TF2 Sniper Update: Day 1

Brian Ambrozy 12 May, 2009 at 4:56pm ET Article published in Gaming

Thanks fer standin' still, wanka

Let’s have a go at it!

The first sniper update has been announced: The Huntsman

The Huntsman is a bow that will be an instant crit for headshots, stick foes to the wall, and leave an arrow embedded in them. One full ammo load is 18 arrows, and the bow has a 1 second charge time.

If the arrows stay in spies when they are cloaked, I can see this becoming a very effective way to neutralize them. As someone who plays spy very often, the thought of being a disembodied arrow running around makes me shudder.

Hey Prag: Better nock your arrows; I’m still coming for you.

Comments

1. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 4:58pm Canti Drawbacks?
2. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 4:59pm BuddyJ I'm in. Imagine starting Badwater and being faced with a hail of arrows and baseballs raining down from the bluff. Instant AWESOME (just add players).
3. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:00pm primesuspect OH GOD I CANNOT WAIT
   
   I love this game so so so so so much
4. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:02pm Cliff_Forster I just recently started replaying TF2, and I have to say its a far better experience on PC than it was on the 360. The fact that Valve is still throwing free updates at this is another example of why gaming on PC is where it is at.
   
   Question on the bow, will people use it, or will it go largely neglected?
5. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:02pm Thrax This sounds pretty neat.
   
   (in b4 "lol you don't play TF2")
6. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:08pm primesuspect As someone who has hundreds and hundreds of hours into this game and has seen every possible playstyle, I will say this:
   
   People will use this bow. It will not go unused.
7. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:12pm QCH WOW.... love the arrow idea!!!
8. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:30pm mertesn

   Canti wrote:

   Drawbacks?

   Lower capacity, probably shorter range, and likely gonna have to arc your shots a bit for those far-off targets.
9. 
   12 May 2009 ~ 5:53pm pragtastic Looking forward to it. Spies - I've got an arrow with your name on it.
10. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:01pm Canti

    mertesn wrote:

    Lower capacity

    
    Does anyone really use 25 shots anyway?
11. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:16pm pragtastic

    Canti wrote:

    Does anyone really use 25 shots anyway?

    
    It happens from time to time.
12. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:26pm mas0n /me is excited.
13. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:30pm pigflipper I use all 25 shots all the time; hell, on a good first round of goldrush I need to restock ammo two or three times!
14. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:37pm UPSLynx Yeah, 25 shots goes fast when your dug in well. What sucks worse is when you've got a really good spot and you're getting kills, most good spots don't have ammo near. So potentially staying in position for an even shorter period of time is definitely a drawback.
    
    Buck 1 second charge time, That's quicker than the sniper rifle's charge time.
    
    I would definitely expect the need to arc the shots from far away.
    
    This is going to be great.
15. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 6:44pm GnomeWizardd I sooooo need to reinstall TF2, damn install of win 7 RC1 lol
16. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 7:45pm UPSWeezer OMG!! I cant wait~!
17. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 8:05pm Linc The first week of this is going to be intolerable.
18. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 8:08pm fatcat I imagine the effective range of the arrow will be that of a shotgun. gonna have to arch it for far away, like grenades.
    
    They also say the sniper will have to be closer to the target with the bow. Meaning if you suck, you'll be a dead sniper quick.
19. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 8:53pm BlackHawk I think it's all going to depend on the reload time since reloading with a bolt action rifle is faster than using a bow and arrow. I'd think they'd have the same limitations close range as if they were using the rifle. By the time you reload the other guy has already emptied his Force-a-Nature in to you ().
20. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 9:01pm Koreish

    Canti wrote:

    Drawbacks?

    No zoom.
21. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 9:14pm UPSLynx

    Lincoln wrote:

    The first week of this is going to be intolerable.

    
    as a sniper player, I agree completely with you.
    
