Official Team Fortress 2 Game Nights (PC)

I think an enjoyable Medic experience is tied pretty closely to what kind of teamwork your team can muster. I love being a medic, but sometimes I get jealous of the teamwork that I see on the opposing team. I primarily play as a Pyro, and so many times I have tried to skirt around an offensive player and attempt to burn down his medic. Most of the time the offensive player will spin around and defend his medic from me. It seems like every time I play as the medic in that situation, my parter heavy/soldier/pyro doesn't even turn his head as someone walks right past him and shoots me in the head. In my opinion, other than the symbiotic relationship between an Engineer and a Spy-sweeping Pyro, the medic is the only class whose enjoyment and effectiveness is so closely tied to the behavior of their own team.

Gamerotaku - what you just described is very likely the reason that medics are not popular on public servers. Getting teamwork going is difficult. It's far easier to pick a sniper and play defensively or pick a scout and run around like crazy.

When you're doing well as a medic it is exciting and fun. There's a lot of danger and the positive effect you have on your team (both offense and defense) is very noticeable. The problem is that your ability to succeed and see the result of your efforts is so strongly tied into how well the other members of your team do.

As for buffing the medic gun - I have moderate success with it, but it is difficult to use. I think the problem with buffing it to a level where "the general public" would take notice and change the perception of it would have the effect of making it too good in the hands of a skilled player. I'm sure it's a pain in the ass keeping all those weapons and roles balanced. I'm glad they at least nailed the medic's primary duties.

Scaphism wrote:

As for buffing the medic gun - I have moderate success with it, but it is difficult to use. I think the problem with buffing it to a level where "the general public" would take notice and change the perception of it would have the effect of making it too good in the hands of a skilled player.

I'd take having the crosshair match where the syringes went. It always seems to pull low and to the right.

Man, reading this thread is making me jones to play- I shipped my 8600 GT off to EVGA on Saturday to step up to an 8800 GT. It'll be nice once it gets here, but it will probably be the middle of next week, and I'm stuck with a Rage128 until it gets back

I get a lot of satisfaction out of playing medic. Of course, I only play on Stan's Lounge and there the cooperation is very good. As a medic there is a bunch of talking to make sure that folks know where I am and I can find those who need me. There are times when I seem to be all out of sorts and unable to find much useful to do, but that may have as much to do with my own middling skills (generous assessment) than lack of teamwork.

I don't find the syringe gun to be much use, unless its for taking out dispensers through windows or finding the right angle to arch the syringes up to take out a sentry that can't see me. The bonesaw, on the other hand, is uber fun. There are times (C point on gravel pit) where the bonesaw is the perfect implement of death.

The key is not to be terribly concerned w/ a low kill/death ratio. Plus, playing medic does help one figure out how to take advantage of playing heavy, since you'll get to see lots of people do it well (& poorly) and get a chance to learn from their tactics/mistakes.

Medic is still my favorite, closely followed by Pyro. Simply put, I don't care if I die. I just need to remember not to press V when I'm cursing at whomever killed me and my Uber. I'd play Spy a lot if I were any good at it. I'd play Medic exclusively, but on the GWJ server each team often has a Medic or two already.

Epic matches tonight, tons of fun on most every map. I finally figured out how to play Heavy I think... I actually managed decent scores for once! The main reason was probably that I had good healing from Nihilo and Subaltern though.

Someone said above that playing a lot of Medic will improve your Heavy skills. I think that's probably true... when I started out I played Medic almost exclusively to learn the maps and you definitely get a chance to see what/what not to do, depending on the Heavy you're healing.

Side note: Ubered Pyros = pure, unadulerated fun.

I really like playing medic, and I'm seldom happier than when I'm dispensing justice with my bone-saw. That said, here are two things that would probably have the greatest positive effect on people choosing to play medic:

1) The syringe gun actually doing damage. Perhaps make it lethal at close range like a scout's gun, so medics can use it for defense. As it stands in Valve's rankings, it's at the bottom of the list for good reason.

2) People developing a philosophy of defending their medic. I've died many times because an enemy has rushed past my...er, patient?...and has proceeded to chase me around while my heavy/soldier/pyro runs on oblivious. Keeping an eye on your medic's safety will result in happier medics, vastly improved health outcomes and patient prognosis in battle, and a delightful viewpoint at the top of the points chart to look down upon those who did not love their medic.

Bonus!

3) Metal backplates...or nerf spies. Take your pick.

But your heavy is supposed to spy check everyone.

Actually, what I think would be a great help was a more obvious indicator that your medic is in trouble. For me, at least, the indicator bar just gets lost in the confusion of fighting; and the medic health segment is a bit too subtle to convey that the medic needs your help.

That has been my problem, I'll admit that I don't do a good job protecting medics, and I feel guilty about it because that is not my intention. There is so much chaos in a game that it is easy to not notice an enemy is who isn't directly hurting you and is outside of your sight-line. Usually, by the time I realize that my medic is in trouble, it is too late to accomplish much. Have to say though, I won't let enemies run past me unopposed, the question is if they can kill the medic before I can kill them.

