Cicada CDA-3C

Cicada CDA-3C is a Medium-class 'Mech in Battletech.

Description
The Cicada 3C is a refit of the 3A model. By slightly reducing the 'Mech's top speed, the design is capable of mounting a pair of machine guns in the legs and a solitary PPC in the right torso.

Loadouts

 * While nowhere near as pathetic as the -2A, it is still outmatched by the Jenner in all respects but speed. Additionally, it only has a single Energy hardpoint, making it unable to mount a massed ML battery.  The Ballistic hardpoints are considered to be a conversion error, and are likely going to be replaced with additional AP slots, which might make a Flamer built possible in the future.

Strategy

 * The Cicada 3C is slightly slower than the 2A but has more room for weaponry and armor. It still generally underperforms in most areas except speed, but it can put up more of a fight, with better survival rates.
 * Since it has little room for much else and is very fragile, dump it. Don't salvage it, don't buy it, just don't even look at it. Even if it can pack a little more armor than 2A, it's still bringing a snowball to a flamethrower fight.
 * The Cicada 3C is the same speed as a Jenner, and has 0.5 more tons to work with. The problem is the hard points - they don't fit well for usual scout/fast attack mechs.  There isn't enough tonnage to mount a strong autocannon in the available spots, and still have a semblance of armor.  there aren't enough energy points for a barrage of medium lasers.  There are NO missile hard points.  What the Cicada 3C does have, are a lot of support weapon hard points.  Was your Firestarter too slow?  Mount four flamers.  Did you want a Spider with more machine guns?  The Cicada 3C could be an excellent specialty setup, if your tactics support it.  The extra weight versus a Jenner or Spider does bump it into a later initiative phase unfortunately.