The medic - where's the fun?

[Warbie]

I usually love being the medic in online shooters - it was my class in rtcw/et clans - but I just don't get the the TF2 medic.

You spend all your time following someone and, as such, have little say in where you go. You're rubbish at fighting and the main target for every scout/sniper/anyone who sees you. You're always trying to stay out of the enemies los (when does sitting round a corner looking at the guy you're healing get fun?). And there is practically zero challenge or skill required as your gun doesn't even have to be aimed!. It reminds me of healing in WoW - everyone appreciates your work and having healers is essential, but it's boring as ****. When compared to how awesome and fun medics were in rtcw, the poor TF2 medic really is a bag of poo.

Some of my old rtcw mates are forming a TF2 a clan and I suspect we'll be drawing straws before each match with the loser getting the 'taking the heavy for a walk' job.

Bah!

 

[Silarn]

Apparently you aren't even trying. I mean you aren't obligated to stick with one person. Nonetheless, the Medic is the one that should be keeping an eye to all sides - preventing flanks and backstabs, timing ubercharges (a badly timed ubercharge can be little more than useless while a well timed one is absolutely devastating), and using smart positioning.

It also requires tight teamwork. If the person you're healing is making no attempt to work with you, then said person is a bad partner. He's got to watch your back, work with you to time ubercharges, position so that you're as little in the open as possible, and have the sense to retreat and make use of your heals.

---

I wouldn't play down the medic's combat ability that much, either. If you lead properly and get your hits in, you can survive a fair few encounters.

 

[Warbie]

It also requires tight teamwork. If the person you're healing is making no attempt to work with you, then said person is a bad partner. He's got to watch your back, work with you to time ubercharges, position so that you're as little in the open as possible, and have the sense to retreat and make use of your heals.

I don't see how that's makes the medics job any more enjoyable. Everything mentioned in the above quote makes the job of the person being healed more involved and interesting, the medic is still standing round a corner and pushing a button. As for the timing of uber charges - this is hardly challenging stuff. Every now and then you get to push a different button, whoopdeedoo. As for looking out for flankers, i'd argue that almost every other class is in a better position to do that because they're not forced into staying out of the enemies los or having to focus on a single target.

 

[Iron_cube]

The nailgun is actually powerful.

You have to aim slightly above your targets head though.

 

[Sulkdodds]

I generally agree, but two points:
- the medic syringe gun or whatever is actually pretty good
- giving people invuln is ACE

 

[Ennui]

I agree with you, though it can be fun (since the medic also has the task of watching the Heavy's back for spies and anyone who comes in that direction).

 

[Vangald]

Above the head eh?

I don't work especially well with medics. I never pay attention to ubercharge and half the time I think I am taking damage when it kicks and back off. Guess I am just not used to it.

I will, however back off for a heal and try and defend them while its going on if I can.

 

[Warbie]

I find it works pretty well if you're up close and can drill the target with syringes - even heavies drop quite quick this way.

 

[Silarn]

You're barking up the wrong tree, then. Many people love the medic. You don't. Oh well.

But I'd like to note that if all you're doing - literally all - is hiding around the corner, you're not a good medic.

 

[Zeus]

The medic is not the easiest class to play, you can't just run to the front lines and kick ass. You have to stay back and heal and if you find yourself stranded, the nailgun is adaquate for those small confrontations. Plus, an ubercharged pyro, demoman , or heavy can do some severe damage to the enemy..like the flag room in 2fort for instance. It's usually guarded by 2 or 3 sentries or more..if you don't have a medic w/ ubercharge there's pretty much no way you're getting that flag.

 

[Warbie]

Many people love the medic

I hope so, nobody in my clan wants to do it!


RECRUITING

2 keen medics. It's realy fun, honest


Seriously, though, i'm glad people seem to be enjoying the class. TF2 would fall flat on its face otherwise.

 

[Ennui]

Letters is an awesome medic

 

[Tyguy]

As a sniper, I LOVE medics...they are the funnest to kill becuase they follow the HW's running with their pussy little coat flapping in the wind, and when they get hit, they fall over with the grace of a horse doing ballet.

However, they are dangerous in that if they are teaming up with a HW, your screwed if they are close.

Also, i might be interested in joining, you accepting snipers/scouts?

 

[Vangald]

I know Tycho of PA seems to love the class.

I miss the medic gangbangs in TFC. And the nasty diseases.

 

[CyberPitz]

Letters is an awesome medic

I hate you, and so does my turret.

 

[Ennui]

Oh, it's mutual. I spent the last 25 minutes of that game trying in vain to use my sapper on your turret, and I didn't get it until I chose Heavy and just waltzed in and blew everything up. You're a shrewd bastard, you got me every damn time.

 

[Warbie]

you accepting snipers/scouts?

Heh, everybody I know wants to be these classes - by far the most fun imo. My 30 hours playtime is divided pretty evenly between them both. It's still a bit early for recruiting - we'll probably play on pubs for a few months to see if the game/classes click with everyone first as going into battle with 4 scouts and 4 snipers won't work!

