44 replies to this topic

[AjerWerklWerkl]

I have been saving for months to get the Timber Wolf when it comes out... and now it is!

I'm obviously excited about it because of how fast and powerful it is, and how long it seems to last... and it seems like a great c-bill farmer (return on investment).

Not knowing much about Clan mechs (this would be my first), I've been wondering a few things, though, and would be grateful for any advice!

1. How many additional c-bills will I need to live up to its full potential? (Seems like not much, whereas IS mechs need at least 2 million for DHS & endo, and maybe more for an engine!)

2. Is it still great even without eliting? (Coz that ain't gonna happen... I have a life and there is no way I'll be grinding another ~40 million c-bills to buy 2 more TWs!)

3. How likely is PGI to nerf the TW horribly? (This is of course subjective...) But I fear that my hard-earned c-bills will be wasted if there's a huge nerf, and I'd be better off buying several IS mechs for mastering several chassis.

4. Is there a particular TW variant that's best, or are they all great and the choice comes down to personal playstyle or weapon preference?

Thank you! (Hopefully this thread will help others who are trying to figure out similar questions!)

Edited by AjerWerklWerkl, 12 November 2014 - 10:55 AM.

[FupDup]

1. I didn't do the exact math, but they're in the neighborhood of about 15M spacebucks each. I.e. a lot. Note however that you at least don't need to change your engine/armor/structure from stock (well, redistribute the armor points, but the total tonnage and armor type will be the same or perhaps lower if you strip 0.5 tons).

2. Will probably be hot, but otherwise it's a solid robot. Either way, all robots are orders of magnitude better when 2x elited than when running just the basics.

3. It's a fairly safe assumption to make. The Highlander was once the best mech in the game...

Edited by FupDup, 12 November 2014 - 08:02 AM.

[Sheraf]

If it is your favorite mech, why not? I want to buy one too, but I bought a Direwolf before, so have to wait

[anonymous161]

This is why I quit playing this game, I maybe get on like once a month for a single match then shrug and log off.

The fact that we ask these questions should tell you what you need to know. Dont waste your time, if you even think it wont be worth it.

The clans were my only reason for playing the game, but then they nerf the ******* **** out of them to the point they are no longer fun to really play, and even if they roll all those changes back they already lost me. They have done nothing but nerfs in this damn game. This isn't a game this is just someone personal test to see how many people that can steal money from while not delivering jack **** that has been promised over 2 years ago.

[MadPanda]

If you got the cbills then buy it. You can exchange your cbills for dollars.

[Widowmaker1981]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 12 November 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

2. Is it still great even without eliting? (Coz that ain't gonna happen... no way I'll be grinding another ~40 million c-bills to buy 2 more!)

EVERY mech in this game is a faint shadow of its potential before its elited (2x basics). You are absolutely shooting yourself in the foot if you dont plan to master

[Marmon Rzohr]

Darth Bane001, on 12 November 2014 - 07:55 AM, said:

This is why I quit playing this game, I maybe get on like once a month for a single match then shrug and log off.

The fact that we ask these questions should tell you what you need to know. Dont waste your time, if you even think it wont be worth it.

The clans were my only reason for playing the game, but then they nerf the ******* **** out of them to the point they are no longer fun to really play, and even if they roll all those changes back they already lost me. They have done nothing but nerfs in this damn game. This isn't a game this is just someone personal test to see how many people that can steal money from while not delivering jack **** that has been promised over 2 years ago.

Why are the Clans not fun to play ?
Also they are still OP.

AjerWerklWerkl, on 12 November 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

I have been saving for months to get the Timber Wolf when it comes out... and now it is!

I'm obviously excited about it because of how fast and powerful it is, and how long it seems to last... and it seems like a great c-bill farmer (return on investment).

Not knowing much about Clan mechs (this would be my first), I've been wondering a few things, though, and would be grateful for any advice!

1. How many additional c-bills will I need to live up to its full potential? (Seems like not much, whereas IS mechs need at least 2 million for DHS & endo, and maybe more for an engine!)

2. Is it still great even without eliting? (Coz that ain't gonna happen... no way I'll be grinding another ~40 million c-bills to buy 2 more!)

3. How likely is PGI to nerf the TW horribly? (This is of course subjective...) But I fear that my hard-earned c-bills will be wasted if there's a huge nerf, and I'd be better off buying several IS mechs for mastering several chassis.

Thank you! (Hopefully this thread will help others who are trying to figure out similar questions!)

