33 replies to this topic

[Keeshu]

Through my constant worries about the Mad Dog, I decided to take a look at the balance between the Mad Dog and Timber Wolf to see if it was as bad as I thought. I also decided to take a look at the Summoner because it's also in the heavy weight range and because I saw other people complaining about it before.

Note: I have not played as a Timber Wolf or Summoner yet, and Mad Dog has not even been revealed yet. This is mostly just paperwork, but I have fought against Timber Wolves and Summoners quite frequently in game.
I apologize if I'm behind the curve on this, I just felt like making a comparison. I'm probably not going to suggest anything for gameplay balance, I just wanted to see what you guys had to say about it.



Mad Dog vs Timberwolf
- Same Weight class (heavy). Mad Dog 60 tons, Timber Wolf 75 tons
- They run at the same speed
- Timber Wolf has Endo Steel, Mad Dog does not
- Timber Wolf can use AMS, and Jumpjets, the Mad Dog cannot use either of these
- Timber Wolf has 3.5 more tons of armor by default
- Mad Dog has .5 more customizable weapon tonnage, but Timber Wolf has 3 more Hardwired Heat sinks (Mad Dog has 2, Timber Wolf has 5). However, due to Timber Wolf having more armor, it can just remove some to have more even more weapon tonnage than the Mad Dog

- The only build that Mad Dog can do that Timber Wolf can't is being a Splat Dog (6SRMs) thanks to Mad Dog A. However, Mad Dog C can have 1 Ballistic in each arm. The Timberwolf can only have it in the Right Arm thanks to Timber Wolf C, but the Timber Wolf S can have it in both side torsos. Making is so there can be a barely more efficient dual Ballistic build by using the arms on the Mad Dog.
- The Timber Wolf has many more options with hardpoints that the Mad Dog cannot do.
Prime: 1E1M LT, 1B CT, 1B 1M RT.
C: AMS + 1M LT, 1E CT.
S: 1B 2M LT, 1B 1E 2M RT

- Very unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring timeline btw). Timber Wolf A's 3E LT, Bounty Hunter's RT ECM, and Bounty Hunter 2's 1B 3M LT and RT. Mad Dog B or C's 3E RA, F's RT and LT, H's 3E


My thoughts:
Unless you plan on having a mad dog build with 6 SRM 6, prefer to have 1 Ballistic for each arm, or have a hybrid between the two, the Timber Wolf outclasses the Mad Dog in every way.
Mad Dog maybe smaller than the Timber Wolf, and we don't know how they are going to make the Mad Dog look yet, so they could be generous with the hit boxes on the Mad Dog. However, it will probably not be enough to keep up with the Timberwolf anyways.


On a side note, if it looks like the classic Mad Dog, I will use it even if it is underpowered. If it ends up looking like the MW4 version, I'll probably end up using the Timber Wolf like everyone else, since at least I can comfortably use twin LRM 15 and twin PPC with JJs (practicly my dream loadout) on the Timber Wolf.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...66adbd8ad7eb608





Timber Wolf vs Summoner
- Same weight class (heavy). Timber Wolf 75 tons, Summoner 70 tons
- They run at the same speed
- Timber Wolf has Endo Steel, Summoner does not
- Timber Wolf S has optional Jumpjets, Summoner has 5 tons of Hardwired Jumpjets
- Timber Wolf can have only 1 AMS, Summoner can have 2 AMS
- Timber Wolf has 2.5 more tons of armor by default
- Timber Wolf has 5 more customizable weapon tonnage than Summoner, and has 1 more hardwired heat sink
- Timber Wolf and Summoner have the same Yaw (vertical aiming, 20 torso and 30 arm), but Summoner has 100 torso twist, with 20 arm, while Timber wolf is 90 Torso Twist and 25 arm.

- The only builds that Summoner can do that the Timber Wolf cannot is 5 SRMs because of Summoner B, Or use Double AMS. However, in general the Summoner is reliant upon it's arms, unless you make use of Summoner D's Right Torso.
- As for builds Timber Wolf can do Timberwolf C and Prime can have a small Energy or Ballistic in their center Torso. Excluding that, Timber Wolf can have the same energy as Summoner D, but also have 1 Energy for each of his torsos. Timber Wolf S+C can have the same ballistics as Summoner D+Prime. Timber Wolf can have up to 4 missles in the torsos instead of the arms. However, the extra tonnage that the Timber Wolf has allows it have a lot more freedom with making a loadout than what the Summoner offers.

Unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring the timeline btw). Timber Wolf A's 3E LT, Bounty Hunter's RT ECM, and Bounty Hunter 2's 1B 3M LT and RT. Summoner has many to choose from.
RA: HH's 1B; F has 1B 1E; Z has 1M 1E
RT: Q,G have 3M; HH, F 1E
CT: G, HH, Q all have 1E
LT: G has 3M; HH has 1E; Q has 3M 1E; M has 1E 1M
LA: HH, F have 1B 1E; Z has 8 B

My thoughts:
Unless you plan to have 5 SRMs and/or double AMS, the Timber Wolf outclasses the Summoner in every way aside from minor torso twist/yaw differences.




Mad Dog vs Summoner
- Same weight class (heavy). Mad Dog is 60 Tons, Summoner is 70 tons
- They run at the same speed
- They both have standard structure and Ferro Fibrus
- Summoner can use 5 tons of hardwired Jumpjets, and has optional dual AMS, the Mad Dog cannot use either of these
- Summoner has 1 more ton of armor by default
- Mad Dog has 28 tons of customizable weapon tonnage, Summoner only has 22.5 tons. However, Summoner has 2 more hardwired Heat sinks

- The only build that Mad Dog can do that the Summoner cannot is being a Splat Dog (6 SRMs) thanks to the Mad Dog A. It can also have 1 Ballistic in each arm thanks to the Mad Dog, so it is slightly better than dual Ballistic builds that Summoner can do. While these are the only 2 things that Mad Dog can do that the Summoner cannot, Mad Dog can customize more because of the extra 5.5 more customizable weapon tonnage
- The Summoner is able to do triple Ballstics because of Summoner D's Side Torsos and Prime's Left Arm, but only enough tonnage to make triple ac/2, or have some machineguns have enough ammo to use those slots. Also, Summoner B can have Missles in the arms, making it a more accurate SRM brawler if you do are not using streaks.

-Unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring timeline btw, and only caring about the category of weapon used). Mad Dog B or G's 3E RA, F's 2E RT and 2E LT, H's 3E LA. Summoner has many to choose from.
RA: HH's 1B; F has 1B 1E; Z has 1M 1E
RT: Q,G have 3M; HH, F 1E
CT: G, HH, Q all have 1E
LT: G has 3M; HH has 1E; Q has 3M 1E; M has 1E 1M
LA: HH, F have 1B 1E; Z has 8 B
Note: Z's Left arm has 8 because it's 8 Anti-Personal gauss rifles. Someone really hates infantry


My thoughts:
This is much more balanced than trying to decide between one of these and the Timber Wolf.
If you want superior firepower at the cost of defense, go Mad Dog. If you want to be more defensive through more armor, Jumpjets (JJs also help with positioning for an attack), and AMS go Summoner.





If you want, I can make shortened comparisons like this to other clan mechs. I'm not going to compare Inner Sphere vs Clan though. Only Clan vs clan and IS vs IS.

[Destructicus]

I have to say this everytime I see a thread like this
It boils down to personal taste
oh yeah Timberwolf can do it all, yadda yadda, but I don't need a mech that can do it all
I want to play what I want and what I feel is fun
For me
that would be Mad Dog
Thats why I play my Summoner more than my Timberwolf
Because I want to, because I preferer it over the latter.

[FupDup]

This is why we should get the Hellbringer as our next Clan heavy. It has ECM, which gives it an ability that the Mad Cat can't do.

[Monkey Lover]

Summoner is going to be one of the free mechs they give you for playing 5 games

[Keeshu]

FupDup, on 15 July 2014 - 09:17 PM, said:

This is why we should get the Hellbringer as our next Clan heavy. It has ECM, which gives it an ability that the Mad Cat can't do.

Can you imagine how much of an uproar it would cause if the Timber Wolf was given the Bounty Hunter's right torso omnipod which has ECM?

I'll start working on a comparison with the Hellbringer and all these mechs now (I'm bored, I'm downloading a 7GB patch for Firefall, and I've played enough Super Smash Bros Brawl, and nothing else interests me right now). I've always loved the Hellbringer because of one mission in Mechwarrior 2, and because it's one of the few mechs with PPCs. I suppose I'll start making a thorough search into what makes the Hellbringer special.

Monkey Lover, on 15 July 2014 - 09:36 PM, said:

Summoner is going to be one of the free mechs they give you for playing 5 games

Funny joke. Maybe years from now, but not anytime soon.

[Keeshu]

Finally done comparing Hellbringer with the others.

