Sentry Go-Go Down'n Up'n Damn it! Gotta move that gear.
This thing ain't on autopilot. Damn it! Gotta move that gear.
HOLD IT! Spy, don't touch that sentry. Damn it! Gotta move that gear.
That Spy ain't on our gear git down. Damn it! Gotta move that gear.

So, while browing the SPUF TF2 forum, I found a piece of advice for spies on how to deal with sentry on that one ledge near the intel on Turbine.

I decided to give it a shot and spent a round practicing it as a CnD Spy (so nobody would disturb me unless they bumped into me) and yeah, it works.

This has also made playing Engie on this map fun for me, since it's a good defensive spot without being as cheesy as just slapping the sentry down in the intel. I've even taken to constructing teleporters anyways, but having them facing away from the platform so I can meatshot any spies who think they're being clever.

Funnily enough, a friendly engie once spied me making the jump and initially thought I was hacking. I'll admit, it is kinda silly that it works, but eh.

Hey guys if we're talking about item trades, I just got a spare Machina.

Looking for any of the new engineer stuff, the Enforcer, a Liberty Launcher or any of the Uber Update Demoman or Medic stuff except the Screen.

I also have a spare Splendid Screen and some other random older items.

Can I trade you a Liberty Launcher and Enforcer for the Machina and Screen?

Also, do you have a spare Degreaser? I have a Solemn Vow...

I just dropped a spare Solemn Vow myself, if anyone wants it I've updated my post with what I'm missing (pretty much just promo items and the Deus Ex stuff now!). I also have 10 crates that I'm willing to trade for pretty much anything, though I'd particularly like scrap metals or frontier justices for the sake of crafting.

No Degreaser, but sure I'll trade the other two. What's your Steam ID and when are you usually on? Mine is Arhra because I am so imaginative.

Enlong, because that's what I usually use for other places.

I can be on in the morning on weekdays. Usually a few hours before and after noon.

So, yesterday I uncrated two new stranges: A Jarate and a Jag.

I traded the former for 1 Refined and a Strange Sydney Sleeper, which is now permanently grafted to my Sniper's arm. I'd like to think this thing proves I'm at least a halfway decent sniper, since it's now up to 89 kills.

As for the latter... goddamn did Valve screw these strange wrenches up. There are three things to note with the Strange Wrench and Strange Jag.

1. They track kills from both your sentries and from your regular attacking.
2. Only sentry kills count towards "leveling" the wrench.
3, and here's where it gets idiotic: Only bullet kills from your sentry count. Not so bad if it were a Strange Gunslinger (which doesn't exist, apparently), but nine times out of ten you'll have a level 3 sentry that's killing people with rockets before they can be nicked to death by the bullet spam.

I learned that last one after a spectacular round on Turbine where I racked up 25 Sentry Kills, only to find that it only registered 5 of them.

What the hell are stranges?

It's a random condition you may find on weapons you get from crates.

What it is is that it's supposed to keep track of your kills with that weapon (though it is a bit sensitive on the conditions) and when you reach certain levels the name changes (From Strange Minigun to Scarcely Lethal Minigun).

Here's a list of the ranks. I currently am trying to level a Wicked Nasty Grenade Launcher and a Backburner with a somewhat lower rank.

It's like having an E-peen on TF2 that can be worn with your hats.

So THAT'S why those damn messages keep popping up...