14 DAY TRIAL // Team Fortress 2 is at war more than usually, and it started off because of friendship. As we saw, the red demoman and the blue soldier found themselves united by camaraderie and liquor, and formed a bond that was greatly frowned upon.
As such, the game is preparing the War update, in which only one class will receive an extra, special item, while both will be updated. The rules are simple, and players get to vote the class that will receive the bonus, but won't do so in a voting booth. By joining one side of the conflict and killing their foe in-game, one will increase the chances of their favorite class receiving the special treat from Valve.
As of right now, the soldier class is in the lead, but only by a fraction. As such, to encourage the “healthy competition” that started the war, Valve has decided that it's time for the demoman to strike back at his former best friend, and to do that, he'll need some new gear. In true Scottish tradition, the demoman has just received a claymore and a targe, as part of his “Close Combat Kit.”
The sword, “The Eyelander,” is a one-hit kill weapon, as long as you can get close enough to use it, but it will decrease your maximum health. Also, the comic posted by Valve revealed a little bit of history for the weapon, and it seems like it's haunted.
The shield, “The Chargin' Targe,” will replace your sticky bomb launcher, but will provide an increase in fire defense by 50 percent and in blast defense by 65 percent. As a spiked shield, it also offers an offensive bonus and can be used as a stabbing weapon, bringing forth an increased chance for a critical hit with a melee attack. So, if seeing your favorite demoman on a losing streak has gotten you in a killing rage, then this close-combat setup should come in very handy and helm your vent.