Pyro mechanic idea

[MistaEvil]

So I'm at work after playing all night, and i got this idea for the pyro.

Basically he would gain an ability to "overcharge" his flamethrower in order to add range to the flame. The pyro would activate a bar kind of like the snipers power up bar, but different in that if the bar reaches full power the pyro bursts into flames and takes x amount of damage. once the ability is activated it'd charge up until it reached full or till the player used it by firing; the more you let it charge up the more distance you'll get on your flame attack, but if you let it go to high it explodes in your face (something to make it tricky to use so it's not overpowered). Also to keep ppl. from using it all the time it would have a cooldown time like the spys cloak ability, but longer.

This is just something i think would be nice for closing the gap that's there sometimes, plus it would add an element of danger to using the pyro: just like with real fire if your not careful you'll get burnt!

(note: this ability wouldn't increase the damage just the range, and it'd have a set usage time like 3 seconds or so until your Flamer range returns to normal).

so what do you all think?

 

[delusional]

I think valve wants the player to ambush other players and catch them by surprise, and if they did this, then you kind of lessen that strategy.

 

[MistaEvil]

Yeah but don't you find it kind of odd they listed it as an offensive class? Ambushing is more defensive, at least it feels that way in this game. Anyhow I don't see how the pyro can be an effective member if he just sits around waiting for somebody to show up. Most of the time I played as a pyro I ran around finding targets, and it worked way better then when I tried to ambush people. eh I think this would help the pyro fit into it's offensive role better.