The Sun on a Stick is not horrible; Here's why

[UltimentM]

Hello everyone,

I often find myself looking at all these videos and threads, seeing people complaining that the SOAS (Sun on a Stick, we'll abreviate it for now) is too underpowered and needs a buff. But it isn't really that bad.

The reason why people hate this weapon is because it is quite situational. Since the Scout can't set anyone on fire himself, people using the SOAS have to rely on Pyros and alt-firing Cow Mangler Soldiers in order to get those critical hits. Sure, the chance of a friendly Pyro or Soldier lighting people on fire for you is quite low, and getting a kill with the SOAT is hard, because those Soldiers and Pyros are kinda trying to kill those people as well. But it seems that this one feature automatically makes this weapon bad. People don't even consider what positive traits it has;

It only has a 25% damage penalty. Using it compaired to the stock is obviously a drawback, but only a by little. The stock bat does 35 damage a swing, while the SOAS only does 26 damage, which may seem like a big downside. But come on, its only 9 damage difference! You can still kill people with this thing effectivly and lets not forget that it can still get random critical hits.

If this weapon did not have the capability to do random crits, than I can see why people would think the SOAS is underpowered. But it can, and boy is that helpful. It means that even if you can't find any burning players to kill, you can still rely on the odd crit to save you.

This weapon doesn't get much slack from the TF2 community because of its situational usage, but if you take this weapon out for a spin, it is still reliable as the stock bat, and the neat perk of critting burning players is so much fun. Give it a go, and you might actually find a liking to it.

[76561198048397379]

Balanced Insanity の投稿を引用：

BOOM!!!! math saves the day

actualy. that is not math. is geography

[Hexakosioihexakontahexaphobe]

It's a straight upgrade, but a very insignificant one.

[Tesla Coil]

I always saw the Sun on a Stick as a mediocre weapon, not because its downside was atrocious, but because its upside was insignificant. And you didn't do a very good job of defending the upside. A player on fire is one I expect I don't need to help kill, and if I do, I can do it just as effectively with the primary or secondary. From further away, even!

...Of course, then this happened and made me realize that the downside is actually meaningful:

Balanced Insanity の投稿を引用：

the stock bat does 35
SOAS does 26

a spy has 125 health
stock: 125/35= 3.57= 4 hits to kill
SOAS: 125/26= 4.8= 5 hits to kill

a demo has 175 health
stock: 175/35= 5 hits to kill
SOAS: 175/26= 6.73= 7 hits to kill

with the SOAS, the amount of hits needed to kill a spy is the same amount to kill a demo with the stock, not to mention that two extra hits are needed to kill the demo

I will stick with my fish, thank you very much.

[Balanced]

Hexakosioihexakontahexaphobe の投稿を引用：

It's a straight upgrade, but a very insignificant one.

i just proved that it wasnt

[McKnuckles]

Not to mention that the only way it would really get better is if it caused say enemies to get caught on fire on say the third or so strike (if the gunslinger has some melee combo that lets its third consecutive hit on a enemy be a crit, why not something weird for the sun on a stick?).

[Telly Gomi]

A weapon that's only good if another class holds back from outright killing people.

What a great weapon.

[McKnuckles]

Pvt. Tibbles の投稿を引用：

A weapon that's only good if another class holds back from outright killing people.

What a great weapon.

Is scout the only one that has a weapon that depends on some other class (not counting the razorback)?

[Dustman121]

McKnuckles の投稿を引用：

Not to mention that the only way it would really get better is if it caused say enemies to get caught on fire on say the third or so strike (if the gunslinger has some melee combo that lets its third consecutive hit on a enemy be a crit, why not something weird for the sun on a stick?).

I'd really rather not have the old Axtinguisher back. Much less one wielded by a class even more jumpier and mobile.

[Telly Gomi]

McKnuckles の投稿を引用：

Pvt. Tibbles の投稿を引用：

A weapon that's only good if another class holds back from outright killing people.

What a great weapon.

Is scout the only one that has a weapon that depends on some other class (not counting the razorback)?

Discounting mediguns and throwing jars, yes.

[zengceng]

if everyone on the server has agreed to melee only or you join a melee only server, you can get some scouts with sun on a stick and some pyros with the sharpened volcano fragment and maybe some with axtinguisher :3 easy win

[Telly Gomi]

Dustman121 の投稿を引用：

McKnuckles の投稿を引用：

Not to mention that the only way it would really get better is if it caused say enemies to get caught on fire on say the third or so strike (if the gunslinger has some melee combo that lets its third consecutive hit on a enemy be a crit, why not something weird for the sun on a stick?).

I'd really rather not have the old Axtinguisher back. Much less one wielded by a class even more jumpier and mobile.

the sun on a stick is basically a crap version of the old axtinguisher, and with no way for the scout to ignite players.

[McKnuckles]

Pvt. Tibbles の投稿を引用：

McKnuckles の投稿を引用：

Is scout the only one that has a weapon that depends on some other class (not counting the razorback)?

Discounting mediguns and throwing jars, yes.

Well I wouldn't say jarate or mad milk depends on another class as you can use either of those with their respective class for either more damage done to enemies, or gaining health back. Though the mediguns are they even actually counted as weapons or would they be defensive utility items?

[UltimentM]

I've been getting all of these comments saying that

Tesla Coil の投稿を引用：

I will stick with my fish, thank you very much.

And

Pyrofish の投稿を引用：

Meh, I still think it's awful

Proving that everyone hates this weapon, no matter what way people put it.

Also;

Merky15_ の投稿を引用：

+1 for defending a weapon
Nice post BTW :D

Thanks man for the +1.

[Fumo Bnnuy n Frends]

it actually is good
-you are a scout
-add mad milk to on fire enemy
-hit them with stick
there you can kill them easier get health and escape
just go on a server thats half pyro and you should be fine

[Pyrelancer]

newturtlebread3 senpai の投稿を引用：

it actually is good
-you are a scout
-add mad milk to on fire enemy
-hit them with stick
there you can kill them easier get health and escape
just go on a server thats half pyro and you should be fine

So,

equip mad milk,
equip soas,
equip skills,
join VALVe server,
go scout.

Mission acomplished?!?