It's a little late but welcome and I hope you've enjoyed the game so far. If you feel overwhelmed, don't worry, here's a few basic tips and tricks to get you started. If you've had the game for a while and got frustrated, maybe you should have another go. This is more general advice so I won't be giving you very specific information like how to play every class, but hopefully you'll learn something.
1. Understanding classes
a) Don't stack support
In Team Fortress 2, there are nine basic classes. I'll assume you know the bare minimum of each class so let's get right into why many times you'll lose before the match even starts. You see, there are priorities in the game on how useful a class is and who to kill first. While many people like to stack (use multiples) of spy, engineer and sniper, they're first and foremost supportive classes. You only ever need one of each and maybe two if you're defending. Any more of these and the other team will have an easy victory. The reason for this is that snipers are specialists who should be taking off high priority enemies like their MVP (most valuable player), as is the spy. But they can't really get consecutive kills or push, they can only waddle down the enemy. A lack of power classes means that they're bound to win. If you have too many spies, it's bad for the above reason, but also because they might send out a pyro or two and start predicting your arrival and constantly spy check. Engineers don't work because they're the slowest class in the whole game in terms of efficiency. Your team may have three engineers with three level three sentries but the moment the enemy have a well planned uber, you're done for because you won't be able to be effective for a good 20 seconds+ after you re-spawn.
b) Always have a medic
No matter what mode, what map, what skill level and what kind of lipstick you're wearing, you always need a medic. Always. ALWAYS! I can not emphasise this enough. And as a medic, your survival is top priority. Snipers, scouts and spies will be out to get you. If you're healing someone, you don't need to look where they're looking. That's your target's job. You have to watch the surroundings. Also, heal EVERYONE. (especially me)
c) Demos and soldiers
The backbone of any team and what will be your main "pushing" force. Demomen are restricted in competitive play because of their ability to high damage, hold off choke points and damage multiple enemies at a time. To greatly oversimplify, it's a soldier with two rocket launchers. The soldier class is the standard. If you're having trouble playing the game, this (along with medic) is what you start off with. Rockets are frustrating at first but don't worry, just aim at the feet and predict where they'll go. Because of their ability to move faster than the heavy, their range, and the fact that they can damage multiple enemies at once with explosive damage, you always need one demo and one soldier. Bare minimum.
2. The weapons
Use the default weapons first. Once you master a class, then you should start switching them around. Now I won't actively jump out of your computer screen and start strangling you if you use an unlock, but the defaults really give you a general idea of how to play a class. Weapons like the Dead Ringer makes you careless and the Crusader's Crossbow will have your teammates shouting at you because you're not doing your primary job. While Team Fortress 2 makes it a special note to have new weapons as "side-grades", some of them are. If you get them, always use them over the default. The ubersaw, the equaliser and the axtinguisher. I'd argue that the Gloves of Running Urgently, the degreaser and jarate are all upgrades too, but they're highly debatable.
3. Use a microphone
The fact that in Left 4 Dead, one in every four people use a mic is appalling, but it's even worse in Team Fortress 2 with about one in every ten people. Using a microphone is the difference between saving a medic from a scout and not noticing he's being gunned down. It's the difference between standing at one side of the map not realising that the enemy concentrated their fire on the other side, and being able to fight back. Just consider it another deadly arsenal at your disposal.
4. Extra tips
a) If you have two engineers (or God forbid, FIVE, like my team did today) help the other one out. If you two get a level 3 dispenser up and a level 3 sentry gun, that is FAR more powerful than having a two level one sentry guns, a teleport entrance and a dispenser nobody uses.
b) As the heavy, don't rev up your minigun often. I know it sounds silly but for those of you that don't know, mouse2 (by default) will rev your minigun up. Spinning the barrel ready to fire but not shooting. It's a useful tactic but you're just exacerbating the heavy's biggest weakness, his lack of speed. Shoot before you turn corners is my biggest tip. Don't be stingy with your ammo. Just don't shoot anyone out of your range.
c) As a pyro and heavy, you can constantly shoot on the cart and never run out of ammo, because it supplies you with the equivalent health and ammo of a level 1 dispenser. Spy check and spam, because you can afford to do it.
d) Protect your medic. Without doubt, he is the most important member of your team. Protect him at all costs.
e) Spy check and turn around a lot if you know they have a spy. If you're a sniper, you can avoid a lot of stabs by simply being active and not camping. If you're a heavy, stick with your group. If you're an engineer, don't build your teleporter too close to your other machines and constantly spy check with your shotgun.
f) Height advantage and cover is important. Just keep it in mind.
g) A live teammate is more useful than a dead one. Don't risk your life just for some extra kills. Stay conservative if you're under pressure.
h) Always uber too early than too late. If you think you're going to die, or are in serious danger, use your ubercharge immediately.
i) Airblasts from the pyro (mouse2) can push enemies, reflect projectiles and extinguish teammates. The first two will require practice but if you see a friend on fire, always help him out.
5. Have fun
A lot of people say I take the game too seriously. Maybe a little. But for the most part, I just don't like being swarmed in under two seconds because everyone decided to go backburner pyro. The game is fantastic though and when playing with friends, it really is strategical and requires a lot of knowledge and skill. It's a great game, enjoy!
