Team Fortress 2 Beta

See also: Mann Co. Beta Maps

“

As you've probably seen by now, we like to change things in Team Fortress 2. A lot. And while we're perfect most of the time, we occasionally get something wrong. One reason for this is we just don't get enough data from internal play testing,(sic) and another is that we spend too much time watching Tom Bui serenades on Youtube (Hint: Search for "Tom Bui" on Youtube) (Another Hint: Click Here). So to help us change TF2 even more frequently, we're pleased to announce the Team Fortress 2 (public) Beta. — Team Fortress 2 Beta publicity blurb

”

The Team Fortress 2 Beta was a separate beta branch of the game that was previously available to all Premium players. Released on 2 December 2010 and discontinued on 7 June 2013, it was the second period of public beta testing – the first of which was distributed to players who pre-ordered the game prior to 10 October 2007. It differed from the initial public testing phase and was more similar to the Closed Beta from 2009.

The Beta was utilized for purposes including, but not limited to:

• Testing and tuning various class, item, and weapon changes.
• Playtests for upcoming map changes and variants.
• Running higher-level, game-wide experiments (such as increasing player Health).
• Implementing and testing new functionality without risking anything breaking in the main version of the game.

New players received any weapons that were currently undergoing testing, certain promotional items that their Steam account was entitled to, and occasionally other items that may have been given out for testing. Random drops and crafting were available to players, although item trading and the Mann Co. Store were disabled. The Beta utilized the same drop rate and capacity as the normal version of Team Fortress 2.