Hellbringer vs Mad Dog
- Same weight class (heavy), Mad Dog is 60 tons, Hellbringer is 65
- They run the same speed
- Mad Dog has Ferro Fibrus, the Hellbringer does not
- Hellbringer can use ECM and AMS, Mad Dog cannot use either of these
- Mad Dog has .5 tons more armor than Hellbringer by default
- Hellbringer has 28.5 customizable weapon tonnage with 1 more hardwired heat sink, Mad Dog only has 28 customizable weapon tonnage

- The only build that Mad Dog can do that the Hellbringer cannot is that it can do more than 3 Missle weapons in a build. Also, it can have 2 Energy in each arm, whereas the Hellbringer needs to use the left torso if it wants to use more than 3 energy weapons.
- Because of Hellbringer B's arms, and A/Primes RT, Hellbringer can have more than 2 ballistic weapons. Prime Hellbringer already has 5 Energy hardpoints, 1 more than the Mad Dog. The head be swapped out for B's Head to have another energy hardpoint as well.

-Unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring timeline btw, and only caring about the category of weapon used). Mad Dog B or G's 3E RA, F's 2E RT and 2E LT, H's 3E LA. Hellbringer has a bunch to choose from.
RA: F's 1B 1E; D,E's 2E; G's 3E
RT: D's 2E
LT: D's 2E; H's 1M 4E

My Thoughts:
Overall the Mad Dog and Hellbringer can do a lot of the same things as each other. However, the Hellbringer is overall better because it has ECM. There's couple little things that make Hellbringer like having a head laser or head AMS, and that depending on how they design the Hellbringer it could be mistaken for a Hunchback.

Hellbringer vs Summoner
- Same weight class (heavy). Hellbringer is 65 tons, Summoner is 70 tons
- They run the same speed
- The Summoner has Ferro Fibrus, the Hellbringer does not
- The Hellbringer can use ECM and a single AMS. Summoner cannot use ECM but can use double AMS, Summoner also has 5 hardwired Jumpjets
- Summoner has 1.5 tons more armor by default
- Hellbringer has 28.5 customizable weapon tonnage, Summoner has 22.5 but has 1 more extra hardwired heat sink

- When it comes to builds Summoner can do that the Hellbringer can't, the Sumoner can do 5 missle weapons, the Hellbringer can only do 3. Summoner can have 4 Energy in the arms, Hellbringer can only have 3 in the arms. Summoner can have Ballistics in both side torsos, instead of keeping them in Right Torso, and can have double AMS.
- When it comes to Hellbringer builds that Summoner cannot do, Hellbringer can use 4 ballistic weapons, or 6 energy. Hellbringer has much more space to use for weapons though, so it has more flexibility.

-Unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring timeline btw, and only caring about the category of weapon used). Summoner has many to choose from.
RA: HH's 1B; F has 1B 1E; Z has 1M 1E
RT: Q,G have 3M; HH, F 1E
CT: G, HH, Q all have 1E
LT: G has 3M; HH has 1E; Q has 3M 1E; M has 1E 1M
LA: HH, F have 1B 1E; Z has 8 B
Note: Z's Left arm has 8 because it's 8 Anti-Personal gauss rifles. Someone really hates infantry
Hellbringer has a bunch to choose from.
RA: F's 1B 1E; D,E's 2E; G's 3E
RT: D's 2E
LT: D's 2E; H's 1M 4E

My thoughts:
This is very similar to the Mad Dog vs Summoner situation. However, while Hellbringer has more firepower at the cost of defense like the Mad Dog, but you can have ECM, and can also use a single AMS as well. Choose Summoner if you want more armor, Dual AMS, and Jumpjets (which can also be used for positioning to attack).



Hellbringer vs Timber Wolf
- Same weight class (heavy). Hellbringer is 65, Timber Wolf is 75
- They run the same speed
- Timber Wolf has Endo Steel and Ferro Fibrus, Hellbringer has neither
- Hellbringer can use ECM, Timber Wolf cannot but can optionally use jumpjets instead
- Timber Wolf has 4 more tons of armor by default
- Hellbringer has 28.5 customizable weapon tonnage, Timber Wolf has only 27.5, however it has 2 more hardwired heat sinks

-When it comes to builds Hellbringer can do that Timber Wolf cannot it can do a 4 ac/2 build. Also it can have 3 big energy weapons in the Prime's left torso, and still have room for the ECM. The Hellbringer can also have a Head energy or Head AMS. Whereas the Timber Wolf it has a Center energy, and left torso AMS. Hellbringer can have 1 Ballistic per arm, and/or both in his Right Torso to suit whichever playstyle the player has. Timber Wolf can only have 1 in the arm, or 1 for each side torso (and a machinegun in the CT)
- When it comes to builds that Timber Wolf can do that Hellbringer cannot it can have 4 missle weapons instead of 3, It can have more energy weapons in the arms, and it can have 7 energy instead of 6 energy.

