Half-Life 2 (Including the Orange Box) Mystery Portal Update!

[Red Exodus]

I had a feeling they would add it after most people struggled to get their unlocks. I got my last one on Thursday, it pained me to watch people pin others to walls while I kept getting a bunch of worthless razorbacks.

 

[Sensai]

Sorry...I don't check Smashboards as much as I used to. I'mma try to reply to the people who replied to my post about 3 pages back.

I don't think it countered Pyros anyways, since you'll still burn while cloaked.

I was definitely exaggerating; Spies never countered Pyros. But the Dead Ringer definitely evened them out, or at least shifted the balance in a big way.

With the (now antiquated) Dead Ringer, you burned if the Pyro lit you up after you feigned death. If you were in flamethrower range, you had probably a ~10% chance to not get hit if you feigned death, but anything past that you stood a great chance of not lighting up.

Although lighting up wasn't that bad either. Sure, everyone knows where you are but the Dead Ringer was busted; everyone knew that no Spy really died, meaning everyone was still paranoid. Even if you're lit up, the crit rocket does 10 damage and you don't take burn damage. So, it took a LOT to kill a Spy, regardless of the fact that you knew exactly where he was.

I play Spy, it's probably my main class. If we're doing matchups a la Smash matchups, the Spy vs Pyro pre Dead Ringer was 2/8 Pyro, if not worse. The Dead Ringer made it 4/6, easy.

Is there a noob weapon in the game?

There's nothing the equivalent of L4D's auto shotty or CS's noob cannon, no. A lot of people ***** about Pyro, Soldier, and Demo being too easy to play, but most people still suck at those classes. Most people don't correctly play Pyro (W+M1 is insulting, honestly. It's more like W+M2, 3, M1 [light 'em up and axe 'em]), most people aren't that great as Soldier and the fact that most people can't get around stickies makes the majority of people playing stupid, not the Demo broken.

Although Superstar/Black Waltz bring up a good point: Backburner (and Flare Gun, IMO) are 'noob' weapons because they're clearly the inferior of the other. Other weapons include the normal Bonesaw vs the Ubersaw and the Fireaxe vs the Axtinguisher, but you won't hear about these as literally everyone who has them uses the better.

Demo update

They update classes based on the amount of people playing them. The less played a class is the more likely it's going to be updated (in fact, there has yet to be an update where the least played class _wasn't_ updated; Spy vs Sniper were the two least played classes). Soldier (NOT SCOUT), Demo, and Engineer are the only classes left to update and, I can't be sure of this off the top of my head, Demo is the least played of those three....so my bet is that they're next.

DONE!

 

[Mic_128]

Didn't Scout already get an update?

 

[Black Waltz]

Scout, Demo, and Engineer are the only classes left to update and, I can't be sure of this off the top of my head, Demo is the least played of those three....so my bet is that they're next.

Think you meant to say "Soldier, Demo, and Engineer", mate.

And yes, light and axtinguish is the win combo against unaware heavies.

 

[4% APR]

i'm surprised that sniper and spy were less played than demo. i want my demo update so bad

 

[Superstar]

W+M1 is how most pub players play Pyro. There's more to it than that, but even the highest ceiling isn't that high. Hell, my Pyro is better than like 95% of Pub Pyros, and I've only gotten 30 minutes. Total.

 

[Superstar]

Double post, cause now I have PROOF (and a one hour gap):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndZoP4yctqA

33 hours with Pyro. Also, apparently people don't consider Complexity "good players" when they say the people in the vid sucked. XD

Also he made the video cause apparently he doesn't like Pyro. XD

 

[kr3wman]

10 minutes of own in 22 hours of play lulz.

 

[Sensai]

I did, in fact, mean Soldier. I even read over it multiple times and STILL missed it.

/sigh

[Edit:]

And I agree. Even though Pyro is my most played class, they're one of the classes that has the easiest skill curve (and not a high ceiling). But I dunno...they're fun to play.

I think the real reason I enjoy playing them is 'cause I really liked them before the update so long ago, when they were still not overplayed/not as great, and now it's just silly.

[Edit again:]

I've never really liked the Flare Gun. I think it's just 'cause when it first came out it was truly awful, but maybe I should give it another chance. The problem is, I'm not too accurate with it, haha.

Also, is this guy playing on a _really_ small, serious server, or is he scrimming? I don't think I saw a crit once, nor do I think that there were ever more than 6 people on a team. Ah, must be a small server, as I just saw a Spy.

 

[kr3wman]

semi-serious scrims, 90% of the time.

 

[Superstar]

Guy is scrimming. He's Bloodsire, one of the snipers in this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkZLJeQ1Nhc [mix of scrims, gathers, pubs, whatever, though there are less serious scrims].

Spy AND Pyro were even used in the ESEA Complexity vs Pandemic finals. They are rare but they do get play.