Previous changes

Class	Item	Old	New	Status
Scout	Shortstop	Normal reload speed	20% slower reload speed	Not implemented (9/23/2011)
		20% slower reload speed	50% slower reload speed	Implemented (10/13/2011)
	Mad Milk	Players heal 75% of the damage done to an enemy covered with milk	Players heal 60% of the damage done to an enemy covered with milk	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Boston Basher	On Miss: Hit yourself, causing self damage and bleeding for 5 seconds	On Miss: Hit yourself, causing self damage	Not implemented (9/23/2011)
	Three-Rune Blade
	Sun-on-a-Stick	Minicrits against burning players -15% damage done Base damage: 30 Crit: 90	Full crits against burning players  -25% damage done Base damage: 26 Crit: 79	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Fan O'War	Marked for death status lasts 10 seconds	Marked for death status lasts 15 seconds	Implemented (4/14/2011)
Soldier	Beta Pocket Rocket Launcher	New weapon	When the medic healing you is killed you gain crit boost for 8 seconds  On Hit: -10 health	Not implemented (4/28/2011)
		When the medic healing you is killed you gain crit boost for 8 seconds	When the medic healing you is killed you gain mini-crit boost for 6 seconds	Not active (11/9/2011)
	Beta Pocket Rocket Launcher 2	When the medic healing you is killed you gain crit boost for 8 seconds	+15% ÜberCharge rate for the medic healing you.	Not active (11/9/2011)
	Beta Pocket Rocket Launcher 3	When the medic healing you is killed you gain crit boost for 8 seconds	50% faster reload time while being healed	Not active (11/9/2011)
	Battalion's Backup	Takes 175 damage to fully charge	Takes 350 damage to fully charge	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Concheror	20% of damage done by teammates is returned as health during buff	35% of damage done by teammates is returned as health during buff	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Beta Pocket Shotgun	New weapon	While a medic is healing you, this weapon's damage is increased by 25%  While not being healed by a medic, your weapon switch time is 25% longer	Not implemented (4/28/2011)
		While a medic is healing you, this weapon's damage is increased by 25% While not being healed by a medic, your weapon switch time is 25% longer	While a medic is healing you, this weapon's damage is increased by 20%  While not being healed by a medic, your weapon switch time is 30% longer	Not active (11/9/2011)
	Equalizer	Original damage formula Soldiers carrying the Equalizer can call for Medics	Damage formula tweaked, no longer possible to one-hit-kill certain classes when at low health  Automatic and manual Medic calls are suppressed	Implemented (4/14/2011)
		Move speed increases as the user becomes injured Blocks healing while in use	Move speed no longer increases as the user becomes injured  No longer blocks healing	Not implemented (7/6/2012)
	Beta Split Equalizer 1	New weapon	Move speed increases as the user becomes injured  Blocks healing while in use	Implemented7 (6/27/2012)
	Beta Split Equalizer 2	New weapon	Damage increases as the user becomes injured  Blocks healing while in use	Implemented8 (6/27/2012)
Pyro	Flame Thrower	Old base damage Base damage: 6.2 / particle	+10% damage bonus Base damage: 6.82 / particle	Implemented (6/27/2012)
	Backburner	No compression blast +15% damage done Base damage: 7.13 / particle Crit: 13-21 / particle	Added compression blast, 50 ammo per blast  +10% damage done Base damage: 6.82 / particle	Implemented (4/14/2011)
		+10% damage bonus Base damage: 6.82	No damage bonus Base damage: 6.82 / particle6	Implemented (6/27/2012)
	Degreaser	-25% burn damage penalty No damage penalty Base damage: 6.2/particle Afterburn: 2.25/tick	No burn damage penalty  -10% damage penalty Base damage: 6.14/particle Afterburn: 3/tick	Not implemented (11/9/2011)
		No damage penalty Base damage: 6.2/particle	-10% damage penalty Base damage: 6.14/particle6	Implemented (6/27/2012)
	Flare Gun	Mini-crits against burning players at close range, full crits against burning players at long range	Full crits against burning players regardless of range	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Detonator	New weapon	On hit, ignites enemy.  Alt-fire detonates flare in flight. It creates a small explosion which ignites nearby players, but does less damage than a normal hit. Knockback can be used to flare jump.  Guarantees critical damage on burning targets (direct flare hits only)  +20% explosion vulnerability on wearer.	Not implemented (6/17/2011)
		Flares do not detonate on impact with the world Guarantees critical damage on burning targets (direct flare hits only) +20% explosion vulnerability on wearer No damage to self Flare jump height varies considerably based on client latency	Flares detonate on impact with the world with a greatly reduced explosion radius  Guarantees mini-crit damage on burning targets (direct flare hits only)  No explosion vulnerability on wearer  +20% damage to self  Flare jump height is consistent regardless of client latency	Not implemented3 (7/12/2011)
	Reserve Shooter	Can only be equipped by the Soldier	Can be equipped by the Soldier and Pyro	Implemented (10/13/2011)
	Powerjack	+25% damage No random critical hits Normal damage from melee sources while active	No damage bonus  Random critical hits enabled  +20% damage from melee sources while active	Implemented (4/14/2011)
Demoman	Loch-n-Load	+10% damage done Base damage: 92-135 Crit: 315-360	+20% damage done Base damage: 103-147 Crit: 342-388	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Eyelander	No random critical hits No damage penalty Base damage: 65 Crit: 195	Random critical hits enabled  -25% damage done Base damage: 49 Crit: 146	Not implemented1 (4/26/2011)
	Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker
		No taunt	Now uses the Barbarian Swing taunt	Implemented (6/3/2011)
	Claidheamh Mòr	No random critical hits No damage penalty Base damage: 65 Crit: 195	Random critical hits enabled  -25% damage done Base damage: 49 Crit: 146	Not implemented1 (4/26/2011)
		No taunt	Now uses the Barbarian Swing taunt	Implemented (6/3/2011)
	Ullapool Caber	No random critical hits No damage penalty Base damage: 35 (149 explosion) Crit: 149 (300 explosion)	Random critical hits enabled  -25% damage done Base damage: 26 (149 explosion) Crit: 79 (300 explosion)	Not implemented1 (4/26/2011)
