11 replies to this topic

[grendeldog]

Hey guys! I'm just wondering what you all are thinking of doing with the new Timberwolf A variant. I know that it's C-bill release is still quite a ways off - late June if I recall correctly - but that hasn't stopped people from planning builds for the Shadow Cat, Arctic Cheetah, Ebon Jag, etc.

So without further ado, what do you guys have in mind? I think that the foremost advantage is obviously that 3E shoulder pod - I'm gonna have to stuff some CERLL in there, because this mech can now hill-hump with the best of them. It'll be like having those energy hardpoints on the King Crab, where they're above cockpit level by a significant amount. Obviously this will reinforce the current Timberpuke meta machine - not only does it have those 3E up there, it also has an E on each arm and the head.

Anybody consider yet using a ballistic on the right side - S right torso or C right arm omnipods - with that 3E energy pod on the left shoulder? I'm sure that this will be rejected by meta enthusiasts when you could instead use E hardpoints there too, but personally as a meta agnostic pilot I think some dakka would be a great complement to the higher-mounted energy mounts.

Would you guys roll with CLPL in that 3E shoulder pod a la classic laser-vom? Or CERLL? I personally would trade the punch of the LPL for the range of the ERLL, just because for me that shoulder pod is just too well-suited for the longest range possible energy sniping, but I'm sure others will choose the CLPLs.

Anyway, yeah, am I the only one excited to start thinking up builds for this thing? Or do you all also have a hard one for this new TBR?

[Raso]

I'm thinking with maybe 3 LPL high mounted then some SLAS in the arms for point defense. I don't have the luxury of opening Smurfy's atm so I'm not sure what I'd do with the left over tonnage (if any). Might try to swap in some of the JJ equipped pods as well.

[grendeldog]

Yeah I hadn't yet taken a look at builds in the Smurfy-lab - partially because I don't think the chassis is in the system yet - so I did so just now. There should be 27-odd tons of pod space if my quick, 'napkin back' calculation is correct. That's room for three ERLL plus a double heatsink in the shoulder - because there's only five critical slots in the torso I can't put 3 LPL up there. Then that gives room for four more lasers of some sort as far as using only A omnipods and using every E hardpoint. 3 ERLL and 4 ERML isn't shabby at all - it's like my stock Stormcrow Prime on serious steroids.

I can get up to a heat efficiency of 31% with that load out using 7 DHS. I simulated this in Smurfy by putting 3 ERLL with an ERPPC and an LPL - this is the 10 heat each for the ERLL plus 25 heat for the ERPPC and LPL, which simulates the 4 ERML (6 heat each times four being 24).

Then for the tonnage, take the 27.52 for an almost max-armored TBR (minus a point on each leg to make it 27.52 instead of 27.46 so as to make use of the last half ton), and subtract 12 for the ERLLs, 4 for the ERMLs, and 9 for the heatsinks. This leaves you with 2.5 tons, which isn't useful for much (SRM 6 plus half ton of ammo, or SRM 4 plus a ton and a half of ammo). So I expect the meta crowd to ignore that missile hardpoint entirely in the right shoulder. Me? I might take that SRM 4 just in case.

On the other hand, if you bring it down to 2 ERLL, you have four more tons to work with, which is enough for an LRM15 plus three tons of ammo.

I'll take a look at the crit space when I have a bit more time; this is just my quick analysis of an ERLL / ERML combo Timber.

[Raso]

I'm still not clear on pod quirks. Now I'm going to assume the acceleration quirk on the A's pod applies to the whole chassis, as in even if the legs don't match the pod's variant you'll still get the acceleration and breaking bonus. What about the energy weapon bonus? Do those only apply to qualifying weapons in that one pod or is that applied to all weapons on the entire mech?

I mean just looking at the Timber-A it gets +10% (PLUS, as in additional) beam duration so I'm reluctant to use a clan large laser in there.

Edited by Raso, 21 April 2015 - 10:08 AM.

[grendeldog]

Raso, on 21 April 2015 - 10:06 AM, said:

I'm still not clear on pod quirks. Now I'm going to assume the acceleration quirk on the A's pod applies to the whole chassis, as in even if the legs don't match the pod's variant you'll still get the acceleration and breaking bonus. What about the energy weapon bonus? Do those only apply to qualifying weapons in that one pod or is that applied to all weapons on the entire mech?

