TF2 Sniper Update - Luring The Sniper Into the Open

[3Suns]

Valve just announced that the Sniper update (http://www.teamfortress.com/sniperupdate/) for Team Fortress 2 is "upon us" (for PC only as yet :( ), and it is a Bow, amongst other things.

http://the-stranded.com/w/images/7/7f/TF2_Sniper_Update.jpg

Any experienced sniper will tell you how irritating it is when your targets keep moving around. The question is how to stop these cheaters from wind-sprinting around like they own the place. And the answer is to pin them to a wall. How? With arrows!

This is just "Day 1" of their unveiling, so expect some new revelations every day for the next couple of days.

They provide their reasoning behind the new weapon in a previous Blog entry (http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=2477):

You're often killed by them [Snipers] while you're engaged with an enemy in the foreground, and most of the time the Sniper is so far away it feels like you couldn't have dealt with him even if you didn't have enemies nearby. In fact, the Sniper's goal is to create that relationship: he specifically wants to fight enemies outside their engagement range, because that's his primary advantage.

... In an effort to reduce some of the aggravation that other players feel towards the Sniper, we chose the goal of designing an unlockable that encouraged the Sniper to get a little closer to his target. ...

Valve. They examine the elements of the game and take risks in trying to change the way we experience or play it. I call that innovation.

[gzsfrk]

So the question is--why would Snipers, whose whole gameplay strategy is picking off players from as far away as practical, switch to using a weapon that brings them closer to the action? It's almost worded like it's intended to be a "nerf" to the Sniper class by not giving them a long-range weapon upgrade. But it won't change the ability of Sniper class players to use the default rifle.

[3Suns]

This is why.
http://the-stranded.com/w/images/7/78/TF2_Sniper_Bow_Stick.jpg
LOL

[Larnek]

The question is why would they change the sniper's weapon and the answer will be revealed with the patch. Valve hasn't really fucked up yet so I'll give them the credit they deserve that it will probably be good. Some people don't like the Scout updates, some do. It certainly makes the scout different to play, which is the idea. So this could make the sniper different to play, within the same body.

[Larnek]

And appended, in essance it makes subclasses that can be mastered. There is a guy in my clan that can work people over with the new weapons, but its not played quite the same as when he is with the original stuff.

[Paranoia]

Ah damn. The servers will be a sniper fest. Good time to practice with spy.

[sgtslappy]

I might start playing again.

But man, playing as a Heavy when this update hits is going to kill my K/D ratio.

Everyone is going to be to far away.

[Chimpbot]

So the question is--why would Snipers, whose whole gameplay strategy is picking off players from as far away as practical, switch to using a weapon that brings them closer to the action? It's almost worded like it's intended to be a "nerf" to the Sniper class by not giving them a long-range weapon upgrade. But it won't change the ability of Sniper class players to use the default rifle.

Having logged countless hours as a sniper in both TFC and TF2, there's one thing I can definitively say; the Sniper is pretty damn shitty in a close fight.
This bow is, obviously, intended to even the odds in a closer-range fight while still giving them the ability to fight at a decent range.

[Dei]

I don't play sniper, but a friend that does mentioned that having a 1 second charge time, being able to keep full field of view and keeping movement speed while aiming would be among the positive trade offs for the regular sniper rifle.

[Zetsuei]

Ehhhhh, we'll see how this plays out. It seems like this update is geared more toward the opponent rather than the player. They say it themselves. They want people to not feel cheated by getting killed by someone who you are not only engaged with at the time, but someone who you have no hope of engaging due to distance.

That's all cool, but that's the whole reason I'm a sniper. I enjoy killing people from a distance. It's safe, and is a good test of hand-eye coordination and reflex. Close combat is difficult, but that's part of the fun. You need to strategize the best vantage point that will keep you as far away as possible while still having a good line of fire. Sure the people I kill feel cheated by me shooting them in the face when there's nothing they could have done about it, but if it was that big a deal they shouldn't have a sniper class in the first place. I just don't want them to pander to the sniper victims, and change the entire dynamic of the class. Yeah it mixes up the game play, but I'd rather they do something that adds upon the sniper dynamic. Maybe the other unlocks will do that, but I have my doubts.

