7:37 PM - flame ♫: best update ever
- Thread starter The Political Gamer
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Eyce
L6: Sharp Member
- Jan 13, 2010
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While that arguement has some vague ground, the simple fact of the matter is that the strongest aspect of a flamethrower in the game is unrelated to fire.
That and it's weak as piss in close combat now. You can't proclaim "but you have your shotgun" because by that point you'll be downed by virtually every class in the game.
It feels kinda weird to have a pyro, as somebody whose primary purpose is supposed to shoot flames, gets his/her/its supposed role nerfed. Less damage, less afterburn to 'poison' the enemy. Afterburn was rather easily resolved before with many different ways to get rid of, now it's even worse.
While the airblast is buffed up now, along with the damage nerf to the flame attacks, this pushes the backburner much further down the pecking order when compared to the airblast flamethrower (as in the likeliness of using the backburner was a 4 out of 10 in most situations to probably a 1-2 out of 10 now). They might as well call the backburner an afterthought.
I suppose this would be a reaction to the number of W+M1 pyros out there, but even with this nerf I doubt they'll change their playstyles or stop using pyros.
So err, yeah, headscratcher.
On other notes, yay for Heavy speedup!
While the airblast is buffed up now, along with the damage nerf to the flame attacks, this pushes the backburner much further down the pecking order when compared to the airblast flamethrower (as in the likeliness of using the backburner was a 4 out of 10 in most situations to probably a 1-2 out of 10 now). They might as well call the backburner an afterthought.
I suppose this would be a reaction to the number of W+M1 pyros out there, but even with this nerf I doubt they'll change their playstyles or stop using pyros.
So err, yeah, headscratcher.
On other notes, yay for Heavy speedup!
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What if the Backburner's afterburn did more/lasted longer than the Flamethrower. Would people use it more?
Yes, I noted that there was no change to DPS in a later post.
I don't think I'll really mind the 20% less damage with the flamethrower unless it affects my ability to circle strafe sentries. 20% isn't really a big deal; what's that mean, I spend another second burning a player?
The afterburn nerf however.... ugh, that was completely uneeded. Skilled players pretty much ignored it anyway as the only time it'd kill someone is if they were alone, far from health, and wasn't a class with a way to extinguish it. Usually afterburn just fed the enemy medic's ubers. So many ways to extinguish it:
1) Health packs
2) Water
3) Medics
4) Bonk
5) Airblast
6) Charging Targe
7) Jarate
Ironically, now that it only does 36 dmg, there's not really any reason to waste the airblast ammo or jarate timer on putting someone out unless they're almost dead.
Backburner needs a lot to be worthwhile. The problem with the backburner is that the airblast is already SO incredibly useful... and now with this update, it's even MORE useful. Give it old flamethrower damage and full length afterburn, and maybe it'd be alright.
The flare gun is also nerfed pretty significantly due to the afterburn. Means you absolutely can not miss that second shot if you want the mini crit, and long distance shots are fairly pointless to try to follow up. If it still had full length afterburn, I wouldn't care about the flamethrower's 6 second afterburn.
Meanwhile a demo with no heads can now slaughter a fresh 125hp class in a single charge (50 bash + 88 eyelander) without having to soften the target up with a pipe. I usually suck at taking heads, so the demo in me is going WOOOHOO!! But still Valve's main playtest group must consist of one seriously pro pyro and a completely newbie demo.
TL;DR: Afterburn nerf is freaking ridiculous. 20% flamethrower dmg reduction is no big deal. Airblast and other class uptweaks are freaking gold, though.
[Edit] Also, I reread this and it comes across as a lot more whiney/rant than I actually feel about the whole thing. Overall, once the new bugs are fixed, this could be a pretty amazing update.
Kep
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If that's possible, I'd use the Backburner more. Or not get the 20% damage reduction with this update, I'd be able to choose.
It'll be a better choice for the Pyro, should I go for more direct damage (with 100% crits at your enemies' behinds) but can't reflect or juggle anything, or lesser damage with a valid solution to counter projectiles and setup the juggle into axe combo? Both are very viable options if presented.
After writing the previous post, I don't really mind that the damage nerf is given to the airblast flamethrower, since it means if you want to be good, you gotta learn to airblast. I guess my main qualm is that it's bringing the Backburner along for the ride.
- Nov 25, 2008
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Heavy damage buff?
What?
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Leminnes
aa
- Jan 20, 2010
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Heavy needs some love. He really does.
It's primarily the spy/sniper instant kills that make people not play heavy. Heavies are giant walking targets for both of those classes. However, heavy is far from a bad class, I know plenty of amazing heavies, people just don't find him fun to play.
- Aug 11, 2008
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Honestly, the worst thing in this update for the pyro is the fact that they decided to buff the heavy.
The pyro's flamethrower is still vital for max damage, but you gotta use it like a good pyro does for the max benefit (Fire/Blasting). The main problem though is since the heavy got a buff, MY GOD, SO MANY HEAVIES.
Honestly pyroing against heavies... is like trying to dig through a brick wall with a spoon. Double axing them takes a good 3-4 seconds.
The flamethrower's less damage in the end means I may actually use my axtinguisher more now as well.
EDIT: That is if I can even play, as when my computer detects I'm wanting to play TF2 it goes "LOL LETS LOSE ALL YO PACKETS" and ploop, no more idea to play tf2.
The pyro's flamethrower is still vital for max damage, but you gotta use it like a good pyro does for the max benefit (Fire/Blasting). The main problem though is since the heavy got a buff, MY GOD, SO MANY HEAVIES.
Honestly pyroing against heavies... is like trying to dig through a brick wall with a spoon. Double axing them takes a good 3-4 seconds.
The flamethrower's less damage in the end means I may actually use my axtinguisher more now as well.
EDIT: That is if I can even play, as when my computer detects I'm wanting to play TF2 it goes "LOL LETS LOSE ALL YO PACKETS" and ploop, no more idea to play tf2.
I can't help but feel that the pyro's changes were a knee-jerk response to the people who just hate pyros on principle. I don't know why so many people have a problem with pyros who just charge into battle with their flamethrower spraying; that's almost never worked as a strategy for me. He's always been at his best when he's sneaking up on people.
Frankly, I might just start using the Backburner more now; I've never had the reflexes to airblast rockets, and putting people out is just a waste of ammo now.
Frankly, I might just start using the Backburner more now; I've never had the reflexes to airblast rockets, and putting people out is just a waste of ammo now.
PMAvers
L6: Sharp Member
- Jan 29, 2008
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There's a snapshot they released either last night or this morning (forget which) of SM that's supposed to work. There's going to be a normal release of it when they've checked that there's no other problems.
