[Steam] Thread XVI: The biggest in-joke in gaming

[Jibar]

SAXTON

HALE

Northforce didn't lie yo!

Polycount is coming!

[onasuma]

It wasnt last week. Polycount is ruined forever!

[Jibar]

Throwing this out there now:

I am willing to trade three hats for the Crocodile hat.

I will give anything for that Crocodile.

Crocodile...

[onasuma]

Im one item off a random hat right now. If I happen to get a crocodile, you're on.

[Flechair]

Throwing this out there now:

I am willing to trade three hats for the Crocodile hat.

I will give anything for that Crocodile.

Crocodile...

I want your demo hat.

[Valaqil]

Check out The Mannconomy.

So, microtransactions, of some sort, are being implemented. You can now begin "buying" items. However, all items that are even simply cosmetic can be found by playing the game. The "Steam Wallet" can be used for all of Steam, is direct cash instead of points, and requires no preset values of cash to be entered at a time, such as when you buy MSFT points or something.

Trading is implemented but some items (limited-edition) are not trad(e?)able.

Oh, and a direct link to the items page, which details their stats: Items.

EDIT: Holy @#$%! The Eternal Reward is now my favorite weapon. I'm a Soldier fan, and want those items badly, but the Spy is now even more awesome.

[KBF]

So.. We officially have an inside source, and this is proof?

We are now the most legitimate Steam community. Fandumb's Law dictates it so.

[AlterForm]

+65% Weapon Change Speed
-25% burn damage

OH GOD

MY PANTS

THEY HAVE BEEN ****** IN

[KBF]

I have not read everything so far, but why is Valve doing Microsoft/Wii/ect Points except as it always should have been, instead of assbackwards?

how come valve is making all my dreams come true

[Jibar]

Oh God I don't know what to believe now

I AM SO TORN GUYS

I'M SO TORN

Okay...

Okay...

Microtransactions, I can allow. That... okay.

Hats having stats, and how plain up lazy some of the Polycount abilities are? Not acceptable.

I just wait to be seen what happens with all this customisation stuff.

[MoelVermillion]

They're adding a paid service and then not forcing anyone to use it at all?

DWADHWAJAWHFAHUWJIFHUQWFUQ I'M IN LOVE!

[MamaLuigi]

OH GOD

MY PANTS

THEY HAVE BEEN ****** IN

Oh god the axestinguishes I could do :D

Edit: That new knife would go lovely with the Cloak and dagger.

[Arbitrarity]

Seems good. The item set buffs, while directly limited by hats, aren't exactly overpowered. While this likely limits those buffs to anyone buying hats and the lucky, being forced to use specific item sets gimps people badly, imo. For example, the soldier set is interesting, but 20% damage resistance on sentries is pretty much worthless. So really, it's the choice about picking the Black Box or Battalion's Backup.
Ok, Gas Jockey's Gear is VERY GOOD. Sure, it makes the flamethrower the least damaging weapon in the game, but it makes airblast even better. Then, you can trade puff-n-sting damage for healing and speed (if you have the hat...) Solid.
Croc-o-style is for making fast snipers rage. Raaage. Seriously, how does "cannot be killed by headshots" work? Also, it makes the kukri seriously goddamn scary. Bodyshot, CRIT KUKRI. However, it seriously gimps up the sniper's damage dealing by preventing headshots, and is mostly for camping support.
Scout pack is probably weak, because Mad Milk replaces Scattergun. Even as an awesome team buff, that's just way too crippling most of the time. On its own, however, the pistol seems quite useful.
Spy pack looks neat and probably well-balanced. I may end up raging about Eternal Reward sometime, but it seems fair. However, I'm not sure how balanced the set is when using the DR, because it lacks in the "cloak flicker" department.

Keep in mind, it's not "hats have stats". Sure, the sets are limited by the hats. But mostly, they're limited by some of the items being crappy.

[Valaqil]

I'M SO TORN

Ditto.

Microtransactions, I can allow. That... okay.

Hats having stats, and how plain up lazy some of the Polycount abilities are? Not acceptable.

I really don't like microtransactions. I really don't like them. But I may participate anyway, depending on prices, to avoid having to wait. (Damn you, Valve!)

When do hats have stats? The hat only "has" a stat if the entire set is worn, which it probably won't be unless you're trying to be stylish. E.g. I like the Black Box, but I'm not too interested in the Battalion's Backup, so the hat makes no difference, stat-wise.