They apply to the whole chassis. However, the acceleration, deceleration, reverse speed, and laser duration quirks are actually all negative quirks. That is to say acceleration and deceleration will be slower, reverse speed will be slower, laser duration will be longer. This is how PGI is trying to balance having those super-high energy hardpoints.

[Lsq78]

I can certify that 3 LPL, 1 TC, 5 ERSL is a beastly sniper.

[Haike]

I personally run a Gauss+3ton ammo, TC1 + 6 medium lasers. make sure to use the TBR-D arm for the -5%heat generated quirk. This is the most effective build for TBR-A that I found. Bring a advanced zoom+ERML range 5+ gauss cooldown+5 module and go have fun.
The heat generation for this build is that on Caustic(hot map) i can alpha 3 times, gauss once, then alpha again, gauss, alpha again. Extremely effective at all ranges due to ERML having 455m.

Yes the 40armor on legs is low, but im not playing competitive. If i am playing competitive, i would drop 1heat sink 1med laser on the LEFT arm(people would aim a TBR-A left torso) for more armor.

This build is effective on all maps, including the hot ones. Tested the 3LPL builds, too hot to run and the ghost heat is stupid, making your burst damage lower because of the need to cycle through the 3 LPLs. Tried Large lasers, but the burn duration is stupidly long on TBR-A making it not that effective imo.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...483ad41d7132c12

[Lsq78]

Haike, on 23 April 2015 - 09:22 AM, said:

I personally run a Gauss+3ton ammo, TC1 + 6 medium lasers. make sure to use the TBR-D arm for the -5%heat generated quirk. This is the most effective build for TBR-A that I found. Bring a advanced zoom+ERML range 5+ gauss cooldown+5 module and go have fun.
The heat generation for this build is that on Caustic(hot map) i can alpha 3 times, gauss once, then alpha again, gauss, alpha again. Extremely effective at all ranges due to ERML having 455m.

Yes the 40armor on legs is low, but im not playing competitive. If i am playing competitive, i would drop 1heat sink 1med laser on the LEFT arm(people would aim a TBR-A left torso) for more armor.

This build is effective on all maps, including the hot ones. Tested the 3LPL builds, too hot to run and the ghost heat is stupid, making your burst damage lower because of the need to cycle through the 3 LPLs. Tried Large lasers, but the burn duration is stupidly long on TBR-A making it not that effective imo.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...483ad41d7132c12

Neg, the elited 3 LPL is quite manageable I found.

[Repasy Cooper]

The 3x LPL is going to be a popular choice, and with good reason! I'm pleased with the TBR-A in general, and I haven't even modified the stock loadout yet. This guy has great potential for brawling. I find it has a similar playstyle to the TBR-D, except where the D excels at taking out lights and mediums, the A can punch a hole through an assault's armor very quickly. Possible contender for next king of the battlefield perhaps? At least the laser-vomit shoulder omnipod is going to get heavy use.

[Lsq78]

Repasy, on 23 April 2015 - 11:19 AM, said:

The 3x LPL is going to be a popular choice, and with good reason! I'm pleased with the TBR-A in general, and I haven't even modified the stock loadout yet. This guy has great potential for brawling. I find it has a similar playstyle to the TBR-D, except where the D excels at taking out lights and mediums, the A can punch a hole through an assault's armor very quickly. Possible contender for next king of the battlefield perhaps? At least the laser-vomit shoulder omnipod is going to get heavy use.

A brawler?... That omnipod turns it more into a good hillhumper imho. Something the TBR was not really suited for until that point.
The most adaptable mech just got even more multitask.

EDIT: just noticed Metamech updated its comp builds. Now the top TBRs in mid and long range all have that omnipod...

Edited by Lsq78, 23 April 2015 - 11:39 AM.

[Repasy Cooper]

Lsq78, on 23 April 2015 - 11:34 AM, said:

A brawler?... That omnipod turns it more into a good hillhumper imho. Something the TBR was not really suited for until that point.
The most adaptable mech just got even more multitask.

EDIT: just noticed Metamech updated its comp builds. Now the top TBRs in mid and long range all have that omnipod...

Well, for a pulse vomit brawler I figure it has potential, but that's just me.

[SmoothCriminal]

its either going to be LPLs or LLs in that slot. Alternative LL build that is v nice and cool:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...edf3ece9a4a896d

Though with the extra burn time those LLs are going to be firing for a long time...