Items in Team Fortress 2 will drop more frequently under changes Valve just rolled out, ones that the publisher hopes will discourage standing around idly in the game waiting for them to happen.
The old system would determine, at random intervals, if you would experience an item drop. Now it determines at random when the next drop will occur. Subtle difference but âyouâre guaranteed to find items at fairly regular intervals,â according to Erik Johnson on the official Team Fortress 2 blog. âThe bulk of drop complaints weâve received in the past have been from players having unlucky streaks, where they didnât find any items for weeks. That wonât be possible now.â
In addition to that change, Valve promises that theyâve significantly increased the rate at which drops occur. Further, they capped the amount of playtime per week in which youâll see item drops. Logging playtime beyond that wonât equal more opportunities at item drops. âThe amount varies, but if you play an hour or so a day youâre good,â Johnson said. âSome of your unused time will rollover to the following week, so if youâre an intermittent player youâll also be fine.â
That means that idling, whether done through a scripting program or server or just the old fashioned standing around way, wonât get you any closer to the goodies. But bully for Valve for increasing the frequency of item drops, which is a proactive step that provides incentive for playing, as opposed to ramming in some disincentive for cheating. Two different things, and they get the difference.
Thanks for Standin Still, Wanker [Team Fortress 2 Blog]
