http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/ A games writer in the UK who also sometimes tries to make things. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:29:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-59218 [VGN] Chronos[Ha-G] Tue, 26 May 2009 22:40:31 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-59218 Arg - I just got telefragged by MY OWN TELEPORTER recently. That's something I never saw coming...now I have to watch out for that. On the plus side, if I see a friendly telefragged by a friendly, it's a dead giveaway to whomever just popped out...unless it was the spy that just got telefragged.
On the plus side, if I see a friendly telefragged by a friendly, it's a dead giveaway to whomever just popped out...unless it was the spy that just got telefragged.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-59082 Jazmeister Tue, 26 May 2009 14:18:31 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-59082 So when the cart enters that long wooden house and comes out under this ledge? That there? Yeah, two lvl 3 sentries held us up for FOURTEEN MINUTES. It's just hard when you have all these snipers everywhere, and all you need is an ubercharged heavy and a pyro to protect the medic while he's building it up. Then what happens is, you start a new map, teams are up in the air, and you think, "right, if I join an empty team and roll spy, I did it first." I mean, I'm a good spy. I'm not as good as some, but better than most. When you're alone in the spawn until four snipers join at once, though, you just feel guilty being a part of that. Soldiers, medis, couple pyros and a heavy; that's all a decent attack needs, in a way; everything else is thwarting skilled specialist opponents. Imagine fielding an army with 500 soldiers and 700 snipers from the SAS; it's just daft to have the bulk of your force be anything but all-rounder fighters. I do think the huntsman has vastly improved the standing of the sniper in the capping-and-pushing-forward stakes, though. I had my defining why-this-new-system-is-obviously-rubbish moment last night; I was on a 2v2 on pipeline, last stage; I was a pyro, they were scouts, and my team mate was a spy. He had the ambassador and the C&D. He wasn't cloaking, he was just running at them shooting. So I'd come up from under them, set them alight, blow them off the edge, their cart would roll down, and he'd be doing what exactly? Getting bodyshots with the Ambassador. Standing away from the cart. That's why this system sucks, gentlemen, because if I had the ambassador, they'd be little dead scouts with a side of stabby paranoia. I assume. I'm glad there's this here intelligent blog we can all hang out on the steps of, though, because I really wouldn't want to rely on the Steam forums for my discourse on this matter.
Then what happens is, you start a new map, teams are up in the air, and you think, "right, if I join an empty team and roll spy, I did it first." I mean, I'm a good spy. I'm not as good as some, but better than most. When you're alone in the spawn until four snipers join at once, though, you just feel guilty being a part of that. Soldiers, medis, couple pyros and a heavy; that's all a decent attack needs, in a way; everything else is thwarting skilled specialist opponents. Imagine fielding an army with 500 soldiers and 700 snipers from the SAS; it's just daft to have the bulk of your force be anything but all-rounder fighters. I do think the huntsman has vastly improved the standing of the sniper in the capping-and-pushing-forward stakes, though.

I had my defining why-this-new-system-is-obviously-rubbish moment last night; I was on a 2v2 on pipeline, last stage; I was a pyro, they were scouts, and my team mate was a spy. He had the ambassador and the C&D. He wasn't cloaking, he was just running at them shooting. So I'd come up from under them, set them alight, blow them off the edge, their cart would roll down, and he'd be doing what exactly? Getting bodyshots with the Ambassador. Standing away from the cart. That's why this system sucks, gentlemen, because if I had the ambassador, they'd be little dead scouts with a side of stabby paranoia. I assume.

I'm glad there's this here intelligent blog we can all hang out on the steps of, though, because I really wouldn't want to rely on the Steam forums for my discourse on this matter.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-59019 Ninja Tue, 26 May 2009 10:11:57 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-59019 Eww Battlefield. I'd prefer they just give us all the weapons from the start, or tie them to achievements again. I had fun farming achievements with friends. It was fun discovering how each one worked exactly, and the best way to do it. And if the weapons are so balanced, then giving them out early shouldn't cause any trouble in the first place.
I'd prefer they just give us all the weapons from the start, or tie them to achievements again.

I had fun farming achievements with friends. It was fun discovering how each one worked exactly, and the best way to do it.