Edit:

That new knife would go lovely with the Cloak and dagger.

I look forward to trying that.

[surikesu]

150 hp scouts and snipers immune to headshots should be an interesting addition to servers everywhere.

And hopefully the shortstop is not natascha 2.0

[KBF]

Edit: That new knife would go lovely with the Cloak and dagger.

The gun too. Shoot a clip, get an extra life? May not be practical but that sounds fun as hell. The whole spy set does.


Though, the creators are getting paid for the weapons being bought.. But have no influence over their effects? That seems ever so slightly unfair, but this is a cool system and I don't care.

Djinn needs to send in that Derringer, I want to buy that.

150 hp scouts and snipers immune to headshots should be an interesting addition to servers everywhere.

200 with a socialist medic!

[Dogmantra]

Let me be the first to say that I hate nearly everything about the new update.

[Arbitrarity]

Psssh. 150 hp scouts with NO SCATTERGUN. They're basically support at that point. They get a pistol with next to no ammo and a slow, and healing from milk that probably acts like Jarate. So... their primary attack is slapping you with a fish. I'm not worried.

Snipers immune to headshots? Eh. They also can't headshot, so you just... encouraged 2fort companion cube snipers
But eh. They decided to suck at actually attacking enemies for sniper jarate and increased survivability against snipers.

OH NOES THEY'RE SELLING MEDALS.

[Dogmantra]

Snipers immune to headshots?

They are not immune. They "cannot be killed" by headshots. That is to say, I assume it leaves 'em on 1.

[Jahkaivah]

Microtransations? Pfft

A way to buy stuff that can be gotten for free? Why worry about that? In fact it's a lesser evil to people selling items to others on ebay which would start happening with trading introduced.

Besides...

...we got bigger problems.

The Shortstop
Level 1 Pepper Gun
On Hit: Slow Target Movement

WHY IS VALVE ADDING MORE NATASCHAS?

When all pieces of the set are worn, the set provides this additional bonus:

HATS ARE PART OF SETS.

HATS NOW HAVE FREAKING STATS.

Wanna wear that hat that looks cool? Enjoy not having a useful stat!

[Arbitrarity]

So a fully charged headshot is less effective than a fully charged bodyshot?
Lolz. Oh well, time to get out my SMG. Pew, one bullet with perfect accuracy.
Also, how accurate are people with pistols? I'll give you a hint. Not very. With 1/8 the bullets in the air compared to Natascha, the effectiveness of the Pepper Gun will be limited.

Finally, HATS DO NOT HAVE STATS.
Putting a hat in a set forces the use of the WHOLE SET. Sure, if you WANT TO USE THE SET the hat is optimal. I DON'T. FOR ANY OF THESE.

Look. Scout pack removes the scout's primary DPS for support. So... you get raped by every class 1v1, and can only contribute like a crappy medic in teamfights.
Soldier pack has an irrelevant set boost. The damage reduction on sentries is pretty much irrelevant, because sentries are binary. The Black Box and Battalion's Backup seem like potentially useful items (counter kritz, function without a medic)
Sniper pack removes the ability to headshot, and thus most of the skill. It also removes the ability to kill anyone at range in a reasonable timeframe. So yes, play Weighted Companion sniper if you like.
Pyro set? Actually, legit complaint. 10% movement and 10% bullet damage aren't balanced. However, I suspect most good pyros will continue using the Axtinguisher with the Degreaser, as the Degreaser serves mostly to fake out soldiers and demos while using flares/shotgun. Thus, the "bonus" from the hat will go unused. Because really, who's going to get kills with the Powerjack? Not many people.
And yes, it's a legit complaint for the spy. In my opinion, however, the "set bonus" there is well-balanced. Increased cloak flicker is a serious concern.... EXCEPT WITH THE DR.

[KBF]

Psssh. 150 hp scouts with NO SCATTERGUN. They're basically support at that point. They get a pistol with next to no ammo and a slow, and healing from milk that probably acts like Jarate. So... their primary attack is slapping you with a fish. I'm not worried.

You of all people should know that the pistol can be a deadly weapon. And it's not like the scouts will have any difficulty running to ammo packs. Of course.. I will have to set up dispensers a lot more often, because I can see massive amounts of rage from scouts grabbin mah metal as an engie.

