MechDB Misadventures, Part 31: Low-Heat Timber Wolf Brawling

MechDB Misadventures, Part 31: Low-Heat Timber Wolf Brawling

With the Timber Wolf (Mad Cat) TBR-N(L) having recently being added to MechWarrior Online Legends as a Loyalty reward, I decided to explore some loadouts based on that chassis, including a few that utilize its full set of 8 OmniPods. After some deliberation, I came up with the following setups as potentially among of the most effective in their intended roles as close-range brawlers:

Above, from top: Two suggestions for close-range brawling builds based on the Timber Wolf TBR-N(L) loyalty variant. The former utilizes the Prime variant's arms to fit in two additional Clan Medium Pulse Lasers in place of two tons of surplus Clan SRM ammo, the Light Active Probe, and a half-ton of armor found in the latter's set of 8 build, thus trading heat efficiency and sustained firepower for longer range and extra alpha strike potential. The latter (which relies on the N variant's set of 8 OmniPods) lacks the extra pair of Clan Medium Pulse Lasers found in the former, but instead adds a half-ton of armor and a Light Active Probe in addition to two extra tons of Clan SRM ammo, with the regular Clan Machine Guns and their ammo swapped for Clan Heavy Machine Guns (with 1 ton of Clan HMG ammo for each), thus trading range for DPS output and heat efficiency while absorbing any excess mass.

Both builds are equally effective at close-range brawling - the choice is entirely yours as to whether you prefer stronger alpha strikes or greater combat endurance and heat efficiency. The Set of 8 build can also run Artemis IV-enhanced SRMs if you are willing to swap two tons of SRM ammo for the spare tonnage necessary for the resulting increase in accuracy.

In short, the TBR-N(L), with its eclectic hardpoint mix, is just the ticket if you want a brawling Timber Wolf that doesn't use or even need Jump Jets in any of its OmniPods.