-Unlikely to be added, but here are the omnipods that would change things (ignoring timeline btw, and only caring about the category of weapon used). Timber Wolf A's 3E LT, Bounty Hunter's RT ECM, and Bounty Hunter 2's 1B 3M LT and RT. Hellbringer has a bunch to choose from.
RA: F's 1B 1E; D,E's 2E; G's 3E
RT: D's 2E
LT: D's 2E; H's 1M 4E

My thoughts:
This is very similar to Timber Wolf vs Mad Dog. However, when it comes to the Hellbringer vs Timber Wolf, you are mainly choosing it for the ECM, or for ballistics in the arms, or because you like 2 ballistics in the RT or 3 energy in the LT. Outside ECM the Timber Wolf outclasses the Hellbringer in every way, and is jumpjet capable.


I may stop with the comparisons for now. It takes longer than I thought. Though if I'm feeling ambitious, and there's a likely heavy clan mech that could get in I might do a comparison. Probably won't happen.
I was surprised how similar Hellbringer will be to Mad Dog hardpointwise though.

Edited by Keeshu, 16 July 2014 - 12:18 AM.

[Sephlock]

Keeshu, on 16 July 2014 - 12:09 AM, said:

However, when it comes to the Hellbringer vs Timber Wolf, you are mainly choosing it for the ECM, or for ballistics in the arms, or because you like 2 ballistics in the RT or 3 energy in the LT.

Or because it is the closest we will ever get to a Warhammer IIC.

[Keeshu]

Sephlock, on 16 July 2014 - 12:11 AM, said:

Or because it is the closest we will ever get to a Warhammer IIC.

True true, but I was mostly just comparing their performance. I'm sure many people would like to pilot an Urbanmech over a Dire Wolf.
Warhammer IIC is another one of the mechs that made me love PPCs (Maruader IIC being the last of the 3). Though I could never get myself to play them for some reason in MW2. Probably because if I'm going to go slow, I better be carrying the biggest baddest weapons, which means Dire Wolf. I also did love their oversized barrel arms though.


Once again, I'll be playing Mad Dog even if it's underpowered if it gets the classic look instead of the MW4 look.

[MonkeyCheese]

I am perfectly happy that I upgraded my kitfox pack to a summoner pack.

2 ams is amazing as usual especially vs other clan mechs with their stream lrms

Most deaths have been via CT/ST first before an arm falls off so I don't see that as a problem.

I know I haven't even finished the basics yet but it feels like a 9m awesome to me and I know how to drive them and how and when to torso twist So I don't really have a problem driving it. I have only had it a day, best damage so far was 740ish and I have no problem getting kills as people don't see them as a threat and focus other mechs first which is a mistake.

But I wouldn't complain if it had more maneuverability tweaks in the future.

[Warma]

I repeat this again. If Mad Dog and Summoner were allowed to have Endo, they would be a lot more balanced against the Timber Wolf.

There is no reason to create straight up superior and inferior clan mechs, as we already have the best ones (TWolf), and this won't affect the balance. Please allow clan mechs to equip endo/ferro if they do not already have these.

[Cavendish]

If they introduce the Vulture I will pilot that and my Kit Fox exclusivly. I dont care if they force it to use a 2 C-MG, 2 C-SERL build and put a boiler under it that causes overheating if you fire twice in a single game, I WANT IT.

The Vulture is my Urban Mech, regardles of how bad they make it, its hardpoints, its speed, I will pilot it. No heatsinks? No heavy weapons? No mobility? No twist? I dont care! Just look at that mech, its a work of art!

[Satan n stuff]

FupDup, on 15 July 2014 - 09:17 PM, said:

This is why we should get the Hellbringer as our next Clan heavy. It has ECM, which gives it an ability that the Mad Cat can't do.

That would make the first heavy with ECM a clan mech, imagine all the cries of P2W.
They'd probably be right in this case.

Edit: As for the Mad Dog, give it 360 degrees torso twist like it had in MW4, that alone would make up for it being a 60 ton heavy.

Edited by Satan n stuff, 16 July 2014 - 01:49 AM.

