“The [insert class] sucks/is OP/is for noobs!”

by Seyon, in Games: Rant, Team Fortress 2 (5 Comments)

We’ve all heard them before in class-based PvP games. Someone gets frustrated and immediately starts lashing out, calling the focus of their rage names. Often, they will attack the class of the offending player with lame perceived short-comings. “[Harsh profanity] you, you [sexual preference slur] piece of [waste synonym]. learn 2 play a real class, you [sexual preference slur] [religious slur] [racial slur]!!!1”

Below we have broken out many of the hate-filled negatives often heard about classes followed by their benefits.
THE SCOUT

• Gets a lot of hate for using the Force-A-Nature, even from other Scouts.
• The Sandman was so detested that the overwhelming player whine resulted in Valve nerfing its abilities.
• Considered the “twitch” class used by younger players, therefore receives little respect.

• Actually one of the more versatile of classes; in addition to offense, he can provide a fair amount defense. With the Sandman, the Scout can temporarily disable players and using Bonk! Atomic Punch he can act as a ten-second damage absorber, distracting both sentries and enemy players.
• The plus-man bonus makes them a requirement for CP maps.
• By Valve’s admission, there is a huge skill gap between good Scouts and great Scouts. Spend enough time using him and you’ll be a good Scout, but truly great Scouts cannot be hit and are always one step ahead in the game, literally.
• Twitch reflexes do help.

THE SOLDIER

• Before his update, was commonly said to be a n00b class – that anyone could kill his Rocket Launcher.
• Often accused of rocket spamming as a cheap tactic.

• A very straigtforward class to play.
• A good introductory class, but also a deep class. From beginner to expert, there is a very gradual but large curve.
• Core to any offense.
• Great Soldiers, even with their slower movment, have a more flexible battlefield movement with rocket jumping.
• Has become a better partner to a Medic than a Heavy. The Soldier has the damage capacity and can cover ground faster, all while having the ability to protect his Medic.

THE PYRO

• Often considered the n00biest of classes who requires only the skill of pressing the W key and Mouse1 button.
• When the Backburner was introduced, it was and still is considered the ultimate n00b weapon, even by fellow Pyros.

• With the addition of the air blast, he became a much more versatile class and a mandatory part of every team. Besides just burning stuff, the Pyro can repel projectiles away from themselves, teammates, and friendly buildings.
• One of the only classes effective versus Übers, and can completely nullify them.
• One of the only classes that can destroy a sentry without an Über.

THE DEMOMAN

• Hate directed towards the Demo can be broken into three things:
1. Sticky traps. Using them are considered an underhanded way to play, inciting much rage.
2. Flooding an area with grenades. It considered noobish spam rather than a valid tactic.
3. The Highlander. It seems to have extreme reach and a one hit kill aspect, though it does not.

• Both a great offensive and defensive class. Offensively, Demos are best with surpression and breaking the enemy’s defenses. Defensively, stickies are a visual deterrent to pathways or objectives, besides being able to blow shit up.
• The ability for indirect damage is the strongest tool against sentries.

THE HEAVY WEAPONS GUY

• Does not get the hate that other classes do.
• Will catch shit about being killed with crit bullets or Natacha’s slowdown, but that’s about it.

• Heavies have a very obvious damage potential and has good damage absorption with a Medic.
• A Heavy-Medic pair are a rally point for the team; other players will follow them in a push.

THE ENGINEER

• People who do not play as the Engie claim that he is overpowered.
• Teammates demand a level 3 Teleporter to be active at all times. And a third level Dispenser at the front lines. And a third level Sentry. Those that don’t have these buildings up are usually screamed from the server.

• Players often relate the Engie to firepower and supply, but his importance lies in team movement and mobilization. A good Tele location becomes a rally point before a push.
• No other class can turn the tide of battle, can switch momentum of a team faster. One Tele behind enemy lines can destroy enemy defenses.
• Only an Engie can hurt a team: a Tele to a poor location will destroy the momentum of his team.
• Enemies become so single-minded about taking out a Sentry that they will attempt to take it down even though it is in an ineffective location.
• Teammates can complain about the Engie not doing his job, but they must be the ones to protect him if they want the benefits of his buildings.

THE MEDIC

• People hate Medics in a totally different way: they don’t hate opposing team’s Medics, they hate their own.
• No class gets cussed more than a Medic. Everyone feels that they are the most important person on the team and have priority over everyone else.

• THE most important class in Team Fortress 2. While too many can hurt the team, any good team has to have a couple. You cannot win without a Medic.
• Though anyone can play as one, he is more than just a mobile dispenser. A good Medic becomes the pushing force of the team along with having Über potential.

THE SNIPER

• Everyone fucking hates the Sniper, just like everyone hates the Spy. The insta-gib is perceived as underhanded.
• Other players feel that he doesn’t contribute to the teamplay aspect of the game in any way – his only responsibility is to kill other Snipers, which he also fails at.

• His strength lies in the control of choke points and suppression of open areas.
• Has the only game debuff, which he can easily apply at said choke points.

THE SPY

• Everyone fucking hates the Spy, just like everyone hates the Sniper. The insta-gib is perceived as underhanded.
• Common rages are that their cloak is too long, the Ambassador is a cheap sniper rifle, and that Dead Ringer Spies are impossible to kill.
• Facestabs!

• Excels at taking out high priority targets.
• Excels at breaking defenses, both multiple Sentries or Heavy-Medic combos.
• Best class at demoralizing the enemy and slowing them down, e.g. front-line players stopping to search for a Spy at their spawn.