Heavy	Natascha	Slowdown-on-hit effect does not fall off over distance Normal spin-up time	Slowdown-on-hit effect falls off over distance  30% slower spin-up time	Implemented (12/17/2010)
	Natascha Variant 1	Slowdown-on-hit effect does not fall off over distance -25% damage done Base damage: 340 / sec. Crit: 720 / sec.	Slowdown-on-hit effect falls off over distance  -35% damage done Base damage: 312 / sec. Crit: 648 / sec.	Not implemented (1/06/2011)
	Natascha Variant 2	Slowdown-on-hit effect does not fall off over distance No health penalty	Slowdown-on-hit effect falls off over distance  -20% max health on wearer	Not implemented (1/06/2011)
	Tomislav	No health penalty	-50 max health on wearer	Not implemented (1/26/2011)
		+40% faster spin up time	No faster spin up time	Not implemented (7/6/2012)
	Dalokohs Bar	25.7 second cooldown	No cooldown	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Sandvich	Dropped Sandviches heal the Heavy that dropped them	Dropped Sandviches refill the Sandvich meter of the Heavy that dropped them	Implemented (2/14/2012)
	Buffalo Steak Sandvich
	Fists of Steel	60% less damage from ranged sources while active Normal weapon switch	40% less damage from ranged sources while active  20% slower weapon switch	Implemented (4/14/2011)
Engineer	Widowmaker	Per Shot: -60 ammo	Per Shot: -30 ammo	Implemented (10/13/2011)
	Gunslinger	No random critical hits No damage penalty Base damage: 65 Crit: 195	Random critical hits enabled  -25% damage done Base damage: 49 Crit: 146	Not implemented1 (4/26/2011)
	Southern Hospitality	No random critical hits No damage penalty Base damage: 65 Crit: 195	Random critical hits enabled  -25% damage done Base damage: 49 Crit: 146	Not implemented1 (4/26/2011)
Medic	Overdose Beta Syringe Gun	New weapon	Applies Mad Milk to target for one second  50% slower firing rate  90% damage done Base damage: 1 Crit: 3 [5 syringes / sec.]	Not implemented (4/28/2011)
		Applies Mad Milk to target for one second 50% slower firing rate -90% damage done Base damage: 1 Crit: 3 [5 syringes / sec.]	Applies Mad Milk to target for two seconds  50% slower firing rate  -50% damage done Base damage: 5 Crit: 15 [5 syringes / sec.]	Not implemented (6/17/2011)
		Applies Mad Milk to target for two seconds 50% slower firing rate -50% damage done Übercharge percentage does not increase speed Base damage: 5 Crit: 15 [5 syringes / sec.]	Does not apply Mad Milk to target  No slower firing rate  -10% damage done  Übercharge percentage increases movement speed by up to 10% Base damage: 9 Crit: 27 [10 syringes / sec.]	Implemented (6/23/2011)
	Medi Gun	~	Players being healed are immune to movement-impairing effects generated by hitscan weapons	Not implemented (1/06/2011)
	Kritzkrieg	~	Players being healed are immune to movement-impairing effects generated by hitscan weapons	Not implemented (1/06/2011)
	Quick-Fix	New weapon	ÜberCharge increases healing by 300% and grants immunity to movement-impairing effects  +50% heal rate  +50% ÜberCharge rate  Can't overheal  Move at the speed of any faster heal target.	Not implemented (6/17/2011)
		+50% heal rate +50% ÜberCharge rate	+40% heal rate  +40% UberCharge rate	Implemented (6/23/2011)
	Vita-Saw	Does not allow player to see enemy health	Allows player to see enemy health	Not implemented2 (4/26/2011)
	Solemn Vow Beta Bonesaw	New weapon	Allows player to see enemy health	Implemented (6/23/2011)
Sniper	Sydney Sleeper	Normal charge rate	25% faster charge rate	Implemented (4/14/2011)
	Beta Sniper Rifle 1	New weapon	On Hit: Rifle charge rate increased by 35%  On Miss: Rifle charge rate decreased by 65%	Not implemented (4/28/2011)
		On Hit: Rifle charge rate increased by 35%   On Miss: Rifle charge rate decreased by 65%	On Scoped Bodyshot: Rifle charge rate increased by 25%  On Scoped Headshot: Rifle charge rate increased by 45%  On Scoped Miss: Rifle charge rate decreased by -65%	Not active4 (11/9/2011)
	Beta Sniper Club 1	New weapon	25% increase in damage when health <50% of max  -25% decrease in damage when health >50% of max	Implemented5 (6/23/2011)
Spy	Enforcer	0.5 sec increase in time taken to cloak Able to see enemy health at any time	0.5 sec increase in time taken to decloak  Unable to see enemy health when undisguised	Not implemented (3/15/2012)
		0.5 sec increase in time taken to decloak Normal firing speed	Normal decloak time  20% slower firing speed	Not implemented (4/17/2012)
		Random critical hits enabled	No random critical hits	Not implemented (6/1/2012)
All Classes	Health	~	All classes have double Health	Not implemented (1/13/2011)
		~	All classes have 25% extra Health	Not implemented (2/11/2011)
	Buildings	~	Damage against buildings reduced 50%.	Not implemented (1/13/2011)
	Responses	~	All classes possess new response and voice command rules	Implemented (6/3/2011)
1These weapon changes were implemented in the Hatless Update but were reverted by an item schema update before the April 15, 2011 Patch. 2This Vita-Saw change was originally included in the Hatless Update patch notes, but never went live, and was later removed from the notes. 3The Detonator went live as a part of the Über Update, but had its self-damage increased to +25% and its maximum flare jump height reduced. 4Mechanics reworked into those of the Bazaar Bargain and implemented in the Über Update. This beta variation continues to exist as a separate weapon with its pre-release stats, but has been removed from players' backpacks as of the November 9, 2011 beta patch. 5Implemented as the Shahanshah. Beta variation still exists with identical stats, but is not active. 6Base damage based on buffed Flame Thrower stats. 7Implemented as the Escape Plan. 8Stats given to Equalizer.

Other changes

• The public IP is now displayed in the console when creating a local server and the output for the exec command has been altered.
• Added an option for dedicated servers to enforce Steam user blocking. This is a feature which allows a player or Steam Community group to prevent other players that they have blocked from joining their games.
• Fixed a pipe overflow problem affecting dedicated servers running on FreeBSD.
• The Half-Life 2 (Source SDK) game menu was still implemented at the time.

Patches

Main article: Patches (Beta)

See also

• Team Fortress 2 Closed Beta
• Mann Co. Beta Maps

External Links

• Official TF2 Blog - Prepare for your examination!
• TF2 Beta forum on Steam Users' Forums
• TF2 Beta Update History on Steam Users' Forums