New TF2 Gameplay Mechanics: Discuss

[Theo Samaritan]

OK so as everybody knows, the Spy and Sniper updates came out today.

What many people were not expecting was for the planned enhancements to the gameplay that came with it, with weapon drops (for example) providing a completely different style of unlock system to the achievement-based system of previous, thus making it fairer to new players.

Along with some awesome balancing provided to some of the classes, TF2 as it stands currently is a different game. The question I ask of you, Escapists, is what do you think of these changes?

EDIT: Another topic appeared on the front page as I was writing this. Feel free to comment, or skip over it into that one.

 

[mikecoulter]

They all sound dandy, yet all the more annoying as I have it on the 360. Dammit.

 

[tarquin biscuitbarrel]

spy disguise bug fixes and tweaks, finally.

sniper can shoot through teammates, amazing.

pyro tweaks look good aswell.

new death animations for heavy and sniper... huh? sounds good though

 

[Scarecrow38]

I personally think the update was brilliant. Spy has always been my favourite class and now there is a whole new dimension on how you play. As for the new unlock system, I (against the signficant majority if the abusive Steam forums are anything to go by) think it is good. It removes the ability to farm the achievements (ruining the point of having them) and means that each unlock actually means something because you need to play for a while to get them. The problem is that various players get the unlocks better than others. I have four of the unlocks already and I know there are many who haven't even received an old weapon.

 

[Curtmiester]

I think its a good update. I don't understand how its a different game.

 

[Legion]

I like the fact that achievements =/= weapons because it stops people playing that class non-stop just to get them.

I like most of the improvements made, except the sniper having a crosshair. I don't mind it when he isn't zoomed in but it bugs me having the crosshair and a laser sight when he is.

I don't like the fact that the weapons are random or that you can get ones you already have. I think they should each be unlocked over a time period or something, and you only get the ones you haven't got.

I disagree that it's a different game. It's just going to be played differently until most players have all the weapons.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I HATE the new way of getting weapons, it's completely random! No skill involved whatsoever.

 

[whyarecarrots]

I HATE the new way of getting weapons, it's completely random! No skill involved whatsoever.

I;m afraid I'd have to agree. Whilst the achievement system did have it's flaws, simply assigning a weapon pretty much at random is just stupid, as people will end up with duplicates of weapons and may not be able to experience any of the new weapons for a very long time. I think that if Valve wanted to reduce the dependency on time spent playing/skill/achievement farming on unlocking weapons to this extent, they may as well have gone the whole hog and had them available instantly.

This is, IMO, the first time I really think that Valve has made a mistake: when they said they were decoupling achievements with items I was expecting a more subtle and intelligent manner of doing it than random drops.

 

[zacaron]

I am pissed at the new weapon generator I have about 12-13 acivements for the sniper and spy but so far all I have gotten is the ambasador and a spare natasha yes I got a duplicat gun... anyone know why that happened?

 

[Captain Urahara]

They all sound dandy, yet all the more annoying as I have it on the 360. Dammit.

You and me both. I really want the updates on 360, but it's looking like we'll never get them.

 

[cyrad]

I like the spirit of the new drop system, but it's really annoying. I'm sick of people who don't play spy at all getting all the unlocks when I, someone who played 160 hours as a Spy and only 6 hours as a sniper, only gets two Jarates and a bunch of duplicates. I think this system could have been designed better.

The Spy taunt is overpowered due to the fact it can be done while invisible. I've seen a Spy destroy an entire sentry nest with that taunt. I've also been killed when I had an ubercharge ready. There isnt' any warning. I don't even hear the Spy talk. Taunt kills aren't supposed to be valid tactics, they're supposed to be for humiliation.

 

[oliveira8]

New unlock system=bad.

I logged in a server, as a Pyro, walked out of the door and "oliveira8 has found:THE AMBASSADOR"

...

 

[YuheJi]

I like the fact that achievements =/= weapons because it stops people playing that class non-stop just to get them.

This. It always annoyed me, as I could sometimes see six or seven of the same class on a team when some of the other updates came out.

 

[DM.]

The new unlock is bugged. I currently have 7 force of natures.

Nothing else. Just 7 of them.

 

[quiet_samurai]

It would be cool if you could trade duplicated items for other items among other players. And I like the unlock system, it alleviates farming, and I don't see the point in bitching about haveing to actually play a game to get achievements or unlockables. Isn't that the whole point of game?