Team Fortress 2 Lore Discusssion: We make sense out of a hat-simulator - Games

[QUOTE=Metaru;44765335]The game itself is as plotless as it was back in 2007. what the lore has done is add a background to why you're in the badlands and provide a context for everything and everyone, but doesnt really explains how does the ingame mechanics fit into that lore, such as the respawn and/or the multiple mercs per side. thats quite a bit loophole that hasn't been really touched and its most likely that, for the sake of keeping things as simple as posible will not be touched.[/QUOTE] Every time you die, you do not respawn you are just transported into a new dimension where you have just arrived for the fight so every time you die, you are dead, but are now looking through the eyes of a different dimension of yourself

[QUOTE=nightlord;44765244]There is a problem with the respawn theory. We know there are 18 mercenaries ("18 perfect idiots" are mentioned by the Administrator: [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/thepoopyjoefiles/04.html[/url]). If there were just 9 of them, it would make the WAR! update a bit pointless - in the comic it specifically mentions the BLU soldier and the RED demoman, which means the actual characters we know of are on a set team. Then there's things like the Demoman's voice line about almost joining the other team. It definitely doesn't seem like there are only 9 of them. Also, how would they know which is the real mercenary at the end of the day?[/QUOTE] You know honestly in the context of what she says there, she's talking about her plans for the australium. It's relevant to recent events so the TFC mercs could be the other 9. It's a stretch to think that she (or Valve for that matter) could be that far ahead with thinking but she IS who she is so...

[QUOTE=Bwario;44766383]You know honestly in the context of what she says there, she's talking about her plans for the australium. It's relevant to recent events so the TFC mercs could be the other 9. It's a stretch to think that she (or Valve for that matter) could be that far ahead with thinking but she IS who she is so...[/QUOTE] This is from before all that happened, though. The previous pages have Saxton Hale talking about MannCo, which means he still owns it at that time and it's from before Gray takes over and hires the TFC mercs.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/KflunNu.png[/IMG] speaking of australium, the engie knew for a while about the Australium and where it was located. why would radigan have this info, if Emily gave him the hundred pounds of it as a payment. did she gave it to him to "overexpose" him to its effects and turn him virtually insane? amd how does australium effectively affects people? because she was holding a bar with her bare hands, yet she didn't show any of the effects like moustaches and idiocy. also, there's the thing about how olivia plays such a major role on the first comic, only to fade away and never be relevant again.

[QUOTE=Metaru;44768239]speaking of australium, the engie knew for a while about the Australium and where it was located. why would radigan have this info, if Emily gave him the hundred pounds of it as a payment. did she gave it to him to "overexpose" him to its effects and turn him virtually insane? amd how does australium effectively affects people? because she was holding a bar with her bare hands, yet she didn't show any of the effects like moustaches and idiocy.[/QUOTE] Very long-time exposure, but in-game most community made maps have Australium straight out kill you if you run into or touch any of those bars which is the most stupidest thing. and also the most disappointing thing.

But Australium is a transformative element. a catalyst, if you want to put it that way. given the right treatmeant, it could be used to turn your body into solid metal.

I believe that there are only 9 mercs but like shown in the catch up comic that there are 4-5 on either team at any given time. The reason behind seeing a particular class shown on more than one side is due to them being hired or moved to the other team by Helen (Auto-balance as you will).

[QUOTE=Metaru;44768390]given the right treatmeant, it could be used to turn your body into solid metal.[/QUOTE] "Erectin' a statue of a moron."

I still like to believe in [URL="http://respawn.timdenee.com/"]this theory[/URL] about respawning

[QUOTE=Kalamalja;44769046]I still like to believe in [URL="http://respawn.timdenee.com/"]this theory[/URL] about respawning[/QUOTE] That's in the OP.

