With the game becoming F2P I think more people should try competitive Team fortress 2

I have been playing competitive Tf2 for nearly 2 years now and it is the most fun I have ever had.

Here is a example of Team fortress 2 played in the competetive format http://www.livestream.com/zethzio/video?clipId=pla_27f35cd0-67ef-48d8-8885-5062910a2db

The person talking with the English accent is me xD and the game starts at 1:25

If you are interested here is a amazing thread which has loads of info for you http://etf2l.org/forum/league/topic-12510/?recent=274229

Maximise your FPS

First of all, you’ve gotta be prepared to tweak TF2 a bit, especially if you’re not running a great computer setup. However, for those of us who aren’t technically minded, the lovely Chris has built an entire set of configs, with great instructions, that will get you enjoying the game with the minimum of fuss, and the maximum of FPS. You can find these configs over at:http://www.fakkelbrigade.eu/chris/configs/but please make sure you follow the instructions carefully.

Competitive Play

Tf2 has a dedicated competitive playerbase, and whilst there are people that feel the need to constantly complain about the state of competitive TF2, the majority of the rulesets are fair, and map pools are varied. It is relatively easy to get into playing competitively, with teams constantly recruiting, and even creating your own team is relatively painless, as long as you know 5 other players!

Some great resources to get into competitive play can be found at the primary EU leagues, ETF2L, who have their season 10 starting very soon – so just enough time for you to download TF2 and register your team/apply to join a team.

If you’re after information on the goings on within the Competitive TF2 scene, VanillaTF2 is a great resource, covering everything from upcoming matches to latest gossip and news. VanillaTV covers many of the higher profile games in real time, with a great lineup of casters involved.

For more US orientated gossip, GotFrag is the place to visit, as long as you don’t mind putting up with a high amount of trolling.

Finally, if you want to jump straight into learning to play competitively, head on over to TF2Lobby, join a lobby and get playing!

Custom Huds

While the default HUD is pretty nice, there are alternatives out there – there is a thread here that covers most of them, but to single out a few of the more commonly used ones – broeselhud, Community HUD (this is the one I use), gmang Hud, M0reHUD. These are all used to a certain extent by the community as a whole. Here is a great link to all the HUDs

Frag Videos

If you needed more persuasion to download and install a free game, there is a huge selection of videos showcasing the game available.

Lan Trilogy – By far and away one of the most epic TF2 movies, featuring frags and action from insomnia 40, one of the largest UK lans http://video.alienwarearena.com/movie/1390/TF2_Lan_Trilogy__i40/

7 brothers who aren’t brothers Widely accepted by many as the definitive TF2 frag video, this contains footage from one of the longest running teams (now defunct), broder. http://video.alienwarearena.com/movie/1085/7_brothers_who_arent_brothers/

Auto Aim –A great sniping video by one of the best snipers in TF2, Jh

Team fortress 2 is so much more than a goofy hat based shooter

If you want to see more about competetiveTeamfortress 2 go tohttp://etf2l.org/

I know for a fact creating your own team is not relatively painless because i know five players, they all play Pyro.

Hats determine how valuable you are.

@LordXavierBritish said:

I know for a fact creating your own team is not relatively painless because i know five players, they all play Pyro.

That is why you use the amazing team search feature :D http://etf2l.org/recruitment/

This is great info. I haven't played Team Fortress much since the Demo/Soldier Patch and even then I played very casual. This information has given more more incentive to hop back in and at least try the game out again... possibly with a custom HUD as well. Thanks.

I can confirm that Competitive TF2 is the shiz!

@ErrorOperator said:

I can confirm that Competitive TF2 is the shiz!

Meat on face action

Question: Is the Engineer not a valid class in competition? I only saw one in all of those videos you linked. Does the pace of high-level play make it unnecessary to build infrastructure?

@RedRocketWestie: Engineers are probably the most useful class next to Medics. They're kills just aren't flashy enough to be in any video montages. Engies are kings of defense, and still necessary when attacking, for teleporters. If your team doesn't have an engie, someone will bitch about it eventually.

@RedRocketWestie said:

Question: Is the Engineer not a valid class in competition? I only saw one in all of those videos you linked. Does the pace of high-level play make it unnecessary to build infrastructure?

Well engineers are good for various situations. You would rarely see someone play a engineer at all on 5cp maps (which are the most played in competitive) However if a team looses the middle fight and looses all their players then some teams would run a engineer at last just to delay the other team ubering in.

In the video i linked it was a Capture the flag map so a full time engineer is much more viable on that map.

Most teams have 2scouts 2 soldiers and 1 medic and 1 demoman

The 2 scouts then usually change to "Utility classes" (which are Heavy,Pyro,Sniper,Spy and Engineer) In given situations like I mentioned. However it is rare that you would see a team run a engineer for the whole game.

