Pyromaniacs rejoice!

Valve today unveiled the next update to the team-based first person shooter Team Fortress 2. This update focuses on the Pyro class and offers three new weapons and 35 new achievements.

For those who don't play Pyro all that often but still want something new, Valve has augmented the standard Flamethrower with a compressed air blaster. The air blaster can knock enemies away, deflect enemy projectiles and in the hands of a skilled Pyro, separate offensive tandems or an "Ubered" Medic and his comrade.

Just like the Medic update that preceded it, the Pyro update will offer new weapons based on achievements earned by players. These new weapons include the Flare Gun, the Backburner, and the Axtinguisher. A replacement for the shotgun, the Flare Gun looks as though it belongs in the emergency kit of some yacht, but in reality it offers Pyros a legitimate long distance weapon. While it requires precision to use, the chaos it can bring against Snipers and Engineer turrets is worth it.

The Backburner offers a unique twist on the Flamethrower and offers a bonus for those who enjoy the art of ambushing the enemy. While it removes the newly-added compressed air blaster, it guarantees a critical hit when you torch an enemy from behind. Also, because ambushing your enemy can be dangerous, the Backburner also boost your health by 50, increasing your odds of survival when running for cover. The Axtinguisher, which we reported on last week, replaces the ax. While traditional damage is significantly reduced, the Axtinguisher guarantees a critical hit when used on someone engulfed in flames.

All of these unlocks should prove for some new, interesting gameplay dynamics, and getting the unlocks will be easier than getting the new Medic weapons. Most of the 35 new achievements are designed so Pyros do not have to rely on teammates in order to unlock new weapons. Like the Medic achievements, the Pyro achievements are designed around the kind of tactics that most players already use when playing Pyro, like going after Medics, ambushing enemy transporters, and base/control point defense. "Firewall," for example, requires that players ignite five spies trying to sap buildings, or "Pilot Light," which requires Pyros to flame a rocket-jumping Soldier in mid-air.

In addition to the Pyro update, Valve also released two new user-generated maps for the first Community Map Pack for Team Fortress 2. "CP_Fastlane" was created by Arttu "skdr" Mäki and is a control point map with five points, similar to "Badlands" with a symmetrical layout. "CTF_Turbine," meanwhile, was created by Bill Johnston and takes place inside an industrial compound.

Also rolling out with the update is the "Meet the Sniper" video, part of Valve's "Meet the Team" series that highlights each class individually. You can watch the video on Tom's Games.

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