Thread: Should the pyro be considered a heavy class?

Originally Posted by Vulcan30

I think it's a support class. A very deadly one. A good pyro can do anything a heavy, demo, and soldier do but the nature of the class doesn't allow the pyro the same efficiency as the others in say destroying sg gun, using kritz, or covering alot of ground fast. Plus, TF2 is a game of choke points. Pyros lack spam capability which cripples them. However, pyros are good at harassing snipers, spies, ubers, and kritz better than the heavy classes.

Seems like I'm rippin' on the pyro alot. I don't consider them a heavy class, but I still consider them essential to having a balanced team. And I wouldn't ask a good pyro to switch classes unless the team has too many of them. It's just one of those things where people will probably just have to agree to disagree.

Now those are some good counter-points I can agree with. Well said.

Only if Hush! or Ruukil is playing it..

I usually only do it to defend Old Blood and his sentry's :P

On the rare occasions I do play Pyro, which is usually after the tenth backstab, I start out with the good intentions to hang back and protect Engies and check for Spies. But the aggro nature of the class—after getting just a taste of that sweet, sweet short-range destruction—inevitably pushes me out into open spaces and into lone-wolf scenarios. There's something reptilian about it.

And that's when the failing begins. She's not designed for that type of gameplay, and she unfortunately doesn't pocket well with a Medic unless there is constant communication, ala Fire at Will (among others) chatting it up about what we're going to roast next.

It's like what Consultant said many moons ago (and I'm paraphrasing here): "When I play Pyro, I want to run around and burn things to death." In other words, I don't want to camp with Engies and be a Spy-checking buddy. There's more fun to be had out yonder in Cartoonland.

tl;dr version:

Cousin Sketch playing Pyro = support class who should just stay the hell back and be happy with a random airblast off a cliff every now and then.

Good TPG Pyro = support class who knows how and when to appropriately push as a heavy class.

My 2¢.

Pyro is not at all a heavy class. Neither is scout. Neither are any of the classes that aren't soldier/demo/heavy.

A lot of people are confusing "heavy class" with "class that gets kills most effectively."

These are not at all the same thing.

A skilled player can dominate a lot of people with scout/sniper/pyro/spy, but that is completely independent of whether or not said class is a "heavy class."

I think a heavy class characterized by high damage output and high health. In particular, a heavy class is a class that a low skilled player would be most useful in, because even if they are bad, they can still tank damage and spam rockets/grenades/bullets.

TL;DR a heavy class is that which there can always be more of, regardless of player skill level.
No one ever complains that "we don't need four soldiers." I don't think the same can be said for pyros.

Originally Posted by AetheLove

Seriously.

Have you looked at the pyro lately? He was always a bit pear-shaped, and that nomex jump-suit doesn't help, but the flaming poofer is looking pretty portly these days.

I think he's drinking a lot of beer and relying too much on the flare gun. Waddle your ass up there, pyro. If you kicked a little more of someone else's ass there might be a little less of yours.

Cheers,


AetheLove

(does "poofing flamer" scan better?)

Are you saying Pyro looks fat in those pants??

Originally Posted by EBF

Are you saying Pyro looks fat in those pants??

Uh oh... this is one of those "no good answer" questions, right?

Still, since I already referred to him as "he" when apparently there's a good chance that he's a Sheila, I'm not sure there's any more damage to be done here.

So: "No. Not at all. What made you think that? Those pants look great on you."

Cheers,


AetheLove