So, apart from the "Engi is getting a robot" generic stuff, I'm kind of disappointed that no one is talking about this. Engi is my favorite class, and I love game theory, so I'm looking for someone to talk to about this all! Here's some interesting-if-true things I've heard:
I consider it essentially guaranteed that Engi will have a robot. THe idea that there will be classes is intriguing - it offers unparalleled versatility to the class, and balance wouldn't be an issue; you could modify the AI, speed, damage, rate of fire, etc. of robots to balance them perfectly (in Valve-speak, they have a lot of knobs you can turn in order to balance them). Engineers could be great offensive players to their team. Previously, an offensive engineer (O-Engi) would build a teleporter, a dispenser in a handy spot, and a sentry to hold the frontlines and give his team an area of safety and security in which to resupply and prepare. And then....he sits. Waits for spies to come, whacks a building when it takes damage...and sits.
Furthremore, an engineer who could build robots, say, instead of sentries, would achieve a goal Valve wants for all classes: Make them greater team-players. An O-Engi with sentry could hold the front line, and 1-2 more that might otherwise not be as useful could build robots, dispensers and teleporters. He would both complement his team better, but also be reliant on them to help cover up some of the sacrifices he is making to do so. The robots could be tailored to the team needs (need a demo-robot to try to help take out a D-Engi sentry? Or at least be bait for it while the rest of your team blows it up?). And, while that robot is out fragging, the engi - offensive or defensive - is free to roam more, not having to babysit a gun knowing that if he abandons it, his team may be left defenseless.
Sources, if you're curious or want to read more for yourself:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1256580
http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/populace/
- Engineer will have multiple types of robots
- Engineer robots will be designed to stay back and repair buildings
- Engineer will build robots of different classes (e.g. Heavy robots, demo robots, etc.)
- Engineer may have a wielding torch as a replacement secondary or melee weapon, designed for melee damage and, obviously, lighting folks on fire
- Engineer might get a hammer as second melee choice. Personal speculation: It could be less efficient at or incapable of helping buildings build faster, but will still upgrade/repair them. Perhaps it only applies 20 metal per hit to upgrade instead of 25 (requiring 2 extra swings to upgrade any building one time, 4 extra from 1-3), and has a similar deficit in repairing. In exchange, it will do more damage to people. <sarcasm> can be thrown and will be magnetically attracted to the spy cloak resonance field, instantly killing the spy. </sarcasm>
- Engineer robots will not fight other team, instead search tirelessly for Sarah Connor.
- A Repair Node can be seen in the background of the engineer update teaser trailer. The building, or at least the model, may yet find its way into the engineer update.
I consider it essentially guaranteed that Engi will have a robot. THe idea that there will be classes is intriguing - it offers unparalleled versatility to the class, and balance wouldn't be an issue; you could modify the AI, speed, damage, rate of fire, etc. of robots to balance them perfectly (in Valve-speak, they have a lot of knobs you can turn in order to balance them). Engineers could be great offensive players to their team. Previously, an offensive engineer (O-Engi) would build a teleporter, a dispenser in a handy spot, and a sentry to hold the frontlines and give his team an area of safety and security in which to resupply and prepare. And then....he sits. Waits for spies to come, whacks a building when it takes damage...and sits.
Furthremore, an engineer who could build robots, say, instead of sentries, would achieve a goal Valve wants for all classes: Make them greater team-players. An O-Engi with sentry could hold the front line, and 1-2 more that might otherwise not be as useful could build robots, dispensers and teleporters. He would both complement his team better, but also be reliant on them to help cover up some of the sacrifices he is making to do so. The robots could be tailored to the team needs (need a demo-robot to try to help take out a D-Engi sentry? Or at least be bait for it while the rest of your team blows it up?). And, while that robot is out fragging, the engi - offensive or defensive - is free to roam more, not having to babysit a gun knowing that if he abandons it, his team may be left defenseless.
Sources, if you're curious or want to read more for yourself:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1256580
http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/populace/
