TF2 Newbs (Team Fortress 2) Blog

Here’s the scoop:

1. Limited Late Summer Crates (#86) are now retired.
2. New convars and voting options have been added to servers:
   • Class limits can now be set for each class (without requiring third-party mods)
     • Voting to allow/disallow class limits can now be enabled, but defaults to “off”
     • Separate convars exist to permit these in MvM games
   • Convar allowing voting to restart a map now defaults to “off”
3. In case you missed it–servers #13 Harvest and #15 Hightower have merged their stats, and are hosting a (hopefully monthly) contest with keys for prizes!
4. Until this Sunday afternoong, Steam is hosting a ” ‘Free Weekend’ Weekend” with ten games becoming temporarily free-to-play and having sales of at least 50% off.
5. [EDIT: 10/20] You can now enable Halloween spells on your server, manage their drop rate, and create spells-enabled maps with new ConVars.
6. [EDIT: 10/20] Halloween-restricted cosmetic items now always work on the usual Halloween maps, such as koth_viaduct_event.
7. [EDIT: 10/20] The Spellbook Magazine, which enables spellcasting on servers where Halloween spells are enabled, is now a stock action item that all TF2 accounts now possess.
   • This is both to ensure that all players can access spells-enabled servers at all times, even when the item loadout is unavailable or when the server is set to allow only stock weapons.

Full Patch Notes, Patch 1: 10/20/14

• Fixed another exploit that allowed clients to have an out-of-date, corrupt, or modified version of items_game.txt
• Fixed clients not downloading *.dx80.vtx, *.dx90.vtx, and *.sw.vtx files from servers running custom content
• Fixed sv_pure defaulting to -2 instead of 0
• Fixed font issues for Mac clients
• Made the Spellbook Magazine a base action slot item for players to equip and use when playing on a server that uses Halloween Spells
• Fixed not being able to wear Halloween-restricted cosmetic items on Halloween maps outside of the regular Halloween and Fullmoon events
• Halloween spells can now be enabled and controlled on servers via ConVars tf_spells_enabled and tf_player_spell_drop_on_death_rate
• Halloween spells can now be enabled by map authors via HolidayEntity by setting the flag HalloweenSetUsingSpells

Patch 2

Fixed a server crash related to gamestats

Full Patch Notes: 10/16/14

• Fixed an exploit related to clients uploading files to servers
• Fixed a problem that allowed clients to have an out-of-date, corrupt, or modified version of items_game.txt
  • TF2 will not run if a bad items_game.txt file is found
  • If your items_game.txt file is reported as being corrupt, delete any items_game.txt files you have added and verify your TF2 installation
• Fixed a timing problem with the Rancho Relaxo taunt animation
• Removed the Limited Late Summer Crate from the crate drop list
• Limited Late Summer Crates can no longer be opened
• Removed the Limited Late Summer Crate Key from the Mann Co. Store
• Limited Late Summer Crate Keys have been converted to Mann Co. Supply Crate Keys
• Fixed Linux dedicated servers not showing up in the LAN serverbrowser tab when using sv_lan 1
• Fixed the Duels leaderboard not displaying current counts
• Added the explosion particles to the list of files that we always enforce consistency on
• Added ConVar tf_classlimit
  • When set, limit each class to the specified value
  • Works in any game mode, but overridden in Tournament mode and Highlander mode
• Updated the model/materials for the Runner’s Warm-Up to fix a lighting issue
• Updated the equip_regions for the Couvre Corner and the Pocket Heavy
• Updated rd_asteroid
  • Continued art-pass process

• Updated the vote system
  • Fixed team-specific vote sounds/notifications playing/showing for the ineligible team
  • sv_vote_issue_restart_game_allowed default changed to off
  • Added sv_vote_issue_restart_game_allowed_mvm (on by default)
  • Added “Enable/Disable Class Limits” vote
    • Controlled by sv_vote_issue_classlimits_allowed (off by default)
      • Limit controlled by sv_vote_issue_classlimits_max (default 4)
    • Controlled by sv_vote_issue_classlimits_allowed_mvm in Mann vs. Machine (off by default)
      • Limit controlled by sv_vote_issue_classlimits_max_mvm in Mann vs. Machine (default 2)

Undocumented changes

• Added Florida LAN Medal.
• Updated the description of the Limited Late Summer Crate.
• Kick Messages are now localized for clients.
• Vote issue names are now localized in the vote menu.

[N] Obey

As you may have read on the forums here and here, admin |N| Jib is hosting a Stats Contest on server #15, which is a fast respawn 24/7 Hightower payload race server! You can win prizes and honorz for being the top ranked player at the end of the month, having the most dominations, and more!

