Guesses and Speculations on the Engineer Update

Moose

L6: Sharp Member
Nov 4, 2009
312
616
A while back I thought of a pistol/shotgun replacement that would do less damage, but take ammo away from the enemy's clip/reserve (relative to the amount of damage done). I thought it could promote engineers trying to save their sentries by actually attacking people, instead of tanking. I ended up working out the details with a friend, but I can't remember them any more. I'm not really sure if my idea would work, now that I think about it, though.
 
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PL-7764

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 4, 2009
376
84
One time I made a text-only "Engineer Update" just for my own fun ... it was just a quick thing I threw together, but I still like some of the ideas from it. My favorite was probably The Glue Gun, which replaced the pistol. It fired hot glue in an arc much like the Pyro's flare gun and would slow enemies on hit, plus have a chance (let's just say 30%) of setting them on fire.

There was also an anti-sapping device that could be placed on a building to block a Spy from being able to plant a sapper on it, but only one could be placed at a time, and only on your own buildings (so no having one engie build all his buildings while 2 or 3 more plant anti-sappers on his stuff, making a whole nest of un-sappable equipment), and they would break with enough damage. They could be moved though, and you could get another from resupply once your first was destroyed. Might also replace the pistol.

The last item was a "Detonator" PDA that would replace the Destroy PDA and allow the engineer to blow up buildings in a large and damage-dealing explosion, effectively turning the buildings into bombs as a sort of "last resort" attack. The hope for this would be to blow up enemy Spies before they run too far after sapping a building, especially if you're not right there to remove the sapper. It's also useful if non-spy enemies swarm your buildings while you're out metal-collecting and you want to do something about it. The big catch was that it initiated a cooldown before you can rebuild the destroyed device - originally I said 90 seconds, but that seems outrageous now; 30 seems much more reasonable. It could also deal a small amount of damage to your nearby buildings, so be careful! Yeah, not the best idea, but I wanted a third item. :p
 
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Hawk

L7: Fancy Member
Dec 3, 2007
419
213
You know, even though some of these ideas might not work, I really like what I'm reading because they're creative. It's hard for me to think of updates to the engineer.

But what helps thinking of his biggest drawbacks, which I'm sure will be the main things Valve tries to address:

- When you're an engineer and you've set up your sentry to guard the intelligence or the last control point, gameplay gets REALLY boring as you wait for the fight to reach you. But if you leave to help your team, your sentry could get destroyed.

- It only takes one too many engineers with sentries set up in the same area to turn a good match into a stalemate.

I don't know how to address that last one. But for the first one I was thinking of some kind of remote-control device. I think it would be cool if you were just guarding your sentry and you could deploy a remote-control car of some kind to go explore and fight to a limited extent. The engineer himself would be fully vulnerable while he controlled the car, but he could relinquish control of the car for a while to check his surroundings, check for spies, or upgrade his buildings, etc. Of course, his car is fully vulnerable during this time.

What I'm not exactly sure of is what the car does. Maybe it has a simple gun strapped to the top of it. Maybe it's a mobile dispenser for healing your team. Maybe it just explodes, and your enemies must destroy it before it gets anywhere near them or their sentries. All I'm sure of is that it can't be too strong, otherwise it would go from being a fun diversion for bored engineers to a replacement for legitimate classes.
 

Numerous

L4: Comfortable Member
Oct 14, 2009
150
72
I'm gonna guess an achievement:
"wrenched from this mortal coil":
Wrench X enemy spies to death..
(maybe make an enemy more appropriate to the situation of the original quote)
If this isn't an achievement already, they should make it one.
 

Penguin

Clinically Diagnosed with Small Mapper's Syndrome
aa
May 21, 2009
2,039
1,484
"Wrench in your Plans"

Kill the intel carrier with a single critwrench hit.
 
Nov 14, 2009
1,257
378
I read the title of this thread as "Glasses and Spectacles for the engineer update". I need to get more sleep...
 

Okrag

Wall Staples
aa
Jun 10, 2009
1,029
655
Wrench in your Plans

Kill a medic with full ubercharge with your wrench.
 

Penguin

Clinically Diagnosed with Small Mapper's Syndrome
aa
May 21, 2009
2,039
1,484
Wrench in your Plans:

Do all of the above in a single life.
 

TMP

Ancient Pyro Main
aa
Aug 11, 2008
947
560
Wrench in your Plans:

Sign up in TF2lobby as a medic, but only play engineer in the game.
 

PL-7764

L6: Sharp Member
Aug 4, 2009
376
84
Plan in your Wrenches:

As Spy, beat a wrench-wielding enemy Engineer to death with their own flag.

All necessary gameplay adjustments for this to be possible will be made during the next update.
 

Bob Ross

L3: Member
Jun 16, 2009
105
9
so what do you guys think the scoped shotgun does? i have no idea but i don know its the most gorgeous weapon ive ever seen.
 

AgeNt_

L5: Dapper Member
Aug 12, 2009
236
88
it kind of reminds me of the bioshock 1 shotgun (with the damage upgrade)
Shotgun_c.png
 

Radishes

L1: Registered
May 3, 2009
18
1
Plan in your Wrenches:

As Spy, beat a wrench-wielding enemy Engineer to death with their own flag.

All necessary gameplay adjustments for this to be possible will be made during the next update.

That would actually be sweet if you were forced to wield the intel as a 100% critical melee weapon (it already has a similar effect) and not use your others haha xD
 

Tapp

L10: Glamorous Member
Jan 26, 2009
776
215
Actually I think the attachment to the engineer's shotgun in the mac ad is a laser dot. You know, to make your sentry identify spies or shoot far targets.