01-26-2010, 01:16 PM
This is Doctor Evangeline with an evaluation on the new weapons from the WAR! Update. Let's start with my favorite, the Soldier.
The Soldier's upgrades were centered more around increasing the payoffs from being nothing short of a super bad-ass.
The Direct Hit
As the name would imply, the new rocket launcher does away with the bullshit of splash damage in favor of more focused damage and a faster rocket. You will not likely get many multi-kills with one rocket with this because of the narrower splash damage, but it's better for people who are more direct with their shots.
Verdict: A+
You can debate whether or not it's better than the rocket launcher, but it's very good for singular stationary targets, like a Sentry Gun, or a Heavy.
The Equalizer
Replacing the shovel with a pick-axe, the equalizer is a melee weapon that makes the Soldier faster and more powerful the more he gets injured. The more preferred point to utilize the best HP:damage ratio is around 25. At that point, any non-overhealed class that isn't a Soldier or Heavy will get killed in one non-critical hit. Mind you, at 25 HP, there's no room for error, and no room for you to get torched by Pyros. Not to mention that as long as the Equalizer is out, Medics can't heal you.
Verdict: A+
It's a ballsy weapon to use, but trust me, one hit kills on almost the entire roster is awesome. Plus, there's no otherwise passive downside to using this weapon over the shovel, so what have you got to lose?
The Buff Banner
I predicted this weapon back in August. If only I made the effort to post it on the TF2 forums...
The Buff Banner acts like a reverse Jarate. You cause damage with your other weapons (Rocket launcher and melee weapon) to fill up the Soldier's rage meter. When it hits max, whip out the Buff Banner and make a war call to boost the morale of your allies. Unlike the Jarate, you use this on your allies, and for 14 seconds, everyone in your area on your team will gain minicrits. This almost makes the Jarate obsolete, but Jarate's only restriction is time and the targets, not the allies and user's skill.
Verdict: A+
The Buff Banner's only downside is that you HAVE to be an absolute badass to be able to use it, but a good Soldier combined with the Buff Banner and a small squad behind him is remarkably terrifying, not to mention devastating.
The Gunboats
The unique item the Soldier won from the War. Iron-clad shoes that greatly reduce the damage from rocket jumping.
Verdict: C-
It takes up the secondary slot, which is shared by the Buff Banner and the Shotgun. How many times ARE you going to be shooting yourself in the foot to reach higher ground? Compared to the Buff Banner in the hands of a badass, there's no competition. It's only really good if you don't get use out of the shotgun and the Buff Banner.
The Demoman's full name is revealed to be Tavish DeGroot in this update. His new arsenal is all about expanding on his Scottish descent.
The Eyelander
A parody of the Highlander movie, the Eyelander is a Scottish claymore that, with every head the Demoman lops off his enemies, he gains more HP and speed that remains active even if he's not holding the weapon until he dies. At 4 heads, he'll have the second most HP in the game and turns into the second fastest class. You also have a larger range in which you can lop heads off when using this weapon. The downside is that the Eyelander does not get random critical hits, and the Demoman starts off with slightly less health.
Verdict: A+
In close-quarters levels, it's a good choice. If you can counter the whole lesser HP thing, then it's a destructive weapon in the hands of a pro.
Chargin' Targe
This weapon replaces the Sticky Bomb Launcher slot, which completely eliminates the ability to be a defensive Scotty. This support item is always equipped, and unlike the Razorback, you wear on the forearm like an actual shield. Like Jarate, the Targe needs to be charged up with time before you can unleash its power. Upon doing so, the Demoman charges forth, gaining temporary crits and almost no ability to turn. This works best with the Eyelander, as the critical hit damage is a guaranteed 195 damage on the enemy, which will kill a non-overhealed non-Heavy or Soldier. The Targe, unlike the Razorback, will also give you some protection from explosions and fire, cutting all damage in half. Ballistics will still kick your ass, however, and since the Targe is not on your back, it does jack shit against backstabs.
Verdict: B+
The Targe does have its good points, but only works truly well when you're using the Eyelander. Without it, it's best bet is to be used as a shield against Pyros and Soldiers and an escape tool, which you wouldn't have done if you had just brought your stickybomb launcher. Speaking of which...
The Scottish Resistance
This variant of the stickybomb launcher gives the Demoman more priority on strategic predetermined defense. The SR gives you the ability to chuck out 6 more bombs than usual, have the ability to blow up ENEMY bombs, and blow up only the bombs that you are currently looking at. The downside is that it can't be used as a fallback weapon like the regular launcher, since it takes 0.4 seconds longer to prime the bombs once they leave the barrel.
Verdict: A
I haven't tested this weapon myself, but I understand the concept and the damage that could be done in the hands of a skilled player really pissed off Scotsman.