If you click on some of the links I posted it explains in depth what the format of competitive play is :)

Here is a amazing wiki for competitive tf2 which should make it clear.

http://wiki.commforums.com/doku.php?id=tf2:getting_started:home

http://wiki.commforums.com/doku.php?id=tf2:playing_competitively:home

H@classicdms said:

@RedRocketWestie: Engineers are probably the most useful class next to Medics. They're kills just aren't flashy enough to be in any video montages. Engies are kings of defense, and still necessary when attacking, for teleporters. If your team doesn't have an engie, someone will bitch about it eventually.

I think he was talking about competitive Tf2 :) The most useful class is a demoman

Good little write up. I think you covered a little bit much on competative play because most new players will scoff at the idea of playing competitively now, but still some nice info.

Also are you the demoman in that video?

In competetive play do you always have 6 v 6? or can there be bigger teams, if not why?

@SSully said:

Good little write up. I think you covered a little bit much on competative play because most new players will scoff at the idea of playing competitively now, but still some nice info.

Also are you the demoman in that video?

No i play the medic :)

And i yea ill admit i focused on competitive play a little much :<

@turbomonkey138: Haha well you guys work great as a team, it was fun watching you all play.

It's alright, it was still very informative. It just might be a little much for a newer player. As someone who has been playing TF2 since it's released and never played competitively I found this to be very interesting.

Fantastic thread, although is there a hub for all of this? Like for example, Teamliquid is a well known hud for SC2 competitive players. What site/forum is known to have a community like this?
 
And isn't teamwork required to really be competitive? Would you recommend joining an existing team or creating one?

Great read. Thanks for the link to ProjectJK's video.

@ChillyUK7 said:

In competetive play do you always have 6 v 6? or can there be bigger teams, if not why?

Basically the default format for competitive Tf2 is 6v6. This is not the only format however it is the most played.

Their is a Highlander game type which 9v9 with only 1 of each class. These are usually played on maps you would see more in public servers and are considered the best starting point for new players to competitive play.

@endless_void said:

Fantastic thread, although is there a hub for all of this? Like for example, Teamliquid is a well known hud for SC2 competitive players. What site/forum is known to have a community like this? And isn't teamwork required to really be competitive? Would you recommend joining an existing team or creating one?

The closest TF2 has is http://www.vanillatf2.org/ This site basically is open to people to write articles about Tf2. Gossip,drama announcements etc are all on this site. Plus it was a cool match ticker which shows all the upcoming top games. They all have Vanilla TV which streams most top games also :)

http://etf2l.org/ This is by far the most popular place for everyone to hang out on the forums etc.

http://communityfortress.com/ Is also a amazing site. Tones of great articles and the forum is always busy.

In regards to your second question. Teamwork is THE most important thing in Competitive TF2. Sure having great Death match skills is a plus but what separates the top teams from the others is how well they work as a team.

For some one who is new to TF2 I would recommend joining either a newly created team or making your own with your friends you play with. This is because it is a lot easier to play and improve with people who are in the same boat as you. The Tf2 community may be scary at first but they are the most helpful community I have ever encountered. If you ever need help with anything there are a bunch of people eager to help new guys improve :) And by being in a new team where everyone is at the same experiance level as eachother it makes for a more enjoyable experience. This is coming from my own experience of course :)

For anyone who wants to check out my profile on ETF2L here is the link http://etf2l.org/forum/user/11161/

If anyone wants any help or advice feel free to add me on steam http://steamcommunity.com/id/turbo264

The auto aim video is unwatchable with sound on. It was like sonic diarrhea. Rest of all fine and dandy though. So thanks for that. 

@pornstorestiffi said:

The auto aim video is unwatchable with sound on. It was like sonic diarrhea. Rest of all fine and dandy though. So thanks for that.

Did you watch the broder one ?

@pornstorestiffi said:

The auto aim video is unwatchable with sound on. It was like sonic diarrhea. Rest of all fine and dandy though. So thanks for that.

Did you watch the broder one ?

I would love to play on a serious team, but there's no way in hell I could follow a play schedule. I miss having free time =/

Apparently I was banned from the EFT2L forum even though I've never visited it before.

I feel like TF2 is best play casually. It can still be enjoyed that way. I mean... I'm not that good, but I've found a server that I can have fun on.

@pornstorestiffi said:

@turbomonkey138 said:

@pornstorestiffi said:

The auto aim video is unwatchable with sound on. It was like sonic diarrhea. Rest of all fine and dandy though. So thanks for that.

Did you watch the broder one ?

No, but i just did now. And that was much better, and you just made me want to listen to the Slayer cover of that song, so i better dig up that album. I wouldn't wan't to run into those guys online, they seem to have their shit well in control.

top teams have that effect on people xD

@Kyreo said:

I feel like TF2 is best play casually. It can still be enjoyed that way. I mean... I'm not that good, but I've found a server that I can have fun on.

