51 replies to this topic

[EpyonComet]

So my go-to mech right now is a Cataphract CTF-1X with 5 x ML and an AC-20, and I consider myself to be pretty good at piloting it. I can consistently get what I consider to be good damage numbers, and I'm not bad at torso twisting and damage mitigation.

I'd like to build up a Clan drop deck, as my merc unit cycles between Clan and IS, and so I thought I'd start with the Timber Wolf since it was on sale and I know it's supposed to be one of the overall best mechs in the game. I'm running a pretty standard 4 x SMR-6A and 4 x SPL brawler build with a TBR-D CT. My problem is that this thing is just so. Damn. Fragile. Or at least it seems that way to me. No matter how I try to position my arms to take damage, and no matter how much armor I load up on my front, my side torsos just seem to disappear in an instant any time the enemy bothers to shoot me.

And that's why I'm here, asking for advice on brawling in a Timber Wolf. From the information available here, can anyone give me some idea as to what I might be doing wrong? Or perhaps provide any general advice on brawling and/or Timber Wolves? Thanks in advance.

[Tombs Clawtooth]

I have the same problem with a timberwolf.

I'd recommend getting an ebon jaguar and forgetting about the timberwolf if you want to brawl. Even though the EBJ has considerably less armor, it feels like it can take considerably more hits.

I'm working on mastering the timberwolf right now and it has been misery from start to finish, it can't handle being shot at, at all.

[Leeroy Jenkin]

word of advice.... timber can brawl.... let me guess, you are shutting down from heat in the middle of the brawl after only two or three alpha's? Drop the 4th srm, and get the omni pods that give you around 6 lasers. I run my timbers with 6 smpl, 2 machine guns, and 3 srms6. It is a brutal brawling build....but you can't just run in and expect to brawl it out with several mechs and not get focused down. Timbers are prime targets by many, hit fast, duck behind cover, and if need be run to give you the advantage and spread out targets chasing you down.

Use cover/buildings, hills, use your jump jets..... fire off a alpha, use your speed to duck behind cover, cool down for a sec, come back out and alpha again. Pick up seismic and pulse cool down level five and range. If you are getting lrm'd to death, drop the cool down for the pulse lasers AND PICK UP RADAR DEP. Good to go.... promise

Edited by Leeroy Jenkin, 30 September 2016 - 11:46 AM.

[Jetfire]

I would really not consider the EBJ or the TBW a brawler. A fast striker maybe, but not a brawler.

[Mechteric]

You're a much bigger target as a Timberwolf, so you wind up being primary target more than other "lesser" chassis I find. Also no structure/armor quirks like you might find on some IS mechs.

[Metus regem]

I've not piloted a EBJ yet, so I cannot comment on it from a piloting perspective, for a killing perspective, they are easy kills due to their large CT hit box...

TImber's on the other hand, are a very strong mech, my go-to murder machine for a Timber is this:

TBR-Metus

I use cASRM/4's as they offer a better grouping and faster recycle times over the cASRM/6's. I also use the cERPPC's for medium to long range punch, but I never group fire those, only chain fire. Setting the cERPPC's to chain fire seems to help with their hit-reg.

I will be honest, my build is not for those with out decent to good aim, and good trigger discipline.

[FrontGuard]

this is a Troll right?

I have been Brawled down by a TBW in one of my Dire Wolfs head to head starting at 100%

Check your armor... you are probably only using half.

[Leeroy Jenkin]

FrontGuard, on 30 September 2016 - 11:46 AM, said:

this is a Troll right?

I have been Brawled down by a TBW in one of my Dire Wolfs head to head starting at 100%

Check your armor... you are probably only using half.

Yep, I have no worries about going head to toe with any assault mechs one on one with a brawling timber. Ezpeeze

[Tombs Clawtooth]

FrontGuard, on 30 September 2016 - 11:46 AM, said:

this is a Troll right?

I have been Brawled down by a TBW in one of my Dire Wolfs head to head starting at 100%

Check your armor... you are probably only using half.

54/82/54 front armor for me.

I have been 1 shot from the front before. I have peeked corners only to instantly collapse.

These are things I never witnessed in my EBJ across more than 300 games. My EBJ on the other hand has gone toe to toe with assaults and survived quite easily countless times.

Edited by Tombs Clawtooth, 30 September 2016 - 11:49 AM.

[The Zohan]

Try a Twolf with UAC20/4xSRM6 for a brawler. Don't go solo though, either stick with another (mid Range) heavy or with an assault. Works like a Charm, ammo can be an issue in extended matches however.

[Tombs Clawtooth]

The Zohan, on 30 September 2016 - 11:51 AM, said:

Try a Twolf with UAC20/4xSRM6 for a brawler. Don't go solo though, either stick with another (mid Range) heavy or with an assault. Works like a Charm, ammo can be an issue in extended matches however.