[QUOTE=Metaru;44768239] speaking of australium, the engie knew for a while about the Australium and where it was located. why would radigan have this info[/QUOTE] Australium might be addictive after a certain point, and mustaches and general idiocy aside the Australium still increased Radigan's intelligence so maybe he figured out where more was to feed his addiction. That or he took the Australium he received as payment and hid it in various caches. Also, I realized something. In the WAR! comic the Demoman mentions he has three jobs, but after Grey takes over Mann Co. he doesn't appear to have any. This makes me wonder if all three jobs were related to the Gravel Pit wars, or he was just saying this to attempt to appease his mother. [img]http://puu.sh/8GprT.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Anderan;44770467]Australium might be addictive after a certain point, and mustaches and general idiocy aside the Australium still increased Radigan's intelligence so maybe he figured out where more was to feed his addiction. That or he took the Australium he received as payment and hid it in various caches. Also, I realized something. In the WAR! comic the Demoman mentions he has three jobs, but after Grey takes over Mann Co. he doesn't appear to have any. This makes me wonder if all three jobs were related to the Gravel Pit wars, or he was just saying this to attempt to appease his mother. [img]http://puu.sh/8GprT.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] It's not like he couldn't get a job after he got fired, but he was just depressed to try it. It seems that he was still living on his mansion, tho. Now that I think about it, can we stop for a second and look how some mercs love their job? After they get fired, Scout is totally ok with that, sicne he's got his Tom Jones memorabilia, Soldier is homeless because he is an idiot and can't get another job, Heavy prefers to defend his family and Medic was in it just for testing, it seems. Spy also don't care enough and was going to just take a jet back to France, it seems. But Pyro and Demoman? Heck, they love what they do!

[QUOTE=Omninerd;44770729]It seems that he was still living on his mansion, tho.[/QUOTE] He likely was living on his savings. He also mentions in the WAR! comic that he made 5 million the year before, not to mention anything he made later, so chances are the house and everything are paid and he's pretty well set for life. My guess would be most of them have plenty of cash saved up somewhere, bar the Scout and Soldier. Scout being an idiot and putting all of into the Tome Jones memorabilia and Soldier doing god knows what with his paychecks.

[QUOTE=Anderan;44770792]He likely was living on his savings. He also mentions in the WAR! comic that he made 5 million the year before, not to mention anything he made later, so chances are the house and everything are paid and he's pretty well set for life. My guess would be most of them have plenty of cash saved up somewhere, bar the Scout and Soldier. Scout being an idiot and putting all of into the Tome Jones memorabilia and Soldier doing god knows what with his paychecks.[/QUOTE] My guess is burning it. Most likely literally. As checks were made by a Communist!

[QUOTE=Vipes;44770802]My guess is burning it. Most likely literally. As checks were made by a Communist![/QUOTE] It wouldn't surprise me, he's likely using it to cook his food or something.

[QUOTE=Anderan;44770806]It wouldn't surprise me, he's likely using it to cook his food or something.[/QUOTE] Or making it into food based on his eating habits.

[QUOTE=Vipes;44770813]Or making it into food based on his eating habits.[/QUOTE] I don't know if you can make money into tomato soup and ribs [t]http://www.teamfortress.com/war/soldier/images/03.jpg[/t] On an unrelated note, I just notice the box and menu in his apartment are literally labeled "The Rib Place". I also just noticed the map of Germany on the wall with what appears to be an invasion plan on it. The thing is, it doesn't appear to be a Germany that includes Austria or Czech territory, so it's not a map of Germany during WWII (Unless it's just supposed to be a map of Germany proper) but it doesn't seem to indicate Germany as being divided so it isn't a post-WWII map of Germany either. It's probably just an oversight.

umm no it's clearly a teaser for rottenburg

[QUOTE=Dakkagob;44768492]I believe that there are only 9 mercs but like shown in the catch up comic that there are 4-5 on either team at any given time. The reason behind seeing a particular class shown on more than one side is due to them being hired or moved to the other team by Helen (Auto-balance as you will).[/QUOTE] This really doesn't make any sense. The catch up comic only shows 9 mercs because there are 9 characters that we know of. Showing them on different teams is to show that they both hired mercenaries and the teams have different colours. There has to be 18 Mercs, it doesn't make sense that they would be constantly switched.

[QUOTE=nightlord;44771551]This really doesn't make any sense. The catch up comic only shows 9 mercs because there are 9 characters that we know of. Showing them on different teams is to show that they both hired mercenaries and the teams have different colours. There has to be 18 Mercs, it doesn't make sense that they would be constantly switched.[/QUOTE] well lets stop and think about it... Isnt RED and BLU both owned by TF industries? I mean the brothers are idiots, and even so it was the Announcer who hired the 9 mercs. For all we know due to her nature she made the brothers both think she hired 9 mercs for each of em while in truth...theres only 9 guys all together. Though the problem with this is the comic where the brothers demanded their respective merc team to send the other brother to hell to which they would end up seeing that they don't have 9 mercs for each of them...unless they are still that stupid to not notice.

