Team Fortress 2 (was Need a neck to wring? Grab 'em while )

[Rath Darkblade]

Grrrr... grrr. *walks into forum, SLAMS door; BANG!*

I'm just so mad... argh. I got Team Fortress 2 a few days ago. I'd never played it before, but a good friend of mine recommended it to me and we started playing online and having fun. I gradually (after a couple hours of playing) got the basic hang of things, and worked out a few simple strategies for use with different classes. I also got quite a few extra things in my backpack (a couple pairs of gloves for the heavy, a Chargin' Targe, a couple bows for the sniper, etc.)

Then last night, he went offline and I decided to stick around and keep playing on one of the Aussie servers. I found one that wasn't too crowded - I prefer games with not so many people on, so that I have more of a chance of running around and actually studying the map layout without getting killed every 2 seconds. After about 10 minutes, the server quickly filled up, but that's ok with me, since I had time to memorise the map.

Then one of the players (on my team) asks if anyone wants to trade for the demoman's long sword (sorry, not sure what it's called in TF2). I say yes, and we start trading. He asks me for an extremely rare item, I say "I haven't come across that yet, I'd only been playing for a few days" - and then he started calling me "noob" and "loser" and "fag" and other things I won't repeat here. Then, to make things worse, he starts telling everyone else, so I'm getting bombarded (in-game) with calls of "noob" and "you can't play properly" and so on. I'm thinking... excuse me? It's hardly my fault that I haven't played this game before. I just wasn't that interested before. Now I'm getting interested, and this is your reaction? F*** you!

After about a minute of this - and these are people on my team, remember - I just said "In case you haven't noticed, this game is called TEAM Fortress 2. Enjoy playing by yourselves!" and quit. ARRGGGHHH. I'm still mad just thinking about it.

[DeadPoolX]

Holy crap! I've never encountered that sort of BS.

In real life and games, you really do seem to attract rude and crazy people, don't you?

I think the new trading system has warped some players. Valve intended for it to give players more flexibility. After all, who needs ten bows? So trading items is a good idea in theory and when it works, it's also great in practice. Unfortunately, some players put their "loot" ahead of the game and actually playing on a team.

Most of my experience with trading items has been with Maia. I once attempted to trade with someone I didn't know during a game and while he wasn't rude, he decided he didn't want to trade later. I think my demands were too high. I wanted the Medic's "ze goggles" and since he had a vintage pair, he wasn't about to trade that.

Look, Rath, if you got TF2, why didn't you tell Maia and me? I know you have no obligation to inform us, but we have a LOT of experience in TF2. We could tell you which items are good and which aren't, which maps are good for what class, how to best play each class, etc. I'm sure we even have an item or two we'd be willing to part with if you needed one -- unless it's a vintage item. No dice there, sorry.

BTW, you mentioned you have an Eyelander (the Demo's sword) and a Chargin' Targe, right? If you like melee combat, equip those two items. You'll gain a small increase in movement speed and health each time you decapitate an enemy. If you have the Chargin' Targe equipped as well, you can rush an enemy and hit them extremely hard, which usually results in either a kill or severely injuring the enemy. Just don't miss or you'll be a sitting duck.

Oh and one last thing: NEVER use a melee weapon if/when a Medic gives you an Ubercharge (aka "uber" in the game). You're invulnerable for however many seconds you're ubered and that means you use that time to take down the worst threats, such as enemy sentries or Heavies. As someone who often plays a Medic, I can tell you there are few things Medics hate more than ubering someone only to watch them flail about with a sword or axe or shovel.

[Rath Darkblade]

Look, Rath, if you got TF2, why didn't you tell Maia and me? I know you have no obligation to inform us, but we have a LOT of experience in TF2. We could tell you which items are good and which aren't, which maps are good for what class, how to best play each class, etc. I'm sure we even have an item or two we'd be willing to part with if you needed one -- unless it's a vintage item. No dice there, sorry.

Sorry for not telling you before. I only got it about 3 or 4 days ago, and I wanted to try and get the hang of the game, or at least the basics how of to play a class or two, before trying it out online. I played a game or two online with an ICQ buddy, and everything was fine. (I died a lot, but that's ok when you start). Then, I tried playing online last night, and that happened. *shrug*

I'd love to play with Maia and you. Can you please give me your Steam names so I can add you to my list? Just send me a PM. (I'm about to send Maia one).

