So, how 'bout that Sniper/Spy update?

Surprisingly, I got backstabbed and headshotted a few times last night. It's best just to assume everybody is a spy.

There is a strange bug I saw where one of the spies kept disguising as a spy, but rather than showing up as a spy with a mask (like the update was supposed to start causing), he'd show up as a spy with a weird uber'd-looking graphic and simply "disguised as enemy" rather than showing the class. At least he was easy to identify.

Also I saw like every spy get You Only Shiv Thrice last night. I'm going to go ahead and assume that's the easiest spy achievement, even though I don't know what it is.

Also, is it true you now only get unlocks through random drops rather than achievements now? On the one hand, it discourages achievement box servers, but on the other, I kinda liked having to work towards those precious upgrades.

So yeah, DISCUS. Also discuss.

Yeah, they drop now... I haven't found any yet, but I keep seeing everyone else get stuff.

Assuming they start dropping more like Robin Walker has said they're supposed to (bugs abound currently, as the drops are supposed to be fairly common for people), I'm all for the new system, since I never liked the idea of being forced to pursue achievements. I just wanna kill people and not worry about it.

And I've been having a great time as a pyro with this update. Not only are there spies EVERYWHERE to set on fire, but we can also light the huntsman arrows on fire (+get an assist if sniper kills someone with it) and blow out fires on friendlies with the compression blast.

I've always liked the pyro, now I like him (her?!) even more.

I dunno, I was fond of the achievement system. At the very least, they should change the new system to be less random. If I play 6 hours as a sniper, I better well get some sniper weapons instead of whatever the game throws at me.

i'll definately be trying to play some this weekend. i was thinking the same thing with the pyro, time to finish up my achievements with him.
this is a very encouraging update, i cant wait to see the engineer and demoman updates

I like it better on 360, will you guys beat me up?

Yes.

If you don't already have TF2 on Steam (SHAME ON YOU), it is free all weekend and only $10 to purchase. Though honestly if you don't have TF2, you don't have the Orange Box and I'd recommend picking that up instead.

I saw a Spy with the special spy hat today. It's a fedora.

It's awesome.

I want one.

Random drops seemed to be going in my favor. Got a Sandman, Force-A-Nature, Ambassador...and then another Force-A-Nature.

At least now that I know more about how the random drops work and the trading system that's coming (see teamfortress.com for the info), it doesn't seem so bad. Maybe I can trade the Force-A-Nature for an awesome hat.

I like the new system. It lets me play what I prefer to play, or what the team needs, and still earn things. Frankly, I didn't like having to work at achievements to get stuff, especially with the crap they put the medic through.

In my mind, achievements typically reward you for doing special things in game that you might not normally do, or are difficult to do. By attaching weapons to them, they felt more like requirements then rewards.

So many people complain about it. But it's an updated to an FPS. I think it's a requirement that someone freaks out. Even more so when the mmo-ish topic of items come up. It's not just gameplay that's at stake, but the size of our, er, electronic expressions of ego.