    But still not as bad as the scout update.
22. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 9:18pm BuddyJ
    
    This is what we can look forward to.
23. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 10:05pm MAGIC Our arrows will blot out the sun!
24. 
    12 May 2009 ~ 10:20pm Thrax Then they shall fight in the shade!
25. 
    15 May 2009 ~ 1:48pm BobbyDigi Rumor: Spy Update to be Included with Sniper Update. Check this out http://tinyurl.com/o8xuku via http://tinyurl.com/ra5zh3
    
    Video supposedly showing proof of 2nd sighting: http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh6/eikyuu/?action=view&current=Video6.flv
    
    Would be cool,
    
    -Bobby
26. 
    15 May 2009 ~ 2:25pm BobbyDigi Its trollfriday over at the official Valve TF2 forums. People are having a hay day with the Spy update rumor.
    
    -Bobby
27. 
    15 May 2009 ~ 3:49pm MiracleManS I uh...I just checked that /spyupdate/ subdomain...either someone is a trixy hobbits or its legit.
    
    
    Also: lolWeezer and Portzebie are going to hate this.
28. 
    15 May 2009 ~ 3:52pm MiracleManS Also: Double Push Cart? OHSHIT
29. 
    15 May 2009 ~ 5:01pm BobbyDigi So it is:
    
    http://www.teamfortress.com/spyupdate/
    
    http://www.tf2.com/post.php?id=2509
    
    -Bobby
30. 
    18 May 2009 ~ 4:19pm UPSWeezer AWESOMEEE!@!!!!
31. 
    19 May 2009 ~ 1:44am UPSLynx so I'm curious... is the sniper update still coming out?
    
    They released achievements for spy... still nothing new for sniper though.
    
    Argh, Valve are master trolls!
32. 
    19 May 2009 ~ 3:35pm BobbyDigi

    UPSLynx wrote:

    so I'm curious... is the sniper update still coming out?
    
    They released achievements for spy... still nothing new for sniper though.
    
    Argh, Valve are master trolls!

    
    Proof Lynx does not read my Tweets :-(
    
    Valves Doug Lombardi confirms (More So) Spy unlockables included in Sniper Update http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58658 #tf2
    4:39 PM May 15th from web
    
    They will both be released on Thur 05/21 (Per TF2 Blog, Changed from 05/19 on Friday when the spy showed up)
    
    -Bobby
33. 
    20 May 2009 ~ 12:59am UPSLynx

    Bobby1211 wrote:

    Proof Lynx does not read my Tweets :-(
    
    -Bobby

    
    < H8! I read every tweet that hits, but I don't always hit links. Depends on if I'm at work or not.
    
    I was curious since we haven't seen sniper achievements yet. Good to know they're both out tho, things are gonna get nasty.
34. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 8:00am pragtastic Spies, bring your A-game tonight, I'll be looking for you.
35. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 2:47pm primesuspect i am coming to f*** you, prag.
36. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 2:57pm GnomeQueen I KEEL IT WIFF FIRE
37. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 3:52pm Ampersand so many little baby men to shoot crit rockets at
38. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 4:34pm GnomeQueen Welcome to IC, Ampersand!
39. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 5:14pm Sciz I wonder how bad it's going to be with the "spamming" of snipers vs spies. Should make for a crazy weekend PLUS Valve is making TF2 free to play from thursday evening through sunday. Servers are going to be packed 24/7 for 3 days I bet. Lucky us, right...
40. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 5:32pm primesuspect Welcome to IC, the both of ya crazy kids. Ampersand & Sciz in one day? Be still my beating heart.
41. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 8:06pm Linc

    primesuspect wrote:

    Welcome to IC, the both of ya crazy kids. Ampersand & Sciz in one day? Be still my beating heart.

    2rite. Howdy fellas.
42. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 8:35pm Ryder Moar Recruits!!!
    
    Welcome to IC
43. 
    21 May 2009 ~ 9:15pm pragtastic Oh it's on like Donkey Kong.
44. 
    22 May 2009 ~ 12:11pm BobbyDigi @UPSLynx No hate, All in fun
    
    Welcome new guys Ampersand & Sciz, I look forward to smackin ya with my wrench. That is if ma sentry don't get ya first!
    
    -Bobby
45. 
    22 May 2009 ~ 4:07pm QCH Welcome Sciz and Ampersand.... and I'll be on tonight