TF2 Newbs (Team Fortress 2) Blog

Here’s all the news that is news for Newbs, Newblets and their guests:

1. Server #06 has changed format to a 24/7 Dustbowl “Fun House” server.
   • All-talk, beach balls, and rtd (“Roll the Dice” mod) is enabled on #06. Only one player can have an active rtd state at one time, and any one player must wait 100 seconds before being able to input rtd again. Click the link to see the entire list of effects.
   • Pacifist play is allowed on #06, as well as trade servers #02 and #18.
   • If this format is popular, “fun house” servers could be expanded. Please remember to avoid pacifist play in the other servers, as per the server rules.
2. Important info of yesterday’s TF2 patch:
   • Maps updated: Dustbowl, Junction, 2Fort, Turbine, Lakeside/Ghost Fort, Gold Rush.
   • Mann Up Mode now available to users in Australia.
   • Various bugfixes.
3. Added two promo items for the Heavy
   • The Der Maschinensoldaten-Helm and the Die Regime-Panzerung cosmetics are available in Genuine quality if you pre-purchase the Steam game Wolfenstein: The New Order before May 20, 2014 (regular price $59.99). The pre-order also grants future access to the Doom Beta.

Der_Maschinensoldaten-Helm

Der_Regime-Panzerung

Patch 1

• Fixed an issue where plugin_load may load a non-binary file type
• Fixed an issue where decompressed file sizes were not being checked by the engine
• Fixed a client crash related to Unusual items and the character loadout screen
• Fixed an item exploit where tools were being used for purposes other than the original intent
• Fixed The Shortstop not using its crit sound when firing crits
• Fixed the HUD achievement tracker not filtering map-specific achievements
• Fixed an issue where character voice lines would be clipped
• Fixed disguised Spies losing their disguised cosmetic items when they touch a supply closet
• Fixed the HUD 3D Character equipping the wrong item when Spies change their disguised weapon
• Fixed the Demoman’s shield charge turn rate when using joystick input
  • Joystick input now matches keyboard/mouse input
• Added new promo items^[1]
• Added ETF2L 6v6 Season 17 and ETF2L Highlander Season 5 medals^[2]
• Updated the localization files
• Updated metal hats to sound like metal when they fall off players’ heads
• Updated the equip_regions for The Toss-Proof Towel, The Titanium Towel, The Tartan Shade, Marshall’s Mutton Chops, Stockbroker’s Scarf, The Carl, and The Polar Pullover
• Updated cp_dustbowl
  • Fixed players standing in sky over the beginning of stage 1
  • Fixed collision on rocks in the front of stage 1 where stickybombs could be placed inside them
• Updated cp_junction_final
  • Players are now prevented from building in spawn rooms
• Updated ctf_2fort
  • Fixed players standing on conduits in flag rooms
  • Fixed players standing in sky over Red battlements^[3]
  • Fixed a missing face under the stairs in the Blu base ramp room that let players see enemies above
  • Fixed collision on props under stairs in Red’s courtyard
• Updated ctf_turbine
  • Fixed collision on spawn doors
  • Added prop to facilitate players jumping up to raised platform and fixed surrounding collision
  • Fixed collision under stairs in mid room
  • Fixed misc prop collision
  • Fixed collision on signs in mid room
  • Fixed the clipping in the rafters of flag rooms
  • Increased performance with addition of area portals
  • Added decals under ammo and health packs
  • Smoothed geometry in the vents
  • Added nobuild around spawn doors
  • Added light props over Red and Blu gate 1 doorways
• Updated koth_lakeside_event
• Updated koth_lakeside_final
  • Fixed bot navigation errors
  • Prevented players from building in spawn room doors
  • Fixed rock piles to mirror on Red and Blu sides
• Updated pl_goldrush
  • Fixed players shooting projectiles through the window in the mining tower into Red’s first spawn and Blu’s second spawn
  • Fixed players standing in sky above Blu spawn in stage 3
  • Fixed player clipping exploit above the Blu exit in stage 3

Undocumented changes

• Removed the Valve Store Shipment Box.
• Updated the equip_region for the Heavy’s Hockey Hair.

Patch 2

• Mann Up servers are now available in Australia

[N] Obey

Hi Everyone!

For our second Q&A / AMA interview, admin Haley (AKA Danger Zone) will be answering your thoughtful, silly, and random questions.  It will be in the same format as Octo’s.

Continuing in our series of Q&As, Haley has volunteered to participate in the next installment.  We’re looking to keep it the same format as Octo’s from before, so whatever you’ve got on your mind, we’d love to hear it!

In the interest of time and making sure people aren’t locked into something forever, after the first question is asked we’ll be limiting this to a period of 2 weeks. Here is the link.

If you missed Octo’s Q&A you can check it out here.

See you on the forums!

[N] Obey and the rest of the Newbs Blog Team

The above graphic references Archer, a very funny, very NSFW animated cartoon. And we didn’t even get permission from FOX, so there!

(This update is real, and not an April Fool’s joke.)