And if the weapons are so balanced, then giving them out early shouldn't cause any trouble in the first place.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58994 Dante Tue, 26 May 2009 08:44:19 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58994 @ Jazmeister There are actually some very good engie spots on Hoodoo, I'm a pretty poor engie and I managed to top the server defending it once, despite the rain of spies. You just need a modicum of cover from your team and, most importantly, for them not to fold before you've put one up (sigh).
There are actually some very good engie spots on Hoodoo, I'm a pretty poor engie and I managed to top the server defending it once, despite the rain of spies. You just need a modicum of cover from your team and, most importantly, for them not to fold before you've put one up (sigh).]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58953 Cptn.Average Tue, 26 May 2009 06:34:12 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58953 Oh yeah, I forgot the Battlefield system had the whole 'ranked' servers thing. Oh well ~~ http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58862 DoctorDisaster Tue, 26 May 2009 03:02:08 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58862 I love the new "achievement idle" servers. And by "love," I mean "lost my faith in humanity, thanks to." In fairness, gamers are trained exhaustively to find the weakness in a system and exploit it. You can't raise a kid on Zelda bosses and not expect them to game your award mechanism. Still. "Achievement idle"?
In fairness, gamers are trained exhaustively to find the weakness in a system and exploit it. You can't raise a kid on Zelda bosses and not expect them to game your award mechanism.

Still. "Achievement idle"?]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58828 Jazmeister Tue, 26 May 2009 01:08:49 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58828 The problem is, you could make a map with spawns in the open or capture points right next to eachother and just farm kills and wins. This really is, sadly, the best weapon system <i>in spirit</i>. The facts are, any of the unlocks I've gotten could have been one I wanted, and weren't. Now I just want the Fedora, screw the weapons. in spirit. The facts are, any of the unlocks I've gotten could have been one I wanted, and weren't.

Now I just want the Fedora, screw the weapons.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58767 Cptn.Average Mon, 25 May 2009 23:47:46 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58767 Also, hats are fine being randomly found ^^ http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58766 Cptn.Average Mon, 25 May 2009 23:47:14 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58766 For my two cents I think the Battlefield 2142 unlock model should be used. Tie getting points purely to the points you get per round and disassociate them entirely from achievements (a shame, but there's no way to get around achievement servers), and let players choose their progressive unlocks. They could be tiered (all the unlocks have a 'level' already), or just pick from the list because when it comes down to it, no one new unlock is unbalancing. Alternately, you could save up points and spend/redeem them at a shop, with some items (like the ubersaw maybe) costing more. You'll still have achievements and they'll still be fun - I don't know why more people aren't suggesting this though =( Can someone give me feedback on this?
You'll still have achievements and they'll still be fun - I don't know why more people aren't suggesting this though =(
Can someone give me feedback on this?]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58648 Atalanta Mon, 25 May 2009 17:44:10 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58648 @DizzlerD -- I was on a payload map last night that was maybe 50% spies and 50% everybody else and it went significantly better than I expected expected it to. The hilarity of watching the spies crabwalk back and forth might have affected my judgment on the matter, though. I, too, love Pipeline 3. There is nothing more satisfying than, through luck and timing, being able to waddle my pudgy Pyro body up the tracks behind the enemy team and gleefully set them ablaze before inevitably being reduced to confetti.
I, too, love Pipeline 3. There is nothing more satisfying than, through luck and timing, being able to waddle my pudgy Pyro body up the tracks behind the enemy team and gleefully set them ablaze before inevitably being reduced to confetti.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58161 Jazmeister Sun, 24 May 2009 17:39:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58161 So Valve haven't avoided grinding. They've also increased the carbon footprint of grinding, if that's something that matters to you. Why not include peggle in the game and do unlocks through that? There really is no way to prevent people from fulfilling your criteria artificially unless you're actually policing them. Hoodoo as a soldier is great. As an engie, the inclement weather gets in the way. By inclement weather, I mean Craig.
Hoodoo as a soldier is great. As an engie, the inclement weather gets in the way.

