TF2 Newbs (Team Fortress 2) Blog

Most important: Spies can’t use sappers during a truce. And players can fight their way out of a spawn room during a truce.

FYI: I updated the TF2Newbs’ Guide to More and Better Items. Check it out, and the Halloween Items FAQ on the post before this one.

Oh hey, it’s also time to get your Saxxy submissions on!

Full Patch Notes

Added the GA’lloween 2016 community event medals

• Fixed sv_shutdown not working for community dedicated servers
  • All servers now enter hibernation state when they are empty and have no remaining work, which informs commands such as sv_shutdown
  • Added tf_allow_server_hibernation (default: 1) to allow disabling hibernation state
  • This should generally only be necessary if running server plugins that are not compatible with hibernation
  • Added sv_shutdown_cancel to cancel a pending shutdown
• Updated the truce period during Halloween boss fights
  • Players are no longer affected by the truce when in their spawn room, allowing them to fight their way out if necessary
  • Sappers can no longer be used while a truce is active
• Updated the “tiny” spellbook spell
  • Fixed a case where players could get outside the world
  • Fixed not switching Heavies to their melee weapon
• Updated player destruction mode so the “Team Leader” does not heal teammates while in the Underworld
• Fixed Halloween contract reward items not being craftable
• Fixed Strange Human Cannonballs and Strange Battery Canteens not tracking stats
• Fixed Casual search criteria being saved automatically while connecting to a server
• Fixed a case where players could suicide on a pumpkin bomb to gain progress on certain Merasmissions
• Updated the equip region for the Spine-Chilling Skull
• Updated pl_fifthcurve_event (Brimstone)
  • Fixed exploit where players could get under the map near BLU starting area
  • Fixed exploit where players could get out of the map near graveyard
  • Fixed exploit where players could enter RED base as BLU
  • Fixed some skeletons running into lava when there are no enemies in Hell
  • Fixed medieval tiny spell & other Merasmus voice spells lasting too long for some players
  • Fixed big ghost getting stuck when map ends
  • Fixed a spot where players could get stuck if entering it under Tiny spell
  • Fixed another case of non-solid pumpkin
  • Tuned respawn time for RED team at last area
• Updated cp_sunshine_event (Sinshine)
  • Fixed multiple visible nodraws and other texture bugs
  • Fixed nonsolid pumpkin in lobby
  • Fixed trigger bounds in RED spawn
  • Various lighting changes

As always, the full patch notes are lifted from the Official TF2 Wiki.

[N] Obey

So the Pyro-themed content isn’t here yet. And the annual Halloween update isn’t here yet either. But Valve are working on matchmaking still, as well as MvM, and who knows what else. Here’s the rundown:

• (1) Halloween Event Maps: You can now call a temporary truce during a fight with Monoculus or Merasmus
  • Community maps now have a ConVar to force a truce whenever any Halloween boss fight begins
• (2) The Golden Joystick Awards now features a $1 game sale for anyone who votes
• There’s a chance that you can opt-in to a survey after you complete a Casual match or a Comp match
• Some community requests have been implemented:
  • Energy weapons will now correctly impact pumpkin bombs, RD robots, and Merasmus props
• Updates for the maps Snakewater, Millstone Event, and Sunshine

See the full patch notes for more information. Expect the next annual Halloween Event to launch sometime next week!

1. What’s This About a Truce…?!

Remember when you played a Halloween Event map, and some big boss monster spawns… yet when your team turns to focus the boss, the other team kills you with your back turned?

Valve has released a way for community maps to enable, or even force, a truce between RED and BLU while there’s a boss monster roaming the map. I assume players will use the votemenu on Valve maps, but community maps now have the options to require the truce if they wish to implement it.

Head admin |N| Octo informed me today that Halloween Event maps on TF2Newbs servers will force a truce during these boss fights. If you want a TF2Newbs Halloween Event map to not have the forced truce setting, please let us know in the forums.

Hey, do you need a guide about the various TF2 Halloween Event maps? Here you go!

The $1 “Golden Joystick Awards” Game Bundle

The Golden Joystick Awards is in its 34th year, handing out awards based on democratically driven voting for beloved video games. To spur voting, this year they have partnered with online digital game distributor Green Man Gaming to offering a deal: After you submit your vote, you are taken to a page where you can buy digital copies of three games for just $1 (or 1 euro, or 1 pound). That’s $1 total for all three games, and you can choose whether to purchase Steam keys or another online platform (such as PS4 or Origin). The games are:

• Spec Ops: The Line*, normally $29.99 on Steam
• Sid Meier’s Pirates, normally $9.99 on Steam
• a Green Man Gaming mystery pack, of a random game from their library**

*The Spec Ops game requires a Green Man Gaming account (free), but it seems to be possible to earn back the money you spent on the package as well. So until the most important election in the world this November–the Saxxy Awards–you can practice your voting skills for the GJA.

**Doing my due research, the random game may not necessarily be a Steam key. It could be Origin, gog, etc. depending on the random game received. Could be literally any game, even one you already own.

The awards voting, as well as the $1 bundle, are available through Halloween, October 31st.

Full Patch Notes: Oct 12, 2016

• Players will now be randomly selected to participate in a survey at the end of Casual and Competitive matches
• Ongoing improvements to the matchmaking backend to improve match quality and reduce wait times
• Fixed air-blasts sometimes sending deflected projectiles in random directions when the Pyro is close to enemy players
• Fixed a case where players joining community bootcamp servers via the server-browser could not select a team
• Reduced the rate at which players can earn bonus points for extinguishing teammates
• Fixed a case where players could use the Halloween teleport spell to get outside the map
• Updated the localization files
• Community requests
  • Fixed Merasmus not being stunned by bomb-head players on community Halloween maps
  • Added the ability for community Halloween maps to call a truce during a Monoculus or Merasmus fight
  • Can be set via the game rules entity using the SetMapForcedTruceDuringBossFight input
  • Fixed energy weapons not hitting pumpkin bombs, Merasmus props, and RD robots
• Mann vs. Machine update
  • Fixed the Sentry Buster sound being orphaned if the Sentry Buster detonates while invulnerable
  • Fixed zombies not using the correct skin in Ghost Town
• Updated cp_snakewater_final1
  • Changes based on community feedback
• Updated pl_millstone_event
  • Updated bot navigation file, bots now use all routes, won’t get stuck so easily and are smarter
  • Fixed woodpile spot where HHH could get stuck
  • Improved clipping on wood piles
  • Fixed missing rooftop texture
  • Fixed a few props flashing at certain angles
  • Fixed a spot in the last area where you could place stickies underground
  • Fixed Monoculus not getting stunned when hit by players exiting purgatory
• Updated cp_sunshine
  • Blockbulleted spiral staircase on the back of second
  • Added medium ammo to mid near choke
  • Removed clipping over wooden arch going into second from valley
  • Reduced the size of the wooden arch
  • Blockbulleted a few undersides of staircases on last that could catch projectiles
  • Removed a ladder on last

[N] Obey