So with the HRG Vampire getting a similar "charged glob" gameplay, twice the reserve ammo, faster equip speed, additional bleeding/suctioning potential, high-damage "spikes", the exact same weight, and (as of Beta 2) better healing than the Mine Reconstructor, I think a rebalancing of the latter would be in order (especially considering it was a paid weapon). Following Tripwire's initially-stated goal of making DLC weapons try to introduce new mechanics while serving similar roles to free weapons, here is an idea for the Mine Reconstructor:
Suggestion:
- Make it Tier 5 and a weight of 9.
- Reserve ammo increased from 108 up to 120.
- Twice the magazine size.
- Mines also release a blue cloud of healing gas upon explosion. (The size and duration of the cloud would depend upon the charge level of the mine, but the maximum would be a slightly larger radius than a healing grenade with half the duration of one.)
- Healing of explosions reduced from 4-40 down to 2-20 in order to partially - but not completely - account for the addition of healing gas. (Explosions still only heal teammates, but the gas clouds can self-heal.)
This suggestion would essentially aim to make the Mine Reconstructor a side-grade to the HMTech-501 Grenade Rifle. Neither the 501 nor the Reconstructor have access to darts. 120 ammo would equate to 20 fully-charged mines, each supplying half the gas duration of a 501 grenade (which can carry 10, making total durations equal). The initial healing of the Reconstructor's explosions would be halved, but would still mean that the Reconstructor would have higher overall healing potential than the 501. (The HMTech-501 can heal up to 800, whereas the Reconstructor would be able to heal up to 1,200). To compensate for this, 1 weight would be added to the Reconstructor in order to limit access to alternative sources of damage and healing, such as the HMTech-401 or the Healthrower. The mines are rather effective offensively for a Medic weapon (especially with gas), but the 501 has an entirely separate ammo pool for its versatile assault rifle and would also have greater loadout flexibility.
(More balancing to my idea would almost certainly be required, whether it be in stats or cost. This is just to show one direction in which the Mine Reconstructor could be improved while further differentiating itself with the new HRG Vampire!)
Suggestion:
- Make it Tier 5 and a weight of 9.
- Reserve ammo increased from 108 up to 120.
- Twice the magazine size.
- Mines also release a blue cloud of healing gas upon explosion. (The size and duration of the cloud would depend upon the charge level of the mine, but the maximum would be a slightly larger radius than a healing grenade with half the duration of one.)
- Healing of explosions reduced from 4-40 down to 2-20 in order to partially - but not completely - account for the addition of healing gas. (Explosions still only heal teammates, but the gas clouds can self-heal.)
This suggestion would essentially aim to make the Mine Reconstructor a side-grade to the HMTech-501 Grenade Rifle. Neither the 501 nor the Reconstructor have access to darts. 120 ammo would equate to 20 fully-charged mines, each supplying half the gas duration of a 501 grenade (which can carry 10, making total durations equal). The initial healing of the Reconstructor's explosions would be halved, but would still mean that the Reconstructor would have higher overall healing potential than the 501. (The HMTech-501 can heal up to 800, whereas the Reconstructor would be able to heal up to 1,200). To compensate for this, 1 weight would be added to the Reconstructor in order to limit access to alternative sources of damage and healing, such as the HMTech-401 or the Healthrower. The mines are rather effective offensively for a Medic weapon (especially with gas), but the 501 has an entirely separate ammo pool for its versatile assault rifle and would also have greater loadout flexibility.
(More balancing to my idea would almost certainly be required, whether it be in stats or cost. This is just to show one direction in which the Mine Reconstructor could be improved while further differentiating itself with the new HRG Vampire!)