Hopefully the real update will be all real weapons. Tired of all the stuns and consumables.
QFT man, QFT. Stuns and consumables and stuff do make the game kind of neat and definitely unique. But, if you overdo it and start throwing in all these RPG elements all over (such as consumables and status effects like stun, DOT, etc.), then where does it end? Valve must, and I think will, remember that this game was excellent at launch. Adding more content will make the game better, only insofar as it is
still the same game. Adding crazy stuns and consumables and mind control and snares and roots is just gonna make it feel like an RPG with some FPS thrown in. A little bit of that -- like we have already with Pyro DOT's, scout stuns, medic ubers, and a couple different consumables -- is fine. Too much though, and I'd be afraid that it'd become a button mashing fest like some MMORPG's are; he with the best buttons (buttons here meaning abilities) wins, not necessarily he with the best skills.
And @ Calle - I think he was being facetious. Not positive. I'm predicting a semi-automatic sniper rifle with recoil, lower power, and possibly less zoom. However, you stay zoomed in between shots and can fire semi-automatically. It'd make the sniper a class for people other than just those who can pull off crazy headshots; those folks would still get the higher powered, practically instant-kill ability with the normal rifle, thus retaining the sniper's innate skill-based ability to insta-gib any class. However, for folks who aren't on a highspeed connection, don't have a great computer, or simply aren't that coordinated, an alternative would be nice. Headshots could still be 3x, but if the damage of the new gun is gimped to 50 (assuming fully charged, if there is a charge, this may be a static value that doesn't require charging in this case), then triple damage only instant gibs low HP classes in one shot, assuming full health. You'd need two headshots on anyone else, or a headshot and a bodyshot.
Also this gun would be a bit better (though not at all
good at CQC (close quarters combat). This might encourage snipers to play a bit closer to the frontlines, plus it could open doors for the sniper's secondary weapon knowing that it needn't be a CQC oriented weapon. Just some food for thought.