[Anjian]

I expect that PGI will announce another mech pack soon enough so it can fill their coffers for the end of the year. I am hoping, and I think its likely this mech pack may include both the Mad Dog and the Hellbringer, along with one or two IS mech introductions before the end of the year. This basically feels how like last year, the Griffin and Wolverine capped the Project Phoenix.

I would think that its logical, both businesswise and gamewise, that we will see the IIC mechs. The IIC mechs are essentially your IS designs retrofitted with Clan tech, or your Clan versions of such mechs like the Hunchback or Orion. From a business persepective, PGI can save money here utilizing currently existing models and animated movements from existing IS mechs, but the weapons they mount will have the external modeling of the Clan weapons, which they ar equipped. An Orion fitted with Clan weapons for me, seems fascinating, as you got a big 75 tonner out there that might offer a good comparison to the Timber Wolf.

[Keeshu]

Satan n stuff, on 16 July 2014 - 01:46 AM, said:

That would make the first heavy with ECM a clan mech, imagine all the cries of P2W.
They'd probably be right in this case.

Edit: As for the Mad Dog, give it 360 degrees torso twist like it had in MW4, that alone would make up for it being a 60 ton heavy.

I wouldn't mind that. Just hopefully that if it can do that, it won't get the turning speed of an Atlas in order to do so like it also did in MW4. That's the one thing that drove me nuts about the Vulture in MW4 (aside from the looks not being the classic).

Anjian, on 16 July 2014 - 02:02 AM, said:

I expect that PGI will announce another mech pack soon enough so it can fill their coffers for the end of the year. I am hoping, and I think its likely this mech pack may include both the Mad Dog and the Hellbringer, along with one or two IS mech introductions before the end of the year. This basically feels how like last year, the Griffin and Wolverine capped the Project Phoenix.

I would think that its logical, both businesswise and gamewise, that we will see the IIC mechs. The IIC mechs are essentially your IS designs retrofitted with Clan tech, or your Clan versions of such mechs like the Hunchback or Orion. From a business persepective, PGI can save money here utilizing currently existing models and animated movements from existing IS mechs, but the weapons they mount will have the external modeling of the Clan weapons, which they ar equipped. An Orion fitted with Clan weapons for me, seems fascinating, as you got a big 75 tonner out there that might offer a good comparison to the Timber Wolf.

I don't think they'll release Mad Dog and Hellbringer back-to-back. They did 2/2/2/2 with the clan pack after all. I assume they'll want to keep it balanced. I'm expecting it to be Mad Dog, then do Fire Moth/Mist Lynx for a light, then Viper/Ice Ferret for a medium, then Gargoyle/Executioner for an assault. Then after they release one of each of those weight classes they'll release the hellbringer. Of course they could go in reverse and save the best for last.


I'm a little ify on the IIC part. While I loved the Jenner IIC in MW2 as a kid, I would like to see what community warfare brings first. There's already a lot of incentive for people to go to clans because of previous Mechwarrior games promoting the clans so much. Making unique Inner Sphere designs also able to become clan would imbalance the community warfare more if we don't have enough Inner Sphere players.
Besides, I'd rather the rest of the unique clan and IS mechs to be released before they even think about doing IIC mechs.
We'll just have to wait and see.

[SgtMagor]

Hellbringer, clans could use an Electronic warfare capable heavy mech. Active probe, ECM, targeting computer, and enough fire power to take on assault mechs. armor problem can be solved a little by taking the anti- personel pods off the mech , and covert the tonnage to more armor. anyway the Summoner needs its little buddy to wing with, The return of the Hammer brothers...

[Kiiyor]

Destructicus, on 15 July 2014 - 09:07 PM, said:

I have to say this everytime I see a thread like this
It boils down to personal taste
oh yeah Timberwolf can do it all, yadda yadda, but I don't need a mech that can do it all
I want to play what I want and what I feel is fun
For me
that would be Mad Dog
Thats why I play my Summoner more than my Timberwolf
Because I want to, because I preferer it over the latter.

I always loved the look of the MadDog. I'm all a-flutter thinking about what Alex could do with it.

[Tremendous Upside]

The Mad Dog... 60 tons, spindly little arms, big fat beer gut. I know it's a fan favorite, but I can't help thinking it will just be the clan version of the Dragon.

[LordKnightFandragon]

I would love it if we didnt get the Mad Dog C so people dont run a GaussDog....

