Backburner Upgrade?

Since the overpowed Backburner got it's well needed nerf, if has since been looked at as a useless n00b weapon. I originally used it, even after the nerf, but have now gone back to the Airblast side.

The Backburner is designed to help the Pyro for ambushing, so here is a topic idea. What ability could be given to the Backburner to assist him in ambushing, but wouldn't make the Pyro too powerful on a regular basis...only ambushing.
Any Ideas?

The Backburner is very powerful if you can sneak up on your foe. Any useful, apt upgrade would help make this happen.

CRAZY IDEA!!!

What if you did more damage depending on how many enemies and allies were in the area? If you're truly ambushing, why would you have many allies around? Also, if there's less enemies, you should do more damage. I like it, but I guess I've been playing too much L4D...

I think you might be missing the point.

The backburner, is already an overpowered weapon. It can do everything the butterfly knife can do, is easier to aim and time, has a faster rate of fire, and does waaay more damage. The only major differense is that the Spy can cloak to get behind his enemy.

Before the Pyro update, the class had a very low priority as far as being a target was concerned. Most classes could DM a Pyro with little difficulty, so in the midst of battle they can be easily ignored. This gives the player an incentive to flank the enemy or attack from behind: where they least expect it to happen.

But now that the flamer just does so much damage, no matter what range or angle or class targeted, he is now the highest priority target to seasoned players, moreso than any other combat class. Even when I play Heavy, when I see a Spy and a Pyro, I go for the Pyro first. This means that players have a harder time "sneaking around" because, once noticed, they will be called out and hunted down. No one wants a Pyro to kill off four people in less than 3 seconds after flanking them, coming out unscathed, getting buffed, and then doing it all over again. They can already do that from attacking head on.

The best way to solve this problem is not to buff the weapon, but nerf the damage. It will give the class a lower target priority, meaning he can go back to being sneaky like the class was meant to be played. It will actually encourage players to sneak from behind because, right now, the damage you do from critting and what you do normally is practically negligible, only when fighting the heaviest of classes (buffed soldiers/heavies) does it actually make a difference. If the damage was nerfed, they would have to go for the BB crits in order to earn kills.

I think Nekped pretty much got it. I also choose the airblast over the BB because of it's defensive capabilities. If you want offensive power, go with the BB.

Regarding the pyro class as a whole, I think we should increase damage falloff and afterburn damage. Since crits aren't affected by damage falloff the backburner would be a more viable alternative and the increased afterburn will make the flaregun actually worth the difficulty in aim. Also, the pyro will be less of a direct combat class like the heavy or demo and more of a support/ambush class, relying either on the backcrits to kill unsuspecting enemies or the afterburn to weaken enemies to help teamates finsih them off. My $0.02.

I don't think the pyro needs any kind of damage buff. That would be ridiculous to be honest. Longer afterburn would be brutal too, the pyro would then be far too good at hit and runs, especially against weaker classes like scouts, cause they could happy leave them after flaming them for a second knowing they would die, while having taken minimum damage from doing so (unless it's in an open area ).

I agree with a lot of what NEKPED said. I think the backburner's ability to crit from behind should be increased by making the part of the hitbox that cause the crits to be slightly inceased in size. However I think that would call for a slight reduction in damage overall for the flamer.
I do however think the impact damage from the flare gun should be slightly increased, but still not enough for it to cause a significant amount, because it is meant to be a weapon for harrassment. Considering that if you fail to find e med kit or medic if hit by one flare shot, you could probably lose up to 80 health (I think).

I didn't say damage buff, I said increased damage falloff as in less damage at a distance. But otherwise you have a good point.

Oh yeah, sorry Slightly drunk... What is the damage falloff now? I would say around 50% would be ok. But I don't play the pyro all that much. Have about 40 hours or so.

CLOAK.

J/k.  Really, a speed boost, or something minor.  Actually, the Pyro in general should have a speed boost, like medic speed.