The Bloggings of Combyne

Sizing it Down

2009-06-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

May I say that mini-crit rockets are severely less fun than normal crit rockets. However, mini-crit afterburn is pretty useful. *Ahem*.

The idea behind mini-crits becomes apparent once you delve into the facts. First, let's take a look at what mini-crits there are in the game at this moment.

Jarate minicrits
The more obvious of the two, since it is its primary function. These mini-crits reward Snipers (and their teammates) for being able to take out and douse the enemy with... bodily fluids. Regardless, Jarate-ing multiple enemies is not always an easy task, and it's hard to learn the projectile curve of the jar, considering you have to wait pretty long to throw another one. (Let's leave achievementbox maps outta this.) So if the Sniper does manage to dampen the enemies' will to live, their health will lower at a similar rate.

Flare-onto-burning-enemy minicrits
Ah yes, the satisfying *DING!* of a flare mini-crit. Upon landing successive flare hits unto an enemy, the Pyro can deal that extra 35% damage due to a minicrit. Now this is a way to make the flare more viable and more useful after the enemy is already ignited. The Pyro's aim is rewarded by a reassuring sound that

Long story short, mini-crits are rewards for a player's skill. Although random crits are designed to be strongly influenced by skill, they are random. Mini-crits are a fine addition to Team Fortress 2's increasing player content, and I feel they are an example of what the game is supposed to be.

Giddy'up, Pardner

2009-06-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

I thought I might throw some Engie unlockables at you.

EMP Shottie (Primary Slot)

Shoots an electromagnetic pulse at the enemy, disrupting Spies' cloaks, and "painting" any disguised enemy Spies (without necessarily removing their disguise, but rendering it pretty useless). However, the heavy modifications unto this weapon reduced it's firerate, and it's larger shell size means less per clip.
+ Disrupts enemy cloak

+ Paints enemy Spies

- Reduced clipsize (4 instead of 6)
- Reduced damage? (90%?)

- Slower firerate

Anti-Sap-o-Matic (Drill) (Secondary Slot)
A power tool which allows the user to remove sappers at a faster rate than the Wrench can supply. However, it's not very good for anything else. (Uses ammo?)
+ Removes sappers lickety-split (Faster than 3 hits of the wrench, but not too fast.)
- No pistol means less firepower going forward

'Ol Bessie (Primary Slot)
A trusty dual-barreled shotgun sure to leave a mark. This firearm is good for those who want to get some damage in at farther ranges. Perfect for any outdoor excursion!
+ More range (less spread and falloff)
+ Increased firerate
+ Damage? (120%?)
- Clipsize of only 2 shells
- Slower reload

I chose 2 Primary slot unlockables because the Wrench and Build+Demolish Panels are good as they are, and Valve already decided "3 weapons, any slots". Also, I can't think of another pistol replacement. Maybe a revolver would fit with Engie's character, I dunno. I think 'Ol Bessie's a better match.

Before I forget...

2009-06-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, Left 4 Dead 2. Coming November, so the first game will be a year old when this comes out.

But don't trust Valve time. I'm sure we'll have to wait longer.

Trying to start again

2009-06-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

I'll start to post more updates here on the blog, so if anybody's out there, stay tuned. Most of the stuff pouring out will be gaming/life stuff that doesn't really belong in DA journal posts.

GO TO DEVIANTART

2008-12-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

I *actually* update there, you know.

http://supasoldier.deviantart.com

Snoipah Unlochabuhls

2008-10-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Sniper class time.

The Overheater: A sniper rifle that functions more or less like the original, but suffers 60% damage. Ignites the target with a powerful burn.

Tranquilizer: Every hit slows the target. Slower firerate.

Club: 50% damage, but deals 100% crit on tranquilized and overheated enimies.

Scout Unlockables -edit

2008-10-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

Uh, more Scout ideas.

The Boomer: Pushes people back just like Natascha. 75% damage.

Desert Eagle: Same principle as the Scout revolver idea; more damage, lower firing rate and clipsize.

Stunstick: Flashes sparks on the target's screen and "Sentry pushes" if you hit, but swings dramatically slower. (Make sure you can't do this to teammates. That would be bad.)

I'm Not Even Winded

2008-09-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

MOAR

Demoman class--
M79 Thumper: OMG, a real gun! There are images on the web. I think it can manage running on Grenade Launcher hand animations, but the actual weapon doesn't have a revolving chamber.
Holds 3 grenades that explode on impact with anything. This means Demomen can grenade-jump, and are more able against Spies, Pyros, and Scouts, the classes capable of avoiding the original grenades. But, the Thumper's grenades do 50-70% damage.

MIRV Detonation Pack: The dynamite shown in trailers of the beta. Except, they'll need some balancing.
First of all, if fires incredulously slow, since it has to wait for the end of an animation loop. So it's better for setting traps than on-the-fly bombing. (This is where the Thumper and MIRV can be combined very well). The initial blast will have a large radius, but not kill a Heavy in one blast. It should be able to take down a Scout, though. Also, the small dynamite sticks fly pretty far away in open areas, and don't do too much damage. The Demoman can only have one out at once, and can detonate the on he set at any time (maybe even in the air, raining dynamite sticks over the other team huddled around the Payload cart.)

Tonic Water: Doing the taunt will heal you, but the actual weapon does 30-50% damage. It's appearence is a skinnier, longer, translucent bottle.

On a Roll

2008-09-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

Moar ideas.

