TF2 Update 11.12.08 - Impressions

Valve updated TF2 recently and revealed the next class update. The scout will be the next class to be updated. But today I'll look thourgh some of the changes made in the new update. The change log:

Team Fortress 2

• The Engineer's teleporters can now be upgraded to level three. It will recharge faster the higher level it is
  
• The Engineer's dispensers can now be upgraded to level three. It will give out metal and heal faster as it is upgraded
  
• Spies will be able to recharge their cloaking ability by picking up ammo off of the ground or from health cabinets
  
• Some changes to the second part of the first stage of Goldrush to give the attackers more of an advantage
  
• Any weapons that fire bullets (shotguns, sniper's machine gun, heavy's minigun, etc.) can now break apart the Demoman's stickybombs
  
• The icon on the HUD for a person calling for Medic will now give more information to the medic (if the target is low on health, on fire, etc.)
  
• Added an achievement tracker that will allow people to choose specific achievements that they are trying to get
  
• There is now a custom icon for death messages when the player was killed from a critical hit
  
• Added a new particle effect for when a player enters the water
  
• Added smoke to the feet of a rocket jumping soldier
  
• Players will now have some particles swirling around them so other players can see when they are overhealed
  

The major changes made were the ablility to upgrade the teleporter and dispenser to level three and the spies ability to fill up the cloak meter by picking up dropped ammo or at the health cabinets.

It would seem like Valve wanted teleporters to play a bigger role. The upgraded teleporters transport players to the frontline very fast. The cool down is reduce for each upgrade that its almost instant at level three. The dispenser now dispenses health and ammo with each level. A fully upgraded dispenser can be a very powerful ally to have.

With the upgradable dispenser and teleporters, they have given spies the ability to replenish his cloak meter. I find this a vital balance to balance out the new upgrade level for the engy. It does make playing spy a tad bit easier, you can remain cloaked a lot longer. However it is more important to sap teleporters now. It's a more obvious strategy now. Be more alert now! There is bound to be more spies and they will be more irritating now!

There are now new particle effects that show a player overhealed and a medic that has an uber charge full. Very useful information that I'm sure makes people live easier picking a player to target or ignore. There is also new message that show if a player was killed with a crit hit. Cool...not such a big deal.

Medics can also see how injured a player is or if he is on fire when they call for a medic. Quite handy this one for the medics. As a medic it is easier to prioritise who to heal behind the battle line.

Valve has also change the first stage of Gold Rush a bit. The sniper deck in the second part of the stage has been made enclosed and defenders have a window to fire from. A small change to map that might make a small difference. No biggie again!

All in all, a good update....Spy Sappin' Mah Sentry!