[Keeshu]

Banky, on 16 July 2014 - 03:35 AM, said:

The Mad Dog... 60 tons, spindly little arms, big fat beer gut. I know it's a fan favorite, but I can't help thinking it will just be the clan version of the Dragon.

Well if you think of it the Mad Dog that way, you're probably not going to like it.

What I love about the Mad Dog, is that you can just take one quick glance at it, and you know exactly what it's going to do, which is something I don't really see in most mechs. It's side torsos are practicly made up of missle launchers, and Mad Dog is what made me love Missles so much in the first place. The arms look like a very short upper arm just to connect the guns to the guns, and I tend to like mechs with long barrel arms (like Marauder, Warhammer, Marauder). It's not supposed to look like a super armored mech, It's supposed to shell out missles on someone and finish them off with lasers, so it doesn't need that extra gigantic box on the arms when it's going to put it's tonnage towards weapons. I also love the heck out how it's legs look, but I can't describe why. Overall it just looks very sleek. I also like how it's sort of just leaning back like it's being all cool and stuff, but it's like that for a reason, because LRMs are generally indirect fire weapons it makes sense for the Missles to be pointed upwards.
MW4 turns just about everything I love about the Mad Dog and turns it into a completely different mech. I still like that design, but I like most mech designs and it doesn't have the "OMFG MUST HAVE" effect that the classic Mad Dog does. Also, the MW4 version makes me just want to get a Timber Wolf instead, since Timber Wolves are bigger beefier versions of the Mad Dog, but with a plane center torso and having Ears instead of their torsos being missles.

Also, if you think the Mad Dog has spindly arms, look at the old artwork for Hellbringer and Timber Wolf.
Funnily enough Dragon is my second favorite Inner Sphere design, I just love that massive "mouth" it has (though MWO version looks FAAAAR better than the original imo), and my favorite is Catapult (MWO also has my favorite version of it). Though Jenner and Stalker get mentions. I guess I have a thing for mechs with huge center torsos.

Of course, I don't like big bulky designs unless I know I'm driving a mech with that purpose in mind (Atlas/Dire Wolf). Though I generally don't like piloting Assault mechs because there too slow.

LordKnightFandragon, on 16 July 2014 - 04:13 AM, said:

I would love it if we didnt get the Mad Dog C so people dont run a GaussDog....

Well there's only 3 other configurations outside of Prime that the Mad Dog can use, all the others have new weapons.
A has 1 Ballistic in the RA (LB 5X AC), 3 Missle in the RT (3 SRM 6), 3 Missle in Left Torso (3 SRM 6 again), and 1 Energy in the left arm (ER PPC)
B has 3 Energy in the Right arm (2 ER mediums), 2 Missle in the RT (2 Streak SRM 6), 1 Missle in LT (LRM 20), and 2 E in the Left arm (2 ER Larges)
C has 1 ballistic in the Right arm (Gauss), and 1 ballistic in the left arm (Gauss)
Note: The C only has 4 tons of ammo
A allows the Mad Dog to be even more Missle Focused, and has 1 ballistic
B makes the Prime variant obsolete because it has the same hardpoints, but 1 more Energy, and 1 more missle
C allows the Mad Dog to have yet another Ballistic hardpoint, which allows for more options

I can see why you wouldn't want people running Gauss dog, we see enough PPCs and Gausses in game already. But A and C have more benefits to be picked than B does, so I find it unlikely that we won't get C. Besides, It's not like Dual Guass Mad Dog is going to be the worst thing out there, there's plenty more things that are faaaar more meta than that. I also love mechs that are focused around the guass rifle (Like Shadowcat), even if they aren't useful.

Edited by Keeshu, 16 July 2014 - 04:35 AM.

[Ngamok]

Destructicus, on 15 July 2014 - 09:07 PM, said:

I have to say this everytime I see a thread like this
It boils down to personal taste
oh yeah Timberwolf can do it all, yadda yadda, but I don't need a mech that can do it all
I want to play what I want and what I feel is fun
For me
that would be Mad Dog
Thats why I play my Summoner more than my Timberwolf
Because I want to, because I preferer it over the latter.

Exactly. I don't know why the look of the Summoner (and the Hellbringer) appeals to me more than the Timber Wolf, but it just does. Maybe it has to do with the Warhammer, Thunderbolt, and the Hunchback because I've loved those boxy looks with thick legs with chicken walkers coming up a close 2nd. All Humanoid looking lanky mechs with basically a clearly defined body head and arms I don't like.

Edited by Ngamok, 16 July 2014 - 06:10 AM.