52 replies to this topic

[Iqfish]

We got Mechs down at Gamma!

[DarkDevilDancer]

I got into battletech through the game, I knew nothing about it but by the time I'd played through the wolf campaign I was forever in love with the timberwolf, I'd take that mech over any others even if assaults were available.

I remember how happy I was to get a mini from a comic book store in Florida (pre internet) when on holiday, I can't wait for the clan mechs to arrive.

[MechWarrior5152251]

Timberwolf is the ultimate Meta/Min/Max mech. I am kicking myself for wasting $120 for 4 mediocre chasis instead of just $55 for the best mech.

Of course the Timberwolf is only OP against other clan mechs. The Cataphract 3D is better.

[MechWarrior5152251]

Funny how the low slung arms had no bearing whatsoever in the Board game, but mean more than any other single factor in the video game...

[Pht]

Felio, on 05 May 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

It seems to be the big draw in the clan packages. I'm asking here because I assume it gained its popularity in other Battletech-licensed products.

Besides being visually appealing, it's loadouts in the lore are pretty effective, while not giving up much if any armor combined with good cooling capability.

It's also virtually impossible to make with Inner Sphere technology. I don't think the IS can make an equivalent till what ... 3145 or so?

The Rakshasa doesn't count, it's an overheating ammunition explosion wating to happen, without case and without the same damage output profile as the madcat.

[Blood Rose]

*Ahem*
This Video should show you why. Sadly I cant work out how to get the video directly in (there is no media tag).

Apart from that, as others have said it is singularly the best Mech seen in its timeline, and for several decades afterwards, and even once it loses this status it is still a feared sight.
Its loadout is effective at all ranges, it can out manoeuvre other Mechs of its weight class, hell it can out run many mediums, its armour is nearly maxed out and it can lose a side torso and still fight.
Its fire power can hurt Mechs far bigger than it is, and a single TBR-Prime can handle a lance of IS Mechs with ease.
It was the ultimate Mech, capable of doing everything and doing it well.

[Targun Darklighter]

Why Is The Timber Wolf Such A Big Deal?

Well honestly is the finel evolution of the Marauder Battlemech. You look at a TRO:3025 by FASA and u seen the Marauder(which in my personal opinion is the Best Mech Ever) on the cover. Now the Rakshasa is a good middle evolution of the Marauder but the Timber Wolf is the Finel evolution of that line. Well this is just my opinion any way as to why the Timber Wolf is a big deal. It Just looks Right!!

[Khanahar]

Egomane, on 05 May 2014 - 12:58 PM, said:

It's probably the one mission in MechCommander I restarted most often.

Dirty savescummer. :-)

I actually run a Win98 VM on my laptop with the primary purpose being to play MC.

GumbyC2C, on 05 May 2014 - 01:03 PM, said:

It was featured heavily in the MechCommander series...

Well, actually it's the rarest 'mech in the vanilla game. You run into like 3 salvagable ones in the entire game, and like 2 more in the final level.

[Void Angel]

Blood Rose, on 02 July 2014 - 04:44 AM, said:

*Ahem*
This Video should show you why. Sadly I cant work out how to get the video directly in (there is no media tag).

Use the "Media" BBC code - third button from the top left, next to the "Font" drop box.

[Archon]

It's absolutely versatile, can go toe to toe with any other chassis and compete, can fill almost any role, and above all, it's incredibly sexy.

[GreyGriffin]

After the Unseen fiasco, with the Locust, Marauder, and Archer out of circulation (arguably the most iconic 'mechs up until that point), the Timber Wolf was the best looking original design. It became the go-to imo because, frankly, a lot of the 'mechs before that era were butt ugly besides the Unseen. The fact that is kicked ass certainly helped too.

[The Great Unwashed]

I remember capturing that TW in MW1 a few times, just as I remember capturing all those Taidan assault frigates in mission 3 of Homeworld using 8 salvage corvettes...

[Xeren KelDar]

Targun Darklighter, on 05 July 2014 - 04:10 PM, said:

Why Is The Timber Wolf Such A Big Deal?

Well honestly is the finel evolution of the Marauder Battlemech. You look at a TRO:3025 by FASA and u seen the Marauder(which in my personal opinion is the Best Mech Ever) on the cover. Now the Rakshasa is a good middle evolution of the Marauder but the Timber Wolf is the Finel evolution of that line. Well this is just my opinion any way as to why the Timber Wolf is a big deal. It Just looks Right!!

Calling the Rakshasa the middle evolution is a bit misleading considering it debuted after the Mad Cat. It was the Inner Sphere's attempt to copy the clan design.

