Welcome to the discussion page for the Engineer sentry gun-replacement, the "Skirmisher". Here I will go into greater detail about the stats I came up with for this weapon. Feel free to cheer/jeer this, or add your own ideas to the pile.





Level 12 Sentry Gun

Fires high velocity explosive rounds
Upgrades increase range by 100%
-40% Turning Speed
2.5 second firing delay




The original idea for this building was to design around the weaknesses of the original Sentry Gun. I wanted to pick something that would be strong on its own, but not that much more effective when complimented with a Stock Sentry Gun.

Like most unlocks, the Engineer should trade his strengths towards certain classes for effectiveness against others.

The Skirmisher is basically an inversion, trading speed and sustained damage for longer range.

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The Skirmisher trades bullets and rockets for explosive shells. These shells deal minimal splash(similar to the Liberty Launcher), and explode on contact with a target or surface. The sentry gun fires one shell every 2.5 seconds, dealing 60 damage on direct hit. At level 2, damage is increased to 80. At level 3, damage is increased to 100. Damage is subject to falloff outside of the range of the current upgrade.

One way to visualize it would be to imagine a direct hit soldier with much faster rocket travel speed and slower fire rate.

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With each upgrade, the Skirmisher gains 100% increased range. At level 1, the Skirmisher uses the Stock sentry gun range. At level 2, range becomes 200% of Stock. At level 3, range becomes 300% Stock.

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As mentioned above, the drawback to the Skirmisher is its significantly slower turning speed when acquiring targets. This would make the Skirmisher significantly weaker to faster classes like Scout, Pyro, Soldier's rocket jump, and Demoman's sticky jump, and general flanking tactics. It would also be easier to stab and sap for Spy, as the Skirmisher cannot turn fast enough to respond. This would make the Skirmisher more effective with long hallways or tight cones, but not large open areas where targets could approach from many angles.

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Unlike the stock Sentry Gun, the Skirmisher fires rounds on a 2.5 second delay between shots. This makes it less oppressive to fight at longer ranges.

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The wrangler would function just the same, except the turning speed would remain in effect. You would still get the damage resistance and range, but not snappy aiming of the wrangler's targeting.

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The primary use case for the Skirmisher would be supplemental fire when attacking, discouraging long range threats like Soldiers and Snipers, and controlling tight hallways.

Due to its slow fire rate and turning speed, it is rather helpless when engaged by more than one foe.

Given the range, it can also be thrown down and forgotten, allowing the Engineer to deal damage while also not needing to baby-sit his gear as much. In the same vein as the mini-sentry, it can function as a supplemental damage dealer.

Interestingly, it provides the Engineer with a siege breaker in the event of a choke point or tightly defended zones. Engineers should have the potential to break each others stalemates, something that is not generally possible by Engineers fighting Engineers.



... and hell, maybe we can sic it on the Sniper bots.



As a disclaimer, since these stats helped influence the design of this item. There is no demand, of Valve or the TF2 Team, that they be accepted or implemented. All time limits and percent values are adjustable. I'm also well aware stats on items do not get accepted, this is merely here for community discussion.