Talk:Haunted Halloween Gift/Archive 1

The following discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it.

Spawning out of bounds?

Sometimes the gift will spawn behind the door and boxes to the right of the first capture point.

I've seen this happen twice, but only in that particular spot. --Lord Kennerson 09:32, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

I've seen it happen there as well. A server admin using "noclip" was able to retrieve it however. --Flash 18:17, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

It should be noted that it'll stay there until the gift has been pickup or the server is restarted. I've been to a lot of servers where the gift spawned there. When I asked the server players, turns out its been there for a long time. ShunyValdez 04:26, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

It can be picked up by any player. No sv_cheats or magic required. Fly into the gift as spectator, open team selection menu and join red or blu. Bam! Gift is collected and another one may spawn soon. AciD 12:00, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

I thought the October_29,_2010_Patch fixed it so spectators couldn't collect gifts. --Flash 05:00, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Not really, did it on the day after it was patched AciD 15:10, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

Frequency & Required Players

Do we know how frequently the present will spawn, or how many players have to be in the server for it to start spawning? It's probably 10 to start spawning, same as what's required for the Horsemann, but does it spawn more or less frequently than he does?--Lijitsu 09:40, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

I've seen it spawn three times a round, but it seems to be twice a round on average. I've seen the Horsemann spawn twice a map, but never three times. Just my experience. GeneShark 09:42, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

It spawns at about the same frequency as the Horsemann. The last few games I've played, they usually spawned within a minute or two of each other. Also, you only need 6 people in the server for it to spawn. I've seen it spawn with 6 people, but never 5 or less. --

-- 09:49, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

Do they spawn with bots? Serird 14:48, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

No, at least they didn't for me. I tried playing with 10 bots all dancing around and with my billion and a half(cheated) health, and no gifts spawned. Did find out that if a Medic is healing the person who kills the Horsemann, or possibly just heals someone who damages him, they get credit too.--Lijitsu 16:06, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

I can confirm that the gift does not spawn with bots. The Horsemann doesn't spawn with bots either and doesn't have any effect on his overall health. It's as if the bots don't exist. XANA520 03:10, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

I got it (at least in this server I'm in; 11 players). It respawns 5 minutes after the gift is taken. I need more people to check on their servers though. ShunyValdez 15:02, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

I've tested it on numerous servers. Gift respawns consistently every 5 minutes after the gift is taken. Although, I would like someone to confirm just in case. ShunyValdez 18:22, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

Just got done running a Round Robin Gift Grab. I was too busy organizing it to track individual gifts, but we completed 2 loops of 10 people in roughly an hour. Not proof, but it strongly supports the 5 minute claim. Also of note. The timer depletes regardless of people. When the 10th person joined after a bit of time below 10 people, the gift immediately spawned. Ajburges 10:06, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

Edited the spawn rate to 5 mins. If this is wrong, feel free to change it. But in my tests, its 5 mins. ShunyValdez 10:28, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

I changed it from Six to Ten, it's Ten after hours of testing and the article on the hats from the gifts states ten as well. Crap 17:32, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

After hours of testing I can confirm it needs 10 players at least for it to spawn. The 10 can be a mixture of a players and spectators but 10 people must be connected to the server. Moussekateer 21:23, 28 October 2010 (UTC)

Someone keeps reverting it to 6, but it is 10, not 6. 10 people must be connected, they can be in spec, or connecting, but it must be 10, not 6. Crap 04:40, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

Please stop changing it between 6 and 10 guys until we have reliable proof. I myself believe it's 10 but we need stronger proof. Moussekateer 06:13, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

Ah nevermind, a moderator has decided it is 10. Please respect the moderators decision and not change it. Moussekateer 06:16, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

Yesterday 6 players was enough to get a drops, but currently changed to 10 with today's update (played with friends for many hours in both days). Dosia36 16:34, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

I had it drop with only 6 players and one or two players connecting. Maybe somebody on the wiki with a server should lock their server and test? -Spik3d 15:22, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

