BlackJack Variants Known

Thread in 'Official 'Mech News' started by Cattra Kell, May 14, 2013.

  1. Cattra Kell

    Cattra Kell Well-Known Member

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    Hello Mechwarriors,

    Just writing to let you know that the images and information about the Blackjacks are out there. It seems that we will b getting 4 Blackjacks. They are the BJ-1, BJ-1DC, BJ-1X, and BJ-3. Looking over the images of the mechs I have come up with the following:

    The BJ-1 looks to have equipped 2 AC/2s, 4 Medium Lasers and if it is following the TRO then it should also have 11 single heat sinks, 180 Std, and 4 jump jets. Total minimum: 2 Ballistic, 4 Laser.

    The BJ-1DC looks to have 2 AC/2s, 4 Medium Lasers, 2 Small Lasers and again if following the TRO than 12 single heat sinks and a 180 Std engine should be present. Total minimum: 2 Ballistic, 6 Laser.

    The BJ-1X looks to have 4 Flamers, 4 Medium Lasers. If following TRO 18 single heat sinks and a 225 Std engine should be present. Total minimum: 8 Laser.

    Finally the BJ-3 which looks to have 2 PPCs, 4 Medium Lasers. Again following the TRO it will have 10 double heat sinks, 180 Std engine, and 4 jump jets. Total minimum: 6 Laser.


    Personally if you are looking to pick up the BlackJack on release I would make the suggestion of going after the BJ-3, BJ-1X, and BJ-1DC. What do you guys think? Any of the variants you see yourself picking up?
     
  2. Lan

    Lan Mech Wrangler

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    Depends on the distribution of points in arms, torso. But it certainly is looking nice with all those hardpoints. 8 MLas on a 1X medium mech - wonder what the top speed will be like?

    Any guesses on engine range?
     
  3. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    Any BJ is a good BJ. The mech I'm not so sure of though. Maybe the BJ-3? 2x PPC and 4x MLAS is pretty cool but only 10 DHS?!? Ewwww lol need endo and FF and add some more DHS and life would be better.
     
  4. skribs

    skribs Min-Max Maniac

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    I don't look at what comes on it, be it armor value, upgrades, engine, or weapons. I look at hardpoints, torso/arm characteristics, and what engine it CAN hold. This is similar to how most people see an empty lot, but the builder sees a nice 3-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with a beautifully landscaped front yard and a white picket fence. (Actually, all I'd care about there is a nice basement and good internet connection).

    I'm hoping 300 or maybe 325-340 engine will be allowed, as these mechs will need to be somewhere between a Cicada and a Hunchback to be most effective. I am going to say the 1DC and 1X should be no brainers, as the 1DC can do anything the 1 or 3 can, and the 1X can do anything the 3 can (barring different placement of hardpoints, just going by what's writ). If any are capable of holding a bigger engine, it is probably the 1X as well.

    The big issue I have with this platform is that a 45-ton mech doesn't make for much use with ballistics at a speed that it should be running. I'd say 280 XL is probably going to be a good minimum for the optimum engine, and with Endo-Steel and near-full armor you'll probably be looking at about 18-20 tons available for firepower. That's fine for an AC/20, 4 tons of ammo, and a couple MLs, but chances are you won't make too much use of the second ballistic slot unless you're doing MGs or AC/2s and UAC/5s, which as I've seen on the YLW, AC/20 trumps 2xUAC/5 on a skirmisher, despite 2xUAC/5 being better on paper.

    I predict a lot of glass cannon builds that try to use the hardpoints but have little armor and no speed, and a few builds that actually do something another mech couldn't. Basically, I see this as the little brother to the Hunchback, which I also consider to be one of the weaker mechs in the game. Then again, I said the Awesome was lame, and I think my highest KDRs are on that chassis...

    Edit to add:
    I think the rant in my post has a lot to do with the state of mediums. Cicadas try to be Jenners, and generally run too fast to be as capable as a Jenner. Hunchbacks try to be a lot of different things, but Cataphracts are a close comparison. Trebuchets try to be Catapults, and Centurions try to be brawlers. While none of them are really bad, I think it's just hard to capitalize on making a medium better than a light or a heavy. It requires a speed of around 105-135 kph (XL) or 90-120 kph (STD) for them to outpace- and out-weight bigger and smaller mechs. Couple that with the fact that ballistics are more popular on the Medium mechs than Assaults (when the two best ballistics based on my gameplay experience weigh 14 and 15 tons), and you have a lot of slow builds that might as well be on something bigger.

    I think if the viability of some of the lighter ballistics was increased (especially adding something like a HMG between MG and AC/2), and the non-trebuchet / non-CN9-D 50-tonners could use a 300 engine, it would help the medium class out tremendously. It makes sense that they would, since Trebs use 325, Cicadas 340, and Dragons 360.
     
  5. UntamedZer0

    UntamedZer0 Well-Known Member

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    Hunchbacks and Cicadas are awesome mechs people just use them wrong. Use a Cicada as a light and you will do alright. Use a Cicada as an escort and you will do much better. The Cicada does much better against medium and up than it does against lights. The Hunchbacks and Centurions are just heavier escorts sacrificing speed for a bit more weaponry. There are some quirky Hunchies but there isn't a bad one. Even the 4J with an upgrade of stock build is a good Hunchie.

    That said the BJ is traditionally a slow medium so it will be interesting to see what is done with engine sizes. It is certainly one that is going to want to spend time hiding behind it's Highlander or Stalkers leg. I am surprised that the BJ2 didn't make the cut but I figure a couple of the variants would have came out very similar.
     
  6. skribs

    skribs Min-Max Maniac

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    Eh, I just feel like most Mechs in the medium chassis have a very narrow band of builds in which they are actually doing something better than a bigger or smaller mech, and with the restrictions on engines it shortens that band even further.
     
  7. Torabayashi

    Torabayashi Junior Member

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    I'm really confused as to why they're ignoring the BJ-2 (minimum 2 energy, 4 missile) which can carry weapons none of the other variants can, but including the BJ-1X which is almost identical to the BJ-3 hardpoint-wise. It also clashes with the general Blackjack loadout philosophy of two larger long-range weapons backed up by four or so smaller short-range weapons.
     
  8. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    Think "Hero BJ" down the road. That's why.
     
  9. UntamedZer0

    UntamedZer0 Well-Known Member

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    I asked the same question and we drew the same conclusion rather rapidly. It is the only one with missiles and it seems as if PGI wants to pass the BJ as a direct fire support mech. They will release the 2 as a missile hero BJ like the Cicada X-5. That way they can minimize making up hero mechs and avoid getting the die hards breathing down their neck for departing too greatly from cannon.
     
  10. Regina Redshift

    Regina Redshift Sass Elemental

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    I find their lack of jump jets... disturbing.
     
  11. UntamedZer0

    UntamedZer0 Well-Known Member

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    I was hoping that they had them as an option we do not see there (i.e. just not equipped like ECM but hard points present) and I too find it disturbing. I hope they make it in or the community may have something to distract it from PPCHeese debates lol.
     
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