1. Understanding classes
a) Don't stack support
In Team Fortress 2, there are nine basic classes. I'll assume you know the bare minimum of each class so let's get right into why many times you'll lose before the match even starts. You see, there are priorities in the game on how useful a class is and who to kill first. While many people like to stack (use multiples) of spy, engineer and sniper, they're first and foremost supportive classes. You only ever need one of each and maybe two if you're defending. Any more of these and the other team will have an easy victory. The reason for this is that snipers are specialists who should be taking off high priority enemies like their MVP (most valuable player), as is the spy. But they can't really get consecutive kills or push, they can only waddle down the enemy. A lack of power classes means that they're bound to win. If you have too many spies, it's bad for the above reason, but also because they might send out a pyro or two and start predicting your arrival and constantly spy check. Engineers don't work because they're the slowest class in the whole game in terms of efficiency. Your team may have three engineers with three level three sentries but the moment the enemy have a well planned uber, you're done for because you won't be able to be effective for a good 20 seconds+ after you re-spawn.
b) Always have a medic
No matter what mode, what map, what skill level and what kind of lipstick you're wearing, you always need a medic. Always. ALWAYS! I can not emphasise this enough. And as a medic, your survival is top priority. Snipers, scouts and spies will be out to get you. If you're healing someone, you don't need to look where they're looking. That's your target's job. You have to watch the surroundings. Also, heal EVERYONE. (especially me)
c) Demos and soldiers
The backbone of any team and what will be your main "pushing" force. Demomen are restricted in competitive play because of their ability to high damage, hold off choke points and damage multiple enemies at a time. To greatly oversimplify, it's a soldier with two rocket launchers. The soldier class is the standard. If you're having trouble playing the game, this (along with medic) is what you start off with. Rockets are frustrating at first but don't worry, just aim at the feet and predict where they'll go. Because of their ability to move faster than the heavy, their range, and the fact that they can damage multiple enemies at once with explosive damage, you always need one demo and one soldier. Bare minimum.
2. The weapons
Use the default weapons first. Once you master a class, then you should start switching them around. Now I won't actively jump out of your computer screen and start strangling you if you use an unlock, but the defaults really give you a general idea of how to play a class. Weapons like the Dead Ringer makes you careless and the Crusader's Crossbow will have your teammates shouting at you because you're not doing your primary job. While Team Fortress 2 makes it a special note to have new weapons as "side-grades", some of them are. If you get them, always use them over the default. The ubersaw, the equaliser and the axtinguisher. I'd argue that the Gloves of Running Urgently, the degreaser and jarate are all upgrades too, but they're highly debatable.
3. Use a microphone
The fact that in Left 4 Dead, one in every four people use a mic is appalling, but it's even worse in Team Fortress 2 with about one in every ten people. Using a microphone is the difference between saving a medic from a scout and not noticing he's being gunned down. It's the difference between standing at one side of the map not realising that the enemy concentrated their fire on the other side, and being able to fight back. Just consider it another deadly arsenal at your disposal.
4. Extra tips
a) If you have two engineers (or God forbid, FIVE, like my team did today) help the other one out. If you two get a level 3 dispenser up and a level 3 sentry gun, that is FAR more powerful than having a two level one sentry guns, a teleport entrance and a dispenser nobody uses.
b) As the heavy, don't rev up your minigun often. I know it sounds silly but for those of you that don't know, mouse2 (by default) will rev your minigun up. Spinning the barrel ready to fire but not shooting. It's a useful tactic but you're just exacerbating the heavy's biggest weakness, his lack of speed. Shoot before you turn corners is my biggest tip. Don't be stingy with your ammo. Just don't shoot anyone out of your range.
c) As a pyro and heavy, you can constantly shoot on the cart and never run out of ammo, because it supplies you with the equivalent health and ammo of a level 1 dispenser. Spy check and spam, because you can afford to do it.
d) Protect your medic. Without doubt, he is the most important member of your team. Protect him at all costs.
e) Spy check and turn around a lot if you know they have a spy. If you're a sniper, you can avoid a lot of stabs by simply being active and not camping. If you're a heavy, stick with your group. If you're an engineer, don't build your teleporter too close to your other machines and constantly spy check with your shotgun.
f) Height advantage and cover is important. Just keep it in mind.
g) A live teammate is more useful than a dead one. Don't risk your life just for some extra kills. Stay conservative if you're under pressure.
h) Always uber too early than too late. If you think you're going to die, or are in serious danger, use your ubercharge immediately.
i) Airblasts from the pyro (mouse2) can push enemies, reflect projectiles and extinguish teammates. The first two will require practice but if you see a friend on fire, always help him out.
5. Have fun
A lot of people say I take the game too seriously. Maybe a little. But for the most part, I just don't like being swarmed in under two seconds because everyone decided to go backburner pyro. The game is fantastic though and when playing with friends, it really is strategical and requires a lot of knowledge and skill. It's a great game, enjoy!
Only the raging care police will moan at poor performance, just laugh at them.