It has been tested multiple times. It maybe be misleading when some players connect and do not join a team or go into spectator mode. Their name will not be listed in the players list or list of spectators but they will be connected to the server. Moussekateer 15:30, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

I am surprised that this is still being argued. It is the easiest variable to test: just start a server, invite friends one at a time every 6 mins, at find the number that spawns the first gift. Happened when I ran a gift round robin. BTW you need 10 people on the server (including spectators). Ajburges 07:49, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

I just got one, we were 9. Maybe it has changed with the new update, need confirmation. --Ash Grey 11:15, 7 November 2010 (UTC)

Bypassing the 10 player requirement

Has anyone found a way to get gifts to spawn that doesn't require 10 players? -Fooble 18:15, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

Actually, I have an interesting idea. 10 people each start a server at cp_manor_event. They all join one of the servers until a gift a spawns. After the gift is picked up, they all switch to the next server. This is repeated until they are back to the original server. By this time another gift should have appeared because the gift timer still goes even with less than 10 players. -Fooble 18:20, 29 October 2010 (UTC)

This sounds plausible given what I've witnessed with threshold cases. If you have 9 listen servers and 9 dedicated drifters that simultaneously jump to the next server you could skyrocket gift/mask production. The host and one of the drifters would take turns getting the drops from each server. Such a system would give each participant a mask every 10 min. Would require a disciplined and large group to do though. Ajburges 07:41, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Locations

Can we have some screenshots of the cycle locations? Kevschow 01:41, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

The presents are spawned in random locations. -- Nineaxis

01:54, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

Based on my observations, different servers have their own list of possible spawn points from the nav_mesh. Possibly created at map start. This would explain why people think there's a "location cycle" and why gifts appear in the same areas: they've exhausted the server's list and a location was chosen twice, respectively. ShunyValdez 05:05, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

It is possible for the gift to appear in the same place more then once.--QuincytheDestroyer 06:06, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Location seems to be sudo-random with several fixed locations to choose from. Definitely a large enough sample size to prevent definitive mapping, but after a while players can identify map areas with higher location concentrations (and thus gift grabbing chances). Ajburges 07:46, 1 November 2010 (UTC) -

Can anyone tell me the names of the servers where the gift spawns. If not, can anyone confirm that this is over now? - Playrmaster 08:04 PM, 11 December 2010 (UTC)

This event has been over for a while now.

Fendermcbender 20:08, 11 December 2010 (UTC)

Latest person to gift sometimes gets it

The trivia says "If multiple players stand in the translucent form, the player who has touched the translucent present the longest will receive it." That is not always the case, i have seen the last person to get to the present get it several times as well as the first person getting it. --QuincytheDestroyer 02:23, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

Confirmed. I have first-hand experience in which I *ahem* ninja-ed a gift from someone. I was across the map and was able to take the gift. I've edited out the entry. ShunyValdez 04:37, 30 October 2010 (UTC)

Scouts seem to get it more then any other class, if 2 are on at the same time. I had the gift stolen from me 3 times by a scout. --QuincytheDestroyer 09:57, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

I theorized that the player closest to the gift's center (origin point) gets the gift. I always get the gift if I push my ~~victim~~ someone away and I stay at the center. ShunyValdez 10:33, 31 October 2010 (UTC)

I believe it's just a random roll as to who gets it when it finishes materializing. There is no pattern. I've been ninja'd, and ninja'd others in return, by touching the very edge of the box.

Forcing people off the gift is very similar to a teleporter barge, I believe its the same. Discordance 15:20, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Not really most of the times heavy gets its because they push everyone way from the gift. This happen to me few times. HelpThread 18:34, 4 November 2011 (PDT)

Gift test server

If the '6/10 players connected to server for spawn debate' is still ongoing I can quickly set up my server so this can be tested. Let me know and I can provide server details here. Moussekateer 21:35, 1 November 2010 (UTC)

Random?

