Pyro Question

[Ripskin]

Asked in game but got no responses.

Seriously, as a pyro how the hell do you get your flame to hit whats in front of you? Let alone at the full distance it can reach?

My flame takes 1.5 - 3 seconds to register that it as hit anything no matter the range, even point blank. If I turn that time frame resets. I used to think it was my connection, however the same sorry lag hampers my flame now that I have a good connection.

I know its range is weakened when turning and all of that, but I can chase someone who is about a second or less a head of me, well within my flame range. Ill be trying to set them alight and they will be running backwards shoting whatever at me. I die and they dont catch on fire at all, or if they do its as I die or just after I die. It cant be my system as the airblast works perfectly on time with no delay aside from connection.

Any tips or tricks or is it not something that is affecting you guys who play pyro? In TFC I used to play pyro a fair amount, and I did that on dial up. The flame in that lagged less than this.

:confused:

[Rhazjk]

Are you sure the people really are within range? There really aren't any special tricks to make sure you are hitting the person, you just gotta get use to the range of the flame and know when you can and can't hit someone. Obviously if they are running away and you can't reach them with the flame, you either have to run away or use shot gun. I always cringe when I see people chasing someone while trying to flame them when there is no chance they will ever catch up.

Late edit: Re-reading it, I guess my answer really didn't apply to what you were actually asking. It really sounds like it's some internal problem you have personally, not something that's game related. I've never really noticed any flame lag like that.

[-={ICE}=- AnikF2]

karen has all kinda silly across the map range !

i hardly ever think to play pyro, so i wouldn't know, but i will try tonight and see what i find . . .

[Ripskin]

I would guess range but I am standing right next to someone point blank at tames. During those it takes 1 - 3 seconds for the flame to register on them. There have been times when its a heavy or a solder, I start the flame, they go "oh, hello you annoying fly" and kill me with my flame never hurting them. (like in the first cp you have to cap during a round of Warpath. Everything in that hut is well within range of a pyro in that hut.)

The air burst works as it should on time and no delay its just the flame. Motion and all of that I know affects the range and chasing after someone diminishes the range quite a bit. But if our roles are reversed I catch on fire like I am doused in gasoline it seems where as when I am pyro everyone dons the flame retardent suits lol.

If the delay was steady or predictable I could probably play it like I did on dial up years ago or like sniping on my old DSL.

[coll9947]

I think maybe there is a slight difference between what the game renders from your perspective versus how the flame actually works. What I mean is that from the player's perspective the gun is off to the right and the flame angles toward the center of your screen slightly, and this angle might be different than what the game engine registers as being the "cone of flame" that can actually do damage to people. Does that make any sense at all? In all FPS games there's always a slight difference between what you see and what the game is actually doing.

When you try to use the flamethrower around corners to get SGs and whatnot you can tell that the game engine can be picky about when collision is detected between the cone of fire and an enemy. Sometimes you can totally spam bad collision detection with the flamethrower, other times it screws you.

[arnold.from.oregon]

I dunno sometimes I can't get enough damage and other times I burn people down to their toenails. Karen hits a run of poor damage at times too. Trust me I've heard the complaints. Pyro is not the science sniping is for sure.

[karenhasit]

karen has all kinda silly across the map range !

i hardly ever think to play pyro, so i wouldn't know, but i will try tonight and see what i find . . .

Thanks Anik!!! At any rate...not that I am great, in fact we all know I started as pyro because I was having eye problems, but I do know that the backburner reaches further. Other than that...I think I have no tricks! I hardly EVER can do a damn thing against a heavy and the soldiers are hell when they bounce you up in the air! I have never noticed any lag but will pay attention next time I play and see!

[thewiredknight]

When its far in front of me I hardly use it becaUse of the drop in damage. If enemies are straffing around you or real close, you have to lead the shot just like anything else. I've noticed this especially against other Pyros if the target is straffing around you keeping your recticle on him will mean he's barely outrunning your fire.

At distance the best idea is to try and outflank him, run your corners tighter and anticipate where he will move to close the distance. If he's too far ahead then the best advice is to just back off and approach later.

Though this does depend, are you using the flamethrower or the backburner? Strategies vary based on those. I prefer the backburner because I like sneaking around the map and burning from behind for quick kills.

[Ripskin]

I hate the backburner and prefer having the airblast ability.

I dont mind that the flame is a little off kilt and I am very used to the game being a little ahead of what I am seeing, however point blank on someone should not take 1 - 3 seconds to register them even catching on fire.

I have seen a few times speccing Arnold and Karen where their flames are engulfing someone and nothing happens for a second or two. On their ends maybe they saw their targets burst in to flame.

I normally wont chase someone down with the flame trying to kill them, but if it wont set them alight in a distance where it should (across the cp I mentioned earlier) how can I judge when to use it? Even point blank wont always register the hits before I die.

I have had a few times, which are very rare (why my question was raised) where the flame did what it should, it touched them and they got set on fire, at which point I could change guns, or burn them to a crisp. The difference between that and the normality of it doing nothing is what confuses me and made me wonder if others have issues :(.

[Dragon Knight Fiore]

I think its inconsistant Rip cause its factoring into both you and your opponents latencies.

I dont play pyro enough to say from a pyro perspective. But from the solider killing the pyro's perspective. There are times where I could have sworn I blasted the pyro and I was plenty out of flame range but one quick touch of their flame and I was burning up.

Other times Ive blasted the pyro as they were flaming and was really surprised that I wasnt on fire after since I knew I was in range and saw the fire on me.

I assume its the same deal as with bouncing people with rockets. Sometimes its an easy bounce. Others its like you shoot them and you see it hit their feet, but they dont move an inch.