Also, Soldier isn't easy to use. Or rather, master. To be useful, he's easy, but to be good, I mean good, that's another story. My personal list from easiest to hardest:
Pyro
Heavy
Engie [A battle Engie is similar to Scouts, but Sentries lower the curve]
Medic
Soldier
Spy [not to win, I mean to learn right. Maybe swap with Soldier]
Scout
Demoman

 

[Black Waltz]

Supe! How could you forget Sniper!

 

[Superstar]

OH NOES.

I dunno where to put him anyways. Somewhere above Soldier. Maybe above Spy. Not above Scout.

 

[Y34HDUD3!!!]

Any recommendations on what gfx card I should buy? I'm looking for one that is not too expensive and can run TF2 well.

 

[4% APR]

i would have put scout above demo i think, that could be wrong though

 

[Superstar]

I dunno about either. Aiming those pipes can be nasty. Some people say Scout is harder, some say Demo is. Bleh.

Yeahdude, either a 9600GT or a 9500GT. A 9500GT won't require a new power supply, so that looks like your best pick. It's low end, but I hear it's a good card.

 

[Y34HDUD3!!!]

Thanks man. Fits right within my budget.

I'm gonna check at BestBuy to see if they have it.

 

[Black Waltz]

Thanks man. Fits right within my budget.

I'm gonna check at BestBuy to see if they have it.

Try to order from newegg.com They have great prices.

 

[Sensai]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...lickDeals-_-NA-_-NA-_-NA&Item=N82E16814133230

35 bucks after rebate. That's not shabby.

 

[DekuBoy]

Okay, I played today after previously only getting doubles of existing weapons and in the first 5 seconds I got the Huntsman and The Ambassador. The unlock system is weird. Thank god milestones are back.

Personally I think they should make an update to make weapons like the fireaxe,bonesaw,medigun and revolver better so maybe people would like to use them as well as their replacements.

 

[F8AL]

I just got the Flare Gun today for the Pyro and I was wondering if I should equip that? Cause I heard that the Flare Gun is only good against Heavies because it's suicide if you try to rush them and flame them cause they'll own you really fast. I like the shotgun tho...

 

[Superstar]

Flare gun has uses. I prefer Shotgun, but Flare gun has uses.

Personally I think they should make an update to make weapons like the fireaxe,bonesaw, medigun and revolver better so maybe people would like to use them as well as their replacements.

!

- Fireaxe: Auto crits people on fire for 195 damage. Seems situational but that's what the Airblast if for, launching them so they'll land into 195 damage.

- Medigun: A majority of the game, Medigun is better than the kritzkrieg, since it allows you to break deadlock. Kritz is better for "bulkier" class distributions, and certain other situations.

-Revolver: The rate of fire makes it better than the Ambassador if you can't consistently get headshots or shoot fast.

 

[Y34HDUD3!!!]

Superstar, do you know on what settings I could run TF2 with the 9500 GT gfx card?

Cuz if it is 35 $, then I'm thinking I could buy a more powerful one just to be sure. I wanna get the most out of the game. (That I can afford) Sorry if I'm sounding ungrateful.

Anyways, thanks for the help guys.

 

[Mic_128]

*Checks watch*

Well it's E3-o'clock, where's Episode 3?

 

[Superstar]

Max, cept for Anti-aliasing.

Not 35$, it's about 50+ bucks. A 9600GT costs maybe 20 dollars more, is a LOT better, but if your PC wasn't built you'll need a new power supply, very likely. Runs AT LEAST 30 bucks.

 

[Sensai]

@ Superstar: I think that you're mistaking what he meant. For one, the Fireaxe is _definitely_ the red axe that the Pyro starts with. You're agreeing with what he's saying. Also, I think he's talking about the Medic's syringe gun, not the heal gun.

I dunno the names for them.

@ Y34HDUD3!!!: Probably need to know your resolution, but it should look pretty **** good. Not completely max settings, but pretty good.

@ Mic 128: I KNOW! Instead, we get Valve's "we'd like to take your money by releasing a game that was incomplete at launch a year ago" L4D2 bull****. Sorry, a tad bit upset about it.

 

[Superstar]

Oh, 35 dollars after rebate. But I don't like to go on that. Sometimes, they try hard not to give you that rebate.

Oh, what he meant by Fireaxe. Ok then. But the heal gun for the Medic is called the Medigun. I think a suitable buff for the syringe gun would be an uber buildup. Still wouldn't be as good as the Blutsauger, but it wouldn't be completely terrible.

Agreed on L4D2.

 

[Y34HDUD3!!!]

Max, cept for Anti-aliasing.

Not 35$, it's about 50+ bucks. A 9600GT costs maybe 20 dollars more, is a LOT better, but if your PC wasn't built you'll need a new power supply, very likely. Runs AT LEAST 30 bucks.

When you say built for it, what do you mean? I'm thinking my pc's stats are pretty high.

Probably need to know your resolution, but it should look pretty **** good. Not completely max settings, but pretty good.

My resolution is 1440 X 900. If it runs that well, then I might as well buy that one.

