Fixing spy

[Lloyd]

This is actually a good idea. Right now it's too easy to get spotted just because you got hit by a stray bullet.

That doesn't mean it's not also still too easy to sneak past an entire team, and if you hide for a few seconds after being found most players will just forget about you anyway. This would screw Constructors over so badly, unless flickering was made to be a lot more distinct.

[Blazephlozard]

Spies should not have blood then it would be hard to spy check.

This is actually a good idea. Right now it's too easy to get spotted just because you got hit by a stray bullet.

I'm all for trying this out, so long as the spy still flickers.

However, the Damage Indicator plugin will make the buff moot, so if this change is going to be implemented, you'd have to alter the DI plugin to not display damage when hitting a cloaked spy.

Yeah I'd do that
and I approve of spies not bleeding
I quite like the plugin displaying damage on cloaked spies right now though, since I play without blood

[BLADE MASTER EEE (EXCITING VERSION)]

I play without blood as well. It's not much of a hindrance, and alert players will notice the flickering spy and the abrupt end of bullet trajectory.

[♫Sani Sani Disco♫]

And others play with blood. If you don't want to, that's your choice. Don't hinder others just because you're used to not using it.

I'll meet you guys halfway, though. Blood is still a problem for spies, but completely phasing it out makes it waaaay too easy for spies. Does less blood that fades faster sound fair? It'd essentially be the same thing if the blood isn't there as long.

[Chu]

I would much prefer a longer flicker time than a change to the blood fade, since bright-red pixels are still very noticable.

[trog]

I've never really had a problem with stray bullets, other than from runners with their fucked up range spamming across the map and accidentally hitting me. Just don't jump in front of heavies and stick near your teammates so it looks like their blood.

[Psychopath]

And others play with blood. If you don't want to, that's your choice. Don't hinder others just because you're used to not using it.

I'll meet you guys halfway, though. Blood is still a problem for spies, but completely phasing it out makes it waaaay too easy for spies. Does less blood that fades faster sound fair? It'd essentially be the same thing if the blood isn't there as long.

Did you know that there's a blood "particle" that's created when anyone is hit by a projectile? It's that "particle" that creates the blood droplets.

By disabling the droplets, it makes it possible to still have blood, but it's only visible for a split second before disappearing (I did it for a mod that I used to lessen the load on my crappy rig)

[♫Sani Sani Disco♫]

Did you know that there's a blood "particle" that's created when anyone is hit by a projectile? It's that "particle" that creates the blood droplets.

Yes 7:|

By disabling the droplets, it makes it possible to still have blood, but it's only visible for a split second before disappearing (I did it for a mod that I used to lessen the load on my crappy rig)

Hmm, never occurred to me.

[Orpheon]

I'm against this. Blood is the only reliable way a (not so experienced) player can find spies. Especially engies will get really smashed with this. Ryo's mod, while being very fun and completely unbalanced, already has this (kind of) and it is impossible to kill the very low life spy with anything other than a pyro, heavy or sniper. I still think a life scanner (or whatever you might call it) which let's you see enemies health is much easier to balance and also much more fun.

[zhengman777]

I'm against this. Blood is the only reliable way a (not so experienced) player can find spies. Especially engies will get really smashed with this. Ryo's mod, while being very fun and completely unbalanced, already has this (kind of) and it is impossible to kill the very low life spy with anything other than a pyro, heavy or sniper. I still think a life scanner (or whatever you might call it) which let's you see enemies health is much easier to balance and also much more fun.

Chu's proposed "extended flickering" idea would make it just as easy for the attentive player to notice. Removing blood spray from cloaked spies not only addresses the problem with stray bullets hitting the spy, but only reward the vigilant players from the enemy team, rather than completely blowing the spy's cover from every enemy on-screen.

[Orpheon]

As a spy you should be avoiding bullets anyway. Stray bullets are rare. You do not just shoot in the air unless you're spychecking, but in that case you should be able to see the spy easily. Blood is easily noticeable so if you hit, all your teammates notice. Not so with flicker (what if your or your teammates' back is turned  ). How can an engie spycheck halfway decently with this? Now I normally periodically shoot a shot in both directions knowing that I would notice the blood if a spy was in proximity, but with this I cannot turn without the (big) possibility of completely missing a shot spy  .

[♫Sani Sani Disco♫]

And in the midst of battle, the spy is the last thing you'll be worrying about when there's a Heavy/Medic+Pyro combo hunting you down

[Phantom Brave]

The new spy works something like this (as far as fixing stabbing along is concerned):

However, the "origin" of the collision line is no longer in the center of the spy, but near the neck and head instead.

[Orangestar]

No matter what we do to spy, the community is gonna find something to whine about.

[Starky]

No matter what we do to spy, the community is gonna find something to whine about.

That's true of nearly everything. No point in holding back.

At least our community is a little better than the (shudder) STEAM FORUMS.