I would reccomend a buy if you like heavy mechs. It's very fast and agile and puts other heavies to shame. This is also something that makes it very fun to play. As far as price goes I think that it costs way less than 20 million CBills per mech, even if you change all the weapons, use smurfy's mechlab to plan out your builds so you don't waste money changing them and you should be fine in getting 3 to elite the chassis. Yes, you can play it without the Elite bonus, but the Elite bonus is huge.

As far as future nerfs go, I don't think it will ever be nerfed too hard. It's arguably the most popular and famous design in BattleTech and the focus for a lot of fan attention. It's also very flexible so even if it gets nerfed I doubt it will ever be a bad mech.

These days you can PUG well even in a Dragon...

Edited by Marmon Rzohr, 12 November 2014 - 08:09 AM.

[Myke Pantera]

I don't run them but my experience from other clan mechs:

1) Depends on how much weapons and omnipods you are going to change.
375k for each changed omnipod + weapon prices.
You can't change FF, ES or DHS and your engine is fixed so no hidden costs there. Artemis costs as usual (afaik)

2) Like with any other mech in this game... The full potential of each mech comes with it being at least elited. Double basics and speed tweak are no minor buffs. It won't be crap just because of that, but you won't reach it's full potential that's for sure.

3) I don't think they will nerf the TBR exclusively, but they might still tweak some clan-weapons. If clans get a Quirk pass, don't expect the TBR to get any!

[Sable]

The Timberwolf won't be nerfed by PGI, it is in a very good spot. If anything i think the side torso's could use a bit extra structure points to make up for the missile pods counting as torso. I've seen good pilots specifically target the missile pods instead of actually hitting the sides of the timberwolf.

You shouldn't need too much extra money per timberwolf depending on which build you were going for. The omni pods cost about 500k each so if you plan on mixing and matching those then i'd say about 2 million extra. I kept my prime timberwolf mostly the same only downgrading the LRM20s to 15s, stripping out the machine guns and adding in more heat sinks. I like the classic feel of them.

What makes the Timberwolf so popular besides looking cool is that it's at just the right spot in tonnage, speed, armor and firepower. You can do almost every build in a Stormcrow that you can do in a Timberwolf only with less armor. Seriously, i actually had trouble differentiating my stormcrows from my Timberwolves for this reason. I was like wait.. i already made this on my timberwolf why don't i just use it instead.

Edited by Sable, 12 November 2014 - 08:11 AM.

[dragnier1]

It cost me less to fix up my timberwolves than my summoners. If you like it and can afford it, go ahead. It's not like you spent real cash on it.

[Hastur Azargo]

If you can somehow afford to buy it for real cash, just spend those $55, get an invasion variant and save your c-bills. If that's not an option, I'd still say buy it. It's a Mad Kitty, a mascot, an icon. It deserves to be in the hangars of every mechwarrior out there. Also, it's the best mech in the game, so when played well, it will consistently deliver, even without elite skills. You'll still lose matches, but those are matches no amount of elite skills would be able to save, this is a team game, after all.

At the end of the day, if any mech is worth spending your hard earned c-bills on, it's this one. Get it, drive it, have fun. Don't be impatient, and you'll eventually gather enough c-bills to buy its sisters, if at that point you decide to do so.

[anonymous161]

op my ass, it just takes team work, shoot the arms and you take out their ability to survive another minute.

They nerfed their only real viable long range weapon to dust, making it hotter and having to hold a lot longer which typically causes ff and some people go ape and tk you for that even if on accident.

Mostly though was just the nerfing in general...I'm sick of them nerfing and tweaking everything even if it generally was working fine. This will never feel out of beta so I stopped playing it.

[Roadbuster]

1. Depends on your loadout. Do you want to get other hardpoints and weapons? Then you might want to add 1-2mil.
Want a totally different loadout with many non-stock weapons? Then add another 2-6mil.
(just estimations)

2. As with every mech, elite is just too much of a bonus to pass.
It will perform well without elite, but you'll always miss the full potential.

3. I don't think they will nerf the Timber much or at all. It's a good and solid mech, but imho, it's not OP.


If you should buy one, nobody can tell you. It's your decision.
Just ask yourself why you want exactly this mech:

- Is it just to get CB?
There are many IS alternatives which are alot cheaper and also very potent. Light mechs can earn the same as assaults, so that's not really something you need a Timberwolf for.