The Soldier's upgrades were centered more around increasing the payoffs from being nothing short of a super bad-ass.
The Direct Hit
As the name would imply, the new rocket launcher does away with the bullshit of splash damage in favor of more focused damage and a faster rocket. You will not likely get many multi-kills with one rocket with this because of the narrower splash damage, but it's better for people who are more direct with their shots.
Verdict: A+
You can debate whether or not it's better than the rocket launcher, but it's very good for singular stationary targets, like a Sentry Gun, or a Heavy.
The Equalizer
Replacing the shovel with a pick-axe, the equalizer is a melee weapon that makes the Soldier faster and more powerful the more he gets injured. The more preferred point to utilize the best HP:damage ratio is around 25. At that point, any non-overhealed class that isn't a Soldier or Heavy will get killed in one non-critical hit. Mind you, at 25 HP, there's no room for error, and no room for you to get torched by Pyros. Not to mention that as long as the Equalizer is out, Medics can't heal you.
Verdict: A+
It's a ballsy weapon to use, but trust me, one hit kills on almost the entire roster is awesome. Plus, there's no otherwise passive downside to using this weapon over the shovel, so what have you got to lose?
The Buff Banner
I predicted this weapon back in August. If only I made the effort to post it on the TF2 forums...
The Buff Banner acts like a reverse Jarate. You cause damage with your other weapons (Rocket launcher and melee weapon) to fill up the Soldier's rage meter. When it hits max, whip out the Buff Banner and make a war call to boost the morale of your allies. Unlike the Jarate, you use this on your allies, and for 14 seconds, everyone in your area on your team will gain minicrits. This almost makes the Jarate obsolete, but Jarate's only restriction is time and the targets, not the allies and user's skill.
Verdict: A+
The Buff Banner's only downside is that you HAVE to be an absolute badass to be able to use it, but a good Soldier combined with the Buff Banner and a small squad behind him is remarkably terrifying, not to mention devastating.
The Gunboats
The unique item the Soldier won from the War. Iron-clad shoes that greatly reduce the damage from rocket jumping.
Verdict: C-
It takes up the secondary slot, which is shared by the Buff Banner and the Shotgun. How many times ARE you going to be shooting yourself in the foot to reach higher ground? Compared to the Buff Banner in the hands of a badass, there's no competition. It's only really good if you don't get use out of the shotgun and the Buff Banner.
The Demoman's full name is revealed to be Tavish DeGroot in this update. His new arsenal is all about expanding on his Scottish descent.
The Eyelander
A parody of the Highlander movie, the Eyelander is a Scottish claymore that, with every head the Demoman lops off his enemies, he gains more HP and speed that remains active even if he's not holding the weapon until he dies. At 4 heads, he'll have the second most HP in the game and turns into the second fastest class. You also have a larger range in which you can lop heads off when using this weapon. The downside is that the Eyelander does not get random critical hits, and the Demoman starts off with slightly less health.
Verdict: A+
In close-quarters levels, it's a good choice. If you can counter the whole lesser HP thing, then it's a destructive weapon in the hands of a pro.
Chargin' Targe
This weapon replaces the Sticky Bomb Launcher slot, which completely eliminates the ability to be a defensive Scotty. This support item is always equipped, and unlike the Razorback, you wear on the forearm like an actual shield. Like Jarate, the Targe needs to be charged up with time before you can unleash its power. Upon doing so, the Demoman charges forth, gaining temporary crits and almost no ability to turn. This works best with the Eyelander, as the critical hit damage is a guaranteed 195 damage on the enemy, which will kill a non-overhealed non-Heavy or Soldier. The Targe, unlike the Razorback, will also give you some protection from explosions and fire, cutting all damage in half. Ballistics will still kick your ass, however, and since the Targe is not on your back, it does jack shit against backstabs.
Verdict: B+
The Targe does have its good points, but only works truly well when you're using the Eyelander. Without it, it's best bet is to be used as a shield against Pyros and Soldiers and an escape tool, which you wouldn't have done if you had just brought your stickybomb launcher. Speaking of which...
The Scottish Resistance
This variant of the stickybomb launcher gives the Demoman more priority on strategic predetermined defense. The SR gives you the ability to chuck out 6 more bombs than usual, have the ability to blow up ENEMY bombs, and blow up only the bombs that you are currently looking at. The downside is that it can't be used as a fallback weapon like the regular launcher, since it takes 0.4 seconds longer to prime the bombs once they leave the barrel.
Verdict: A
I haven't tested this weapon myself, but I understand the concept and the damage that could be done in the hands of a skilled player really pissed off Scotsman.
![[Image: WalkingEye-1.jpg]](http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/Dark_Suzaku/WalkingEye-1.jpg)
No super-villain can resist the temptation of a Walking Eye.