By inclement weather, I mean Craig.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58075 Dave_C Sun, 24 May 2009 12:31:00 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58075 Dizzler D, when you're in a game saturated with snipers/spies, I highly recommend going Soldier, even if he's not a class you play often. I was playing Hoodoo yesterday, as sniper, noticing all the support classes everywhere, and thought ''Man, this game could use some heavy firepower''. Switched to soldier and rocked my way to the top of the leaderboard, with the help of a kritzkrieging medic. Snipers and Spies can do little to counter that kind of awesome firepower. Great fun, too.
I was playing Hoodoo yesterday, as sniper, noticing all the support classes everywhere, and thought ''Man, this game could use some heavy firepower''. Switched to soldier and rocked my way to the top of the leaderboard, with the help of a kritzkrieging medic. Snipers and Spies can do little to counter that kind of awesome firepower. Great fun, too.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58044 DizzlerD Sun, 24 May 2009 10:58:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58044 While everyone is complaining about the unlock system, have any players found it enormously annoying to constantly end up on teams which are at least 50% snipers and spies? It's pretty frustrating, as while those classes are useful, it's generally in a specific set of circumstances which don't occur when there's not a team of other classes backing them up. For the Sniper it's the ability to take pot shots at range (an advantage which you don't have for long with no team-mates to get in the way of the enemy), and for the Spy it's causing mayhem at the right moment with a backstab or sentry take-down (not very useful if there's no-one to take advantage of it). I usually play a combat class (generally Heavy or Pyro), or as a Medic. Not fun at all to get totally steam-rolled by half of the other team while your buddies are sitting back looking through scopes or cloaked off in the shadows. I also really dislike Pipeline, with the last section acting as my own personal hell. The narrow elevated rails which you need to push the cart up really don't allow for a group of your team to stick together or maneuver well. Too many people ignore the map goal, and being sniped constantly is painful. The above mentioned issues compound these. Ugh. On the positive side, I'm looking forward to trying out a Commando Sniper role using Jarate and the Huntsman. I've unlocked the Jarate, still waiting on the awesome bow. Going way up the page, Nico's suggestion of awarding unlocks on a win is a great idea. It avoids the skilled-get-skillederer(?!) issue with the achievements that Valve have tried to fix, while still presenting players with an incentive to work together as a coherent, winning team.
It's pretty frustrating, as while those classes are useful, it's generally in a specific set of circumstances which don't occur when there's not a team of other classes backing them up. For the Sniper it's the ability to take pot shots at range (an advantage which you don't have for long with no team-mates to get in the way of the enemy), and for the Spy it's causing mayhem at the right moment with a backstab or sentry take-down (not very useful if there's no-one to take advantage of it).

I usually play a combat class (generally Heavy or Pyro), or as a Medic. Not fun at all to get totally steam-rolled by half of the other team while your buddies are sitting back looking through scopes or cloaked off in the shadows.

I also really dislike Pipeline, with the last section acting as my own personal hell. The narrow elevated rails which you need to push the cart up really don't allow for a group of your team to stick together or maneuver well. Too many people ignore the map goal, and being sniped constantly is painful. The above mentioned issues compound these. Ugh.

On the positive side, I'm looking forward to trying out a Commando Sniper role using Jarate and the Huntsman. I've unlocked the Jarate, still waiting on the awesome bow.

Going way up the page, Nico's suggestion of awarding unlocks on a win is a great idea. It avoids the skilled-get-skillederer(?!) issue with the achievements that Valve have tried to fix, while still presenting players with an incentive to work together as a coherent, winning team.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-58035 Pentadact Sun, 24 May 2009 10:32:11 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-58035 Chronos - must have missed your message, didn't mean to be rude. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57855 Jason L Sun, 24 May 2009 02:08:55 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57855 Oh, and that flaming arrow trick truly is triple-ace. Full marks, Valve. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57853 Jason L Sun, 24 May 2009 02:00:38 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57853 Well, Robin says in that post that they're hoping to put in a 'work towards specific unlock' function, and sooner rather than later. I suppose this way is a little better than waiting for a Valve Time total update. Also, haha - EVE Online meets TF2. Reality Vortex detected. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57804 [VGN] Chronos[Ha-G] Sun, 24 May 2009 00:09:13 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57804 Ahh - no wonder you didn't respond on our server when I asked if you wanted to see the cart race map - sorry man, I didn't realize you didn't like it. http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57781 WaLdO Sat, 23 May 2009 23:06:38 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57781 Hey, seeing as you got a kick out of the spy crab, I'm not sure if you've seen this yet, but if you taunt with the kritzkrieg the medic takes a bong hit off of it. And it heals you too! http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57766 Tyshalle Sat, 23 May 2009 22:25:49 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57766 Pretty sure other methods have been suggested, Jaz. Like Battlefield 2 style, with weapons being something you can unlock based on how many points you earn. It basically solves all problems, as you will no longer have people achievement farming, nor will you have 8 snipers per team because they're all trying to unlock the new sniper weapon, or whatever. You also won't have the new thing, which is to join a TF2 server as a spectator and leave your computer on overnight. This actually works. And it's annoying.
This actually works. And it's annoying.]]> http://www.pentadact.com/2009-05-23-the-prime-minister-of-sinister/#comment-57680 Jazmeister Sat, 23 May 2009 18:33:10 +0000 http://www.pentadact.com/?p=807#comment-57680 I guess I could have just said "'Is there a better way to do it?' is a very obvious question that nobody here even needs to ask," but I couldn't fit "conflagration" into that.