Out of curiosity, is the Mask you get completely random, or class based? Just asking since I've gotten 2 Gifts, both as Engineer, and both times, I got an Engineer mask. So can anyone confirm it's random?. Mikau 16:00, 3 November 2010 (UTC)

It's random. Speaking from someone who hunts those darn things. ShunyValdez 16:52, 3 November 2010 (UTC)

Glitched at end of Event

I was on a server where the game continued when the event ended, the game glitched and every 1 minute the message a Halloween gift is some where go find it kept popping up, until the game finished.--QuincytheDestroyer 21:34, 8 November 2010 (UTC)

I experienced this also so you're not alone. During the same time however other servers were still actually spawning the gift, so there wasn't a clean shutdown of the event. Flash 22:35, 5 December 2010 (UTC)

Halloween Gift texture exploits?

I have heard of players who used custom Halloween Gift texture files to make the gift more easily visible when it spawns in order to gain an advantage in finding it. I can confirm that such files exist, as I saw them available on FPSBanana before they were taken down for being hacks. Would information about this be suitable for the Trivia section? Or should it go into Exploits? Not quite sure where it belongs, and would like to check if it belongs on the Wiki at all. -- McWang 04:57, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

I would put in as an external hack. The distinction is simple: exploits are done in-game while with hacks, you have to use an external file (as in this case), software (aim-bots) or device (router/proxies). My vote: this shouldn't be added in the wiki. ShunyValdez 05:45, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

Well it's a material hack which I guess is sort of covered under wallhacks. Not noteworthy though. Moussekateer 05:47, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

It's already in the wiki, in Hacking, like Mousse said. No need to toss it in trivia. Just people being greedy. --Vaught 05:52, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

Was this by skinning the box another color or something of that nature? Wintergreen 05:55, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

Thanks for the quick and helpful feedback. -- McWang 06:17, 12 November 2010 (UTC)

The Amount One Can Receive

Can 1 person be able to collect all the haunted halloween gifts? because i tried collecting the second gift i found but it doesn't say it was found by me, although I crouched there for some time until somebody came along to take it. The third time also the same.Alexann95 04:01, 22 October 2011 (PDT)

Was your connection lagging at all? There doesn't appear to be a limit to the number of times you can get the gift - it wouldn't make any sense to limit it to 1 anyway as there are 9 masks to collect. » Cooper Kid (blether) • (contreebs) 10:29, 22 October 2011 (PDT)

Maybe it was translucent when you tried to collect it? And then somebody else stepped on it and collected it. Because there aren't any limits for players. Sir Juffin Halli 23:41, 22 October 2011 (PDT)

AFAIK, there aren't any limits. Most have been server/client lag or something.

real_alien (T/C) 23:43, 22 October 2011 (PDT)

spawn map

the spawn map is missing some locations. Directly on the point at A, and 3 in the house just opposite attackers spawn. One in the left entryway, one at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top. Discordance 06:12, 23 October 2011 (PDT)

oh also in the little shack at b. Discordance 06:16, 23 October 2011 (PDT)

Point A presents

In the building opposite blu spawn just inside the left door (approaching from blu spawn).
In the same building at the bottom of the staircase. [1]
At the top of the same staircase.
Amongst the hay in the covered area approaching A.
In the middle of the main path approaching A.
In the bottom floor of the right house. [2]
On the stairs of the right house.
The top floor of the right house.
At the very bottom of the stairs from the right house opposite the A sign [3]
Directly in front of the A sign.
Directly on top of the A point. [4]
To the left of the point between the point and the tractor. [5]
To the left of the sign in front of the tractor.
At the bottom of the ramp to the right of the point [6]
At the top of the ramp to the right of the point [7]
In the small room to the right of the point. [8]
Just before the mouth of the tunnel from A to B.
Just up the rock path that goes over the A-B tunnel.

In the corridor off the small room to the right of the point (I think this is where the out of bounds present was, I'm fairly sure its also been removed sometime last Halloween).

