From the Heavy Update site:
This open area has few natural choke points, allowing Scouts, Soldiers, and Demomen to move creatively through the space, forcing the Red team to rapidly respond to choices made by Blu.
I’m looking forward to see how “creatively” they’ve gimped any hope of putting up a Sentry Gun on this map. Question: does Valve purposely spite the Engineer class?
At least they’re rolling out a bunch of maps.
The Engineer is worthless. If you see me playing it, it’s because I love the challenge that futility presents.
I’m sorry to continue with the negativity, but do those screenshots even look remotely interesting? I thought the first one was Goldrush:
I wouldn’t care if I never played another Payload map ever again.
August 14th, 2008 - 10:51 pm
Wow, for once I heartfully disagree. I think this map is a step in the right direction – more open areas bring back memories of TFC, and in my opinion, constricted spaces and general claustrophobia are what make TF2 a little unexciting to play. I can see what you mean about the engineer situation, though. But think about it in perspective. Public games are never much fun to play in as an engi because nobody bothers to support you. Clan games are a different kettle of fish… SGs become fortresses. But I speak from only a little clan play experience. In any case, at least demos will have a harder time pipe bombing your sentry when it’s perched atop a roof. The screenshots remind me a lot of the ‘vertical gameplay’ t hat Valve promised, but did not deliver, in badlands.
August 14th, 2008 - 10:58 pm
Yeah, badlands bridge should have been 3 times that height.
And also, I’m just moaning. Have a bad week or 3 of TF2 and it’s all over the internets on fragwagon.
August 15th, 2008 - 7:54 am
Haha you weren’t kidding about our reviews being different!
I like your observation about engineers playing on this map. I must say, though, that I HATE playing scout when there are sentries everywhere.
August 15th, 2008 - 8:17 am
Negative Nancy! Or, Norman I mean!
The more open approach isn’t much of a gimping of the engie as it’s more of a nerf for the entire Red team. Red wins 82% of the time on Goldrush, the stats are there. Each *-2 point on Goldrush has massive terrain advantages with sentries defending in all directions. Take one or two down, there’s still the third (or more) and you lost half your team doing it so by the time they get up there again, at least one more level 3 is back up. YAY? I’m all for this opening up.
There will still be spots for engies and the good ones will find them first and they will forever be “the spots” for Badwater sentries.
I’ve spent way too much time getting owned 2 on 1 in FNF just to fill the server, sometimes even without the reward of it actually filling. But I don’t need things to be going my way to have fun, the game is just fun to me. I’m all for the challenge of offense on Goldrush but it will be nice to get some Blue victory more often again
August 15th, 2008 - 8:38 am
I’ve got to say, I have only been in steel twice or so but I thought it was really cool. The only problem was that people wouldnt take the time to learn it so they would give up and leave as is always the issue with customs(after the 2 plays…I was still confused).
Making it official will mean people know how to play it and we might actually see some good competition on it. As to engies being functional in steel, they definately still are. I have been completely shut down at some of the early cap points by turrets and if you want to play anything besides scout or soldier…you have got to cap those points. Engies can also still guard the final point…there is no going around it
August 15th, 2008 - 2:09 pm
dont know why ya think the engy is gimped O.o
u just may need to take pointers from my engy skills
August 15th, 2008 - 4:44 pm
I agree with pad. These other guys obviously don’t play the engineer class much, or at all. The best thing they can do is put up some good teleporters.
August 15th, 2008 - 5:39 pm
engy is one of my highest played classes. I think the sentry is a little underpowered but it is all in how ya use it.. Find a good place to set it and a little defense to work with you it can be a huge help.
August 15th, 2008 - 10:44 pm
It’s an excercise in futility, Engineer.
I was exaggerating regarding the new map; I’ve got to play it a few times first. And indeed as pinkNINJA pointed out there does seem to be some verticality (based on the screenshots).