The Mad Cat is popular because it was saturated through all the media, had a loadout that topped any IS mech at the time, and had a well rounded loadout of armament, speed, and durability. The sometimes extreme advantages of clan tech, especially against old 3025 designs, helped inflate its popularity.

I personally think the Mad Cat is an ugly monstrosity (bulbous body, spindly legs, and vacuum hose arms), but I can't deny it's effectiveness.

[t9nv3]

It better be able to take on a whole lance of IS mechs, cause it costs nearly as much in BV....in fact, it costs more than a Direwolf Honestly, I'm not a huge fan. I dont see it as a "optimal" choice in CBT, more as something you bring cause you like the mech itself.

Investing that much is great till someone triple crits your CT or puts a gauss round through your cockpit.

Edited by t9nv3, 14 July 2014 - 12:13 AM.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Harathan, on 05 May 2014 - 12:19 PM, said:

Anyone remember the first time you meet a Timberwolf in MC1? Detonate the fuel tanks and likely lose the chance to salvage it, or go for the headshot and likely lose half your lance. Good times.

Egomane, on 05 May 2014 - 12:58 PM, said:

Or take a small fast mech over the bridge that gets bombed at the beginning of the mission, destroy the tanks waiting on the other side, then lure the Timberwolf out of it's hiding, run your little mech to the small base in the north and capture the turrets and leave through the north exit. Do not engage the Timber with your little mech, if you want to keep it, as by now it should already be hurting badly from the tanks and the turrets. Then throw your artillery strikes at the Timber till the cockpit goes and restart the mission because again the mech blew up / its loadout got destroyed.

It's probably the one mission in MechCommander I restarted most often. When I finally manage to get the mech with all equipment intact, I finish the rest of the mission. The next mission is then easy, because all you need to win it, is the fully equipped Timberwolf. Enjoy the bonus earnings for a low tonnage drop.

The trick is to time it just right so that the Mad Cat is trapped on the bridge where he starts when you blow the tanks, but also where you have reveiled the terrain. Then you try to headshot him with arty strikes. Restarting the mission was such a time drain until I figured out you could actually get a mech across at the start! Yeah, you can't face him. 2 ER PPCs, 1 Medium Pulse Laser, 4 LRM racks and a Flamer. One CERPPC shot generally took your armor down to orange or red.

[Appogee]

Blood Rose, on 02 July 2014 - 04:44 AM, said:

*Ahem*
This Video should show you

I love that video. I still watch it every time someone posts it.

Ironically, given the Timby love, it's the Summoners who demonstrate themselves to be the winners in the video.

[LoPanShui]

I always kinda thought the Mad Cat looked like Mickey Mouse, to be honest. The Thor was always my favorite, but there's no denying that the Mad Cat is iconic. FASA built the most overpowered minmaxed 'Mech in existence, gave it an appearance like one of their most popular 'Mechs from before, then put it on the cover of everything.

The Mad Cat is for Battletech/MechWarrior what the lightsaber is to Star Wars.

[Undercover Brother]

Simple answer:

It's one of extremely few mechs that can stand toe to toe with assault mechs such as an Atlas, and be the victor. Like the Cataphract, and the Marauder, the Timberwolf (Madcat) is considered to be a "pocket assault-mech". Heavy with armor and weapons, but faster and more maneuverable. In the BT lore, due to the Clan bidding and honor systems, waste is a very bad thing. So, upon the initial invasion, Clan assault mechs where a true rarity. Hence why when Phelan Kell/Ward/Wolf was unlucky enough to come across the initial wave of invaders, and his targeting computer went nuts over this crazy fast, giant tank of a mech, the Timberwolf (Madcat) became synonymous with the Clans' power, technical prowess, and insane aggression.

Personally, I'm more a Summoner fan, myself.

[Tezcatli]

From a practical design standpoint. That cockpit is just like a big "Kill me" bullseye. But I guess they decided to be overly generous in MWO to prevent it from getting glass jawed left and right.

[FireSlade]

Tezcatli, on 26 July 2014 - 10:39 AM, said:

From a practical design standpoint. That cockpit is just like a big "Kill me" bullseye. But I guess they decided to be overly generous in MWO to prevent it from getting glass jawed left and right.

True, but in Battletech aiming is less assured with Aces being the only pilots getting consistent hits to where they we aiming. It was even worse in the Innersphere where in some backwater planets the sights on some mechs were not even close to where the crosshairs pointed. Personally I wish that PGI made the hitboxes for the Timber Wolf close to that of the Catapult (old ones with the huge head) so that there would be less complaining of them being OP; and it would by me 27 extra points of armor on my center torso.