Using Sounds to Know Your Enviroment

Yes, indeed! You can use the games sound system to know what your enemy is up to, you just need to listen closely. This guide teaches you the basics of which sounds indicate what and how you can use that in your advantage.

Intro

You might not have thought it but I think you know Team Fortress 2 is a really advanced game and it's really complex in both gameplay and environment. Sounds are also really advanced, and can be used to know what is happening around you but more importantly, you can hear sounds trough walls to know things you cannot see.

So first of I would highly recommend you play around with your sounds options to get the result you like, because listening to things is important.

Sounds are used for a lot in TF2. You can:

• Use them to communicate with teammates (and enemies)
  
• Use them to know what your enemy is up to
  
• Use them to know where the danger is

Use Them to Communicate with Teammates (and Enemies)

We all probably know how to yell ‘Medic’. And we all probably know that the buttons [z], [x] and [c] are bound to 3 communication menus allowing you to choose lines to say. Though most of these are useless, you can use them to warn your teammates about Spys, Setrys, incoming enemies or thanking them for warning you. You might want to read all lines once, and after that you can get used to how to say lines. For instance, [x] + [2] makes you warn people about an enemy Spy. If you practice long enough, you will be able to, without thinking, press these buttons to quickly warn your teammates (importantly the Pyro and the Engineer) about this backstabbing bastard.

Of course, you also need to keep an ear open so you never miss a warning.

When you are in a server where people joke around a little, using these lines is of course funny and can result in interesting conversations. Worth to know all the possibilities.

Use Them to Know What Your Enemy is up to

There are a lot of sounds, and it's not possible to hear if they are from BLU or RED team members. Yet you can use them when you are close to, say, an enemy Control Point or their floating suitcase because by then you can be pretty sure that these are enemy sounds.
Here's what you can listen for:

• Footsteps of an enemy
  
• Gunshots of an enemy (keep an eye on the death notes too)
  
• Enemies calling out for Medics (it means that they are low on health (probably))
  
• The Engineers buildings:
  - Sentrys make beeps. A level 1 Sentry makes one beep, a level 2 Sentry makes 2 and a level 3 Sentry makes 3.
  - Teleporters make noises as well, but these are not really important.
  - Dispensers make noises when somebody is using it, so when you hear it being used it means that someone is there and being healed (so again, possibly low on ammo or health)
  
• Hear übercharges being deployed
  
• Hear what weapons are being fired and determine if you can deal with those or not
  
• Hear Spys cloaking etc... near you (so turn around fast and save yourself a backstab)

And that is just a basic list.

Use Them to Know Where the Danger is

As you already read, you can hear Sentrys, enemies etc... from a distance. But remember sounds also go trough walls. So you can know if enemies are in the other room, or maybe on the floor above you, to know what path you should take to surprise attack them or avoid them.

Outro

So now you know.

Always listen to what is happening if you can't see what is happening. That way the enemy can't surprise you, and you are always one step ahead.

Communicate with team mates to warn them and learn the communication menus.

If you would like this guide to expand into more information, or you would like some more details on something already discussed, Place a comment and I'll see what I can do. (Of course you will get credit for your own contributions.)



-Simon 'Sisisspore' Peperkamp


Tips from the community:

{G4CD} Indubitably GreenBlah (20-7-'13):
''A really good one to add as an example would be the splashing noises from inside the sewers in 2fort. When I'm defending and hear that, I immidiately know someone is coming from the sewers.''

[GODLY ILLUMINATI JESUS]

but i need help with my sounds on tf2

[Loeka]

Thank you for rating, and I've added your tip.

[GreenBlah]

Also pretty good guide, I use this stuff all the time. Thumbs up from me.

[GreenBlah]

A really good one to add as an example would be the splashing noises from inside the sewers in 2fort. When i'm on defense and hear that, I immidiately know someone is coming from sewers.

[LootZ]

Can be a very handy guide for beginners as I often see people not giving a single ♥♥♥♥ when a spy uncloaks his DR right behind them