BoomStick or Sandvich?

just what the title says... i main as HWG and have been trying to decide... Sandvich is sweet for when u got no medic.  He eats fast enough that i rarely take damage while eating (i have actually survived serious fire damage by eating 3 times while burning... damage was a wash!), however in close quarters or when chain gun/natasha runs out of ammo there is no shotty to fall back on...

what do the other HWGs think?

I think that it majorly depends on whether you're playing arena or normal. In arena, sandvich all the way baby! In a normal game, it's probably better to have the shotgun handy in case of, as you say, running out of bullets.

But generally speaking, the shotgun is the most versatile weapon for me. I find myself playing pyro where I almost use the shotgun more than the flamer (ALMOST).

Regular matches - When using Sascha, Sandvich is better, because you can usually do enough damage with Sascha to get enough kills and still conserve ammo. But I always use the shotty when I use Natascha because you'll often run out of ammo simply because you have to pump 1/4 more bullets into a nearby Solider or Demo just to kill them.

Arena - Always Sandvich. ALWAYS. There are enough ammo crates to refill your ammo at any time, and you've always gotta have a backup plan for when your medic dies or drops. Shotty will get you screwed against pyros on maps like Ravine.

Gonna have to say shotgun. Always, all times.

If your medic is dead in arena, chances are there aren't many people alive left on the map. Eating sandwiches leaves you wide open, increasingly so as more people die (when you'll actually be low health and needing it).

And if you're the last one left alive on arena, you will almost have to use the shotgun. People aren't just going to let you walk up and plow them down.

If you're in a pub and there is no medic on your team, the sandwich is OK.

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This is the statement that decides which one I use. If I go into a pub and know that there is no medic or only really incompetent ones, I will use the sandvich. If there is a medic that's doing his job or if its and organized play of some sort, the shotgun is a must have. Many times has it allowed me to move up with my team or to take out one enemy that is trying to retreat.

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i agree 100% with Echo. In theory the sandvich is a good choice for arena. However, in practice the other team has to have no idea whatsoever where you are or you're screwed. In my opinion the shotgun has way too many practical uses (disrupting snipers untill you can get to cover, using it w/ the KGB for going around corners when you dont wanna jump-rev for each, etc.)

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POW. HAHA!
'nuff said.

Shotgun is always good to have, but as a heavy I prefer my 'retreat-and-eat' tactic, u can get ammo from fallen weapons, which are abundant at times. Besides heavies are too slow for shoot-and-dodge with the shotgun anyway and most enemy can escape the heavy if they want to. I find it rare to finish off an escaping enemy with the shotgun as a heavy.

I unlocked the sandvich yesterday but I have yet to use it. I'm skeptical that I'll want to trade away the shotgun, being able to run and shoot people in the head fits into my cautious playstyle (odd as it may sound). I know HWG isn't exactly mobile, but I need him as mobile as possible. I always draw the shotgun while travelling because I can react quicker should I bump into anyone. A shotgun to the face is a very good deterrant. Two shots is a good exterminator.

I mostly use the minigun for rather stationary shooting, like sitting on my own CP. I also think it appears that a shotgun is a better repellant for snipers as you can sidestep and get at least one or two pellets to hit them over distance and put pressure on them while you find cover. The shotgun looks hilariously small in the hands of the HWG too!

It's not worth it. SHoooootttyyy all the way.