What would be a timberwolf that would be closest to my EBJ in damage output and range? 2xUAC10, 4xERSL, 2xSRM2 is what I run on my EBJ but it will not fit in a timberwolf. It'll at least touch people out to 700.

[N0ni]

This is what i use exactly on one of my Primes: TBR-PRIME

Same setup as OP's D, but the key to success is to spread the damage more so than your average TBR due to having larger ST hitboxes thanks to lego mechs. Never shield one side more than the other and never face tank.

Basically shoot and dance around, repeat.

[ArandomSTD]

EpyonComet, on 30 September 2016 - 11:23 AM, said:

So my go-to mech right now is a Cataphract CTF-1X with 5 x ML and an AC-20, and I consider myself to be pretty good at piloting it. I can consistently get what I consider to be good damage numbers, and I'm not bad at torso twisting and damage mitigation.

I'd like to build up a Clan drop deck, as my merc unit cycles between Clan and IS, and so I thought I'd start with the Timber Wolf since it was on sale and I know it's supposed to be one of the overall best mechs in the game. I'm running a pretty standard 4 x SMR-6A and 4 x SPL brawler build with a TBR-D CT. My problem is that this thing is just so. Damn. Fragile. Or at least it seems that way to me. No matter how I try to position my arms to take damage, and no matter how much armor I load up on my front, my side torsos just seem to disappear in an instant any time the enemy bothers to shoot me.

And that's why I'm here, asking for advice on brawling in a Timber Wolf. From the information available here, can anyone give me some idea as to what I might be doing wrong? Or perhaps provide any general advice on brawling and/or Timber Wolves? Thanks in advance.

Hey man, I run a Timby brawler that's a bit different that I tuned up on my own.

6 x spl and 3 streak 6s with clan active probe and a tc1. 72 alpha. The 6 Spls are amazing for brawling as well.

I use the streaks as more of a hit and run, but if the target is really damaged then I bite down and brawl. The 360m range also helps tremendously rather than the lousy 270m with srms. With this build I always twist left until my left side is shot, then obviously twist right to spread the damage. I also find that missing that missile rack on the left side makes it much more durable. The streaks also absolutely murder light mechs, making locusts explode in one salvo.

Any skilled player knows to blast off the side torsos so you must protect those the best you can, that is why I've adopted my hit and run/drop and hide style with this Timberwolf. It works really well for me, perhaps you could give it a try and it will work for you. Here is the smurfy.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7a6075e8388bb85

Edited by ArandomSTD, 30 September 2016 - 12:08 PM.

[EpyonComet]

Definitely not a troll thread, and I honestly don't have any heat issues at all, as the thing goes down way too fast for that to ever become an issue. And I'm not using half armor, don't be an *******. I'll try sticking a UAC-20 on the thing and see how that goes but it doesn't really help with my core problem here...

[The Zohan]

I am not really a fan of the UAC10 myself but if you are into this, you can do 2xUAC10, 3xErMedlaser on a timber (prime RA, C RT, A LT omnipod).

[Aiden Skye]

EBJ cannot take more hits than a TBR...EBJ is a glass cannon. Your CT armor is stripped, you might as well be dead. EBJ also takes a lot of leg damage...very easy to get legged. TBR is a hot target, you see one, you shoot it...that said 5 smpl 4a+csrm6 break things and hurts people fast. It can take a lot more damage but you have to spread it all over.

I look at brawling like BVR combat. If you get into a dogfight and haven't destroyed your target miles away, you've made a long series of mistakes.

[Metus regem]

Tombs Clawtooth, on 30 September 2016 - 11:54 AM, said:

What would be a timberwolf that would be closest to my EBJ in damage output and range? 2xUAC10, 4xERSL, 2xSRM2 is what I run on my EBJ but it will not fit in a timberwolf. It'll at least touch people out to 700.

On Smuryf's your EBJ build is boasting a fire power of 48, in contrast my TBR-METUS build that I posted above is pushing 62 with similar heat efficiency.... In the end it would come down to map, map knowledge and pilot skill. Even with armour and fire power favoring the Timber, the Ebon is a better hill humper.

[EpyonComet]

Oh I said I had the D CT, it's actually the S. Sorry about that.

[Yosharian]

Perhaps your problem is not 'Timberwolf' but 'brawling'. The Timber has godlike hitboxes and is nimble, although to be fair it lost a lot of its superiority in that area with the last big requirk.

[Leeroy Jenkin]

If heat is not your issue then you are being focused down....plain and simple.  You might not even see the other mechs pounding you...... be aware of your enemies firing arc's and don't force a bad fight.

Edited by Leeroy Jenkin, 30 September 2016 - 12:20 PM.