What's the appeal of Team Fortress 2?

Ever since I moved away from home I've missed playing Halo 3 with my friend, and I honestly can't wait to go back to it after trying to play TF2 for the last few months. I mean I like pretty much every online FPS that has come out except TF2, and here's why.

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~Imbalanced classes

~Imbalanced unlockables

~Some maps have poor design (Some maps are so easy to defend as long as you're awake you could do it)

~Critting. Why did anyone think that was a good idea? Two people of equal skill go up against eachother, one loses because he got crit? Fair

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That's just a few I can think of, but there's also some for the public servers which the majority of all TF2 players play on.

~It's too hectic and spammy with large 10v10-15v15 matches

~Many servers have instant respawn which makes even more maps way too easy to defend

~Unlimited cl@ss support (OMG Blue almost capped, all 15 of us should go pyro lulz!!!!!)

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And then we come down to certain game types

~CTF becomes sniper war, or a huge engi turtle

~Payload is one nasty pyro **** fest

~CP.....well, CP has a lot of things wrong with it that I don't even want to talk about it.

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I mean, unless you play this game competitively with friends doing 6v6 or something exactly WHAT about it makes it any more appealing than Halo online, CS 1.6, UT2k4, and the like? I'm disgusted by TF2 when I have loved so many other online FPS games. What's your input?

TF2 isn't Counter-Strike. It's supposed to be a loosy-goosy pub game. Crits are fun. CTF from my experience is far from a sniper war or engineer turtle. I think TF2 is going through a poor time right now though. While the unlockables might seem like a great thing to some, it alienates the people who don't keep up with the game all the time and they feel behind.GodLovesDead

Its wired you say all that because I think the exact opposite. I love playing TF2 way way way over CS or HALO or Battlefield or COD. The classes are balanced with big advantages and disadvantages for each. The maps are much more interesting than something like CS. The crits are personal preference so I'll leave it at that. But over all I feel TF2 is the most fun online FPS I play. Best of all its built around fun and not being too serious.adrake4183

The cl@sses are balanced with big advantages and disadvantages for each.adrake4183

That kinda contradicts itself imo.

Here's how I see it. Every class plays it's own role in helping to win the game which is fine and dandy, and it's a good aspect to TF2. What's not fine is that with these roles come imbalances.

Sniper - You can own any heavy with relative easy, but if a pyro, spy, or scout comes nearby you should just grab your ankles.

Heavy - His power makes up for his speed, yet he's pretty easy pickings for snipers, and will rarely be able to live on his own without a medic.

Medic - Unless the person you're healing is good, and aware, then be prepared to constantly die to fast classes.

Demo - Mostly balanced imo.

Soldier - Definitely balanced imo

Scout - lol heavy/sentry food?

Spy - A pyro sneezes in your direction, and you have no way of fighting back. Also, how easy is it to kill a sniper amirite?

Pyro - Somewhat balanced I guess. No real counter class.

I mean, with some tweaking all these ****s could be balanced, but atm I don't see any sort of balance. Though I will admit some imbalances are overcome with team work which gets back to my previous statement about competitive play being the way to go.

The imbalances move over into maps as well though. I mean I've seen times in badwater where the roof will have 5 or 6 sentries on it, and blue can't even get the 2nd point because it's so impossible without an incredible amount of team work on their part even though red isn't really coordinated beyond a sentry nest. Dustbowl, especially stage 2, the last capture point is so close to the respawn point for red, and there's so many places to put a sentry, that all Red needs to do is have 3 or 4 engis, and they win unless blue is REALLY coordinated.

There's just too many imbalances imo. Once they fix it I could see a great game, but not now at all. I enjoyed Team Fortress ****c, but imo in no way does TF2 fix any flaws of the original game, but just adds a ton.

If anyone was in the recent Xfire COD developers conference, then you would have heard the CAL/CEVO/pro players say that CSS and TF2 are the two best games that offer both pub matches and scrim matches without having to use mods. CSS is just that good of a game, so there's no debate there. However, TF2 offers such a wide variety of classes, weapons, weapon abilities, etc., that it all balances out in the end.

And in terms of your arguments:

~Imbalanced ****s (it all balances out in team situations)

~Imbalanced unlockables (it all balances out in team situations)

~Some maps have poor design (Some maps are so easy to defend as long as you're awake you could do it) (that's why you switch sides)

~Critting. Why did anyone think that was a good idea? Two people of equal skill go up against eachother, one loses because he got crit? Fair (you can't just crit whenever you want, it is random, so it's luck of the draw)

***************

That's just a few I can think of, but there's also some for the public servers which the majority of all TF2 players play on.

