Like others have said, popularity due to exposure, a deadly platform, etc. Clan Wolf is by far my favorite clan, so naturally I developed a liking of their signature Mech.
But my favorite Mech is the Summoner, though.
6
Why exactly is the Timberwolf/mad cat so darn popular?
Started by Suman, Jun 19 2012 08:29 PM
278 replies to this topic
#222
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- 199 posts
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- LocationNew Jerusalem, Tharkad
Posted 17 September 2012 - 02:40 AM
For the same reason vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream. For the same reason white bread is bought more than any other kind. For the same reason McDonald's is the most popular fast food restaurant.
There has to be a status quo. There has to be an agreed-upon mech that anyone can enjoy. Because people don't like originality. People don't want to be unique. People don't want to break the molds and do something noone has ever done before. People at their very core want to be like everyone else. People crave mediocrity. People crave unoriginality.
The Mad Cat gives this to MechWarrior players who have no vision, who have no depth, who are confused and frightened at the concept of outside-the-box thinking, and simply want to go with an uninspired, vanilla battlemech that can put them on even ground with everyone else. People don't want to be individuals, they don't want to be original. These people aren't artists, they aren't composers. They're video game players and they're more content with playing the same thing everyone else is. They're content with loving the same thing everyone else loves.
And for people like me... this is a good thing. I want predictability. I want players to play the Mad Cat, because the more people that play Mad Cats, the better I can refine my technique at killing Mad Cats. I want people to be comfortable in their unoriginality and mediocrity, because then I can have more efficiency at killing their Mad Cats.
And to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of people saying MWO is going to be 'Atlas Online'. I want the Mad Cat in the game asap so it can turn into Mad Cat Online and take the heat off the beloved Steiner mascot. I want the Atlas replaced by the Mad Cat so that I can pilot my Atlas and feel more unique as a result.
And I'm not ever going to refer to the mech by its Clan designation for the same reason I'll continue to call the main character of 'Doctor Who' as 'Doctor Who'. Because it irritates the Clanners to no end (in the same way it irritates Dr. Who fans to no end when they inevitably remind me that his name is 'The Doctor' not 'Doctor Who').
To me it will be the Mad Cat. And it will be the sheep in MWO that I will take joy in slaughtering. And all you Mad Cat fans can throw up your arms in frustration as you once again get your cockpit blown apart by my hours upon hours of experience of taking apart dozens upon dozens of pilots just like you.
And when it comes to vanilla, white bread, confetti mechs -- you could do worse than the Mad Cat and its glaringly obvious cockpit window. And if I'm going to start collecting my ClanTech salvage, it's probably going to be a good thing most of the players I end up killing will be using Mad Cats.
Bring on the Mad Cats. Renaissance wants his ClanTech for the glory of House Steiner.
There has to be a status quo. There has to be an agreed-upon mech that anyone can enjoy. Because people don't like originality. People don't want to be unique. People don't want to break the molds and do something noone has ever done before. People at their very core want to be like everyone else. People crave mediocrity. People crave unoriginality.
The Mad Cat gives this to MechWarrior players who have no vision, who have no depth, who are confused and frightened at the concept of outside-the-box thinking, and simply want to go with an uninspired, vanilla battlemech that can put them on even ground with everyone else. People don't want to be individuals, they don't want to be original. These people aren't artists, they aren't composers. They're video game players and they're more content with playing the same thing everyone else is. They're content with loving the same thing everyone else loves.
And for people like me... this is a good thing. I want predictability. I want players to play the Mad Cat, because the more people that play Mad Cats, the better I can refine my technique at killing Mad Cats. I want people to be comfortable in their unoriginality and mediocrity, because then I can have more efficiency at killing their Mad Cats.
And to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of people saying MWO is going to be 'Atlas Online'. I want the Mad Cat in the game asap so it can turn into Mad Cat Online and take the heat off the beloved Steiner mascot. I want the Atlas replaced by the Mad Cat so that I can pilot my Atlas and feel more unique as a result.
And I'm not ever going to refer to the mech by its Clan designation for the same reason I'll continue to call the main character of 'Doctor Who' as 'Doctor Who'. Because it irritates the Clanners to no end (in the same way it irritates Dr. Who fans to no end when they inevitably remind me that his name is 'The Doctor' not 'Doctor Who').
To me it will be the Mad Cat. And it will be the sheep in MWO that I will take joy in slaughtering. And all you Mad Cat fans can throw up your arms in frustration as you once again get your cockpit blown apart by my hours upon hours of experience of taking apart dozens upon dozens of pilots just like you.