Oh, 35 dollars after rebate. But I don't like to go on that. Sometimes, they try hard not to give you that rebate.

I'll see about that.
Thanks again guys.

 

[Superstar]

No problem.

I don't mean built for it, I mean built. When you build a PC, it's likely you got a Power Supply with the proper or some extra pins. If you buy it, if it was just a basic one you might need to get a new Power Supply.

Also, your PC will need a PCI-Express slot. They look like this:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii289/XGSuperstar/PCIE.png
Obvious when you compare it to the normal white PCI slots [there are 3 in this picture].

You can just open it up when it's off and check your motherboard.

Also, sentries are evil. I swear, I'd like to go on a Scout rampage killing everyone on the other team but there's always a sentry. I remember on Badwater, we were Blue going for last, soon as the sentry went down I wreaked so much havoc...until they rebuilt it. ;_;

Soldier is good, but requires a sane Medic that won't stick to people, know priority healing, and know how to swap ubers to whomever needs it most. An uber going from one Soldier to another is ****. It's not even that hard.

 

[MaDWaK]

No problem.


Also, sentries are evil. I swear, I'd like to go on a Scout rampage killing everyone on the other team but there's always a sentry. I remember on Badwater, we were Blue going for last, soon as the sentry went down I wreaked so much havoc...until they rebuilt it. ;_;

Scout is probably the ONLY class that gets ***** by sentries. Pyros sometimes do too.
in other words, the engie needs an update soon. im tired of those **** snipers, demomen, heavys, and Spahs sappin mah Sentry.

 

[Red Exodus]

I don't play Engy much anymore because there's not much skill to it, I try going offensive from time to time but there's only so many places you can put a sentry before your enemies wise up. Don't even get me started about the usual spots for SG farms, that's the most boring thing ever.

 

[Superstar]

Sentry farms **** anything.

To take down a sentry farm, you need 2 uber Demomen with the rest of the team not being pathetic and backing them up. People can fight the airblasting Pyros and teammates slowing the uber down, can take "extra" shots while the sentries are targetting the uber, a Spy may sap one of the Sentries to give some opening to the rest of the team. Even a Scout with bonk can distract sentries.

But these are pubs. Don't expect such coordination. =/

 

[Red Exodus]

I find that once I don't play I 32 slot servers I don't run into many SG farms.

 

[Superstar]

They still happen, just less common.

I hate 32 man servers. The game breaks so hard once you add more than 24 man [even 24 people gets spammy].

 

[Red Exodus]

Yeah I know what you mean. I used to love them especially when there was instant respawn but now I'm sick of them. Even on a huge map like Badwater you run into people everywhere and there's lots of spam going on. The clan that I joined mainly has 32 slot servers and now I hardly play there, I'm probably going to leave it soon.

 

[Sensai]

I have a theory that the thing that makes bad TF2 players is the respawn time (or lack thereof). If people aren't afraid to die (since they'll face no consequences) why not just run haphazardly into the enemy?

24 is about the medium, for me. 18 would probably be what I would choose, but a 9v9 in a pub is a little...silly. Outta those 9 slots, you're going to have at least 3 people who wanna play Spy/Sniper, meaning you're going to be down a class you really need.

 

[4% APR]

yeah for real, you just can't get away from people who feel the need to go spy or sniper. i've been down to our last point on fastlane, and my team still thinks we need 3+ snipers, and then they wonder why we lose

 

[Black Waltz]

Several times when I'm playing on dustbowl we get destroyed on the second CP on the second stage because of the other team's 6 sentries. Then when it's our turn to defend that point, I end up being the only engy and we lose horribly. How come people don't realize that engy spam wins for defense?

 

[RedPeppers]

Engie spam wins defense if the other team is completely incompetent. Any decent semi coordinated offense takes down Engie spam easily. Of course I say that as an experienced Soldier, and as a Demo I **** sentries all day. Dustbowl 2-2 is a field day for the Demoman, most common sentry spots can be taken down in a matter of seconds.

 

[Superstar]

Thing is, it's hard to have a decent semi-coordinated team in pubs.

To take down a sentry farm, you need 2 uber Demomen with the rest of the team not being pathetic and backing them up. People can fight the airblasting Pyros and teammates slowing the uber down, can take "extra" shots while the sentries are targetting the uber, a Spy may sap one of the Sentries to give some opening to the rest of the team. Even a Scout with bonk can distract sentries.

People in pubs tend to not go Medic or absolutely suck with him [not going for cover, heading in front, not switching ubers to whomever is getting beat down, staying stuck to one target instead of rapidly switching between them]. Soldiers tend to suck in pubs, they aim for the opponent instead of the feet [admittedly, my Soldier is worse in pubs, I need to not RJ at all and just practice aim. My entire Soldier strats rely on a good Medic]. That, and they're pathetic that they don't go behind the uber and back them up. Whenever I'm ubered I'm going at it alone, and while sometimes I ****, if I mess up we are dead.