their target. You can fire about 4 times before overheating, then you want to run for cover using your incredible 107 kph(118 with ST) XL 265 engine. This mech has 0 tons and 0 hard points remaining. I highly recommend this one for people who are interested in getting more accurate with the PPC. You'll be more ignored in this mech and have the time you need to line up the shots without being under pressure.
This mech has a deadzone of under 90m. While it is harder to exploit this on a Mech going 118 kph, a light would eat this for breakfast. The build I was considering is 2 ER PPCs and a 300 XL, but only 10 DHS. It would serve more as a stealth sniper role, though, which is why I'm finding it hard to consider it (I feel that lights, which I consider the Cicada to be a light, should be primarily built around counter-light, since that is what you will most likely be facing).
I don't think you need that level of cooling efficiency. You're giving up way too much speed and armor for it. I went with this and it's actually a really fun change to the typical light tactics game. http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=36&l=98017966dd41d37c7fbb330b892e2f595e97db96]CDA-3M It still gives you 5 shots - 2 group, 1 chain. Set group 1 for both erpppcs, group 2 for chainfire. You're using the ecm more for lrm/ssrm coverage and helping bubble your team as I wouldn't advise taking this out for any sort of scouting. I'll leave the group as long as I have a HB or something similar with me for support while doing flanking or running down the last 3 enemy mechs but I'm usually within running distance to the team in case lights come my way. Most mechs really do leave you alone and you can rack up the dmg.
Hail, I went with the 2 ER-PPC version after running into one during a 12 vs 12 practice. Need to make sure you stay away from the main battle but was a lot of fun to run. Need a Teammate to keep Spiders and Jenners away, but overall much fun.
Just saw player Menas in the OP's build (2x PPC) and he got the highest score in the match. He was the only player left on my team against a Stalker, K2, and Spider on the enemy team. Thought it was over, but Menas took his time, used ECM to hide, and took out all 3 remaining opponents to win the match. Fucking great show.
This last build! decent armor and enough speed! Except I'd replace the ML with a heatsink, or mount an XL295. 1ML isn't really good for anything.
I just ran this old boy for the first time in eons. It worked out great! 2 kills 6 assists 432 damage.
I run almost the same thing on my 3M with some armor changes, though I use a XL280, and go one PPC and one ERPPC...that way I can have a bit better cooling, and avoid the deadzone. Works very well, ranging from about 300-800 damage depending on the map.
I used the same setup as Durandal described (1x ERPPC, 1x PPC) for quite a while. Most of the time I fired both in unison, but I had the option of picking one or the other as the situation dictated. I personally had trouble with lights killing me up close with this build. I found that a 1x AC10, 3x MLas build better suited my play style (a variant of Marec's "Ghost" build).
5/5, Bumping up the classic builds. I would usually run these guys with an ML just in case, but Either way these guys are effective.
This remains one of my favorite builds. My 3M is still outfit with the build I mentioned above, XL280 and 1 PPC 1 ERPPC. It does very well, even with the velocity nerf on PPC shots.
5/5, Works quite well as SNIPER. Forget brawling. move frequentily, fire, reposition, fire again! Even better with ECM ad dark camo on a dark map
By using HPPC+LPPC instead of 2PPC you gain 1 ton to use for lasers self defense under 90m. You can go with XL300 and 2 SL or XL280 and 2 ML. HPPC has a longer cooldown than LPPC or PPC, but this is largely irrelevant because you will not be firing them for max dps anyway. The SL and ML have almost the same dps, so it is a toss between 10 more kph speed or the ability to shoot the lasers together with the PPCs (sometimes). ERSL is a middle ground, but you lose dps. Cooling is better than the dry number suggests - most of the time you will fire only PPCs, or only lasers under 90m. Here is the XL300 example:
