Valve Teases Team Fortress 2’s Close Range Sniper Update

Snipers already have hitscan-instant-death from across the map. What exactly are they going to be getting that will make them want to get closer?

rocsflight

@kadaj_sama: Spy most hated? Really? I've never heard much Spy hate, especially compared to the amount of Sniper hate I hear.

nworobes

@Combine: Somewhere, an unloved assault rifle is crying. Listen closely. Can you hear his sobs, hear his pain? Good. Now smack him. Cause when you shoot like a bitch, you get slapped like one.

@breadtruck: "Heheh look at me I'm a Sniper I in no way help the team I just want to raise my kill count :D".

That's how MOST Snipers are. Snipers are great though, when used properly. They might be able to spot off a Spy only they can see through their scope, take out Medic/Heavy combos, but what really gets annoying is a Sniper who JUST stays scoped, and never scans around for a few seconds for a Spy.

SuperZombieMonkey

@Glitchigo: [Very fake Australian accent] As a Sniper, I am DEEPLY opposed to the idea of a thermal scope. Spies have enough on their plates without you guys seeing them while they're cloaked, too. Also, you should give your spies a pay raise. Mate.

[Flicks away cigarette]

@Kenny: I pretty much agree with you. I've seen far too many profiles on Steam where the player has like 80% of their total playtime with the Sniper. Honestly, at least mix it up a little, guys. It's as bad as people who just played Fox/Falco all the time in Melee. Sure, they're good characters, but spread out the skills.

@jookie: I am content with the fact that I've never heard half of the jargon you just used before.

nworobes

@Kiken: I agree with Boolean, the concept of a Sniper ticks me off. Once I raged (sorry guys) about getting sniped a lot, and someone said it's my fault if I get hs'd a lot.

But the thing is it all depends on how good a shot the Sniper is.

And as someone said, a Bowgun sounds reasonable. You have to be fairly close or it won't reach them.

SuperZombieMonkey

@trogam: Isn't that exactly the same as the Heavy's Nastascha?
I think Valve is probably trying to avoid repeat weapons in the class updates.

nworobes

Boomerangs with machetes taped to them.

I bet it might be a bolt action rifle, basically without a scope.

@Kenny: Been Hs'ed a few too many times there ey?
I really only play Sniper, Pyro and Medic, and spy when I want to run around and be a dick on TF2.
I don't think you should be hating on a class just because you've had your arse handed to you by a group you now generalise out of anger. Thats what Hitler did, are you as bad as Hitler?! :p

Combine

@Vecha: Some friends of mine and I were thinking maybe give the sniper some thermal scope or something to see disguised/invisible spies or hiding enemies...who knows

@TrjnRabbit: Only weapon in Halo worth using.

Combine

@shiftyeyedgoat: "that's not a knife, it's a spoon"

Aussie: "Ah, I see you've played knifey spooney before"

@sander_dutch: I could see it easily replacing the machete

@sentroshi:
If this were the case you might as well throw in an AWP

@sentroshi:
i really hope that was a joke, Deagles suck

phalanfy

@shiftyeyedgoat: Thank you, horrible gawker code:

shiftyeyedgoat

@omgwtflolbbqbye: that's not a knife...

Now this... THIS is a knife.

shiftyeyedgoat

@sentroshi:

with a small mag?

Being a QWTF/TFC vet myself, I got a hearty chuckle out of the comment in the blog entry about how they started working on TF2 22 years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

I don't play this game (though its not for not wanting to, maybe I'll get to it this summer), but so far their proposed changes sounds stupid. your not suppose to be happy when you die in a game, not at all. The purpose of a sniper is to be as far away as possible when making the kill. So changing the sniper class so players playing the class need to be closer seems counter intuitive.

@mexfreak86:
The only weapon anyone used in Halo.

TrjnRabbit

All the sniper's weapons should be replaced with one banana. This will balance the class.

@bfwings55: People still run in front of Sentry Guns?

As for the Sniper, he's my least played class but I always have a lot of fun when I get to be him. Usually there's always too many so I have to be something else.

@ca$h:

6 months valve-time!

I think that whatever that is, they'll make sure that the Sniper still resembles a sniper.

markcocjin

@soldier148: It's called the Sandman -.-

so instead of a jar of piss, you piss on them directly?

ithyphallus

@CaptainSimian: You might be on to something here

@celark: thats the most brilliant idea, that or claymores

ninjaweedman

I call chainsaw.

armchairnixon

@mexfreak86: don't be ashamed brother!

kadaj_sama

@Burguois, Teabagger of Olde: would the sentry count as long ranged?

kadaj_sama

@lolgreg: sneaking up behind the spies stealthed ass and beating them down with a bigger knife is also pretty sweet.

kadaj_sama

@trogam: how about a blow gun?
or maybe an atlatl?

kadaj_sama

@★☆★　Waka　★☆★: the game should force a 2-sniper limit by default, servers can then remove it if they want. there isn't a single situation in any map at any time when you need more than 2 snipers, even in a 32 player match. especially given that 90% of the time, every one of the snipers will be camped in the exact same spot, all shuffling about around each other while scoped-in with their laser points all aimed at the same wall like some kind of sniper-based manual machine gun.

lordofsword

@lordofsword: ah but pyro still is the only class that can deflect rockets.
methinks the point is that valve want ti iron out some of the major balance issues in some of the classes by giving out these new weapons to encourage different types of play.
a good example is the axetingiser which encourages a pyro to stay with a target they lit up long enough to nail them, rather than lighting them up and running off again.

kadaj_sama

@Krumm: Yes, those are delicious. Shooting cloaked spies is equally delicious.

lolgreg

@MDX: the hard thing with sniper is learning how each class moves around a map.
you have to learn how people will react to being shot, where they'll duck into, how fast each class can move and such.
its a fun mind game trying to figure out where they'll run to and then nailing them mid-step.

kadaj_sama

As someone who plays as the sniper often (even cosplay... don't ask) I am looking forward to these changes.

Incredibly intrigued by the teaser.

@Maleficent Lovecraft: the big thing is to watch out for the laser dots in a game. from there you can usually figure out the snipers line of sight and position.
personally i love counter sniping and i look forward to this update since it'll mean tons of n00bs trying out my favorite class.

kadaj_sama

I don't think Valve knows what they're doing with this game anymore. First the Scout, the game's fast, agile, close-quarters class gets weapons that slow him down, reduce his ammo or give him long range, now they're making the game's long range class more effective at close range? The point of a class-based game is that every class has a role balanced against the others, not to make them all equally useful in every situation. Just like how they added the airblast for pyros which was a good feature, only to add the ability for every single other class to shoot stickies to destroy them.

lordofsword

@Boolean: no it think they're point is that players get very frustrated when they're facing a sniper and they're side doesn't have a good counter sniper.
methinks the update is to encourage snipers to get in the same range as a solider, mid to long.
they're point is kinda valid as the only other class more hated than sniper is spy, and either one is instantly the priority target and called a cheap cheating bastard is we're any good at it.
I'm hoping this'll cut down on the sniper duels that erupt when you snipe a guy a few times then he switches and comes after you as a sniper just to be a pain.

kadaj_sama

Wonderful Valve, wonderful.

Now if you could get back to us with some Half Life: Episode 3 info within the next decade or so that would be FANTASTIC.

Six months apart... and we believed them!

I only have like 2 hours played as a sniper but it seems like it's the hardest class to play...

for some reason snipers can pick me off (as a scout) yet it's hard for me to even land a headshot on a demo or a soldier.

MDX

@Kenny:

Playing a sniper with dedication in conjunction with frequenting a well populated server with a good community is an amazing experience. Taunt the regulars, build rivalries with other snipers, hell, you can chat any time you want just look out for spies. Sniper is one of the best classes to play to experience the community aspect of servers.

The social aspect of FPS games has to often been overlooked man, I remember days spent playing CS in servers that were based in the Seattle area like the University of Washington one or the [WHO] server and meeting a lot of cool people.

The problem with snipers is when you've got too many on a team. They can be an awesome addition to a team, but if there's too many snipers it drags the fun out of things. Plus an all sniper team rarely wins.

Along with this, having just 1 or 2 snipers can be really handy IF they're good or decent. If they're crappy snipers, it's just a waste.

As for people moaning about snipers AWPing and all that.

I think there's a much bigger problem with sentry guns, and a HUGE problem with the overpowered Demoman.

I like Valve's philosophy, making death something that won't frustrate the player, and the sniper does that a lot. But, at the same way, that's his nature, his a damn sniper! I don't see how they can change him, but without making it become a completely different character. I'm curious to see what Valve has in mind.

@breadtruck: A good sniper will take out medics before they charge up. They will destroy sentrys before they are built, or destroy them in 2 charged shots. They will take down a heavy quickly. They can provide valuable intelligence to the rest of the team.

A good sniper is an amazing addition to a team.

i like the demo/scout but sniper is pretty good

EnRAgeDd3M0n

@breadtruck: Only if you don't have a clue on how to play a sniper in TF2.
Its all in the targets you pick to kill first, not how many you kill, that comes second.
1 good sniper shot can ruin an entire offensive.
That head shot on the Medic just before he ubbers someone to charge in... damn those taste so good.

Krumm

@celark: Or even better, put it behind you so the Spy loses his foot when he comes to knife your inattentive ass.

@Kenny: You are just upset that those 12 year old kids have more skill than you. lol

@★☆★　Waka　★☆★: LOL! Or when half of the team are Engineers. That was the main reason why I stopped playing 2Fort. Seemed as if every match just became a campfest. Arena is my favorite mode now.

@omgwtflolbbqbye: A boomerang.

@bfwings55: You shouldn't be ashamed. You use the class you like. I love the Pyro and that was before the update. I love lighting Snipers up with the Flare Gun.

@Graham: I agree, I think his updates will probably be the most interesting.

I don't think the snipers need updating. I get picked off all the time by them but that is my own inexperience with the game. Players who play as snipers are a different sort than players barreling across the field as a Heavy.

I personally enjoy being a medic more than anything. It depends on what truly engages the player.

You can become more aware of sniper locations by learning the maps. Snipers are good, but you can play a fair fight against them.

Or I might live with a guy who loves playing a sniper in countless games.

@Mordraug: Only weapon I used playing Halo!

The only problem I have with snipers is when I have 4 on my team. That means we are going to lose no matter what. Then we get 3 spies, and that's it, half the team is useless.

@e-friend isn't your e-foe: amen, brother.

Danny Bylin

@Kenny:
Dear Kenny,

If you actually complain about people 'abusing' the AWP, you are terrible at counterstrike.

jeembomb

BOOMERANG!!!!

@e-friend isn't your e-foe:
Don't bother, they won't listen. In any online game indirect fighting gets you scorn, even though it is perfectly reasonable to avoid being killed by snipers.

lifejolt

@Kiken: The point is that they don't like the concept of long range classes, and that the experience of a sniper head-shotting you is not particularly fun. You can see that in the fact that almost every single class is best at close-mid range, only the Sniper is effective at long-range.

Point being, they are ignoring the Sniper's role because they are unsatisfied with what it currently is.

Boolean

@bfwings55:
Don't be, it's lots of fun being a sniper. I Especially like hearing people bitch about me constantly.

lifejolt

@Kenny: I am... v_v

At least I'm not one of those a-holes who's kills are racked up just because they are an Engineer non-stop.

How about a bear trap? Traps enemies, makes it easy to snipe them?

celark

They need to get around the the soldier really. I mean, they're the backbone of any good army!

Graham

Remember kids, don't complain about the class when the player is flat out better than you.

There's nothing "cheap" about shooting someone in the head.

@breadtruck: They are a huge part of the defense. So yeah, they are very teamy

wazzzup16

@Burguois, Teabagger of Olde: He he, I hear you. Valve's constant updating of games seems like a godsend, but TF2 has exposed its obvious draw backs. I can still enjoy the original Super Mario Bros., but I doubt I'll every play the launch day TF2 again (or even pre-unlockable TF2)...

Gortexfogg

@Kenny: I hardly ever get killed by snipers on official maps. It's just the orangeones that it's annoying.
Sniper is a good class to update. Spy already has enough tricks.

sereal

@trogam: I thought Tranq Darts would be a Spy update weapon.

NeonLight

I think we're ignoring the fact that the Sniper class is SUPPOSED to be that long rang "BOOM" you're dead class. If anything the Sniper needs more ability to be able to hide and reposition. Something like replacing the Kukri with a Gilly suit. Something to help the Sniper better pick their positioning instead of the "lol sniper perch, toss a grenade or rocket."

I think it's sort of counter productive trying to make the Sniper a close range fighter...

@Kenny: There are absolutely no good snipers in TF2 pubs. Everyone interps like it's their job and they charge their shots. Even the decent ones are predictable as fuck. Only played against good snipers in mid/upper cevo-a/f.

By the way, in CSS, it's extremely easy to kill AWPers. In de_dust2, a good awper could hold middle, cat, b, and long, but even then (decent) teams will always outplay awpers. In fact, it's not even hard to pick with an AK down middle since the game has such huge hitboxes and such small recoil.

jookie

@bfwings55: You should be.

No Jarate = No Pwnage

cfive3

@breadtruck: Crowd control and suppression support is the "team" role of the Sniper.

I always feel ashamed when I say that the Sniper is my favorite class in TF2.

I always feel cheap. :(

@sentroshi: Um.. he was talking about the unlockables, but you were close. THAT SAID. Spy is one of my favorite classes and could use a bit more in the tools department.

Rhonlore

THANK GOD, sniper is easily the biggest bitch class in TF2, followed by engineer.

Hooray, all we need now is a long-range engineer and this game will have officially jumped the shark.

God damn valve, seriously.

Burguois, Teabagger of Olde

I hate snipers in TF2. There is nothing "team" about them.

a tranque gun might actually make sense with his history of big game hunting. maybe a free kukrie hit or two?

@sentroshi:

Um, I haven't played TF2 in a long time but didn't the Pyro already receive an update?

bkchurch

@sentroshi: The pyro was the second class updated, maybe you mean the "Meet the" videos?

@Mordraug:

Of course you weren't. It was the most wonderfully overpowered weapon in the game. You should never be able to snipe someone half way across the map with 8 shots from a pistol but damnit in Halo you could.

bkchurch

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