Point B presents

In the sniper shack overlooking the point
Coming from A before the wagon just after the tunnel [9]
Next to the tractor on the right.
Coming from A hidden behind the wagon immediately on the left.
In the small shack next to the wagon. [10]
Just past the shack on the main path. [11]
Further along the main path at the base of the stairs [12] [13] [14]
Behind the shack in front of the barn door [15]
In the doorway of the b barn pointing back towards A [16]
To the left of the doorway in front of the B sign. [17] [18]
Next to the door of the B barn that faces the manors front door.
In the doorway next to the ladder [19]
Directly on point B.
In the shadows next to the ladder at B.
In the open next to the barn on the main path [20]
In the corner below the platforms [21]
On the small stairs that lead up the the ledge back to A [22]
On the platforms next to the door that leads to A.
On the small stairs connecting directly to the corridor next to the platforms.
In the corridor that crosses over the top of the main door leading to C. (double check)
In the room at the end of the corridor [23]
Overlooking point B on the small ledge reachable at the end of the corridor.
Directly in front of the main door, partially submerged in the wood [24]
Amongst the health and ammo next to the main door [25]

Point C presents

In the main corridor between B and C. [26]
Taking the other corridor and going right from the main door, just in the corner.
In the piano room.
In the upstairs room with fireplace and large rug.
On the stairs that lead down from the upper room to the library.
In the library near the health? (fairly sure there was one here not seen it so far this year though.).

Discordance 10:18, 23 October 2011 (PDT)

2011 Minimum Player Requirement

There seemed to be a threat against correcting this number, but the minimum requirement is now a solid 8 and should be noted as such during the 2011 pre-update period. I've tested this on 15 servers and on 6 accounts. No spectators, no replay, no people coming and going, just 8 players, and it spawns at the normal interval.

Since I'm new and don't know how the chain of command works on something like this, I'll leave it for someone else to correct, but it's easy enough to test, so I'm surprised it's still wrong. Shadows 04:38, 26 October 2011 (PDT)

It's very likely to have changed since it's been so long since it was last verified. -- Netshroud

(talk | contribs) 04:48, 26 October 2011 (PDT)

Went ahead and adjusted player count for 2011. I was in too many servers where people were quoting the Wiki with the previous requirement and getting confused. Shadows 17:56, 26 October 2011 (PDT)

Eyeaduct spawn locations

I took these pictures so that people could place the gift on them to show where the gift spawns, like what was done with Mann Manor, i have pictures of both the Underworld, and the normal part of the map, i've already seen a few spots where they appear, though because of recent screenshots glitches, some turned out black, this is one of the locations i was able to get a picture of Masterlegodude 00:31, 29 October 2011 (PDT)

I was thinking of this myself, we should probably update the page a lot more to match the new update containing these. Footlesssushi 04:58, 29 October 2011 (PDT)

Oops, I've taken screenshots of the map and placed the gifts there myself without reading the discussion. I found lots of gifts and witnessed lots of gifts being found, so i just mapped most of the known locations there. If you consider the gift spawning a few meters away from the mapped location a different spawn point, then feel free to add more gift locations to that map of mine. ErroR 16:32, 30 October 2011 (PDT)

In the Underworld, there is a present spawn area on the island with the health pack between the entrance and exit. Would someone please put a gift picture on the map?--Smartz118 17:13, 30 October 2011 (PDT)

Done, also added one more spawn location. ErroR 10:56, 31 October 2011 (PDT)

There are four spawn locations I know of that have not been added: In the Underworld, there is a present spawn area on the small island next to the first bridge gap (the one you jump on if you want to get to the island with the dead tree). I have, however, only seen it spawn there once. I have also seen spawn points to the northeast of the CP (in relation to the map), near where you can see the pumpkin bomb on that map. Finally, there are two spawn locations on either side of the map, near where you exit the Underworld, in patches of tall grass.Suzaku 14:04, 3 November 2011 (PDT)

Old paper mask or New masks

Do the haunted halloween gifts drop new masks only on the eyeaducts map or does the gift drop paper and new masks regardless of the map? So far the gifts dropping on eyeaducts are all the new hat. Turtlebolt

