There were fifteen different variants (6 Abele, 3 Bradshaw, 1 Irose, 2 drakensis, 2 Ice Hellion, 1 Takiro) by six designers. Everyone of these designs were excellently done with not a single deficient model among them. Hard to say no to any of them for Salient Horizons and if you count our retro winner more than half of the designs made it. Perhaps a little much for the Big Bug but I think they all have their place. Well done folks!
RETRO WINNER
CDA-4M (Abele)
What the hell is a retro-winner? Well couple weeks ago I was looking for a Blazer armed Assassin and thanks to this 40-ton concept we have a nice model. The 280 XL Engine with jump jets (7/11/7) gives us the right movement profile while eleven Double Heat Sinks do a nice job cooling this machine. A Blazer and two Medium Lasers provide excellent firepower even if they can help overheat this forty weight Mech. Using the old standard internal structure along with six and a half tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) are excellent for a 40-ton Mech like the Assassin. So why not the Cicada? Well there is one other Blazer armed entry presented here that I felt is better for the Cicada leaving this one without a home. I know it isn’t Abele’s Blazer armed Assassin which was a little slower but this is what I thought was the perfect fit. Curveball strike, very nice Abele!
UNIQUE
13. CDA-3C Ezekiel (Abele)
This personalized version that begat Abele’s CDA-4P goes here for its single model nature. I liked this refit which utilized Hartford 300 internal structure as well as a 280 XL Engine and jump jets (7/11/7). This power plant from Johnston Industries locally produced Caesar is a nice fit and ably mounted all eleven Double Heat Sinks called for. Six and half tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) with CASE provide solid protection while an ER PPC, two Medium Lasers, and two Machine Guns (100) produce effective firepower against opponents. While it doesn’t qualify as a variant technically but a one of a kind custom BattleMech it gets placed here.
CONTENDERS
12. CDA-4D (Abele)
This reworked 3M model as a ‘Davion dakka’ version left me wondering many questions. It features many lostech innovations like EndoSteel, a 280 XL (7/11), ten Double Heat Sinks, a CASE, two Medium Pulses, and two Small Pulses but its main weapon remains the Autocannon/5 (40)? I understand the Suns favorite weapon is the AC but it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me to develop a whole new Cicada from the ground up featuring EndoSteel structure with an old weapon of limited usefulness. Seven and a half tons of armor (120 factor) do provide excellent protection which could certainly be accomplished but why? Seems like too much trouble for too limited a return for this Mech.
11. CDA-3CS (Abele)
I certainly believe that the ComGuards looking to rebuild from losses inflicted on Tukayyid would look to existing platforms in order to fill the gap. While an EndoSteel internal structure maybe in development for the Strider or for a Marik model I doubt ComStar would be able to obtain them. While downgrading the engine to a 280 XL and adding jump jets (7/11/7) does have its advantages not sure I like the idea of slowing the Cicada down. Still enough room to fit ten Double Heat Sinks in the engine though and 7.5 tons of armor (120 factor) with a CASE provides excellent protection. Two Medium Lasers, two Medium Pulses, Flamer, Anti-Missile System (12), Guardian ECM Suite, Beagle Active Probe, and TAG are ideal against InnerSphere opponents but Clan? The ComGuard would be focused on their Clan adversary and I am sorry to say I just don’t think this variant would make it.
NEAR MISSES
10. CDA-3D (Bradshaw)
This Marik vanguard featuring EndoSteel, 320 XL Engine (8/12/8), ten Double Heat Sinks, 6.5 tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) with CASE, two Medium Lasers, NARC Missile Beacon (12) and a Beagle Active Probe is line with many other advanced Cicadas presented herein. Not too shabby design wise and I liked the Salient Horizon inspired fluff but unfortunately for you there was one other design, carrying a NARC in particular, presented that I thought was better than this one. Sorry bud!
9. CDA-4CS (Abele)
The same reservations remain on this ComGuard Cicada which would use EndoSteel internal structure which I’d find difficult at best. I liked the ER Large, 2 Medium Lasers, and 2 Small Pulses a bit better here but it still isn’t a perfect anti-Clan arsenal. Slowing it down with 280 XL Engine and jump jets (7/11/7) makes more sense with longer range weaponry. The Guardian ECM Suite, Beagle Active Probe, and TAG are of course useful in fighting the invaders. Ten Double Heat Sinks do a nice at cooling its operations and 7.5 tons of armor (120 factor) offers good protection. Unfortunately, I just can’t get passed the high tech internal structural which could preclude production. A slightly redesigned refit featuring a standard chassis and ferro-fibrous perhaps could have made it.
8. CDA-4P (Abele)
I really liked this Cicada refit based on Abele’s CDA-3C Ezekiel which uses the old standard Hartford 300 chassis and a 280 XL (7/11/7) Engine from the Caesar. Fitting eleven Double Heat Sinks this BattleMech would use an ER PPC, Medium Pulse, and two Medium Lasers to destroy its opponents. Six and a half tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) armor make for solid protection from this Johnston Industries (New Syrtis) refurb. Nearly got a winner here Abele but one FedCom Cicada using a 280XL Engine narrowly beat you out.