And when it comes to vanilla, white bread, confetti mechs -- you could do worse than the Mad Cat and its glaringly obvious cockpit window. And if I'm going to start collecting my ClanTech salvage, it's probably going to be a good thing most of the players I end up killing will be using Mad Cats.
Bring on the Mad Cats. Renaissance wants his ClanTech for the glory of House Steiner.
#223
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- 213 posts
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Posted 17 September 2012 - 04:38 AM
One of the largest influences on the Mad Cat's popularity is the simple fact that TRO 3050, which it graced the cover of, catapulted the Battletech franchise to heights of popularity that vastly exceeded anything before. This made it candidate numero uno for appearances in press materials, spin-off franchises, and other general non-game merchandise.
In BT, it was an extremely capable 'mech, with no real major, "oh a Mad Cat, we do X and auto-win everytime" weaknesses. Remember also, Clan LRM's are both lighter than their IS equivalents and have no minimum range, allowing the Mad Cat to keep all of its weapons in play at close range, allowing it to remain punchy even toe-to-toe without sacrificing its long-range capabilities.
In BT, it was an extremely capable 'mech, with no real major, "oh a Mad Cat, we do X and auto-win everytime" weaknesses. Remember also, Clan LRM's are both lighter than their IS equivalents and have no minimum range, allowing the Mad Cat to keep all of its weapons in play at close range, allowing it to remain punchy even toe-to-toe without sacrificing its long-range capabilities.
#224
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- 378 posts
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Posted 17 September 2012 - 05:39 AM
Cause it just looks toally fricken awsome.
First time you played mech2, what was the coolest looking badass mech you wanted to play as?
Timberwolf, nuff said.
First time you played mech2, what was the coolest looking badass mech you wanted to play as?
Timberwolf, nuff said.
#226
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- Ace Of Spades
- 8 posts
Rookie
Posted 17 September 2012 - 05:56 AM
How can you all like the same mech, a mech thats has no drawbacks, a perfect mech...
Perfection is vice, it must be eradicated !
Perfection is vice, it must be eradicated !
#227
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- Ace Of Spades
- 542 posts
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- LocationFlorida, USA
Posted 17 September 2012 - 08:09 AM
It looks like Mickey Mouse !
#228
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- 19 posts
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- LocationCanada
Posted 17 September 2012 - 10:58 AM
For me it is totally nostagia. I built this thing out of lego when I was a kid.
It is my most favourite mech and always will be. That and the AXM-2N Axman, because of the Battletech cartoon haha.
It is my most favourite mech and always will be. That and the AXM-2N Axman, because of the Battletech cartoon haha.
#229
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- Knight Errant
- 203 posts
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- LocationArc Royal
Posted 17 September 2012 - 11:48 AM
whats not to love:
Edited by Cyber Carns, 17 September 2012 - 11:48 AM.
#230
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- The Merciless
- 1,206 posts
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- LocationEn Route to Terra
Posted 17 September 2012 - 11:57 AM
Renaissance, on 17 September 2012 - 02:40 AM, said:
For the same reason vanilla is the most popular flavor of ice cream. For the same reason white bread is bought more than any other kind. For the same reason McDonald's is the most popular fast food restaurant.
There has to be a status quo. There has to be an agreed-upon mech that anyone can enjoy. Because people don't like originality. People don't want to be unique. People don't want to break the molds and do something noone has ever done before. People at their very core want to be like everyone else. People crave mediocrity. People crave unoriginality.
The Mad Cat gives this to MechWarrior players who have no vision, who have no depth, who are confused and frightened at the concept of outside-the-box thinking, and simply want to go with an uninspired, vanilla battlemech that can put them on even ground with everyone else. People don't want to be individuals, they don't want to be original. These people aren't artists, they aren't composers. They're video game players and they're more content with playing the same thing everyone else is. They're content with loving the same thing everyone else loves.
And for people like me... this is a good thing. I want predictability. I want players to play the Mad Cat, because the more people that play Mad Cats, the better I can refine my technique at killing Mad Cats. I want people to be comfortable in their unoriginality and mediocrity, because then I can have more efficiency at killing their Mad Cats.
And to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of people saying MWO is going to be 'Atlas Online'. I want the Mad Cat in the game asap so it can turn into Mad Cat Online and take the heat off the beloved Steiner mascot. I want the Atlas replaced by the Mad Cat so that I can pilot my Atlas and feel more unique as a result.
And I'm not ever going to refer to the mech by its Clan designation for the same reason I'll continue to call the main character of 'Doctor Who' as 'Doctor Who'. Because it irritates the Clanners to no end (in the same way it irritates Dr. Who fans to no end when they inevitably remind me that his name is 'The Doctor' not 'Doctor Who').
