Thread: Gimmie Tips and Tricks!

So I'm still new to TF2, and the more I play, the more I realize there are a lot to learn. Does anyone know where I can find some pointers on how to play the different classes in different situations?

Hello beagle, good to see you on the TF2 side of TPG. We used to have a tips and tricks TF2 sticky, and it's probably time we recreate it.

Videos will be in URL link format, as putting more than a couple really clutters the page.

General

Here is the TF2 wiki, you can use it as a reference for different items and characters stats and properties.

TF2mate config generator - class configs, fps, video quality, crosshair etc..
Chris FPS configs

Scout


I'll start with the annotated how to play scout vid from EvilDaedelus (youtube). And just because a way of play is or is not in the video, does not mean it is an excellent/bad idea/strat, you must judge for yourself. If you don't understand a concept ask us here and we'll explain.

How to play the Scout
How to play the Scout Addendum


Soldier

Soldier basics from PandaPooPs
How to play a weal class

Airstrafing, or advanced rocket jumping from TPG's own Veovis:
Advanced Rocket Jumping - Using Strafe to Increase Distance

Also check out Veo's channel for some pretty useful solly jumps on various maps:
Veo's youtube channel


Pyro

Bloodsire's meet the Proro is a fun watch, shows advanced pyro play, not really an instructional video:
Meet the Proro

Ah Leagle, didn't realize you were new. Hope you stay with it.

EvilDaed had some good How-To guides for spy as well.

~~ TF2 Thread of "How to Play..." Videos ~~ - Steam Users' Forums was a whole thread devoted to how-to videos and tips. It is dated now, and no doubt a lot of the links are broken. The tips might be old, but they almost certainly still apply now.

Really there should be a new thread made for all the new players tf2 has.

If you want my advice, the best classes to learn in the long run are demo, soldier and medic. No matter what map or situation, those three classes will always be useful. I think medic is a great learning class. You are vital to the team, you get a lot of points but you don't really have to aim. Instead of aiming, take the time to learn the maps, learn where the enemy is likely to come from and learn how to communicate with your team.

Since I play almost exclusively medic, and I believe its a great class to learn I will give you my tips on that.

---COMMUNICATE---

• Get a microphone and use it. The gameplay skill level of a medic is fairly low. What defines a good medic is his ability to communicate.
• It is your privilege to constantly ask for help, and ask where other players are.
• Keep your teammates aware of your uber percentage. Let them know when your uber is ready to go. I generally try to start updating around the 50% mark.

---HEALING---

• Always be healing.
• Always.
• Start healing right at the very start of the round. Buff demoman and soldiers, especially the ones you know who rocket/sticky jump.
• Spread the love. Nothing more irritating than calling for medic over and over and the medic stays glued to one player.
• As a corollary to the above, try and keep people buffed in non-combat situations (buff = fully overhealed.) Try to flash scouts as they run by. If they haven't been hurt recently many classes can be buffed in under a second, giving them a very nice health cushion.
• Buff = overheal = 150% health. This adds a whopping 150 hp to a heavy, 100 hp soldier. Overheal is king.
• If it has been 10 seconds since a player was last injured you start to heal him much faster.

---UBERING---

• For newer players I recommend staying with the medigun and its ubercharge. Will explain later.
• Besides keeping players alive, constantly healing will build your uber faster. Uber builds ideally in 40 seconds / Krits/Quick Fix in 32.
• Healing anyone below 150% will build your uber faster. This is to encourage you not to pocket one person (pocket = healing only one.) HOWEVER, be aware that if you are constantly taking your beam off to heal another you are not healing for fractions of a second. This adds up, so balance your desire to buff everyone with your need to build uber.
• POP IT, DON'T DROP IT! Don't play like me. I try and hold my ubers as long as possible with normally bad consequences. Below 100 hp you are oneshottable by most classes. Pop it immediately if you are under fire and below 100 hp.
• If close to uber but low on health (or your heal target is) simply HOLD right click down and you will pop as soon as you get uber.
• You can uber multiple people by changing your heal target. This is useful to save someone about to die, or to get several people through a chokepoint that is being spammed. However, for each person you uber, the uber duration becomes exponentially shorter.
• If you are low on health when you uber, consider running around the 20% mark as your uber fades.

---COWARDICE (a.k.a. STAYING ALIVE)---

• It is your privilege to run screaming like a girl as soon as things get hairy.
• Your life is worth more than any other player on the team, leave them to die if you think you will die.
• Know where health packs are. This is true for any class, and it infuriates me watching hurt players not try to heal themselves. Always let the medic take the health pack if you know he needs it.
• As a corollary to the above, keep yourself at full health. You die very easily so even if the health pack only gives you 20 hp, take it.
• As a corollary to 2 above, try and keep other medics fully healed and buffed. Medics have to look out for eachother.
• The ubercharge of the medigun keeps you alive. I recommend new players focus on staying alive and so should stick with medigun.

---KNOW YOUR TEAM---

• Not all players are created equal. Know which ones are good on your team and which ones aren't. If in doubt, or on a strange server simply looking at the scoreboard is your best information.
• Soldiers / Demomen / Heavys (collectively referred to as heavy classes) are your best heal targets. Focus on them without neglecting the others.
• Soldiers / Demomen that rocket/sticky jump are generally better players. Look for those who jump out of spawn and keep them healed as they jump.
• I like a ratio of 3 heavy classes :: 1 medic. Generally 2 medics on a team is ideal, if you have enough combat classes. 3 medics work on Attack/Defend maps when you are attacking. More than 3 is a waste as you won't build uber fast enough. Sometimes 3 is pushing it.
• Know that you rely on your teammates. If they aren't good or aren't keeping you alive then switch classes.

---WEAPONS---

• Don't worry about this too much. The default weapons are fine.
• Any of the melees are superior to the default, but you should VERY RARELY go in for melee. Ubersaw is the old standard, but if you are dying a lot the Vita-Saw is useful.

---COMBAT---

• Don't.

Also for medic, be sure to set the option that lets you continuously heal with a single click on a player, instead of having to hold the button down. Will save your fingers a lot of grief.

Holy cow! This is enough information to keep me going for a while. I've probably only logged 15 hours of TF2, so I still have a lot to learn.

Because I try to choose my class based on what is lacking, I have spent the majority of my time as a medic. So, Talkos, that tip about the auto-heal has made you my favorite person today. I'm guessing that is an option I can select in "Options."

BTW- Thanks for all the good info. I'm read over it a bit then see if I can't jump into the server.

Also, Dr. Haphazard, thanks for all the great medic advice!