~It's too hectic and spammy with large 10v10-15v15 matches (it's a matter of preference, most people like a fast pace in FPS games)

~Many servers have instant respawn which makes even more maps way too easy to defend (instant respawn just keeps everything fast paced, as an FPS should be)

~Unlimited cl@ss support (OMG Blue almost capped, all 15 of us should go pyro lulz!!!!!) (the other team can go all pyro too)

***************

And then we come down to certain game types

~CTF becomes sniper war, or a huge engi turtle (try using a Spy in CTF, it's a field day against snipers and machines)

~Payload is one nasty pyro **** fest (matter of preference, I like killing other Pyros as a Pyro myself)

~CP.....well, CP has a lot of things wrong with it that I don't even want to talk about it. (once again, matter of preference)

It seems like TF2 just isn't really your game. I will agree that at this point in time the game isn't 100% balanced, but then again the game isn't 100% finished either (wait for all the updates before you start complaining). Secondly, TF2 is a team game. As a medic I've done quite well if I have a supportive team. On the other hand, if I play on one of those spammy, instant-respawn servers the game isn't much fun and I don't do terribly well. TF2 is a game that is extremely dependent on who you play with in terms of the quality of your experience. It can either be a blast or just downright frustrating. Now that I've found a few good servers it's easily my #1 most played game.

Oh, and one more thing. TF2 was never designed to be a competitive game. In the end it's all about having fun. If you have the right attitude TF2 can be a very enjoyable game indeed.

It seems like TF2 just isn't really your game. I will agree that at this point in time the game isn't 100% balanced, but then again the game isn't 100% finished either (wait for all the updates before you start complaining). Secondly, TF2 is a team game. As a medic I've done quite well if I have a supportive team. On the other hand, if I play on one of those spammy, instant-respawn servers the game isn't much fun and I don't do terribly well. TF2 is a game that is extremely dependent on who you play with in terms of the quality of your experience. It can either be a blast or just downright frustrating. Now that I've found a few good servers it's easily my #1 most played game.

Oh, and one more thing. TF2 was never designed to be a competitive game. In the end it's all about having fun. If you have the right attitude TF2 can be a very enjoyable game indeed.

BlueBirdTS

You're right. In my time playing I have found certain servers that are good, but unfortunately are not always up and running, or they don't have a constant population on them. I really enjoy the servers with

About 5-10 second respawn time

Cl@ss limits

Familiar players with skill

But that's about it. I mean TF2 can be exceptionally fun when you've got the right team, and people are on team talk having a good time, and people are playing competitively, but so far that's been like finding a needle in a haystack. I've had the game since August or so, and I have found way too much disappointment no matter how much I want to play the game. But, I mean, it truly is the only FPS game I've ever played that I have been disgusted by. There's been bad FPS games, but TF2 disgusts me. It's a great game, just not yet. It's currently coated in a layer of garbage imo that needs to be fixed!

TF2 is a great game. I play both CS:S and TF2 daily as my staple games. The way I look at it CS is good for serious seasoned players, and TF2 is for loose fun more forgivable to new fps players.

~It's too hectic and spammy with large 10v10-15v15 matches

Mr_Nordquist

you must be a console player if you think 10v10 is a large game.

[QUOTE="Mr_Nordquist"]

~It's too hectic and spammy with large 10v10-15v15 matches

warmaster670

you must be a console player if you think 10v10 is a large game.

hah yeah I hate playing an fps where there are any less than 12 people on each side. I feel lost playing my friends Halo where it's 8v8.

Everything you said can be explained by looking at the title of the game. Team Fortress.

Now, firsty, lets go with "Fortress". Denotes a strong defence ("engie turtle" if you will) So, we can accept that this is a legitimate type of gameplay.

Now let's look at TEAM. If you're playing the game no class is overpowered or underpowered, no-one is unbalanced, blah blah blah. Quite frankly this is the only game where team work is actually team work, and not a giant deathmatch with friendly fire turned off--because that's all Halo and UT is. A bunch of people running around trying to get the most kills, and maybe, just maybe, in the process they kill the other team at the same time and someone remembers to grab the flag.

In TF2 if you don't have a medic and the other team does, you've basically lost. If you don't have competant Pyro's to spy check you can count your engies good bye. If you don't have heavies you can count any real defence or attack good bye, becaue you simply won't have the fire power (especially if you have no medic).

I play TF2 nearly everyday and the best matches are when you have a team working together. The way you win just has so much fluidity to it when each class is used properly. When you have poor team dynamics you can just see the other teams scores sky rocket as your team runs around in circles, watches the respawn timer or sits in the spawn area getting camped and is just generally in disarray.

That said, of course pub servers are going to be spam fests when you have 15vs15 and there are only 9 classes. We can't all go sniper spy and medic and sit around doing nothing.

Lastly of course if you put a scout up against a heavy he'll lose. A spy versus a pyro will lose. But use them properly, as distractions while a sniper takes them out; or have the spy hide until his heavy+medic come up, saps the engies stuff and then they uber killing the engie and his stuff, the spy caps (or kills the Pyro if he hasn't been discovered yet) and everyone cheers on the good teamwork.

Ever since I moved away from home I've missed playing Halo 3 with my friend, and I honestly can't wait to go back to it after trying to play TF2 for the last few months. I mean I like pretty much every online FPS that has come out except TF2, and here's why.