Medic is really a mixed bag for me. I've had some great experiences with it, and some awful ones. Namely the fact that it bumps you to the top of the target list, so gameplay can go a little like Respawn->Backstabbed->Respawn->Headshot->Respawn->Pyro Ambush->Respawn->Backstabbed; each time before you even have a chance to travel to the front lines and do any good for your team.

I tried Medic for a while last night and found quickly that I wanted to run back to the safety of engineer. Too many backstabs. Too many really good GWJ cloak-and-dagger types. May want to try it again and soon.

In other news, is anybody else feeling like we need to add another map to the mix. Just pick one of the better user-made ones and go with it? I feel like all of the strategies on the current maps have been explored and now it is just a question of execution. Which is fine, but I am find that COD4 (360) is offering me a bit less "static" (for lack of a better word) tactics.

I tried playing as a medic for the first time last night. It was pretty fun. I found the syringe gun to be pretty effective, a full clip can take somebody out, that's how I judge whether a gun is useful.

Spies really aren't that tough, I just did my normal spy checking on anybody who looked suspicious. I killed more spies then spies who killed me. Snipers owned me though, not used to playing a class where it's actually good if you stay still for a large amount of time.

I think I'll try playing medic more often, it's a fun alternative.

Edgar_Newt wrote:

I feel like all of the strategies on the current maps have been explored and now it is just a question of execution.

I don't know, still haven't seen a game where an engineer has gotten set up on top of B in Gravel Pit. Someone just needs to luck out and do it successfully while Blue is completely occupied at A.

We do have two maps offered up as suggestions, Smooth B2 and the holiday themed ctf_snofort_final, but we need jakeleg to add them to the server, if he approves of them. I haven't seen him around lately, so I think that is the problem there.

Valve is also working on new maps, though god only knows when those will be released.

Tannhauser wrote:

Actually, what I think would be a great help was a more obvious indicator that your medic is in trouble.

Good call. Perhaps that little "Healer: " bubble could flash red or something if the medic is taking damage.

Edgar_Newt wrote:

In other news, is anybody else feeling like we need to add another map to the mix. Just pick one of the better user-made ones and go with it?

Personally, I'd like to see Granary disappear (that map makes my blood boil for some reason) and maybe one or two new maps for variety's sake. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with my TF2 experience. I just wish I had more time to play.

haha same here, I have been short on time lately. Between being sick and my wife being sick there is not much time for TF2 fun Does anyone know what happen to Jakeleg? I have not seen him in ages More custo-maps would be really good. The two recommended above look nice, hopefully we can have them loaded and try them out sometime.

Tannhauser wrote:

I don't know, still haven't seen a game where an engineer has gotten set up on top of B in Gravel Pit. Someone just needs to luck out and do it successfully while Blue is completely occupied at A.

I've done it in a pub, but to make it work fast enough we had to have two engineers do it.
It's all about coordination.
If you're up for it, we can try it on a pub or on stan's.

This map looks promising too.
http://www.fpsbanana.com/maps/40506
It appears to offer something for each class and nice graphics. Although I am only judging it (no pun intended) from the images. I haven't actually tried it out yet.

I read in GFW that Valve's upcoming content for TF2 even includes more voice acted character responses. Perhaps the medic can now shout out "I am getting my ass kicked" to warn his patient.

I'd be happy if there was some hotkey I could press that would make my character say, "Damnit, shoot the medic!"

I'm willing to bet that would get spammed too much but it would be satisfying to press in certain situations.

Medic is my 2nd most played class:

Forget counting on people to keep you alive. In the chaos of combat, they have their hands full fighting. However, it's really not to hard to be your OWN spychecker:

I run backwards. A lot. The medic heal-gun is fairly unique in that once it's locked on a friendly, you DON'T have to be facing them. Once you know the maps, it becomes fairly easy to backpedal "backwards" most of the time. Once combat begins, things DO get a bit tougher, but not having to actually FACE your charge is very helpful. Can you tell I hate spies?

Folks, If I'm a medic, don't run up right next to me. That just REEKS of spy-sauce. You WILL get a bone saw/syringe-blast to the face.....and I HATE to have to pull my healing gun off my charge. This is pretty much what keeps my spy kill/death ratio so high....I don't let ANY friendly get close to me and my charge. If echoblade is on the other team, fear your teammates more than the enemy. word.

As many have realized, healing a heavy is important for your team, but you haven't lived until you uber a pyro. Ubering a heavy is actually somewhat DIFFICULT because you don't want to uber them UNTIL they are in the thick of combat, and GETTING there tends to be "dangerous". If you uber BEFORE things get hot and heavy, precious uberjuice is wasted while they run up and spin up 'ol Sasha. Wait too long....and you'll be standing there all alone with nothing but a limp uber hanging in your hands.

Ubering a pyro is one of the FEW times I want my charge to......CHARGE! Both of us will eventually die, but gads, the carnage pyroboy can wreak before we go down is incredible due to his speed and point blank lethality.