Added April 3, 2013:

1. If you haven’t seen the first post on the Official TF2 blog in four months, do so. It will link to a third comic in the Gray-takes-over-Mann-Co. storyline, and gives teasers for moonbases, new gameplay, and community-inspired taunts that just look awesome.  (And if you can’t find the obvious Anchorman movie reference, you obviously don’t remember the movie.
2. Updated blogpost: A TF2Newbs Guide to MvM Item Hunting

The Most Important Things to Know:

1. [Fixed 4/3/13] Added holiday mode 9 for April Fools Day, which sometimes substitutes Schadenfraude taunts for ordinary taunys, and class responses are changed to laughing (akin to Pyrovision).
2. Standard crates will now drop much less often. Salvaged Crates #60 can no longer drop, as well as crates #75, #76, and #77.
3. Crates #82 and #83 have been added.
   • Crate #82 contents:
     • Rocket Launcher Killstreak Kit
     • Scattergun Killstreak Kit
     • Sniper Rifle Killstreak Kit
     • Shotgun Killstreak Kit
     • Ubersaw Killstreak Kit
     • Gloves of Running Urgently Killstreak Kit
     • Spy-cicle Killstreak Kit
     • Axtinguisher Killstreak Kit
     • 1% chance for an Unusual
   • Crate #83 contents:
     • Note that it grants Strangifiers and not the Strange Weapons themselves!
     • Pretty Boy’s Pocket Pistol Strangifier
     • Phlog Strangifier
     • Strange Cosmetic Part: Kills
       • A Strange cosmetic ittem tracks points scored, not kills. This part adds a kill counter.
     • Strange Part: Full Health Kills (your full health, not your victims)
     • Private Eye Strangifier
     • 1% chance for an Unusual
4. Changes to Chemistry Sets:
   • Chemistry Sets now have a “Series” number attached. Older Series #1 and Series #2 are now named as such.
   • Current Series #3 (and presumably future Chemistry Sets) now have expiration dates.
   • Since Chemistry Sets drop alongside standard crates, I assume that Chemistry Sets will also drop much less often now.
5. The Wrangler can now take Strange Parts–but will only track increments while the Sentry is actively Wrangled.
6. Exploits granting a Demoman increased turn rate (due to increased frame rate) while Shield-charging have been fixed.
7. Added the Little Bear (a cosmetic Giant Heavy Robot) to the Mann Co. Store, purchasable for US$7.49.
   1. Three A Toys sells a toy figure Giant Heavy Robot; purchasing it can award you a Genuine-quality Little Bear.
8. Occasionally, players that taunt will randomly do the Schadenfraude taunt, even without having the Schadenfraude equipped or possessed.

Full Patch Notes: April 1, 2014

• Improved the Backpack UI
  • Added page buttons for all pages
  • Removed prev/next buttons
  • Updated the drag/drop behavior to interact with the page buttons
• Strange quality items can now be placed on the Steam Community Market
• Added a “Show Untradable Items” checkbox to the recipe UI
• Added the smoke effect to The Soldier’s Stogie
• Added the InfoShow 2014 community event medal
• Added Crate #82 and Crate #83 to the drop list
• Crate drop rates have been significantly lowered
• Removed Crate #60, Crate #75, Crate #76 and Crate #77 from the drop list
• Virtual Reality mode
  • The game will now start in VR mode if it is launched from Steam while Steam is running in VR mode
• Updated the equip_region for the Humanitarian’s Hachimaki, The Special Eyes, The Blazing Bull, Master’s Yellow Belt, The Lucky Shot, and The Deadliest Duckling
• Updated The Gunboats so they can be used in Medieval mode
• Updated the Wrangler so Strange parts can be applied to it
  • Strange parts only increment if a Wrangler-controlled Sentry does the scoring
• Updated Chemistry Sets
  • Started dropping Series 3 Chemistry Sets with an expiration date
  • Retroactively added Series tags to older Chemistry Sets
• Fixed a client crash related to killstreak effects
• Fixed seeing the incorrect cosmetic items on players when the server has been running for a long time
• Fixed hats not dropping into the world when players are killed
• Fixed the Jarate effect not being displayed on some cosmetic items
• Fixed framerate affecting player turn rate while using the Demoman‘s shield charge
• Fixed flashlight shadows projected on players for Linux and Mac clients
• Fixed seeing the fire texture on Runner’s Warm-Up and the Tiny Timber in DirectX 8
• Fixed The Doe-Boy using incorrect team materials
• Fixed some Strange parts not being counted properly when attached to wearable weapons like the Mantreads and Demoman’s shields
• Fixed Spies speaking their payload cart forward/backward response_rules lines while disguised
• Fixed Mann vs. Machine Giant Heavies not playing the correct override sounds for their Miniguns
• Fixed the Huntsman charge bar being misaligned

Undocumented changes

• Added the Little Bear to the Mann Co. Store.
• The Fortified Compound is now craftable.
• [Fixed 4/3/13] Added holiday mode 9 for April Fools Day. The MOTD header is changed to “Welcome and April Fools!”, the classes’ responses are changed into laughing (akin to Pyrovision), and the Schadenfreude taunt is occasionally performed in place of an ordinary taunt.
• Added the Fortified Compound, Dread Hiding Hood, Criminal Cloak, Gilded Guard and Baronial Badge to the Mann Co. Store.
• The Fortified Compound, Dread Hiding Hood, Criminal Cloak, Gilded Guard and Baronial Badge are now tradable and giftable.
• Added Killstreak Kits for the Fortified Compound.
• Fixed an audio bug caused by reflecting rockets
• Updated the equip_region for the Hero’s Hachimaki, Soldier’s Stash, Gaelic Garb, Sangu Sleeves, Whiskey Bib, Trash Toter, and the Soldered Sensei.
• Fixed crit boosted glow effect not showing on the Rescue Ranger, Loose Cannon, Apoco-Fists, Unarmed Combat, Wrap Assassin, Buff Banner, Bazaar Bargain.

 Added April 4, 2014

Thanks for reading this far! Just so you know, {N} Haley is giving away an unusual hat in a contest!! Read this thread to find out how you can win.

[N] Obey