[QUOTE=Folseh;44771990]well lets stop and think about it... Isnt RED and BLU both owned by TF industries? I mean the brothers are idiots, and even so it was the Announcer who hired the 9 mercs. For all we know due to her nature she made the brothers both think she hired 9 mercs for each of em while in truth...theres only 9 guys all together. Though the problem with this is the comic where the brothers demanded their respective merc team to send the other brother to hell to which they would end up seeing that they don't have 9 mercs for each of them...unless they are still that stupid to not notice.[/QUOTE] She says in one comic "18 perfect idiots" which are clearly meant to represent the mercenaries fighting for each team. Why would the announcer swap them between teams all the time in the first place, and why would they agree to that all the time?

I've known this for quite long time but since there was no thread here in TF2 subforum that had comics as their major points, I just kept it myself. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/bloodbrothers/#f=8[/url] In here, you notice that Redmond brought [B]two[/B] of his engineering assistants, clothes pretty much identical to TF2 Engineer. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/bloodbrothers/#f=12[/url] Now, count the amount of knife slashes. [B]Six.[/B] It usually takes [B]three[/B] normal slashes from Spy's butterknife to kill an Engineer (According to TF2 wiki the damage spread can make the damage go between 36-46). Coincidence? High possibility, but when I first realized this I thought to myself ''Oh Valve, you clever bastards''.

[QUOTE=Dr. Ocsid;44760553]Huh. This is actually a good idea. So, to start something off, what's your guys' take on the respawn thing? I personally go by the respawn theory linked in the OP.[/QUOTE] Maybe I'm being a bit of a spoil sport given the thread I'm in, but I can't help but feel that respawn is strictly a game mechanic.

[QUOTE=Rufia;44772558]Maybe I'm being a bit of a spoil sport given the thread I'm in, but I can't help but feel that respawn is strictly a game mechanic.[/QUOTE] Nope, it exist in lore, but the Mercs shrug it off as a bad dream.

[QUOTE=Vipes;44772572]Nope, it exist in lore, but the Mercs shrug it off as a bad dream.[/QUOTE] You mean outside of Poker Night at the Inventory? Because I'm pretty sure that's non-canon unless we're to assume that sam and max and strongbad also exist within the TF2 universe.

[QUOTE=Bwario;44763971]After re-reading Blood Brothers, I had an odd thought. [url]http://www.teamfortress.com/bloodbrothers/#f=20[/url] In this panel and the following, Barnabus is obviously much more upset than Zepheniah about his wife's passing. I haven't seen anyone point this out as anything but an example to show how cold-hearted he is but as a stupid theory, could there have been anything between Barnabus and her? Yeah I know this is convuluted but eh, just wanted to see what the general consensus was on it[/QUOTE] I remember reading a cool theory on SPUF that Gray is actually Bette's and Barnabus' son, but since he got more ''average doe'' genes from his mother than Barnabus' ''manly man'' genes (I don't know if genes work like that, so sue me), he became pretty normal (if you exclude ability to speak and inventing a new form of algebra as a newborn) dude. That could explain why Barnabus seems so down about it. [B] Edit[/B] [QUOTE=Rufia;44772643]You mean outside of Poker Night at the Inventory? Because I'm pretty sure that's non-canon unless we're to assume that sam and max and strongbad also exist within the TF2 universe.[/QUOTE] Wouldn't the non-canoniness of Poker Night also remove Heavy's PhD in Russian literature? From what I've read about Heavy's smartness, people seem to refer to it a lot.

[QUOTE=Vipes;44772572]Nope, it exist in lore, but the Mercs shrug it off as a bad dream.[/QUOTE] Poker night isn't canon, though. I can't remember anywhere else that suggests it actually exists in the lore outside the game.

[QUOTE=nightlord;44772751]Poker night isn't canon, though. I can't remember anywhere else that suggests it actually exists in the lore outside the game.[/QUOTE] Then that pretty much kills a lot of lore right there.

heavy's presence is not canon but his thoughts probably still are he would probably say the same things in a "canon" environment (dustbowl bar or something)

[QUOTE=Hell-met;44772773]heavy's presence is not canon but his thoughts probably still are he would probably say the same things in a "canon" environment (dustbowl bar or something)[/QUOTE] "Probably" being the apt term. The point is anything expressed in Poker Night at the Inventory is not set in stone.