***************

~Imbalanced classes

~Imbalanced unlockables

~Some maps have poor design (Some maps are so easy to defend as long as you're awake you could do it)

~Critting. Why did anyone think that was a good idea? Two people of equal skill go up against eachother, one loses because he got crit? Fair

***************

That's just a few I can think of, but there's also some for the public servers which the majority of all TF2 players play on.

~It's too hectic and spammy with large 10v10-15v15 matches

~Many servers have instant respawn which makes even more maps way too easy to defend

~Unlimited cl@ss support (OMG Blue almost capped, all 15 of us should go pyro lulz!!!!!)

***************

And then we come down to certain game types

~CTF becomes sniper war, or a huge engi turtle

~Payload is one nasty pyro **** fest

~CP.....well, CP has a lot of things wrong with it that I don't even want to talk about it.

***************

I mean, unless you play this game competitively with friends doing 6v6 or something exactly WHAT about it makes it any more appealing than Halo online, CS 1.6, UT2k4, and the like? I'm disgusted by TF2 when I have loved so many other online FPS games. What's your input?

Mr_Nordquist

The game isn't about class balance (if it was perfectly balanced class wiss, no one would use teamwork... aka Counterstrike). It's rock/paper/scissors most of the time. You have to know your advantages and disadvantages. I really enjoy the game because I love playing Spy. It's such an amazing class just because you basiclly play mind games with the enemy. Do you know how many enemy medics I've scared off just because I was running around as a friendly pyro?

It's a lot of fun.

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

tf2 is great fun

though i admit, sniper is not credit to team. most of the time they just kill other snipers....which kinda defeats the point of the class

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

BlueBirdTS

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

BlueBirdTS

[QUOTE="BlueBirdTS"]

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

Swiftstrike5

Thanks for the encouragement guys! I like playing Medic since it's the c-l-a-s-s that generally helps the team the most, but I'll keep trying spy.

[QUOTE="BlueBirdTS"]

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

Swiftstrike5

Sniper - You can own any heavy with relative easy, but if a pyro, spy, or scout comes nearby you should just grab your ankles.

Heavy - His power makes up for his speed, yet he's pretty easy pickings for snipers, and will rarely be able to live on his own without a medic.

Medic - Unless the person you're healing is good, and aware, then be prepared to constantly die to fast classes.

Demo - Mostly balanced imo.

Soldier - Definitely balanced imo

Scout - lol heavy/sentry food?

Spy - A pyro sneezes in your direction, and you have no way of fighting back. Also, how easy is it to kill a sniper amirite?

Pyro - Somewhat balanced I guess. No real counter class.

The imbalances move over into maps as well though. I mean I've seen times in badwater where the roof will have 5 or 6 sentries on it, and blue can't even get the 2nd point because it's so impossible without an incredible amount of team work on their part even though red isn't really coordinated beyond a sentry nest. Dustbowl, especially stage 2, the last capture point is so close to the respawn point for red, and there's so many places to put a sentry, that all Red needs to do is have 3 or 4 engis, and they win unless blue is REALLY coordinated.

Mr_Nordquist

I think the classes in tf2 are quite well balanced, you have generalized them into very specific groups, and some of the are pretty true, i especially agree with what you wrote about being a medic but the idea of a class is they have a specific role to play in the overall scheme of the things and the emphsis in the game is on team work so sometimes it might suck when your team is just stupid but when you have some good players its alot of fun. The idea is some classes are more general whilst others are specialized for certain things and this is why they may seem imbalanced and its the whole point of having classes but their ablilites are designed to offset their shortcomings and any class is still capable of defending themselves in a firefight providing them player is good enough, i often go hunting other classes as engi.

What I love about TF2 is how it allows you to have vastly different playing styles, while still having a very cohesive game. If you want to play as a twitch gamer you play as a scout or sniper, if you lack that dexterity you can play as a pyro, or if you want to use wit over hand-eye skills you play as a spy.

Through this variety TF2 accomadates both pub and pro levels of play. You can be a crap gamer and still have loads of fun but if you take it more seriously you can still get incredibly skilled with each of the classes. It's a layered experience that everyone can enjoy.

Compared to Halo or CoD4 where you have to be specifically skilled in twitch gaming and where you are encouraged to go off by yourself instead of working together, I think TF2's playing style is a unique and fun off branch from typical FPSes.

Sure it has it's annoyances, like trigger happy pyros or turtle engis but you can combat these by adapting to the situation. Games like CoD4 don't allow as much adaptation and things like grenade spammers or martyr noobs are incredibly frustrating playing styles you can't really deal with.

Don't get me wrong Cod and Halo are some of my favourite games I think that TF2's uniqueness and balance is what makes it my favourite online game. And with that I'm going to play some TF2.

[QUOTE="Swiftstrike5"]

[QUOTE="BlueBirdTS"]

I should also add that you need to know how to properly play the classes. For instance, I am a terrible, terrible spy. I'm trying to learn the class at the moment and find videos like this one helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02udC5WnQQ

OoSuperMarioO