To me it will be the Mad Cat. And it will be the sheep in MWO that I will take joy in slaughtering. And all you Mad Cat fans can throw up your arms in frustration as you once again get your cockpit blown apart by my hours upon hours of experience of taking apart dozens upon dozens of pilots just like you.
And when it comes to vanilla, white bread, confetti mechs -- you could do worse than the Mad Cat and its glaringly obvious cockpit window. And if I'm going to start collecting my ClanTech salvage, it's probably going to be a good thing most of the players I end up killing will be using Mad Cats.
Bring on the Mad Cats. Renaissance wants his ClanTech for the glory of House Steiner.
There has to be a status quo. There has to be an agreed-upon mech that anyone can enjoy. Because people don't like originality. People don't want to be unique. People don't want to break the molds and do something noone has ever done before. People at their very core want to be like everyone else. People crave mediocrity. People crave unoriginality.
The Mad Cat gives this to MechWarrior players who have no vision, who have no depth, who are confused and frightened at the concept of outside-the-box thinking, and simply want to go with an uninspired, vanilla battlemech that can put them on even ground with everyone else. People don't want to be individuals, they don't want to be original. These people aren't artists, they aren't composers. They're video game players and they're more content with playing the same thing everyone else is. They're content with loving the same thing everyone else loves.
And for people like me... this is a good thing. I want predictability. I want players to play the Mad Cat, because the more people that play Mad Cats, the better I can refine my technique at killing Mad Cats. I want people to be comfortable in their unoriginality and mediocrity, because then I can have more efficiency at killing their Mad Cats.
And to be perfectly honest, I'm tired of people saying MWO is going to be 'Atlas Online'. I want the Mad Cat in the game asap so it can turn into Mad Cat Online and take the heat off the beloved Steiner mascot. I want the Atlas replaced by the Mad Cat so that I can pilot my Atlas and feel more unique as a result.
And I'm not ever going to refer to the mech by its Clan designation for the same reason I'll continue to call the main character of 'Doctor Who' as 'Doctor Who'. Because it irritates the Clanners to no end (in the same way it irritates Dr. Who fans to no end when they inevitably remind me that his name is 'The Doctor' not 'Doctor Who').
To me it will be the Mad Cat. And it will be the sheep in MWO that I will take joy in slaughtering. And all you Mad Cat fans can throw up your arms in frustration as you once again get your cockpit blown apart by my hours upon hours of experience of taking apart dozens upon dozens of pilots just like you.
And when it comes to vanilla, white bread, confetti mechs -- you could do worse than the Mad Cat and its glaringly obvious cockpit window. And if I'm going to start collecting my ClanTech salvage, it's probably going to be a good thing most of the players I end up killing will be using Mad Cats.
Bring on the Mad Cats. Renaissance wants his ClanTech for the glory of House Steiner.
That's one of my favorite attitudes too and I mean that quite sincerely. The more a mech is associated with bad pilots, the better life is for the good pilots who use the same mech. We're underestimated. Our opponents often make severe tactical flaws and don't expect us to be as deadly as we're capable of being.
The Timber Wolf simply has great adaptability, it's generally regarded as being a beautiful design and in the hands of a skilled pilot, it's easily deadlier than an Assault Class.
So, you're not wrong with your assertion, but overconfidence can easily lead to your downfall when you face too many weak players and suddenly have an amazing machine in the hands of someone who truly knows how to use it.
#231
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- Elite Founder
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- LocationWoogi, Taurian Concordat
Posted 17 September 2012 - 11:58 AM
Because it is the epitome of everything Clan players like.
It's a mech that does everything pretty well, so you don't have to actually think about what role it needs to fill.
Has high speed, high damage, and covers all ranges, so you don't have to think about how you use it on the field.
You don't have to think to use it.
It's a mech that does everything pretty well, so you don't have to actually think about what role it needs to fill.
Has high speed, high damage, and covers all ranges, so you don't have to think about how you use it on the field.
You don't have to think to use it.
#232
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- Elite Founder
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- LocationNistus
Posted 17 September 2012 - 01:45 PM
xti, on 19 June 2012 - 08:46 PM, said:
another reason may be:
timberwolf was on the cover and in the jawdropping intro of mw2.
timberwolf was on the cover and in the jawdropping intro of mw2.
thats why right there... i loved that game to death
#233
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- Elite Founder
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- LocationSouth Dakota, SD
Posted 19 September 2012 - 11:51 PM
hahah, nice history for the MAD-CAT name.. didn't know that. Thanks , +1 for you mate. cheers!
