Why Medic should be the Second Introductory Class for TF2

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Imagine that you’re a first time player. You’ve spent a while downloading the game, or downloading updates and converting to Steam Pipe if you used a CD, and you’re looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about. As the game loads and you reach the main menu, you’re rather confused. Thankfully, a little notice pops up, suggesting that you play the tutorial. The first tutorial and the only one available when you first start the game is Soldier. There are tutorials for Demoman, Engineer and Spy too, that unlock one at a time as you complete them. The… [Continue Reading]

Four Things You Can’t Do With The Crusader’s Crossbow

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The Crusader’s Crossbow is an extremely versatile weapon. It’s one of my favorite in the game because of the potential applications it introduces to the Medic playstyle. It’s also one of the most adjusted weapons in Team Fortress 2; its patch history is long and checkered with changes and alterations, for better or for worse. Under the guise of this confusing title, I thought we could go back into the history of this weapon and look at some things it has lost over the years. 1. You can’t shoot arrows with it. When first added to the game, the Crusader’s… [Continue Reading]

Some Under-loved Weapons Which Shine on rd_asteroid

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When I first played rd_asteroid, my eventual thoughts were…meh. It’s decent, but before I really understood the map and the game mode it was confusing to the point of frustration. And once I’d played it long enough that it was no longer confusing, its many flaws just seemed to hamper my ability to enjoy myself. A whole lot of classes seem underpowered on this map and several design choices (especially the plethora of overly-good sentry spots) only make it worse. But the more I played, the more I slowly realized that a number of my problems were due to my… [Continue Reading]

What Use Are Friendly Disguises?

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That above question has bugged me for years. Why would you disguise as something that does nothing but inspire the enemy to shoot you? I knew there must be a reason to it, else Valve wouldn’t have added it, but serious thought only produced “trigger Dead Ringer while looking like something else, so they don’t keep spychecking after that.” Which is a decent use (and clearly intended by Valve, as the fallen corpse will remain that of a non-spy enemy) but were there any more? Turns out that, after speaking to some spy friends of mine, the answer is yes.… [Continue Reading]

On Love and War Class Nerfs

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The Love and War Update handed us some neat stuff, like a neat-o short film, server-wide conga events, parachutes, and bread.  Also with the update shipped three (now two) serious nerfs for three classes.  This, I feel, was the weakest part of the update.  They were not thought out well, and were in some ways too strong, and in others too unnecessary in a game with bigger problems. Let’s get demoman out of the way.  Spuf has probably read ten thousand words on the controversial nerf, so I’m going to make this one short.  The sticky launcher needed a nerf,… [Continue Reading]

What’s that? New maps?

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Just popping by to announce that we now have some sort of official map testing system! Named Mann Co. Beta Maps, this gives us the chance to play new maps that Valve want us to test, while they work out all the bits and pieces. I’ll just point you over here briefly while I ramble on. Anyway, yes, this is something that we should have had years ago. Like, really, years ago. The one thing after unique classes, hats and the Meet the Team videos that makes TF2 stand out is the quality of Team Fortress 2 maps, both official… [Continue Reading]

Why TF2 Should Be More Like Loadout

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I’ve been picking up Loadout recently, and I’ve been having a blast, although I noticed that Loadout has a lot of elements TF2 has (mainly the fact that it has a LOT of spam, and revolves around mobility) but has implemented these elements a lot better: Number 1: Spam. Anyone who’s ever played Loadout knows that it has more grenade spam than TFC and more projectile spam than TF2x10 where everyone is using the Beggar’s Bazooka. And yet, Loadout‘s spam is much more enjoyable, why is that? 1.) Big fancy colored projectiles! In Loadout firefights often look like firework shows,… [Continue Reading]

If Medics Could Fly…

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A few days ago, I gave Team Fortress Classic a try. Now, Aabicus has beaten TFC to death when it comes to articles for the Daily SPUF, so I won’t go into too much detail, but what astounded me the most was the game’s lovely Medic. When you hear the word Medic, what springs to mind? Normally, it’s either a soldier class who can heal or revive people (most games with a not-very-differentiated class system) or a class that spends their entire time healing, keeping everyone alive (like, for example, Team Fortress 2). Point is, Medics normally do a lot… [Continue Reading]

The Tide Turner: The awkward guy at the Demo weapon party

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Hey there reader, welcome to the Demoman weapon party, come on in. Bottle and Scotsman’s Skullcutter are providing us the drinks, the life of the party Stickybomb Launcher over there is trying to get our beloved introvert Scottish Resistance drunk to celebrate his recent fix, the Grenade Launcher is muttering a few obscenities but its ok, Loch N Load and Loose Cannon are watching him. Eyelander and Chargin’ Targe are just on the balcony over there heckling everyone (especially the drunk clown Sticky Jumper), Claid is wooing over the Splendid Screen whilst Persian Persuader is busy trying to getting Wee… [Continue Reading]

TF2 Mods: The Next Generation

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InstantMuffin recently made a buzz over on SPUF by finding evidence that an upcoming TF2 game mode may be called “Robot Destruction”. He’s also a prolific modder whose most recent claim to fame is Prop Hunt: The Next Generation, a remake of one of the most popular TF2 mods out there. Today, he took some time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his past work, his current happenings, and what the future may bring. 1. How did you first get into modding? I basically started writing SourceMod plugins around 2010. I usually develop desktop applications. I… [Continue Reading]