278 replies to this topic

[Satsujinki]

for some reason they make me think of Micky Mouse still love em though, but not as much as the Mad Dog and Ebon Jaguar/Couldon-born

[MrMasakari]

They are iconic because they are great mechs and look sexy, made more iconic by the way they appear throughout the games. Overall in my eyes they aren't more iconic than the Mad dog,Thor and Warhawk. Dunno if you guys have played Mech commander (Im sure you have) but whats the first heavy you have to fight, a Madcat! And its a pain to kill w/o using your airstikes or the fuel depots. Truth is it coulda been a Thor / Mad dog and it would of been just as hard a fight. But the fact that they put a madcat instead of a mad dog/thor symbolizes it more. So blame Fasa ! (And ofcourse for the mw2 cover) I'd still love it even if it wasnt over symbolized lol

[Hitty40]

It's one the more popular/iconic 'Mechs in the BattleTech universe.

[XxZylonxX]

Dijalin, on 23 June 2012 - 09:11 AM, said:

First of all, it's called a Timber Wolf, not a Mad Cat, Mad Cat is what the IS calls it, not the Clans, and it being a Clan mech and not IS, means that it's REAL name is Timber Wolf.

Secondly, the reason why everyone likes this damn clan mech is because it was, as several people have stated, on the cover of MW2, probably the greatest thing that ever happened to BattleTech, which spawned more games, and eventually this one due to it's popularity.  Also, lets not forget the animated series.

Though personally, I'm a Mad Dog fan.  The Timber Wolf just doesn't do anything for me.  I see a pic and I think to myself, "Oh look, ANOTHER Timber Wolf picture, how completely original..... never seen THAT mech before."  Timber Wolf is totally over played IMO, and I am a much bigger fan of the unseen as far as iconic BT mechs, so I kinda wish everyone would stop using the Timber Wolf as if it was more awesome than a Warhammer or Battlemaster.

Actually my MW3 manual calls it Madcat. So is it called ingame.

[Ranek Blackstone]

The MW game manuels are written in the IS, where the targeting computers can't decide if it's a Maurader (MAD) or catapult (CAT), and flops between the two.

It's popular because it's faster then most heavies it's size, better armored, and has enough punch to make you think twice about hunting it.

It was pretty much DESIGNED to hunt heavy and medium mechs.

[Voss Korgan]

Simple answer is its phallic shape.

[Ko Time]

As another, when it comes to clan mechs, i prefer the stormcrow, If a bigger hammer is needed my next choice is the warhawk. Never understood the timberwolf's appeal myself.

[xR1pp3Rx]

after spending alot of time filming the mechs in action its my opinion that the mad cat is one of the most photogenic mechs for a few reasons..
but i think it more iconic than others for the simple fact it has elements wich lend to instant recognition. the missle racks and the wwii bomber style cocpit give it an incredible balance of visual appeal.

[Rejarial Galatan]

I have said it before, and shall say it again: The TimberWolf is a 75 ton mech with more versatility than most mechs heavier than it could hope to have. It is fast, and lethal at ANY range. It is the ONLY heavy mech that I know of, that has made assault mech pilots take a moment to consider the intelligence of actually taking one on. I could go on, but, I will not.

[Dizazter]

3clipse, on 19 June 2012 - 08:54 PM, said:

Mad Cat Variant A is fantastic. It is the ideal weight to speed to equipment ratio for a Heavy Mech. I have a notebook full of data. The Mad Cat rocks, trust me.

Hey! That's my notebook, give it back!

[Vaktor]

I always thought it was one of the first designs that looked like it was actually designed to be in the military and had a very utilitarian appeal that had not really been done with the anime inspired mechs that had come out before.

Now with the redesigns coming out the looks are coming more in line with the Mad Cat style but the damage has been done and my generation grew up with the Mad Cat being the mech in mind when you mention Mechwarrior.

[Sertsa]

TW's were always great in the earlier games for the maneuverability, able to put 7 med lasers with good heat management and 6 with even better. I don't know if you can JJ dance around like you used to, I think at one point they nerfed that a bit, but a high speed forward JJ with the feet into someones windshield always ruined their day too hehe.

They were good Class 1 and I had many good class 3 and 4 variants too once upon a time, I know I used to have all my TW's named Archangels Ver1, Ver2, etc. I think I had at least 12 versions of TW's at any given time and had different lines for the Warhammers and Ravens etc etc.

They could get legged pretty easily by a big mech sometimes but even then if you moved around with a class three and paid attention to your armor damage you could still zip arond a bit and keep your armor to them and put out a lot of damage if you had a buddy jumping on an oponenets head hehe.

Edited by Sertsa, 28 June 2012 - 04:02 PM.

[Ricama]

Well, the fact that the design didn't get put through the same crapinator as the others is a big part of it. Then the appearance combines that of 2 iconic mechs from earlier years into something that looks great.

[Kai Allardo Fenix]

Johnny Reb, on 19 June 2012 - 08:46 PM, said:

well the madcat gets it name cause its a hybrid of the marauder and the catapult. Hence a scary heavy mech! Would love to pilot one!

Exactly tha's why. The Catapult and the Marauders where a really strong and well known mechs in the IS. After the Clans rebuilded them into one mech, it have been an Icon for the clan superiority technology. So thats why in a lot of mechwarrior games it was the main symbol. But its only becaus of the games. If you read the books, you won't find a lot of Timberwolfs there. More Thors (Firesummoner or Summoner), and Daishi.
Anyway, if i have to chose betwen a Timberwolf and a Thor, i will stay at the Thor (its weaponry is better mixed for all round battle.

[Derek Icelord]

Because it's on the box art, mostly. It's also a good 'Mech overall, though as you said, it's by no means the only one with merit.

[Beo Vulf]

If I have a choice between the catapult, and the madcat, I'll take the madcat any day its more than just a missle boat (Catapult).

[SideSt3p]

Suman, on 19 June 2012 - 08:29 PM, said:

So, the Timberwolf is an iconic mech, and the clans are sweet and all, but I just don't get why its so darn popular.

I've never been a big fan of it, especially when there are other clan heavies, like the Loki, Cauldron-born, and Grizzly, that have a much more special place in my heart. I like the Mad Dog more than the Timberwolf too. The inner sphere heavies have their own charm, and i love the dragon, the catapult, and I really love the Argus.

So tell me, what is it about the 'Mad Cat' (still hate that name), that makes so many people go nuts for it? Or what heavy do you like better and why?

Please discuss...

I concur. If I'm going to pick a favorite Clan OmniMech it's gotta be the Linebacker:


Or the Stooping Hawk:

[Pacoua]

Classic Icon of the BattleTech Universe.

[Joseph Mallan]

Quote

So, the Timberwolf is an iconic Mech, and the clans are sweet and all, but I just don't get why its so darn popular.

Because we lost the art for the Marauder and this is the closest we can have for the time being!

At least that's my opinion.

[Promptus]

I've just discovered this in our declassified mission reports. Members of the Disavowed were able to successfully data-mine a ComStar archive and were able to uncover the true reason for the TimberWolf/MadCat's infectious popularity. Below is a 2D image they were successful in obtaining and decrypting from the datacache: