Minimal proposals for Spy Balance

These are a few things I have thought of over extended play while fighting Spies or occasionally lurking around as a Spy, or thinking what a Spy would be doing so I can anticipate his movements. While the Spy in my eyes, aside from a few hiccups concerning a certain butterfly knife, is well balanced, there are some things that seem practical but haven't been implemented.

When a disguised Spy jumps on a control point he is defending, he does not show up as an offending player capping the point. What could be considered is that the Spy counts as one unit (or two when disguised as Scout) when on the point, but does not begin to cap. A person that is paying attention can see right away that the person on the point is a Spy, but can give Spies the ability to fool the one or two people on the cap before he enters it. He only needs the enemy to look the other way once.

Also, a disguised or cloaked Spy automatically picks up the intel when he walks over it, which can sometimes be completely by accident since he had something else more important to do first (poke anyone defending the intel or sap sentries). Instead when the Spy is cloaked and or disguised, he can be prompted and pick up the intelligence by using the secondary fire button. This way he can not only stop accidentally revealing himself but fool enemies into thinking he's for realz, he can't pick up the intelz.

And with all the new weapons being released, the Spy sometimes is barred from great disguises (Medic, for one) because he can only disguise with one of the primary weapons. Most medics use the blutsauger now, people who see a Medic with a needlegun will most likely know right away that something isn't right. Maybe after all the new loadouts have been released, the Spy will be able to choose which set of weapons he wants to use disguises for--originals or new ones.

Your thoughts?

Some good suggestions; nothing incredibly overpowering for the class, but yet a few little tweaks that can really help spies become a bit harder to detect right away. I especially like the intel idea, I can't remember how much I have (or other spies) have had their plans ruined by trying to avoid picking up that intel but compromising my presence anyway.

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Amen. It's just annoying when you're trying to get at a camping Demoman, waiting for someone to come into the Intel room so he can let loose his rendition of the bombing of Hiroshima, and accidentally bump the suitcase and get gibbed.

Here's another few I came up with a long time ago, but never thought to suggest them.

The Spy, while he is disguised, will be able to hear chat coming from enemies within his line of sight. That way he can tell when he has been spotted and has a better chance of finding a place to lay low and change disguise.

Also, when the player he is disguised as speaks, a text bubble will appear over the Spy that enemies can see. This can both hurt and help the Spy if he is near or in a different spot from the speaker and can fool someone looking at him that he is a Teammate using chat.

Agreed, that's all. sounds perfect to me. on the fence about seeing/hearing other teams chats within distance but a good concept at least.

I would love it if cloaking took away the disguising smoke (disguise -> immediate cloak).

Here's what I say about the fake weapon the spy hold while disguised:
Let there be a toggle on the disguise kit for it.

And a simple way to buff spy:
Give him special "disguise armor" that can reduce damage done to the Spy and not show bleeding.
Placing sappers would of course reduce this, and attacking while disguised would fully drain it.
It would have to be recharged in the way of the Cloak, or by standing near a dispenser, or by using a spawn...thingy...

U what the problem is when there are new spy options, it doesnt matter, enemy wil know that u can hold an ubersaw for example, so they will start to shoot on every person they see

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Yes, people will spycheck you no matter what class or weapon you are using. The idea behind using a more convincing weapon is so you don't stand out in the thick of battle. Normally when a team is deep in the fray, they will only look at a teammate maybe for a fraction of a second because your other teammates are around. A Medic with a blutsauger is more believeable than a Medic with a needlegun any day, the person might figure it out a second later but by then it will be too late.

The spy needs more survivability. At the moment, any backstab usually = instant death. I think the best idea would be to allow ammo boxes to recharge the cloak.A skilled player could cloak for much longer and would add a bit more of a strategic element to the game.