This contest will also help push usage of this all-Hightower-all-the-time server.  The following recent changes were also applied:

1. Engineer sentries are disabled (destroyed when built) when the active player count is less than six players.
2. Engineer mini-sentries are disabled when the active player count is less than sixteen players. When trying to repopulate a server, playing against sentries without a team tends to cause people to give up and leave the server.
3. Server #15 is now its own category on our HLStats page.
4. “Fast respawn” should mean a five-second respawn.
5. Stats were reset on August 30th.  The contest runs through the end of September.
6. Prizes! We’ll be giving away prizes for: Most Points – Most Time Played – Dominations – Deaths – Godlikes (12+ killstreaks)

And hey, if you want to be a TF2Newbs admin, this is an opportunity to get involved!

[N] Obey

First, the news:

1. Don’t forget: The Newbs’ Medieval Arent Event is this Saturday, Aug. 16th!
2. [EDIT: 8/15/14] Dota 2 is fundamentally changing its economy to remove Treasure Keys entirely.
   • These keys, which used to cost $2.49 from the Dota 2 Store, were removed in the June 6, 2014 patch.  Treasures now open without a key.
   • Existing keys now expire on July 1st, 2015. You can redeem a Treasure Key for one unlocked Treasure of your choice. Use them before they expire!
   • Mastery Gems have been removed, with their functionality merged with Kinetic Gems.
3. [EDIT: 8/15/14] Valve is now accepting merchandise design submissions via the TF2 Workshop. Click here for more info.
4. Newbs’ #15 is now officially 24/7 Hightower.  We’re stepping up the search for Jr. Admins and Server Starters.  You can also win some free stuff! See this client post and this forum post for more info.
5. TF2 patched yesterday.  See below for full patch notes and see what’s in the new crates.
6. Steam client patched around 4 PM EST today.  Those notes are at the end of the blog post, but here are the major changes:
   • Visual upgrade
     • The borders on all of the windows and popups are gone.
     • The Steam Icon has changed.
     • Plenty of Big Picture bugfixes.
   • Mac OS X 10.5 will no longer be supported.  This is its final patch.
   • Games can be assigned to categories, and more than one at a time.  You can now hide games so you/others can’t see them.
     • Hiding games probably tells Valve what games users strongly dislike.
   • Linux: Fixed audio being lost when alt-tabbing.
   • Some newer NVIDIA hardward support has been added.
   • Web browser updated for increased performance and stability.

Here’s what happened in the latest TF2 Patch:

1. Two new crates!
   • Crate #84 drops just standard killstreak kits, one primary weapon for each class.
   • Crate #85 drops new strangifiers and new strange parts
   • This means the following items now have strange variants:
     • Air Strike soldier primary wep
     • Classic sniper primary wep
     • Manmelter pyro secondary wep
     • Vaccinator medic secondary wep
     • Widowmaker engineer primary wep
     • Apparition’s Aspect cosmetic
     • Anger cosmetic
   • New strange parts:
     • Robot Scouts Destroyed
     • Taunting Player Kills (number of times you’ve killed a taunting player)
2. You now can has your very own Spycrab!
   • Now available in digital cosmetic, and IRL plushie.
3. Some bugfixes.

1. “Supply Munition” Crates #84 and #85

These only drop standard Killstreak Kits. If you want to use them for crafting higher-tier Specialized or Professional K. Kits, make sure you apply them to a Unique-quality item only!  See my guide for more information.

Crate Series #84
Drops		Yes
Items
Stickybomb Launcher Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Minigun Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Direct Hit Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Huntsman Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Backburner Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Back Scatter Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Kritzkrieg Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Ambassador Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
Frontier Justice Killstreak Kit		11 .00%
or an Exceedingly Rare Special Item!		1 .00%

Crate Series #85
Drops		Yes
Items
Air Strike Strangifier		9 .90%
Classic Strangifier		9 .90%
Manmelter Strangifier		9 .90%
Vaccinator Strangifier		9 .90%
Strange Part: Robot Scouts Destroyed		9 .90%
Strange Part: Taunting Player Kills		9 .90%
Strange Part: Buildings Destroyed		9 .90%
Anger Strangifier		9 .90%
Apparition’s Aspect Strangifier		9 .90%
Widowmaker Strangifier		9 .90%
or an Exceedingly Rare Special Item!		1 .00%

Team Fortress 2

• Added a new startup music track from Expiration Date
• Added Crate #84 and Crate #85 to the drop list
• Added a new promo item: the Spycrab
• Fixed a Mann vs. Machine dedicated server crash
• Fixed materials not refreshing correctly in the Steam Workshop item import tool
• Fixed a bug where cloaked Spies would be visible to some players
• Fixed an exploit where Engineers could build level 3 mini-sentries
• Updated the localization files
• Updated the backpack page buttons to indicate how many items the pages contain
• Updated Hammer to add a new Normal Mode for the Sculpt tool
  • “Screen XY” automatically chooses the axis most aligned with current view’s XY axis for push/pull displacement editing