BTW - the medics on the GWJ server are freaky good. You DON'T see this kinda stuff on the pubs, and I'm beginning to take it pretty much for granted on Jakeleg's server:
- Very rarely will another medic heal the same guy I am healing. They immediately switch to ME or another nearby friendly. It only takes but a second at the beginning of a round for the medics to quickly sort their beams out, one per customer so to speak.
- Healing other medics is Priority #1. Disagree? You probably don't Medic much.....Medic's on the GWJ don't have to use the 'e' key much.
- All alone but for us two medics? It's amazing how quickly - sans voicecomms no less, that ONE of us whips out the syringe gun while the other keeps him juiced as we run our butts back towards friendlies. Due to the medic's speed and gun-arc, two medics are actually not a bad fighting combo (if forced, of course). One of you guys last week (it was a "her" if I remember properly) was healing me as we ran back, but then IMMEDIATELY flipped to her syringe gun when I finished emptying my gun into a baddie. She finished him off while I quickly flipped my juice-gun onto her. I was in awe of how quickly and instinctively it all happened. What's doubly-nice in this situation is that baddies sometimes have a hard time figuring out who to shoot when faced with two medics. The old adage of "SHOOT THE MEDIC FIRST" doesn't quite work when there are TWO of us!

What a Great Server.

SamF7

I think it would be in character for the "e" button on the medic's keyboard to make him scream for help like a little girl. I know I'd use it.

As I've said before, Medic is the most important class on the game. Let me say from the beginning that I want to thank all those that play Medic because it is very tough class to play. However, I noticed last night that several Medics stopped healing me in the thick of battle as I was playing Heavy to either heal someone else or maybe spy check (I was not the only Heavy to notice this). That is the worst thing a Medic can do to a Heavy because Heavy's attract everybodies fire for the most part. Especially when a Medic is healing you, and you get into a gun fight, look up only to see the Medic has disappeared. I know the opposing team does their best to kill Medics, I always try to do my part to protect medics even if I'm not playing Heavy. As a Heavy I have stopped firing on other key oppenents to save a Medic that was healing me so he can keep his uber charge climbing. I will not let a pyro get by me to my Medic. It is against my religion to allow that. Hell I even will take down the pyro and soak up rockets from soldiers if I have to. I do everything in my power to keep Medics healthy. I always leave health packs for my medics. I keep a constant check on their health and will retreat to save one. Whatever it takes, because a healthy Medic is a happy Medic. I'm not saying don't ever stop healing your Heavy or only pick out one person to heal. I always try to stop and let the Medic heal other teammates in areas that are not full of gun fire. The biggest thing I can say for the Medics is to communicate. Let your Heavy know that you've stopped to heal somebody so he doesn't run off thinking you right behind him. I like pyro/medic combos in certain situations, but the heavy/ medic combo is tuff to beat.............Unless of course, Distant,13th, or Tkyl are around (However, I do love turning around to take them out as they are trying to kill my medic when they get spotted, it just puts a smile on my face).

From the Heavies.........Keep on healing!!!!!!!!!

Theres a TF2 podcast that recently started http://www.deadworkers.com/tf2/. They're in the process of going through hints and tips for each of the classes, and they also highlight new maps and their experiences playing the game. A lot of the tips we all already know, but there is usually a good nugget of info, especially for the classes one is not as familiar with. Its a good listen for the discriminating TF2 enthusiast.

Medics Rule!

-also-

New maps please and thank you! Perhaps on Parallel's server?

Atlas wrote:

I will not let a pyro get by me to my Medic. It is against my religion to allow that. Hell I even will take down the pyro and soak up rockets from soldiers if I have to. I do everything in my power to keep Medics healthy. I always leave health packs for my medics. I keep a constant check on their health and will retreat to save one. Whatever it takes, because a healthy Medic is a happy Medic.

Can we post this in the spawn room?

SamF7

indy wrote:

Theres a TF2 podcast that recently started http://www.deadworkers.com/tf2/. They're in the process of going through hints and tips for each of the classes, and they also highlight new maps and their experiences playing the game. A lot of the tips we all already know, but there is usually a good nugget of info, especially for the classes one is not as familiar with. Its a good listen for the discriminating TF2 enthusiast.

Medics Rule!

-also-

New maps please and thank you! Perhaps on Parallel's server?

Excellent! Thanks for the link.

Good podcast.

Elliottx wrote:

I'd be happy if there was some hotkey I could press that would make my character say, "Damnit, shoot the medic!"

I'm willing to bet that would get spammed too much but it would be satisfying to press in certain situations.

If you look at the Valve stats, you'll notice which class is on the bottom of the "Average lifespan per class in minutes" chart.

That hotkey would be entirely redundant.

I miss this game so much. . .

Hey Atlas, let's try to match up in game some time. I consider myself a pretty good medic.

modul8r wrote:

Hey Atlas, let's try to match up in game some time. I consider myself a pretty good medic.

Anytime!!!!!

Good Games Tonight Fellas. Looks like Pharacon took back over the #1 slot. Too bad we didn't have a few more people to help out defenses tonight. It was all offense from both sides.