LMG is such a fun weapon type to have in the game, yet very ironically, none of our DPS serve that otherwise high-damage weapon class. I think Bastion is the perfect DPS hero to give that weapon class, especially in his glass cannon niche.
The primary is also too similar to 76’s, and quite frankly boring weapon to have two of in the game (let alone for the same role)… I also simply think Bastion would have a stronger identity with a very high-capacity primary fire; with faster fire rate, heavy recoil on both axis, slower reload time, and lower damage per shot.
We can even implement unique 2-axis recoil stability mechanics, to mandate trigger discipline for effective use of an otherwise high-potential weapon class that the game could greatly benefit from.
Heroes that are easier to counter should have higher output potential, I think Bastion is no exception. I think there’s wiggle-room in the meta to rework Bastion’s primary fire into something that provides a more unique set of strategies if it’s given a proper skill curve.
Bastion just need self-repair, with or without grenade. It was part of its philisophy. Deleting half idea of hero’s design will break this hero. And we see it. Bastion now sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. Hero like it must not have all aspects directed to damage. Or else this hero always will be only on two state: either melting bronze ranks but not bad on plat either good (or maybe best) pick for bronze but throw pick for plat. It need extended aspect directed to survivability with nerfing existing ones. For example reduce grenade damage or/and increasing turret c/d. Something like this
The problem is that Bastion is giantic as tank, and of course it need healing like real tank. I also said it in some theme, but funny fact, only at around 2-3 tanks between of 13 ones have bigger hitbox than Bastion. Supports also don’t wanna baby-sit with second pseudo-tank, now imagine support’s pain with Bastion on team like third tank in 6v6. Tanks also have abilities to protect themselves from massive damage like Bastion’s one, they just needn’t to stand in front of Omnic E-54 at all time. Same thing we able to say about phara, like: she is super mobile and melts tanks, but tanks mostly cannot do anything to her. Also as I said Bastion does have giant hitbox, and doesn’t have anything to normally compensate that. Low survivability also decreases its flebixility comparing with other DPSes
Giant hitbox without compensating → Low survivability → Low flexibility → Throw pick
Glass cannons are very much a thing in this game, even Zarya can be considered one in contrast to the rest of her role.
Tank-sized squishies are always hard to balance, but like I said before: the more impactful a hero, the easier they should be to counterswap against. Bastion has plenty of wiggle-room for a strong but unstable primary fire.
Remember when Bastion’s Sentry Mode had a 1,000HP barrier? Could just bring that back with less HP if we want to make him an official tank.
Bastion tank, but not tank. It’s not a tank by choice. Bastion a prisoner of its hitbox. Without mitting tank it becomes useless most of times. Cause even Bastion big as tank, it can’t work like that. Its usefulment lies in turret form, other time Bastion NEED play passive doesn’t provide utility for its team. Mostly need play passive cause low survivability. I never seen any so vulnirable hero like Bastion, but I was Bastion mainer. Its turret good, I like it, this design like: strong form to compensate weak form. But my complains paired that Recon form is tooo weak. Your only one chance to survive in recon is grenade. And else Mei more tanky than giant Bastion, cause does have a heal, have a control abilities like slowing freeze and wall, and does have hard stunning ult. Beside Mei we also have Solider with heal station, reaper with passive heal and tracer with recall healing. Bastion dies too fast when it’s focused at least by two enemies. I don’t want give it self-repair with 150-200 HP per second as you might thing. I want give to Bastion lite version of self-repair like 60 heal per second with some other nerfs, like grenade or getting movement penalty while repairing. I want a little release Bastion from tank’s back and support’s healing
There’s only one problem with this:
If I don’t see a belt of bullets wiggling around as I hold down fire, brass and those little holders shooting off the arm like a sprinkler watering a lawn, lastly, the reload not showing Bastion replacing a box of ammo, immersion will be ruined.
I’m too simple a creature when it comes to bullet hoses.
Like this, this sparks joy