BTW, you mentioned you have an Eyelander (the Demo's sword) and a Chargin' Targe, right? If you like melee combat, equip those two items. You'll gain a small increase in movement speed and health each time you decapitate an enemy. If you have the Chargin' Targe equipped as well, you can rush an enemy and hit them extremely hard, which usually results in either a kill or severely injuring the enemy. Just don't miss or you'll be a sitting duck.

I don't actually have an Eyelander; I wanted to trade for one. I have a Chargin' Targe, though. But thanks for the advice! I'll bear it in mind.

Oh and one last thing: NEVER use a melee weapon if/when a Medic gives you an Ubercharge (aka "uber" in the game). You're invulnerable for however many seconds you're ubered and that means you use that time to take down the worst threats, such as enemy sentries or Heavies. As someone who often plays a Medic, I can tell you there are few things Medics hate more than ubering someone only to watch them flail about with a sword or axe or shovel.

Hmm... heh. That makes sense. Why would I want to become invulnerable (even for a short time), if all I'm doing is waving a melee weapon? That's just silly!

[Maiandra]

Unfortunately, certain servers will house jerks like that. I know if I encounter too many, I tend to take a break from TF2 for a while. You just need to find a better server and avoid mentioning that you're new, since people tend to be irrationally critical of that.

You can always try out some more in offline practice mode too, if you want to feel better prepared. It's a good way to practice.

It can be a lot of fun if you find a server with good people. I know a little while ago I was playing a heavy and the medic I was playing with was being very supportive and pointedly not critical when I made a few mistakes. I appreciated that, since I knew I had done some things I shouldn't have. Sometimes I just can't help myself and I kamikaze way to much on a bad night. *sheepish look*

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. That's ok! On my first offline game at TF2, I went into the Dustbowl map as a heavy. I came out into that little tunnel leading to the second control point and just blasted away. *blush* I guess I wildly overestimated how tough the heavy is, since I was dead within about 10 seconds. Oops!

However, I learned a lot from my mistakes and now use a combination of different classes to overcome different problems and beat other different classes. The class I hate to encounter most is still the spy - doesn't just about everyone hate the spy? - but overall, I'm really getting a "feel" for different classes, what they do well and badly, how to use them and when... the different tactics of the game, in other words.

[Maiandra]

It really is about learning how to use the class you're playing. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't play some classes, just because they don't suit my skills.

Having clocked the most hours as an engineer, the spy is my arch-nemesis. I end up getting paranoid to leave my stuff at all, in case an opportunistic spy is lurking nearby. I'd actually like to try playing the Spy at some point, but he seems really tough to play well.

Other than that, the sniper is the only other class that really interests me, but I haven't tried him very much either. Honestly, I don't feel like opening myself up to the assholes that say things like "nice body shot" and the general mockery that can occur for not getting head shots. I'm sure most people don't really care, but I get sick of dealing with jerks.

I haven't really been in the mood for TF2 as much lately, which is unfortunate, since DPX and I actually have time to play it over the holidays.

[DeadPoolX]

Having clocked the most hours as an engineer, the spy is my arch-nemesis. I end up getting paranoid to leave my stuff at all, in case an opportunistic spy is lurking nearby.

Case in point: I've played a Spy on rare occasions and one time I sat and watched Maia for nearly 10 minutes. Why? Because I was waiting for a good opportunity to strike.

Eventually she left her dispenser and sentry (but just for a moment!) and I ran in, fully cloaked, to sap them. When Maia came running back, she started repairing them and that's when I back stabbed her.

Other than that, the sniper is the only other class that really interests me, but I haven't tried him very much either. Honestly, I don't feel like opening myself up to the assholes that say things like "nice body shot" and the general mockery that can occur for not getting head shots. I'm sure most people don't really care, but I get sick of dealing with jerks.

I don't think I've EVER met someone who's said that to me and I play as a Sniper a lot. Obviously you want to get head shots as a Sniper as that instantly kills someone (if the rifle is charged), but getting a body shot is good too. Even if you don't kill them, you've severely wounded them and made them an easier kill for someone on your team.

The only time body shots don't work is when a Medic is constantly healing a Heavy. The Heavy can already take more body shots than other classes, but with a Medic healing him, nothing less than a fully charged head shot will work.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. My favourite classes (as in, the ones I've clocked most on) are engineer, heavy, pyro and demoman, in that order. As engie, I constantly build dispensers and sentries (fully upgraded too!) near the capture point, to try and stop the opposing team coming in that way. I don't care if I'm not on the front line, since it's sometimes easier (and also more adrenalin-pumping!) to take care of "the last line of defense", so to speak.