WINNERS
7. CDA-3R (Takiro)
This cutting edge Regulan recon version developed during the 3rd Marik Civil War was long on my drawing board. While the Medium Laser boats I’ve been making of late are admittedly kind of boring this six-energy weapon Big Bug is just so perfect. With four mounted in the flippable arms it has great versatility to go with its speed (8/12) provided by the 320 XL Engine already present on the canon 3M. While some went with jump jets I preferred a MASC (16) for even greater bursts of speed. EndoSteel, 7.5 tons of ferro-fibrous (134 factor), and ten Double Heat Sinks also comes with the new canon 3F so would be readily available. The Guardian ECM Suite, Beagle Active Probe, and TAG make this design a superb scout relevant against the Clans, InnerSphere, or rival Province.
6. CDA-3E (Bradshaw)
This Marik infantry suppression variant featuring an EndoSteel structure and 320 XL with jump jets (8/12/8) is intriguing. As is the Large Pulse and two Medium Laser arsenal which when combined with the Cicada’s speed and mobility has definite advantages. Even a jumping Alpha Strike only produces a four overheat thanks to its ten Double Heat Sinks which is avoidable or manageable. Six and a half tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) provide solid protection plus fluff wise you hit upon the canon 3F model as well as the 3rd Marik Civil War going on. Very nice variant to the Gibson Cicadas.
5. CDA-4C (Irose)
This Magistracy of Canopus refit of the ‘Dung Beetle’ is certainly out of the box. Heavily armed (44 points of damage possible) and armored (full protection) but slow especially for a Medium (more like a mobile Heavy) it can overheat easily (+12 on a jumping Alpha Strike). I like the concept of using the standard Hartford 300 in conjunction with the 160 LTV (4/6/4) Engine from the Locust. Ten Double Heat Sinks is the only lostech innovation which enables the whole war machine which is armed exclusively with energy weapons to operate in the first place. A PPC, six Medium Lasers, and two Machine Guns (100) generate a bunch of heat so Mechwarriors have to carefully bracket fire. Like many of the other entries is arms flip which is a nice feature and along with 8.5 tons of armor (136 factor) this one is hard to kill.
4. CDA-3A (Bradshaw)
This ambitious Federated Commonwealth new build is in line with the Martial Accords which I outlined on OBT previously. Aimed at restoring the bygone industry of the old Hegemony this Cicada built where the first ones were manufactured utilizes EndoSteel, 280 XL (7/11/6) Engine and a MASC (14). Superfast and more maneuverable than its predecessor it is certainly an interesting idea for use against the Clans. Eleven Double Heat Sinks do their best to disperse the heat generated by an ER Large Laser and four Medium Lasers. This could overwhelm the system on a Jumping Alpha Strike (+8 overheat) but there are so many maneuvering options this should be avoidable/manageable. The Guardian ECM Suite is always a plus in disrupting enemy electronics and 7.5 tons of ferro-fibrous (134 factor) provides excellent protection. I could certainly see this model in the arsenal of the Federated Commonwealth, the ComStar, the Draconis Combine and mercenaries who fight the Clans. Well done!
3. CDA-3X & CDA-3Y (drakensis)
This tale of industrial espionage bought to you by drakensis is well told and I like the way he uses Free Worlds League corporations which produce the 320 XL (8/12) Engine to hone in on the Cicada. Using the old Hartford 300 chassis these new variants armed with two Large Lasers and Beagle Active Probe are superbly simple. Love the concept which features those big lasers mounted in barrel arms that flip. Ten Single Heat Sinks featured on the initial 3X were upgraded to Double Heat Sinks on the more refined 3Y. I wish the six tons of standard armor (96 factor) had been similarly upgraded to Ferro-Fibrous but still all in all good enough. Plus the three FWL manufacturers including Technicron Manufacturing (Savannah - Awesome), Irian BattleMechs Unlimited (Irian - Awesome), Corean Enterprises (Stewart - Goliath) you choose all fall into the Marik ‘sphere of influence.’ Working on multiple levels is what the good ones do after all, congratulations on the bronze!
2. CDA-3D (Ice Hellion)
One of the four highly advanced Gibson Cicadas which made it this force multiplier is intended to NARC opponents including the Clans. Using an EndoSteel frame and a 320 XL Engine (8/12) this Big Bug also uses a MASC (16) to achieve even higher bursts of speed. Ten Double Heat Sinks dissipate much of the weapon fire from the ER Large and Medium Laser. The Narc Missile Launcher (12) is well placed for the FWLM in Salient Horizons even though I might have swapped a ton of NARC ammo to another Medium Laser. Six and a half tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) offers excellent protection for the Cicada. Silver medal Ice!!
1. CDA-3E (Ice Hellion)
Much like his other entry the 3E this one uses EndoSteel, a 320 XL Engine (8/12), a MASC (16), ten Double Heat Sinks and 6.5 tons of ferro-fibrous (116 factor) to achieve superior all around performance. What I really liked was the big bite that this bug packed with a Blazer and two Medium Lasers which would certainly have its uses during the 3rd Marik Civil War or any other conflict. The fluff which so expertly eludes to the lack of weapon development during years of peace in the Free Worlds League was spot on and the finest offered during our little competition here. Congrats Ice on the win!!!