Scout Class--
The Nailgun: They have the weapon and nail models, a guy made the animations, why not?
My concept for a new Nailgun is low damage and high firerate, but the nails don't go very far. (Less far than the Syringe Gun, maybe.)

Revolver: I don't need to explain the details, but I can describe the pros and cons. The revolver does more damage and shoots slightly farther than the pistol does, but holds only 6 bullets, fires slower, and has more recoil. (Since the pistol has none.) This can use Spy animations, but that wouldn't be favorable. Two-handed anims would mean that Valve doesn't need to make new thirdperson fire anims, but they do for firstperson fire and reload.

Bric-a-Bonk: A wooden baseball bat with a large nail stuck through it. 100% crit from behind, but 40% damage. I chose 40% since you can easily rotate to an enemy's back, even when they realize you are there. But if Valve uses this idea (yeah, right) they can choose any doody-dandy percentage they feel is right.

Some TF2 Soldier Unlockable Ideas....

2008-09-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

I had some ideas for more unlockables for Team Fortress 2's unupdated character classes. These are *obviously* unoffical; these aren't rumors, I just made them up.

Soldier Class---
The Ballastier: A RPG that shoots rockets that fall in an arc, which can be both beneficial and difficult to cope with. It shoots with faster speed, but does less damage and only holds 3 rockets (or grenades, I guess) per clip. (A faster reload is optional.)
The benefits are that this allows Soldiers to be more independent, one of their weaknesses being that they never hit their target.

Assaulterator: A SMG/assault rifle that increases its crit ratio if you are on higher ground than your enemy. (P.S: Concept in progress. I didn't put too much thought in this one.)

Another Shotgun replacement: Hellfire!
Ignites the enemy after X consecutive hits. Suffers 60% damage or so.

The Bombayonet: A bayonet that hits 100% crits and swings faster (maybe) while you're in the air, but suffers 50% damage compared to the Shovel. It'll be fun seeing a bunch of Soldiers flying in the air, taking out their melee weapons.

More ideas later. For other classes.

Back to Blogger

2008-09-24T18:44:00.001-07:00

I didn't feel like blogging for quite some time. But nonetheless, I'm back!

Just to put upa few links, here's my aliases:
Combyne (YouTube)
SupaSoldier (DeviantART)
Combyne *Supa* Soldier (Steam)

Get the pattern? This isn't a joke though, I just realized.

Back

2008-06-03T17:49:00.001-07:00

I guess. I hope to update Death by Idiocy a little before I leave for the summer.

Goin' For a While

2008-05-08T16:46:00.000-07:00

STAR testing and all. Ends after this week.

Stop pissing me off.

2008-04-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ruin someone else's blog with your anti-virus scan adware. Just, please.

I am sick and tired of it. Now to post your precious spam you have to go through moderation, how about that?

Ugh, god, I am just having a terrible time with these friggin viruses! Please stop! I don't even know why you are doing this!

Denotes non-spammers. So far, there is only one.

See here: http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs26/f/2008/121/d/0/Just_a_sign_for_spammers____by_PaladinOfEldwood.png

Editing Poop

2008-04-07T17:38:00.000-07:00

Nevermind. We have a new logo. Disregard the post below.

Poop

2008-04-04T08:19:00.000-07:00

Looks like our Steam group has a new avatar, courtesy of yours truly. Lookie here:

It's supposed to be an "S" over the Team Fortress 2 logo. Done completely by me in Photoshop.

It's not a "5", by the way.

Comic Blog

2008-04-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

My new blog for my comic is up. here we go: http://deathbyidiocy.blogspot.com/

RickRoll free.

I won't post much besides the comics themselves, so you can subscribe to the comic's feed by clicking "Subscribe to posts (Atom)" at the bottom of the page.

Comic Ahoy

2008-03-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

There's a comic headed your way. Hold on there.

Meanwhile....

Do .PNG pictures work as sprays for Valve mulitplayer? Like CS:S, HL2DM, and GMod? If so, this spray image has transparency, ready for your pwnage needs.

Combyne's Citadel Run, Part 1

2008-02-22T16:53:00.000-08:00

WARNING: HL2 Spoilers ahoy! Avast ye landlubbers! ARR!!

No, seriously.

Here I have some screenshots of my running through of the Combine Citadel, the last two levels of Half-Life 2.

First, another funny Combine Soldier death. If you're wondering, I accidentally shot him over to the corner and his body submerged underneath the platform. He fell off, eventually.

And the wreckage of war.

Yes, you can pick up bodies with the super Gravity Gun. And throw them, too.

And that concludes part 1. Stay tuned! (Ye scurvy dogs!!!one!1!!)

Strange Half-life 2 Combine Deaths

2008-02-12T20:24:00.000-08:00

I have three strange, natrually occruing Combine Soldier death screens.

Death 1: Over on the bridge on Highway 17.

Death 2: Somewhere in a City 17 building.

Death 3: Sewers of City 17.

Maybe not the strangest, but they question the physics of Half-life 2.

Group Officerization

2008-02-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

What I mean is that I am now an officer of our Steam group, the Supa Kool Elite Extrasmexy Team (S.K.E.E.T.)

So there. I needed to post somethin.

The First Post EVAR!!!!

2008-02-11T19:31:00.000-08:00

This is the start of a flourishing blog. I hope so.

Please?

What will be avaliable here is anything from some writing I'm doing (right now, I've already started a Bionicle fanfic) to game screens, to uploads at other sites. Doesn't that sound great?