Snipers immune to headshots? Eh. They also can't headshot, so you just... encouraged 2fort companion cube snipers
But eh. They decided to suck at actually attacking enemies for sniper jarate and increased survivability against snipers.

Aaaaand it is elitism time against us crappy snipers again? Yaaaay. But guaranteed melee crit is definitely not underpowered.

[Griever]

200 with a socialist medic!

Should be 225 with overheal, just like a medic.

[Dogmantra]

Should be 225 with overheal, just like a medic.

Should be freaking 185. Just like a Scout

mumblegrumblehateunconditionalhealthboostsgrumble

[surikesu]

They are not immune. They "cannot be killed" by headshots. That is to say, I assume it leaves 'em on 1.

Thanks for clarifying, this goes to show I am pretty illiterate. In that case, crisis averted, pull out smg.

EDIT: Ninja'd

[onasuma]

I initially hated it. I will be brought round if the following occurs/is true:

Lose the hats as part of the item packs. Keep them as hats. (Or make it so you cant wear them without the full pack and they just appear, not having to be found individually).
All items the new items are craftable.
Hats cannot be painted bright green, or luminious pink or any other silly colours.
They remove the minimum purchase thing.
They make it so people cannot spam trading.
They make it so people cannot ask for a trade in a game.

I think thats all, there may be morREMOVE THE NEW NASTASCHA

[KBF]

Wanna wear that hat that looks cool? Enjoy not having a useful stat!

What, like -20% damage from sentry guns? And they're using the Tank Buster, which will give them +15 health! And they can't use the shotgun, because we all know how terrible the shotgun is anyway! Oh nooooo. Wanna be immune to headshots? No headshots for you. Want reduced cloak volume? No disguising. It's actually pretty ingenious way to make hats signify something, without being at all useful. Now they are distinguished, mostly pretty bad subclasses. I actually like this system.

Mixing and matching is still better, which is what balances it.

[Dread Cthulhu]

I approve of this update.

I didn't approve of Engineer, which all you people seemed to.

So I guess I'm just a little bit weird.

[Valaqil]

Aaaaand it is elitism time against us crappy snipers again? Yaaaay. But guaranteed melee crit is definitely not underpowered.

It's always elitism time. Especially with Snipers.

They remove the minimum purchase thing.
They make it so people cannot spam trading.
They make it so people cannot ask for a trade in a game.

Minimum purchase? What? </not at home, can't load TF2>

Speaking of trade spam, perhaps we should get this out of the way soon: Are we all (or mostly?) okay with talking about trading items in here, or is that clutter we want to avoid? I don't want to annoy anyone with it in thread/game, so let me know.

[Arbitrarity]

You of all people should know that the pistol can be a deadly weapon. And it's not like the scouts will have any difficulty running to ammo packs. Of course.. I will have to set up dispensers a lot more often, because I can see massive amounts of rage from scouts grabbin mah metal as an engie.

Yeah, ok. You can try playing scout without scattergun. I will laugh.
I know the pistol is deadly. However, using it as a primary source of damage, ESPECIALLY AS A SCOUT is completely nonviable.
Why?
The lack of ammo means a lack of staying power, and the "pistol" means a lack of burst damage. You can harass, but you basically won't kill anything, because you need to retreat for ammo. At close range, even if you can keep the pistol PERFECTLY trained on the target (impossible. Heavies can't do it (they get by with absurd total DPS and shotgun-like spread) and you're moving very quickly) you're dealing less than half the damage of the scattergun. Sure. It can kill. But it's mostly good for finishing targets, not for doing ALL OF YOUR DAMAGE.

Oho, and the spy set with DR is really obvious, too. To get in, you need to run in, no disguise, set totally visible, and get killed. Sure, it's good for flanks or whatever, but causes far too many playstyle changes to be considered overpowered (I think...)

OH****.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/30/in...or-real-money/

Robin Walker: Mann Co. Supply Crates are found only through playing the game, and require a Mann Co. Key to open them. Each crate contains one item from a list of potential items, which you can see in the crate description. They also have a chance of finding items with custom effects on them, which are the rarest items in the game right now.

AND THEN YOU HAD TO SCREW STUFF UP ROBIN.
GOD DAMMIT WHY.

Also, tank buster is good. That's +15 health PER HIT. Sure, it means you can't engage as long, but it also means without a medic, it's a lot easier to keep fighting if you can catch a break to reload.