New to TF2 - help get me started!

[BlueWeasel]

It's embarrassing to admit, but here goes. I bought the Orange Box 4-1/2 years ago and tonight was my first night to play TF2. Can't believe I waited so long to play, as it's a blast.

A few questions for veteran TF2 players:

1) Loot/Items: How do I get it exactly while playing? I know I can trade and buy it but is it randomly given out?

2) Any recommended shop items for new players? I was thinking of getting the cheap Starter Packs for a few classes.

 

[gorobei]

items will drop as you play. roughly every 45 min you will get either a weapon/tool/hat-misc. hats and tools tend not to drop very often.

there is a weekly limit as to how many drops you get. 8+-2 items per week. if you dont play enough hours to get your limit, it will carry over to next week. there is a monthly limit to how many items you get. the week starts over on thurs.


do not buy weapons. it is a waste. do the achievements to get the first 3 weps for each class.

if you must buy something, buy keys and sell them for metal. $2.5 = 1 key = ~2.44 refined metal = ~22scrap metal = 22 weapons in trade.

if you get duplicate wep drops, see if you can find another new player who will trade 1 wep for your 1 wep(aka 1to1 or 1:1 trade). otherwise veteran players will charge 2wep(1scrap) for the wep you want.

if you want a hat, always trade for it. going rates for most non-rare hats is 1.3-2 refined metal.

 

[surajsun22]

long story short...

items will drop as u play more and more....on an average you will get an item drop at fairly between the time period of 30 to 70 mins....... there is a limit of around 8-12 items per week... there is also a playtime cap during which u will get the item drops which resets every week.....

also as gorobei said if u want to buy something from the store buy keys u can trade them for rarer items in TF2 or even games...

 

[darkewaffle]

Not many of the alternate items are really preferable to the default load out anyway, I wouldn't waste your money. However as you play you'll eventually rack up different stuff, I've personally had good luck at TF2WH turning my extra gear into those couple pieces I could never get dropped. I never could get a Widowmaker so I just traded some of my duplicates into the WH and used my 'points' to trade for one.

 

[Kalmah]

Not many of the alternate items are really preferable to the default load out anyway, I wouldn't waste your money. However as you play you'll eventually rack up different stuff, I've personally had good luck at TF2WH turning my extra gear into those couple pieces I could never get dropped. I never could get a Widowmaker so I just traded some of my duplicates into the WH and used my 'points' to trade for one.

This is true. Everything pretty much has a negative modifier of some sort. Having more items just gives you more variety in playstyles. (which is nice) There are some particular items that some players are particularly good with that irritate the crap out of me. Once I have the item, then find out I actually suck with it, I realize it's more about skill than the item itself.

For the most fun I'd suggest finding a 24/7 2-fort server. (in my opinion) Lotusclan servers are nice. It doesn't hurt to spectate either.

 

[CPA]

I might add that using the non-stock weapons on certain classes, like Heavy, is not more advantageous. I used stock minigun last night on a payload map and came in 1st on my team in two separate runs. I hadn't played in like 8 months. Stock weapons don't always have the cool modifiers but they're still good to use.

 

[Red Storm]

Depends. Some classes you're at a clear disadvantage with the stock weapons (Pyro, Soldier come to mind) while others not so much.

BlueWeasel, sending you a PM. Add me on Steam and I'll give ya some of the weapons that I have duplicates of.

Also remember that you can try a weapon from the in-game store for a whole week to get a feel for how it works. This doesn't work for things that are listed as "New!"

 

[surfsatwerk]

Love the stock weapon for medic. Invincible heavy or pyro running down the corridors is lulz.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Thanks for the advice all.

I've been combing the Training forum over at Steam for general information and recommended items. Thinking about picking up a few dollars (~$5 worth) of consumables (Tour of Duty tickets) to use in getting some "must haves".

 

[Red Storm]

Thanks for the advice all.

I've been combing the Training forum over at Steam for general information and recommended items. Thinking about picking up a few dollars (~$5 worth) of consumables (Tour of Duty tickets) to use in getting some "must haves".

The tickets used for co-op mode only grant you cosmetic items or stock weapons that have different looks. Best thing to do is go for the achievements for each class to get some of the weapons, and then you'll find more as you play. There are even achievement servers out there specifically tailored to "cheating" your way through the achievements if you don't want to deal with the grind.

 

[Mopetar]

You really don't need to buy any of the weapons. Most are sidegrades or situationally useful. However, some are fun to play with such as the sniper bow. You'll get stuff just for playing so you really don't need to spend money.

 

[thejunglegod]

There are drops?? I thought TF2 was something similar to CS, with two teams shooting each other. Damn i need to start this. My orange box has been in the shelf for a couple of years. Damn you backlog!