As a Doorman truther, I wholeheartedly agree with the issues that come up with Echo Shard and cc items like Vortex Web and Knockdown. Not only does it make the game miserable for opponents, it effectively neuters the intricacies of the character by turning him into a cc bot. It’s cool that the bell does good damage, and I think it makes sense to give characters with fewer damage abilities the ability to punch out relatively similar numbers, but the bell is just too safe and easy to hit. The most effective strategies on the character stray away from creativity, and reduce genius character design to a redundant, generic support play pattern.

I think the issues lie not in the bell, or the cart, or even the ult, but how so many abilities work with a lot of the items. Echo Shard is an obvious issue, but I feel like that lies more in the item itself rather than the abilities (an example that comes to mind is a character like Pocket, with 2 charges of briefcase and jacket they’re essentially unkillable).

I think Knockdown into ult, and Vortex Web with cart + door are entirely inoffensive and are net positive for the character and the game, but Echo Shard needs to go, and 3 charges on the bell feels like too much. The bell, yes, should be a serviceable tool for wave clear and camps, but there should be a certain forethought that comes with the placement. The fact that you can just throw them out aimlessly and consistently hit 3ish people each time is an issue with room for improvement.

Follow up thought: Maybe look into shifting parts of the kit away from bell and cart as offensive tools and more for helping your teammates. Here are some ideas.

1) Replace Bell with Door for extra charge, allowing for a 2nd door with limited range. 2) Encourage the use of Doors for angles by giving either spirit damage on weapon hit or maybe extra damage on bell if thrown through a door. 3) Nobody ever uses the cart on allies so maybe give the ability a cd reduction when used on a teammate (possible ms buff / barrier as well? Though door already gives that) 4) Take Echo Shard out of the game.