 

[CyberPitz]

Oh, it's mutual. I spent the last 25 minutes of that game trying in vain to use my sapper on your turret, and I didn't get it until I chose Heavy and just waltzed in and blew everything up. You're a shrewd bastard, you got me every damn time.

You gotta play smarter! Maybe pick a class that wasn't around me, like engie. When your engie, I see your name is either mine, or someone I see upstairs, or just ran by me. Now what you could have done was went upstairs, down the ramp to the flag room, up the back stairs, and sapped/backstabbed me there. Working with another spy would have done me in too. One to kill me, one to sap

 

[Ennui]

You gotta play smarter! Maybe pick a class that wasn't around me, like engie. When your engie, I see your name is either mine, or someone I see upstairs, or just ran by me. Now what you could have done was went upstairs, down the ramp to the flag room, up the back stairs, and sapped/backstabbed me there. Working with another spy would have done me in too. One to kill me, one to sap

I went past you as spy, medic, engi, soldier, AND demoman D:

I also had the opportunity to do as you just said (actually, it's what I was going for the whole time) but I opted to take the intelligence instead and got blown to pieces by Mojo or whoever.

 

[CyberPitz]

I went past you as spy, medic, engi, soldier, AND demoman D:

I also had the opportunity to do as you just said (actually, it's what I was going for the whole time) but I opted to take the intelligence instead and got blown to pieces by Mojo or whoever.

If you're talking about running past me, after the first 4 times trying to get me, I figured it was you every time

 

[Ennui]

And it was, because I was hellbent on killing you to the point where I ignored the 1337 haxor in my brain poking me saying "YOU'RE F*CKING STUPID TRY ANOTHER TACTIC*

 

[CyberPitz]

And it was, because I was hellbent on killing you to the point where I ignored the 1337 haxor in my brain poking me saying "YOU'RE F*CKING STUPID TRY ANOTHER TACTIC*

haha, I am happy I can bring that feeling to someone

 

[MoD]

Actually if you stand behind a corner healing the same guy you're not a good medic.

You have to balance healing the most people, and the wounded ones especially, gaining uber, then using that uber on the right guy.

You have to keep an eye on the whole battle, manage your resources, and decide how and when to use your uber.

It's a whole strategy thing going on.

--

That is, if you're a good medic. Too many medics stick to their one hwguy, ignoring the whole team screaming around them.

 

[Operational]

I do enjoy being the Medic, although he's not my favourite class and he does take some skill to use. His medgun isn't hard to aim because you are supposed to be focused on other things. Also if you spend all your time healing one guy your not a good medic.

When compared to how awesome and fun medics were in rtcw, the poor TF2 medic really is a bag of poo.

Please elaborate.

 

[Letters]

I have fun playing medic, but a lot of times I get a little stressed out and end up spending a lot of time using my saw on all the spies people let through. When you're a medic you tend to notice these things. And you can't just ignore them 'cause you know they're gonna fkin stab you the first chance they get...

 

[Sloth]

haha, I am happy I can bring that feeling to someone

You bring it to many - Ennui he did it to me yesterday! Almost got 6 Nemi kills...

 

[TwwIX]

I love playing supportive classes instead of the head on collision classes such as soldier,heavy and scout.I do agree though.It is not very rewarding like the other classes.Once in their line of sight, you are the first on the enemy's list to be taken care of.Everybody is calling for your help yet only a few of them bother to thank you.
The most thing that bothers me is when you team up with a offensive class but they do nothing to protect you.I've experienced it many times where a Heavy stood by watching me get attacked while he could've done something.Just a reminder,if i get killed your ass will too.
So,protect me and i will heal your ass.

 

[Noobulon]

When compared to how awesome and fun medics were in rtcw, the poor TF2 medic really is a bag of poo.

Out of interest, how did medics work in rtcw?

 

[Lucid]

Out of interest, how did medics work in rtcw?

They could drop med packs and revive fallen team mates with a syringe.
And they were actually formidable opponents as they had the same standard infantry guns + grenades as everyone else.(Either a thompson or an MP40)

 

[Avoidist]

See, that just sounds boring and unoriginal. I can honestly say I have fun playing as a medic, as you actually need to think about staying out of enemy fire and prioritizing your healing. And then there's invul. INVUL!

Not to mention the syringe gun has the added advantage of firing projectiles, so if you are in the right position below a ledge you can hit your enemies without them seeing you.

 

[Warbie]

^ what lucid said.

Dropping health packs doesn't tie you down like the healy gun and being right in amoungst the action while having to simultaneously fill a healing role is quite a challenge. The healing is more involved than the healing in TF2 and you also get all the fun of being in the fight.

Having said all this - I enjoyed a few games last night as a medic. It made a nice change from the carnage and overdriving through a choke point is awesome. I just wish the class was a little more involved.

 

[Operational]

Everybody is calling for your help yet only a few of them bother to thank you.

