MagnaCentipede

The best spy-check is the bump test. Don't unload all your ammo into a potential spy and let yourself tap out and then be faced with an enemy with bullets handy. If you're uncertain about someone, fire one round and reload. Keep doing that and if it's a mate he'll just not care, but if it is a spy, he'll be forced to either drop masque, run away, or die without accomplishing any of his goals.

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Morganan

I've gotten in the habit of using a single attack when for example I'm running back to get health or whatever and encounter teammates. Even a melee swing is enough to see I'm not a spy. (spies cant attack at all or it blows their disguise) 1 swing of the shovel is enough to prove to anyone who isn't either
a) new
b) an idiot

That I'm no spy and concentrate on someone else.

Daxx

Carrying your melee weapon is enough. A disguised spy uses "Weapon 1" so if any class has their melee weapon out, they are not a spy.

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Sirusblk

Actually if you're close enough, shoot one of your grenades from your grenade launcher. Keep it in the air. If it goes though them, then they're on your team otherwise they're a spy

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Daxx

Well yeah, but that requires you to be CLOSE to them. Not a good thing with a spy. With the bugs affecting Backstab at the moment, I'd rather avoid that.

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Sirusblk

Bugs? i wasn't aware of any bugs...

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icky

I think he is referring to the "backstab from the front" problem. I'm not sure if that would be considered a bug or not, but it is annoying when you reveal a spy and they take a desperation swing at you and get a backstab.

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Daxx

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...d.php?t=601437

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Sirusblk

Wow haven't experienced that yet but at least they had a youtube video of that supposed infinite uber.

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nulloperations

That's the waste of ammo thing, especially if you're like me and have your ammo set about entrance ways and cp's to protect against meatier enemies.

As for communicating this on a public server, hrmpf. Two days into the beta, I was playing on several FF on servers. Players who frequented these servers learned within one map how to talk to their team and how to do a spy comm check. They learned to bind their voip button without a mic, and to switch weapons often around teammates. We learned the secerts of how a spy moves and it's often the root of why I kill most spies who come at me that I see (it's kinda hard to notice him if he comes from behind so that doesn't count :P).

These were all pubbies I played with, not a TG'er in sight and it was great. Teamwork meant a lot more and a spy suddenly gained more meaning. Not only could he sneak around better, but by his actions he could cause teammates to kill each other, such as luring a demo or soldier into blasting at the ground of friends the spy is standing next to. People had to be smart about what weapon they used and many people started using secondaries. The demo became the less effective anti-spy because he couldn't blow everyone up, same with the pyro. People with hitscan weapons were better at this because a quick shot could reveal if blood sprayed or not (disguised spies don't bleed FYI, even with FF on).

Ah, good times... so when's a mod coming out to add in FF again? You know someone has to be trying to find a way to add it.

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McQueen17

I don't know what's the big issue about ammo. Even as a Demoman. I too set my stickies to CPs and just there or, if we're talking about maps without any CP, on crucial points (like I found that the roof of the bridge in 2fort defended lots of capture tries by enemy spies dodging the SGs in the yard). And since with pressing alt-fire you detonate ALL your stickies at once I don't see that it's useful to distribute them.

As for normal grenades I have to say, that the level designer did a great job. From my experience you NEVER have to walk very far to get to your Resupply OR find some ammo lying around OR die. Which surely IS timeconsuming, but you get back with full ammo

Besides, no bullet is wasted if it keeps you alive. Which it does, if you kill a spy with it.

Arf

You guys are making this overly complicated. If your team has a plan it makes it a lot easier to spot players that are out of place and if players are talking you naturally get random com checks.

The only thing that really takes any change in the natural game play of what's promoted at TG is Medic tactics. We all know the Heavy has a great butt but is it really worth dieing for? As tempting as those juicy Russian hams are you need to put some distance between you and them. That distance keeps you both from getting double stabbed. The other thing is to stop staring, look around and cover the Heavies back. If you see something coming from behind warn him.

The real trick is just to pay attention. For example I'm healing a Heavy and the message Pablo <knifey-knifey> Arf pops up and I hear my Heavy say, "uh oh, they got my Medic." Now we'll pretend the Heavy actually turned around and shot Pablo. As opposed to what he really did which was just note that the guy standing a ways behind him got stabbed in the back without realizing what possible danger that might pose him. So correction, pay attention and don't be frustratingly stupid.

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phenophae

Spys are tricky son of Bees but there are some trick in your own bag that you can use to detect them.

if the Spy is dressed as a Medic he will not have an Ubercharge % below his name when you mouse over him.

if the Spy is an Offensive class with full HP/near max hp, ask these questions while shooting him up a bit: Why is he behind you? Why is he running backwards? Why is he not shooting?

Know your engineers. Know where they are at all times.

If they are the name of a dead teammate they are probably a spy.


Looking for invisible spies?
- Shoot behind yourself periodicly
- Fire about randomly
- Snipers, Flag rooms, Corners, Sentries are frequent spy zones.
- Fire about randomly while at a Dispenser, you'll constantly reload ammo while standing next to it.



My main suggestion is to fire about randomly. If you are firing, you are telling your teammates you are not a spy. If someone is not firing, they are probably a spy.

I hope this helps.

Sirusblk

That's the thing though. Are we seriously endorsing a gameplay strategy of shooting randomly and spamming weapons fire on teammates?

Far too often I've seen my team on 2Fort concern themselves more with friendly weapons spam than actually pushing collectively as a team.

I'm all for checking spys smarter, just not dumbly spaming everyone in sight with weapons fire.

I don't wish to make things more complicated, just stress to play smarter. Switching weapons, using your comm key, and not being so paranoid.

Paranoia is destroying tactics and strategy. I'm not complaining against realism, I expect no such thing, but tactics and strategy is a must. If we use alternative means to checking for spys other than just weapons fire, I think pubbies will get the hint and start adopting our play style, which is my belief to be goal number 2, right after providing a mature environment.

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Arf

You act like people are telling you that if it comes down to an enemy Soldier and a friendly Medic you should shoot the Medic because he might be a Spy.

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