Playing a heavy, for me, is a two-edged sword. I use him to take down crowded rooms or to try to defend an engie while the engie's building. I've tried using the heavy to take down enemy sentries, but I've figured the pyro's much better for that - it has to be timed absolutely right, though. And pyro's great for ambushes, and for putting out team members, but not much else.

I'm trying to play demoman from time to time, but it's tough; I keep having to run forward a little, fire a few bombs, then run back again to avoid the opposing team. It's hard to form some sort of coherent strategy for him.

I rarely play soldier anymore. There just doesn't seem to be any point, since my soldiers frequently die before I can do anything with them.

Comments? Is there any more I can do?

[DeadPoolX]

The Heavy is only good for destroying sentries IF he's ubered. His range is a huge liability, especially if he's facing a level 3 sentry (the kind that fires two machine guns and missiles).

The two best classes for taking out sentries (if you aren't ubered) are the Soldier and Demo, in that order. The Soldier has range and splash damage when his rocket hits, which means he doesn't need to be perfectly accurate. The Demo can destroy sentries if he manages to toss grenades right, bouncing them off walls or through ducts.

[DeadPoolX]

Hmmm... as much as I like talking about TF2, maybe Tawmis or Collector should make a new thread dedicated to that and move the corresponding posts there.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmmm... I've been trying things out with the sniper (since I have quite liked the idea of sniping ever since playing a bow-armed rogue in TES4: Oblivion who would snipe at things from cover )... however, people and things go by far too fast for me to snipe at them with any assurance of actually getting them. Furthermore, if I stay still for too long in order to improve my aim, the opposing team's sniper usually gets me.

Any advice on that? Maybe sniping just isn't my forte and I should concentrate on offensive/defensive classes.

[DeadPoolX]

Sniping in slower-paced single player games is nothing like sniping in a fast-paced online multiplayer game. I think you've discovered that already.

Some maps are better suited to the Sniper than others. For instance, 2Fort makings sniping very difficult. You wouldn't think so given the setup, but it's easy for Scouts and Soldiers to double jump and rocket jump, not to mention an opposing Sniper shooting you.

One of the best maps for the Sniper is Doublecross. You do need to watch out for opposing Snipers and Spies, but it also gives you a GREAT place to shoot from.

Something else to consider is that you need to move in and out when sniping. Charge your rifle up, quickly dodge out from cover, shoot and then take cover again. That sounds difficult, especially since you need to aim, but that's why you charge your rifle ahead of time. Even if you don't get a head shot, you'll still severely injure them (and might kill a Scout regardless).

DON'T use the bow if you're new to playing a Sniper. It's difficult to aim and hit enemies properly. It also does LESS damage overall. It's possible to survive multiple arrow shots (mostly for the Heavy), but a fully charged rifle shot will ALWAYS kill if you hit them in the head and as said before, it'll drop someone's health to nearly zero if you get a body shot instead.

You'll probably get a Razorback (if you don't already have one) at some point. Now some players will say it's useless and you should use your SMG or jarate instead. While those are good to have (the latter is really good for revealing spies), the Razorback prevents the Spy from making ONE back stab.

To clarify, if you're using a Razorback and the Spy attempts a back stab, he won't hurt you at all. You'll know the Spy has tried to back stab you because you'll hear your Razorback break apart. After that happens, you can get back stabbed as normal.

Believe it or not, the protection the Razorback gives, even if it's only for one back stab, is very useful. Spies love back stabbing Snipers since when aiming, Snipers have tunnel vision (i.e. they only see their scope and are blind to what's going on around them).

Just so you know, you'll get a new razorback when respawning or simply using a dispenser.

I always use a Razorback. If I need to do close-quarters combat, I'll use my knife. I think I gave you a knife called the "Tribalman's Shiv." It does a little less damage than the regular knife ("Kukri"), but it causes the enemy to bleed, thereby causing damage even after you've cut them. Even better, it helps reveal Spies, since they'll still visibly bleed when cloaked.

Playing a Sniper can be awesome, but you need patience, steady aiming skills and the ability to move quickly. I've played the Sniper a lot and there are nights I simply "don't have it in me" to play it well whereas some nights I kick ass.

It's all very situational. As I've said before, the map can make a HUGE difference.

Keep trying and you'll probably get the hang of it sooner or later.