- Is it because other players tell you how good it is?
Maybe it doesn't even suit your playstyle. Think about what you like (weapons, hardpoint positions,...) and check if the mech you want to buy meets your preferences.

- Is it because you like the chasis and just want to have fun with your favourite mech?
That's perfectly fine and probably the most important reason to get a certain mech.

[Mechteric]

It's a good mech it seems, though personally I'm saving up my CBills for the MadDog/Vulture.

Edited by CapperDeluxe, 12 November 2014 - 08:23 AM.

[Bront]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 12 November 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

3. How likely is PGI to nerf the TW horribly? (This is of course subjective...) But I fear that my hard-earned c-bills will be wasted if there's a huge nerf, and I'd be better off buying several IS mechs for mastering several chassis.

Assuming PGI doesn't slow it down or directly nerf the hitboxes (which don't seem broken, but like the Stalker spread damage well and sensibly while registering hits properly), the Timberwolf will always be a good mech. The Highlander example earlier isn't a good example because the HGN was dominant due to it's Poptart potential, compared to the Victor Poptarts, which were also good mobile brawlers (The HGN doesn't brawl as well due to the hitbox, and isn't very XL friendly). Meanwhile Stalkers, while not always the best meta mech, have always been relevant due to their great hit boxes, high mounted weapons, and durability. So, unless they revamp the model or nerf it's turn speed into the ground, the TW has the hardpoints, profile, and speed to be a good mech regardless of what's done to clan weapons. It may cease to be a Teir 1 mech, but it's unlikely fall very far.

The bigger question is: When CW rolls around, will you be IS or Clan? If you're going IS, do you have all the mechs you'll need for CW? (IE, 240 tons worth in 4 mechs). If the answer is IS and no, buy an IS mech first. If the answer is Clan, or IS and Yes, the Timberwolf can't hurt, and could be fun.

I had every intention to buy Dire Wolves, Stormcrows and Timberwolves despite being an IS pilot. I grabbed a DW, got the crows on sale, but have since been buying weapon modules for my IS mechs in prep for CW and haven't even elited my crows yet (Didn't hurt that I also get the Cent, Atlas, Misery, and TDK around the same time). Consider how much time you have, how many CB you have saved up, and factor that in as well.

[anonymous161]

Dont worry they will ruin them in a few months and people will be shocked and outraged!

[Felicitatem Parco]

Darth Bane001, on 12 November 2014 - 08:21 AM, said:

*Sad that Timberwolves aren't automatic Crutch Mechs for low-skill pilots .

Yeah, Russ Bullock said on Twitter that the Timberwolf will remain better than an equal-weight Orion, despite the claim that they are trying to balance the Clans and IS for 12v12 fights. It's just not going to be as ridiculously overpowered compared to IS Mechs as the BattleTech Lore says.

[Joseph Mallan]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 12 November 2014 - 07:49 AM, said:

I have been saving for months to get the Timber Wolf when it comes out... and now it is!

I'm obviously excited about it because of how fast and powerful it is, and how long it seems to last... and it seems like a great c-bill farmer (return on investment).

Not knowing much about Clan mechs (this would be my first), I've been wondering a few things, though, and would be grateful for any advice!

1. How many additional c-bills will I need to live up to its full potential? (Seems like not much, whereas IS mechs need at least 2 million for DHS & endo, and maybe more for an engine!)

2. Is it still great even without eliting? (Coz that ain't gonna happen... I have a life and there is no way I'll be grinding another ~40 million c-bills to buy 2 more TWs!)

3. How likely is PGI to nerf the TW horribly? (This is of course subjective...) But I fear that my hard-earned c-bills will be wasted if there's a huge nerf, and I'd be better off buying several IS mechs for mastering several chassis.

Thank you! (Hopefully this thread will help others who are trying to figure out similar questions!)

as a FedSon you should but a Jager.

[MeiSooHaityu]

I want one, but at this rate, I'll never be able to afford one. I'd get around 12,000,000 C-Bills and then buy and XL engine, or a module, etc... and be back down around 8 or 9 mil. Plus I normally can't find the time to play other than Friday.

Yea, the un-attainable Timber Wolf will taunt me for a long time.

[Mister Blastman]

I hope beyond hope that PGI decides that instead of nerfing the Timberwolf, they nerf the damn matchmaker.

I swear, there is nothing more OP at the moment in the game than the matchmaker! Dat matchmaker! Curse you! Want to know why I stop playing periodically? The matchmaker.