Basically competitive players have been invited into a beta version of the next TF2 update which aims to balance out all the classes. It should be interesting to see what they come up with.

http://steamcommunity.com/id/robinwalker Just to show there is actually a TF2 beta. http://steamcommunity.com/id/Famous_AnimaL

Wow, that's quite impressive

I just hope it doesn't break pub play.

Wow! This is awesome, really. Just <LOOK MA, I AM SWEARING> awesome!

It wont ruin pub play. I'm thinking anything made available or changed will only be for the fine-tuning of competitive 6v6 play.

Very nice, nerf the FAN for people who can't aim hopefully.

Sounds interesting. Forum thread of interest:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... p?t=930130

All Classes

* [confirmed] There is now a menu option that will reload all clip-based weapons when enabled - however, this feature currently is in the testing phase and may get tweaks.


Heavy

* [confirmed] The heavy appears to have gotten a KGB replacement of sorts that makes him go around pyro speed when their out. This would explain the "vanguard party" achievements that were popping up earlier.
* [confirmed] The heavy's minigun cone has been tightened; however there is no confirmation whether this change will remain permanent.
* [confirmed] There are going to be changes to the sandvich. However, these changes are still mostly in the planning phase.



Medic

* [confirmed] There are improved particles to show when players are using Kritzkreig more easily.



Scout

* [confirmed] As of the moment the Sandman reduces the scout's health to 95 and returns his double jump. There are planned changes to the stun mechanic, but none have been implemented yet.
* [confirmed] FaN knockback has been adjusted significantly; it now knocks back targets based on damage and distance.
* [confirmed] Pistol scripts will apparently no longer work. The pistol fires every 0.175 seconds at its maximum rate as opposed to .1 seconds
* [confirmed] Pistol now fires at the rate of 1 shot per 0.175 seconds while holding down attack button (used to be 0.25 seconds)




Engineer

* [confirmed] The engineer is receiving a wrench that allows him to build his buildings faster. It does not allow him to upgrade them and repairs them at the same rate as before, however.



Spy

* [confirmed] The spy is apparently getting not one, but two suits. However, it is currently unsure if both suits or just one will make it past the beta.
* [confirmed] The first suit is as heard of before, giving the spy 90% damage reduction from flames and takes the place of his revolver.
* [confirmed] The second suit is also geared against pyros, but its effects and abilities are currently unclear.




Good stuff so far.

awesome
I've been hoping they'd do something like this

EDIT: found this, i lol'd

Pictures of the weapons with the names + placeholder models (most likely).

The GRU and the PDQ look pretty good so far.

I do like the look of them. May try offensive engy with the PDQ.

Yeah will definitly be using both of them weapons when they are eventually released.

What confuses me though is the 150% build rate thing. Does it mean +150% so you build at 250% the normal or do you just build at 150% the normal rate.

100% build rate you can get a sentry up in 5 seconds and the other buildings in 10 seconds. 200% would be 2.5 seconds and 5 seconds. 250% would be 1.8ish seconds and 2.5 seconds. 150% would probably be about 3.75 seconds for a sentry and 7.5 for the rest.

1.8 seconds to get a sentry set up and then 2.5 for teleporters and dispensers? hell yeah. Especially if you need to build a base up really quickly and close to your spawn you could just build up a sentry and dispenser in about 4 seconds then run and grab the normal wrench to upgrade.

The wording and the way the previous % buffs work imply its a +150%, so 250% thing.

Definitly going to be using this for offensive engineering. Me, Chicken and Beebee were kicking ass in a server earlier just playing as 3 engineers. Chicken nearly got votebanned and I nearly got votekicked cause we were owning the other team that much

really? i could be wrong but i think the wrench will be pretty much usless. granted faster building is good. but a lev 1 teleporter for an offencive engineer? you hmay have a fast sentry/dispenser but you'll have to wait 30 seconds for any backup. i can only see this being any use with another engie w/ wrench as support, but 2 engies in comp play?

Offensive engineer is the kind of engineer that places sentries in sneaky spots and then uses the level 1 sentry and their shotgun to kill people. The wrench is definitly not useless. If it works by allowing you to build things up 250% faster by hitting them then it can be used along with any other engineer in pub play.
Also in competitive play 5 seconds is far too long to get a sentry up, usually someone will find it in that time and it will be destroyed before its up. On the last point this could be very useful for getting a defense up agaisnt scouts very quickly.

I offengineer all the time (putting sentrys up on the crates in turbine is good for a few quick kills)

Definitely not useless. As for the tele, someone could just go normal engy at the spawn, upgrade, and move on as preferred class. Takes about 10 seconds.

Here are some images of the different versions of each weapon (well the different betas each weapon has gone through)

GRU betas
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/513/gloves1.jpg
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7131/gloves2.jpg
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/108/gloves3.jpg

Blutsauger betas
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8094/blutsauger1.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5434/blutsauger2.jpg

Ubersaw betas
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6556/ubersaw1.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/532/ubersaw2.jpg

Flame retardent suit beta
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4007/suit1.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/290/suit2.jpg

Ubersaw Beta 2 - now that is interesting, -20HP when hit will certainly stop it being a go-to weapon.

indeed, they powered it right down.

good. it was a complete upgrade to the bonesaw
i riek

The second spy suit would make it + the Dr unstoppable

i missed that one.
having a spy able to melee down a pyro using his/her/its flamethrower is an aweful idea O.o

TF2 is turning in to an RPG.

The second spy suit would just stop the spy being set on fire, rather than not taking fire damage (think pyro v pyro). Seeing as it sacrifices the revolver, it's a pretty big tradeoff, especially as it only helps you against one class (think razorback, only you lose your only ranged weapon).

It is to stop the spy being set on fire, not the pyro.


And yes, it is a huge trade-off, to the point that I am unsure whether I would use the suits or not. The one with reduced fire damage does not appeal to me, but the one that prevents you from staying on fire does sound interesting.