Well that is understandable it is in the midst of battle after all.

The most thing that bothers me is when you team up with a offensive class but they do nothing to protect you.

That is annoying - I always try to protect the Medic when I'm a Heavy.

Another thing that is annoying is when people call for a Medic even though they are at 100% health. Yea I will heal them if they are <100% and will heal to 150% when it is convenient for me but otherwise its just spam which distracts from those who do need healing (exceptions being Heavy's who are about to assault a position).
Meh - Medic etiquette will evolve over time.

 

[Silarn]

There's no reason to heal people at full health unless you're sticking with them. That extra health drains way too fast to be effective longer than fifteen seconds (at the absolute max).

 

[halem111]

ok lets put this in perspective

NO MEDIC=NO WIN ....EVER!!

its that simple

i like being all classes apart from pyro (i love to burn people but hes not effective the way i play him) and the soldier cus everything about him is slow.

However i do like being a medic because i think im a great medic and ultimatly you need a medic and an engineer in every side.
The problem is though no one in pub servers are EVER a medic check my stats

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197969768758/stats/TF2

i have been playin tf2 this week for over 50 hours so dont come oh you havent played on the right servers cus i have played on ALOT of different servers.
It seems most people dont understand you need at least one medic and one engineer on a team but noone wants to be either (engis are more common but still you find the odd few servers where there isnt one).

The most thing that bothers me is when you team up with a offensive class but they do nothing to protect you.

and this is why no one wants to be medics in pub servers me thinks....cus medics get killed if not protected and the whole point of a medic is to survive and get the uber to make a push to where ever your goinG, and if they get killed quickly they have to wait 20 secs to start again and then prob be killed pretty quickly again. Its an unrewarding job on the team if the team doesnt make any effort to keep the med alive.

Everybody is calling for your help

yes they do yet only 10 percent actually ever need a medic they just spam the button

The problem i also have is whatever class (bar pyro and soldier, and prob scout but scout isnt meant to rack up points) i am i top the scoreboard cus im pretty good, therefore being a medic or an engi is just wasting my tf2 skills. Yet I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ONE BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE IS ON PUB SERVERS.
I dont mind being either by choice cus they are good classes but if im forced to be the class then it becomes unfun, i should be a medic because i want to be a medic not cus no one on the team no one on the team recognises just how important one is.

oh and on the needle gun, that gun can cause alot of damage and yes you do have to aim higher than the head over distance. I have found that this gun is the best anti scout weapon on the game, apart from the heavys cannon or a very good pyro (note very good cus unless there very good they will get owned by a scout anyday)

sorry another note to remember. People think staying out the line of sight means standing round the corner. No it doesnt, ok yes this is true if your target goes into a room full of turrets/people cus the first to go would be you. But not generally, a heavy is very wide standing directly behind him will mean the only things to actually get you will be a sniper, a spy if your heavy isnt doing their job and the odd demo man grenade or rocket but that shouldnt be a worry cus you reheal. Very little excuse for a competant heavy and medic to die what so ever.

Im in a clan and luckily on there we have a couple of competant medics but on pub servers you will be lucky to find one ever

 

[CyberPitz]

There's no reason to heal people at full health unless you're sticking with them. That extra health drains way too fast to be effective longer than fifteen seconds (at the absolute max).

Better than nothing, for your ubercharge.

 

[halem111]

cyber thats not the point tho, the point is people are calling out for a medic on full health as a good medic you go find them thinking there in dire need of health. You get there oh they got 100 percent health, ok yes ur uber goes up a slight bit but what a waste of time and effort finding that person when you could of been healing somoene who actually needed it

 

[Crushenator 500]

I just found out that I love the needlegun thing

especially after I took down munro with it :E

 

[CyberPitz]

cyber thats not the point tho, the point is people are calling out for a medic on full health as a good medic you go find them thinking there in dire need of health. You get there oh they got 100 percent health, ok yes ur uber goes up a slight bit but what a waste of time and effort finding that person when you could of been healing somoene who actually needed it

That's the whole point of prioritizing your heals. True, you're going to find some assholes who think they are more important than the rest and ask for heals. You can't appease EVERY body. If you get there, and realize he's high on life, heal him, and get happy your that much closer to ubering a Heavy

 

[Malfunction]

While the medic isn't my favorite class, I don't mind playing one. I get satisfaction out of keeping my guys alive and in good shape, and I love how the needle gun handles. Sure it's weak, and sure it has that huge drop (which I use to lay down "archer-like" suppressive fire at chokepoints), but it's pretty satisfying making someone OD.

 

[SgtSpamBoy]

I think it would be cool if the medic's needles "drugged" people when they get shot with them - aka slightly blurred or distorted vision. They are being shot with hypodermic needles after all...

I think this would make him a bit more fun and rewarding to play, which would hopefully make more people play as him.

The ability to spread an infection like in TFC is an interesting concept as well, though I think just the drugged needles would be enough to make the medic better.