[Vorge]

I'm guessing the use of this weapon will be situational. There are maps, or areas on maps, where you can't position yourself well enough to really make use of the sniper rifle properly. In those cases I can see a more flexible weapon like the bow being useful.

[Albinobees]

Ehhhhh, we'll see how this plays out. It seems like this update is geared more toward the opponent rather than the player. They say it themselves. They want people to not feel cheated by getting killed by someone who you are not only engaged with at the time, but someone who you have no hope of engaging due to distance.

That's all cool, but that's the whole reason I'm a sniper. I enjoy killing people from a distance. It's safe, and is a good test of hand-eye coordination and reflex. Close combat is difficult, but that's part of the fun. You need to strategize the best vantage point that will keep you as far away as possible while still having a good line of fire. Sure the people I kill feel cheated by me shooting them in the face when there's nothing they could have done about it, but if it was that big a deal they shouldn't have a sniper class in the first place. I just don't want them to pander to the sniper victims, and change the entire dynamic of the class. Yeah it mixes up the game play, but I'd rather they do something that adds upon the sniper dynamic. Maybe the other unlocks will do that, but I have my doubts.

they aren't getting rid of the rifle. this isnt going to gimp snipers, this is just giving them a differant play style. if you prefer sniping from a distance with the rifle i dont see any reason why you cant continue to do it.

[brandonjclark]

Ehhhhh, we'll see how this plays out. It seems like this update is geared more toward the opponent rather than the player. They say it themselves. They want people to not feel cheated by getting killed by someone who you are not only engaged with at the time, but someone who you have no hope of engaging due to distance.

That's all cool, but that's the whole reason I'm a sniper. I enjoy killing people from a distance. It's safe, and is a good test of hand-eye coordination and reflex. Close combat is difficult, but that's part of the fun. You need to strategize the best vantage point that will keep you as far away as possible while still having a good line of fire. Sure the people I kill feel cheated by me shooting them in the face when there's nothing they could have done about it, but if it was that big a deal they shouldn't have a sniper class in the first place. I just don't want them to pander to the sniper victims, and change the entire dynamic of the class. Yeah it mixes up the game play, but I'd rather they do something that adds upon the sniper dynamic. Maybe the other unlocks will do that, but I have my doubts.

You sound like an AWP WHORE!

Oh, sorry, wrong game:(

[Zetsuei]

I'm aware you can still use the rifle. I said I wanted them to add upon the sniping dynamic, rather than change it completely - and come up with an update that I care about rather than come out with something that will just make we want to use the original weapon set instead.

And I fucking hate the AWP. I used the scout, and loved it.

[Albinobees]

i guess the question is how do you make meaningful changes to the class that dont change how it works. i think there is very little you can do with the actual sniping part of things...

a stronger rifle wouldnt really matter, if your getting headshots a stronger rifle would do nothing.

the only thing i can think of is something that would help defend againist spies, but then you remove the paper to the spys rock, no?

just thinking aloud here.

i think untimately value knows what they are doing and will come out with an amazing update, even though this first reveal is a big departure from the current sniper, i bet something new will be added that tickles your fancy.

[3Suns]

"Day 2 (http://www.teamfortress.com/sniperupdate/)" is now up!

http://the-stranded.com/w/images/b/b3/TF2_Payload_Race.jpg

Two officially supported maps, and a new gameplay mode called "Payload Race". Could be fun. I love the variety that Payload adds to the original gametypes. This could take it to the next level.

[Vorge]

This is looking so very good, can't wait for the release!

[3Suns]

The RAZORBACK (http://www.teamfortress.com/sniperupdate/), is the announcement for Day 3!

While it doesn't make is headshot more deadly heh heh, it does "have his back" when he is performing them. I likey.