Team Fortress 2.5

[Zeta]

So apparently Valve is adding craploads of content to Team Fortress 2. Each class will have 36 new achievements specific to them and fulfilling them will give you an alternate version of each weapon. The Medic's current Medigun, for instance, can be switched out for an unlocakble Crit Medigun that replaces the usual Ubercharge with one that gives you 100% critical hits instead of invulnerability. There's also going to be a new gameplay mode - escort, in which one team has to escort a vehicle across a track from one side of the map to the other and the other team can slow it down by approaching it. They also promised to buff Pyros considerably since they're a joke currently.

So this is going to be pretty crazy since every class is going to be customizable.

[Malchik]

This is really awesome. I'll give Valve some credit and keeping up with the fan base with most of their games.

Will this be a new version to buy or do you have to buy it on live or steam?

[Zeta]

It's free for PCs, as far as I know.

[Shadow Hog]

It's a crit medigun now? I thought it was a medigun that permanently raised the maximum health of a player to 200% the norm (although I'm not 100% sure how that works - whether you shoot back down to 100% when you die, which is often, or if the gun actually does any HEALING when it raises that max). Guess they changed it. But that being said, I'm not sure how useful guaranteed Critical Hits are as opposed to complete invincibility - a well-placed sentry can mow you down fast, even if you're shooting at it with incredibly powerful shots.

Also, seeing as I main Pyro, any Pyro-buffing is good Pyro-buffing in my book. Extending the range of his flamethrower just a smidge would do quite well.

[Zeta]

The original idea was that you'd have a gun that raised the Medic's HP to 300 as long as he was using it and it would slowly drop down when not healing. They ditched that idea in favor of the Crit Hit ubercharge, though.

[P.P.A.]

I hope these things will come to the Xbox 360 as well.
Also as I main Pyro (and Spy) too I second what Shadow Hog said.

[Segaholic2]

Console version is for scrubs.

[Shadow Hog]

Goldrush flythrough *drool*

Also, the Medic's ultimate upgrade (get all the achievements) is a bonesaw that charges your uber. 25% per hit! It's a bit slower than the normal bonesaw, which makes it all a bit riskier (melee attacks always were), but just four successful hits and you're ready to uber your teammates. This could get interesting.

Also a syringe gun that saps your opponents' health at the expense of any crit hits, but eh whatever.

All that and Meet the Scout, come April 20th? Woot.

[Zeta]

So all three of the Medic's alternate equipment is more offensive oriented, eh? Pretty cool.

There are already several Escort Missions that play like Gold Rush up. I don't know if they're homebrew or leaked Valve Stuff, but they're pretty fun. Especially hte one with the cow.

[Hulkshmash]

I always played offensively as a medic anyways, I enjoyed the trajejctoryness of the needly gun.

[Opa-Opa]

This is pretty awesome. I'm usually a Scout or a Spy. Let's see what they're doing with those.

[Segaholic2]

Nothing, for now.

[Shadow Hog]

Right, well, here's "Meet the Scout".

And I think Goldrush comes out tomorrow, so.

[j-man]

Utterly brilliant. This needs to be a feature length film.

[Opa-Opa]

Not to brag, but the scout's kind of a big deal.

Sadly, as I tried playing TF2 today, I found out that somehow the game became very very laggy, to the point that it is unplayable. I tried all other Orange Box games and they all share the same problem. My guess is that something went terribly wrong (for me) in the last update. Could anyone help me here?

[Zeta]

Is the Medic update even out yet, or is Valve planning on releasing it sometime in 2011?

[Shadow Hog]

It's out! Can't wait to tear into it, although I'm afraid that I'll be met with a team full of nothing but Medics, and... well, me, prolly playing Pyro or Engineer as always.

But at least I can now do it on Goldrush. :)