#234
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- 19 posts
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Posted 20 September 2012 - 01:37 AM
A lot of peoples love comes from when they first encountered the Timberwolf.
Its a lovely looking mech, and useful too.
Would I use one?
No.
I cant pilot that mech , and I think I have finely worked out why.. Aidey Pryde at the Tukayyid.
When ever I try piloting the mech I always have this nagging feeling that I am just not doing the mech justice and living up to its reputation
King Crabs... Now there is an iconic looking mech and my fav
Its a lovely looking mech, and useful too.
Would I use one?
No.
I cant pilot that mech , and I think I have finely worked out why.. Aidey Pryde at the Tukayyid.
When ever I try piloting the mech I always have this nagging feeling that I am just not doing the mech justice and living up to its reputation
King Crabs... Now there is an iconic looking mech and my fav
#235
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- Knight Errant
- 153 posts
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Posted 20 September 2012 - 01:46 AM
I think a big part of its appeal was the wide weapons spread and sure the aesthetics. I operate mostly as a support person in MW titles so I'd rather flank, try to confuse enemies and provide indirect fire for my squad then try to brawl my way through. The Timberwolf was one of those mechs that could do that job very well and when needed get up close and personal.
There's always min-max configured mechs that have more armor, more damage potential but take them out of their ideal scenario and a lot of them get overtaken by tactics w/o wiggle room. Just my 2c.
There's always min-max configured mechs that have more armor, more damage potential but take them out of their ideal scenario and a lot of them get overtaken by tactics w/o wiggle room. Just my 2c.
#236
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- Elite Founder
- 13 posts
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Posted 20 September 2012 - 08:48 AM
Ronin1051, on 19 June 2012 - 08:43 PM, said:
One word: OmniMech! Although, series MW4 didn't do it justice: not great armor and just simply out classed by others in its weight class... Although that is most likely going to be true when the Clans DO finally invade in this timeline... Eventually...
In MW4, my favorite heavy is Black Knight! Mad Cat maybe the most iconic throughout all of MechWarrior (and heck practically is the "Chief Mascot" next to Atlas! :-p ), but it is part 'missile frigate' by default, and missiles do random direct damage. Black Knight however is completely direct fire focused (if you're smart enough to configure it that way...), which makes it very handy on Solaris VII! Black Knight is even WAY more versatile than Mad Cat/Timberwolf and its only an IS chasis! Supporting a full electronics suite (jump jets too)! It kinda "The Batman" of BattleMechs, since its so darn utilitarian... (please feel free to disagree, the bulk of my BattleTech experience comes from MechWarrior 4) So I can see why Suman wonders why Mad Cat/Timberwolf is so popular. I think that whenever we think of the word "MechWarrior", we instantly think "Mad Cat", the chassis is just that synonymous!
In MW4, my favorite heavy is Black Knight! Mad Cat maybe the most iconic throughout all of MechWarrior (and heck practically is the "Chief Mascot" next to Atlas! :-p ), but it is part 'missile frigate' by default, and missiles do random direct damage. Black Knight however is completely direct fire focused (if you're smart enough to configure it that way...), which makes it very handy on Solaris VII! Black Knight is even WAY more versatile than Mad Cat/Timberwolf and its only an IS chasis! Supporting a full electronics suite (jump jets too)! It kinda "The Batman" of BattleMechs, since its so darn utilitarian... (please feel free to disagree, the bulk of my BattleTech experience comes from MechWarrior 4) So I can see why Suman wonders why Mad Cat/Timberwolf is so popular. I think that whenever we think of the word "MechWarrior", we instantly think "Mad Cat", the chassis is just that synonymous!
Go play MW2, as MW4 was grossly unrepresentative of the timberwolf. (Also, MW4's critical system for loadouts was a joke)
#238
Posted 12 February 2013 - 06:10 PM
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'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...
Cause it looks like a Marauder and Catapult!
#239
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- Mercenary
- 1,088 posts
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- LocationGermany
Posted 12 February 2013 - 06:15 PM
bad thing is:
99% of all future clan players will replace the machine guns with gauss rifles
99% of all future clan players will replace the machine guns with gauss rifles
#240
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- Big Brother
- 25 posts
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Posted 15 February 2013 - 10:38 PM
if i had to guess, its because of its Sheer versatility and deep connection with the clan invasion, After all this was the mech that is commonly used to symbolize it. Any vet of mech warrior or battle tech can instantly recognize its general shape and most dread its appearance on the battle field. its sheer versatility and the fact that it can out run most mediums while being able to pack the punch of an assault makes it not something to take lightly. Now granted it is abused the unskilled but i guarantee you there are mechs that are used in far more noobish manners. *cough cough Fafnir*
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