Could you elaborate a little. I'm not being a jerk i just want to know why you think that :) I'd love to be able to convince you.

@turbomonkey138 said:

@Kyreo said:

I feel like TF2 is best play casually. It can still be enjoyed that way. I mean... I'm not that good, but I've found a server that I can have fun on.

Could you elaborate a little. I'm not being a jerk i just want to know why you think that :) I'd love to be able to convince you.

It's not that I need convincing. I mean, I think high end, strategic TF2 is frickin awesome, but I don't mind playing well, lighting dudes on fire, but still losing the intel. TF2 is more of a "takin' 'er easy" kind of game to me.

WTB Meatshot 8) embeds

@ajamafalous said:

WTB Meatshot 8) embeds

Will this do ?

@turbomonkey138 said:

@ajamafalous said:

WTB Meatshot 8) embeds

Will this do ?

Mighty fine.

Let me just say that I love sniping no matter what game, so the combination of playing a match of Hightower on the Giant Bomb/Tested server about two days ago coming in 4th place on the winning red team AND watching that Auto-Aim video that you posted up has made the job I love doing that much more awesome.

@innacces14 said:

Let me just say that I love sniping no matter what game, so the combination of playing a match of Hightower on the Giant Bomb/Tested server about two days ago coming in 4th place on the winning red team AND watching that Auto-Aim video that you posted up has made the job I love doing that much more awesome.

I wish We had a giantbomb European server

@innacces14 said:

Let me just say that I love sniping no matter what game, so the combination of playing a match of Hightower on the Giant Bomb/Tested server about two days ago coming in 4th place on the winning red team AND watching that Auto-Aim video that you posted up has made the job I love doing that much more awesome.

I wish We had a giantbomb European server

Been playing this with friends in our gaming parlor for a year or two now, and We've loved every moment of it and are still addicted. 
Now we can finally download it and play it at home! (yes we couldnt buy it)

@armaan8014 said:

Been playing this with friends in our gaming parlor for a year or two now, and We've loved every moment of it and are still addicted. Now we can finally download it and play it at home! (yes we couldnt buy it)

Parlor ? This sounds interesting

@armaan8014 said:

Been playing this with friends in our gaming parlor for a year or two now, and We've loved every moment of it and are still addicted. Now we can finally download it and play it at home! (yes we couldnt buy it)

Parlor ? This sounds interesting

Never enjoyed my brief brushes with competitive TF2 (I'm mainly a spy, to be fair), but then again I never enjoyed competitive CS or UT either, even when we were quite successful.

Anyway I think the thread is a good idea, but i think the OP might be giving new players a bit if false hope when it comes to playing competitively - most people that have played the game for years aren't at a standard where they can pug effectively, never mind play proper competitive matches.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

Never enjoyed my brief brushes with competitive TF2 (I'm mainly a spy, to be fair), but then again I never enjoyed competitive CS or UT either, even when we were quite successful. Anyway I think the thread is a good idea, but i think the OP might be giving new players a bit if false hope when it comes to playing competitively - most people that have played the game for years aren't at a standard where they can pug effectively, never mind play proper competitive matches.

I wouldn't say competitive Tf2 is hard to get into. However it is drastically different from your average public Tf2 server experience.

I think any new players should give it a go and see if they like it or not. Those players that have being playing the game for years have only played in a public server environment. Whether you are a complete new player to TF2 or a veteran public spy player everyone starts off as beginners in competitive TF2. And it comes down to whether you want to take the next step in the game or continue playing public servers.

This is one of my favourite frag videos :P

this looks great and all but i have no clue on where to start when it comes to joining a team

@turbomonkey138 said:

This is one of my favourite frag videos :P

I really don't like the editing on that video. It's so jumpy that none of the kills seem noteworthy because you can't see what's happening immediately before any of them. Kills without context are unimpressive.

@Nasos100 said:

this looks great and all but i have no clue on where to start when it comes to joining a team

I would get used to the 6v6 format first.

http://tf2lobby.com/

This is a good introduction to competitive play. Its a little random at times but a good starting point.

IF you are European i would suggest ETF2L ask around on the forums people are very helpfull

http://etf2l.org/forum/general/topic-17359/?recent=314920

http://etf2l.org/forum/league/topic-12510/?recent=274229

2 amazingly helpful threads

Meh. Skilled TF 2-players is all well and good, but I can't stand cometetive playing this game. tried it a bit, but to me there is much more fun to be had in a public match with more people of various skill. 

I was part of a "clan" for a while, but I found that the class restrictions kill the game for me. I understand that it's done in the interest of balancing, but generally, playing on public servers is just so much more fun for me. Even if it is sort of a mixed bag.