TF2: God save the queen!

[Johny Cee]

TF2 blog post on the challenge of replacing the sniper rifle

It's interesting reading.  tl;dr version is that their current plan is to give the sniper something that encourages him to engage at closer range, to reduce the frustration other players feel at being headshotted from across the map.  We'll see how that plays out.

Interactivity.  Non-interactive situations aren't fun.  Examples include: good snipers at long, long range; being ganked in an MMO while PvEing, or when massively outnumbered; and certain strategies in Magic the Gathering (i.e. draw-go permission, stasis decks, land destruction decks).

The Wizards of the Coast R&D folks have written a bunch of good articles about interactivity and game design,  and mirror what the Valve folks are saying.

[schild]

TF2 blog post on the challenge of replacing the sniper rifle

It's interesting reading.  tl;dr version is that their current plan is to give the sniper something that encourages him to engage at closer range, to reduce the frustration other players feel at being headshotted from across the map.  We'll see how that plays out.

Players are still going to get headshotted across the map. I just don't see the purpose of a SNIPER with a close-range weapon.

[Prospero]

The three weapons together could move him to being a strong midrange fighter with long range capability. It  would be good for maps like goldrush and badwater where the line of battle moves a lot. I vote for elephant gun.

[Strazos]

Oh, that could be nice, so that even if you wing the guy, he's dead.

[eldaec]

Faster charge with no zoom or reduced zoom possibly?

[Strazos]

I'll take faster charge with no zoom, but WITH a damn crosshair.

[Malakili]

I'll take faster charge with no zoom, but WITH a damn crosshair.

Just turn on custom crosshairs and you can get one with the current sniper rifle.

[Samwise]

Sniper rifle unlock revealed: The Huntsman

Sounds like it does something to inhibit movement, either actually pinning people to the wall for a few seconds or debuffing their speed while they have arrows stuck in them.  Either way, I claim victory on my guess that the rifle unlock would be something that slows people down (although I don't know why I didn't think of a bow -- seems totally obvious in retrospect).

[Prospero]

Word from Robin Walker is no stun. Ragdolls are just pinned to the wall after death.

[Samwise]

I await confirmation that the arrows don't impose some sort of speed debuff.  It'd be pretty weak if the sniper unlock didn't have any actual mechanical differences besides lower charge time.

[Prospero]

Confirmation

[Samwise]

I see nothing there about lack of a speed debuff.   

Though if there were one he'd probably have mentioned it in there somewhere.

[Strazos]

So it looks like you can pin living players to walls, which sucks in open areas.

Begs the question: can you, by aiming low and at a sharp angle, pin someone to the ground?

Also, is there any sort of "arrow drop" over distance, necessitating the ability to arc your shots at longer ranges?

[Samwise]

So it looks like you can pin living players to walls.

Negative.  See, umm, last four posts.

Also, is there any sort of "arrow drop" over distance, necessitating the ability to arc your shots at longer ranges?

I sure hope so.

[NiX]

Pins dying players? What constitutes dying?

[Hindenburg]

In flames with very little HP.

[Samwise]

Pins dying players? What constitutes dying?

I think "dying" means "being killed by the damage this arrow does".

[Megrim]

Wait. "Full charge time of 1 second" WHAAAAAAT? That's crazy.

[Lantyssa]

So what's the point of it besides having fun playing pin cusion with a corpse?

[Samwise]

So what's the point of it besides having fun playing pin cusion with a corpse?

That's what I'm trying to determine.  It sounds like it lets you fire faster but maybe doesn't have a scope and/or doesn't hitscan, so as to encourage you to get closer (and do more damage in shorter time as the payoff).

[Musashi]

Shorter range for faster charge I'd guess.

[trias_e]

I have 60+ hours played as sniper.  My number 1 class.  I know, I know, I'm one of those people. 

But this, if I understand it, is everything I've ever wanted.  I mean, I already get way too close as a sniper already.  I like to sneak up and get to spots people won't expect you to be.  It's more fun that way.  Now I'll be overpowered while I do it.  Awesome.

[Strazos]

My favorite class as well...I'll definitely give it a shot.

I wonder if it's silent too?

[Jobu]

That's what I'm trying to determine.  It sounds like it lets you fire faster but maybe doesn't have a scope and/or doesn't hitscan, so as to encourage you to get closer (and do more damage in shorter time as the payoff).

It'll be great when some scout or someone sneaks around your teammates and gets the jump on you. Tag him to the wall and then scoot away to safety.

[Prospero]

Day 2 is live

I'm digging the new arena maps. I've found myself playing a lot more arena since the scout update, so new spaces are definitely welcome. The payload map looks like a bloodbath.

[Strazos]

Looks like a nice place to soak up sniper kills.

[NiX]

Did they outright stop with the "Meet the..." series?

[Prospero]

Nope. The team that does them did the L4D movie. Supposedly they are back to work on the last 3 "Meet The *" as  well as some TF2 comics.

[NiX]

Good good. I was looking forward to Meet The Pyro and Spy.

[Samwise]

I really hope Meet the Pyro is 3 minutes of the Pyro going "mrr mrr mrrph mrr".  I don't think Valve has the stones for it, but it would be hilarious.

[NiX]

They should. Keep the controversy about whether or not the Pyro is male or female.

[eldaec]

Next sniper weapon is a single use damage shield that only works on spy stabbings.

It also debuffs your speed.

I think it replaces the pointless submachine gun.

[Samwise]

Initial reaction:

 

[eldaec]

That's my initial, intermediate, and long term settled reaction to every alternate weapon Valve have implemented so far.

[Samwise]

I like most of the alternate weapons, but I think an item that's just a straight-up nerf to another class is kinda lame.  Like, gluing a rearview mirror to the sniper rifle so you could keep one eye behind you while scoped in would have been a hilarious and awesome way to let snipers counter spies better.  Just outright cancelling backstabs, not so much.  Meh.