Undocumented Changes

• Updated the Classic to allow for Name Tags, Gift Wrap, and Strange Parts to be applied.
• Added new Strange Parts.
  • Robot Scouts Destroyed, Taunting Player Kills

   

Steam Client Update: Patch Notes

General

• Updated desktop user interface styles, simplifying common controls and navigation elements, and neutralizing overall color palette to align with Steam web pages and Big Picture mode
• Major update of embedded web browser to increase performance, reliability, and to bring in various security fixes and functionality updates
• Work around to prevent duplicate key presses in some cases for games running inside Adobe AIR
• Don’t delay content updates for games set to high priority
• Fixed in-game progress indicators for workshop downloads displaying incorrect percentages for compressed files
• Fixed mods and shortcuts not displaying their names correctly in the friends interface and server browser

Library

• Games can now be assigned to more than one category at a time
• Add “Hide this game in my library” functionality, accessible from the Set Categories menu. Games that are hidden will not show up in library filters except for a new filter called “Hidden”, which will only appear once at least one game is marked as hidden. Hidden games are still available for play and will still appear on the user’s profile.
• Add an “Uncategorized” filter in desktop library filter drop downs. This will appear when a user has at least one game in a category and at least one game that has no categories.
• In desktop library details, list, and small views, games can be multiply selected using shift-click and control-click and certain operations can be performed on the group
• Added install option to context menu for multiple selections
• When filtering by favorites or by owner, display only a single section instead of all the sections that the games are in.
• When adding a new category, scroll the category list to the bottom so we can see the category that was just added
• Added by-category filter options to the filter drop downs in all library views
• When switching between library views, remember the category of the game selected and retain it when possible
• In list view with game images selected, display the image on all instances of the game instead of only one
• Eliminate extraneous “Favorite” category when favorites are added from Set Categories instead of Add to Favorites
• Make type-to-search properly expand categories in list view. Better synchronize type to search between library views.
• Remove user categories from navigation bar hover menu. They are still available in the game filters drop-down in the library views.
• Add context menu to category headers in library views, containing “Expand All” and “Collapse All”, and, in details/mini view, “Show/Hide Icons”
• Improve category collapse state synchronization between library views.
• Don’t show hover effect on list items when a context menu is visible
• Add glow effect on hover to 2′ library game filter button
• Retain selections when switching filters whenever possible
• Retain multiple selections when switching between details and list view
• Synchronize selection between main window library views and Small Mode.

Mac OS X

• This update ends support for Mac OS X 10.5
• Updated Big Picture to make use of the Spaces feature for full-screen mode
• On 10.9 and above ask the OS to prompt for Accessibility access to enable the overlay

Linux

• Updated Steam Runtime with support for newer compilers
• Added support for entering custom network settings in Big Picture
• Fixed audio being lost when alt-tabbing
• Fixed crash when doing a voice chat if you did not have a network connection
• Fixed launching SteamVR games

Big Picture

• Updated various visual styles across Big Picture including focus treatments
• Limit daisy wheel input to numeric entries where appropriate
• Improved gamepad navigation through checkout
• Fixed custom icons for streaming non-Steam games
• Fixed crash when enabling parental controls
• Fixed scroll bars disappearing on some EULA pages after scrolling to the left
• Fixed daisy wheel adding multiple periods after pressing space twice to end a sentence
• Fixed automatic capitalization getting stuck enabled in daisy wheel
• Fixed a bug preventing the user from changing payment methods if their stored credit card has expired
• Fixed crash on launching Big Picture if your PC has no sound card (or it is disabled)
• Fixed crash on game launch if you mashed the A button

In-Home Streaming

• Added support for NVIDIA hardware encoding for D3D9+ games on GeForce 650+ cards and the latest NVIDIA drivers. You can enable this by turning on hardware encoding in the advanced options on the host computer.
• Reset hardware encoding setting to default off, to minimize surprises now that NVIDIA encoding is available
• Added hardware accelerated decoding for Mac OS X 10.9 and 10.10
• Reset hardware decoding setting to default on for Windows and Linux, and default off for Mac OS X
• Improved software decoding performance for clients with multiple CPU cores
• Disabled vsync while streaming for a smoother capture framerate
• Fixed being able to scroll the right and bottom edges of a map in certain resolutions
• Fixed Steam crash streaming from a host with an i5-3450 CPU
• Fixed games detecting both local and streaming controllers; streaming controllers take precedence if they are connected.
• Fixed streaming games from Steam when it has been put in Windows XP compatibility mode
• Made it more clear that unlimited bandwidth increases latency and is not recommended

[N] Obey