A CoD4 refugee here

Hey guys, just bought my copy of TF2 from newegg after doing some reading up on the game. 

I'm not a hardcore gamer; I've played for fun all my life. Basically I like teamwork in pubs and try to play that way when I find someone of like mind but I'm not too good at competitive matches unfortunately. You can skip the next paragraph if you like--it's just my gamer history.

I'm from Redmond, WA and this is my 5th FPS game. I started out playing Tactical Ops (a spinoff of UT--kind of like UT fast pace with CS style guns) for years. Game had some pretty long legs it turns out so I stuck with that for years. It's basically dead now in the US, only euro servers left--and on the West Coast I ping something awful there. Along the way I played a fair bit of UT2k4 and CoD2 mostly lone wolfing. My TO clan moved on to CoD4 about 9 months ago. At first everything was OK but the clan consensus seemed to be to go "hardcore mode" and set up the server to a hyperrealism setting. TO as a very fast paced game so I don't really understand why. Anyways the guys in my clan are pretty cool plus I was one of the clan leaders (there were 4 clan leaders) so I stuck with their version of cod4 for a while but it just wasn't my style. I don't like creeping around everywhere, getting killed in 1 hit by any gun, not having a HUD, etc. I just find it boring and need something faster paced. A little bit of sniping and what not is all right but I usually prefer to run and gun or try to attack the objectives.

I literally got so bored that I made a pistol only profile and played the game only using the handguns, just to try to make an ostensibly crappy weapon good. It was fun occasionally winning maps or topping the scoreboard on a good day with that setup and generally driving people nuts "you killed me with a pistol?!" but it got old after a while. I feel like even in pubs CoD4 is too score oriented and competitive (as opposed to trying to have fun) and I was starting to get angry when I wasn't doing well, etc. Not the best way for a casual gamer to go.

So while I'm still in my old clan (mostly just dicking around on the forums and teamspeak enjoying the banter) I've been searching for something less realism-obsessed and more fluid than cod4, which brought me to TF2. I like the idea of teamwork being integrated into the game mechanics (such as with the medic's uber or the way classes help cover each others' weaknesses) as opposed to being just something purely optional--and my clan keeps playing freaking cod4 team deathmatch where nobody cares about teamwork or at least communicating with your teammates.

While I wait for the game to get here I've been reading up on the 5 billion guides scattered around the net and trying to get up to speed. Just curious if anyone has any suggestions about where to go/how to learn the game quickly and what servers promote teamwork. Having read on these forums that the TF2F servers are full of really good players I'm not sure that I should start there and piss off anyone in case I do something noobish.

Hello and welcome to the community . Also to answer your question: You should first learn the basics of the game by playing on random servers. Once you get the hang of it, then tf2f servers. Don't worry about pissing people off, afterall if you'r a spy then that it what you'r supposed to be doing .

I play Australian servers so no comment on the TF2F skill though the vids make them look good enough. And even though this game is class based and has integrated teamspeak which make for some pretty decent team games sometimes the winning team usually have higher personal scores across most of the board despite the fact that TF2 isn't a deathmatch style game.

Welcome to the party pal!

Welcome to the Fort. I think you'll definitely find TF2 more to your liking as a casual gamer. There are a few TF2F clan members who do play competitively, but I believe that you'll find all the TF2F clan members and most of the regulars are just playing to have fun. =^ )

TF2 is the first online game I've ever really gotten into and it's mostly because of the art style and humor of the game, but also due to the great people I've found that play on the TF2F servers. My PC game experience has always been limited to single player games, so TF2 is the first multiplayer game I've ever been part of. It was a little rough at first as the skill level of real people is quite different than an AI controlled bot, but it was also due to the emphasis placed on team based combat. Once you get your mind wrapped around the team based combat and learn the nuances of each of the TF2 classes, I think you'll find that you'll really enjoy TF2.

While you can read up on TF2 strategies, just playing the game is the best way to learn. If you're playing on the TF2F servers all you have to do is ask questions in the middle of a game and most of the people here will be happy to answer them for you.

Thanks everyone, I'm looking forward to joining the fun in the servers soon. Is Server 1 down? It's the only one I can't see the stats for.

Ya it is a pretty bad idea to start playing on these servers first. especially since u don't have any qtf or tfc experience. get on a random server and just try out the classes. u'll find that people aren't as team oriented, or u find a server where 2 people are holding each other's wangs ala heavy- medic who doesn't heal anything else. but u'll get the hang of the classes and the relative strengths of the weapons. a good class to start with imo is the soldier because it's relatively easy to shoot, remember to rocketjump so just point downward jump and shoot. oh ya the most important thing when u start playing is just laugh at all the rediculousness that happens.

#1 TIp For Playing TF2

know how to use the mute button, some things you just cant unhear

Welcome to the community QF. I've got to ask, what name did you go by and who did you play for in TO? I'm also from TacOps, Went by =SeD=Lancer . Played that game alot, way to long, stayed for the people as much as anything.
    Other then that, welcome to the Fort. Great people here, great game, and I hope you enjoy your stay. Come by our servers, great place to learn regardless of what these folks tell you.

Dont worry bro, no one nice is going to get psised off if you do something noobish, and we have alot of nice people here, welcome to tf2f =D, good luck learning to play.