New costume hats and miscellaneous items on Eyeaduct, old paper masks on Mann Manor. » Cooper Kid (blether) • (contreebs) 12:17, 29 October 2011 (PDT)

Masked Mann Achievement

I was wondering if getting the gift in Eyeaduct let's you get the achievement "Masked Mann" Shingo 19:20, 29 October 2011 (PDT)

It does. —Moussekateer·talk 19:22, 29 October 2011 (PDT)

2011 gift content pattern

call it co-incidence if you will but I have noticed that there is a pattern to when you get haunted or not haunted Halloween hats.

i have found after many times, that it's a little to co-incidental to just look over. every time i get a gift in the underworld, its contents are always haunted, but in the map itself, the gifts are of unique quality.

if this isn't added in already to the article, shouldn't we consider pointing this out? - Lexar - talk 05:39, 31 October 2011 (PDT)

That's already in the article, at the end of the first paragraph. » Cooper Kid (blether) • (contreebs) 09:20, 31 October 2011 (PDT)

Spectral Halloween Special (2012)

In Ghost Fort, after picking the HHG, twice I got the spells, on one occasion I got lots of Voodoo-Cursed Items, and on other occasions, The Spooky Shoes and the Master Mind, as expected. --PasswordIs1234 22:41, 27 October 2012 (PDT) i have a question, is there a limit to the amount of personal haunted hallowen gifts because after a while it stopped giving me notifications about the magical appearence of one for me.

It is random, and so if there are a lot of people sometimes it just won't pick you for a while. Even if not, it is possible (though not probable) that you can go awhile with no gifts. It's similar to how the old item drop system used to work, and why Valve changed it to something less random. The MAZZTer 22:05, 2 November 2012 (PDT)

The location of the sound cue

I was wondering if anybody knew where the sound file for the gift is located, i would like to replace it with a sound that is louder and easily distinguished.

It is at tf\sound\ui\halloween_loot_spawn.wav.

cgimusic 01:35, 5 November 2012 (PST)

5 min delay

It seems the delays have changed for presents, at least on the new map, and this isn't reflected in the article. I'd appreciate it if someone could verify though before I go and change it (and someone else can change it while they're verifying I guess). First of all, I hear gifts last 8 mins before despawning if someone doesn't get theirs. Then the next gift almost IMMEDIATELY spawns, definitely no 5 min delay anymore.

My experiences also indicate this. I have got the gift and it has spawned for me again within 30 seconds. Whilst I can't confirm the 8 minute despawn figure, the part about the 5 minute spawn should be removed.

cgimusic 01:28, 5 November 2012 (PST)

Droptime estimate on how long the gift was last spawned and picked up by you. Also, there is a chance of getting multiple gifts at the same time based on how long you've been on the server. It goes from 5 minutes to over 30 (after what I have learned). I belive that theres no conflict in whenever a person has recieved a gift affect your drop. It's just playtime, thats all.

TNS 01:32, 5 November 2012 (PST)

I did some testing with some friends and it seems the gift does spawn 25 seconds after it has been claimed. I tested the despawn time a few times and it was 3 minutes for all of them. I have updated the article to reflect this. I did not find any evidence that the time you have been on the server affects gifts in any way. A bit of a side note: I was playing on koth_viaduct_event and not a single gift spawned in the underworld. Anyone else found this?

cgimusic 05:05, 6 November 2012 (PST)

2013 Gift Spawning changes

I can pretty much confirm that the gifts this year are being handled so that they no longer pass turns to random people in a server. I have seen moments where a whole bunch of players have claimed to be actively looking for their gift at the same time as others. There have been long periods of drought when the server has over 10 people and no one receiving a gift. I know that these servers were clear for dropping gifts for people. I believe that each player individually is limited to exactly 45 minutes between personal gift drops. (As tested numerous times) This time delay is saved for each player in Valve's main server and does not reset when joining another server or restarting the game. I am going to find out whether one could close out of the game after receiving a gift drop and come back on 45 minutes later to claim another gift, otherwise I'm guessing the time delay is based on minutes actively ingame. — The preceding unsigned comment was added by SFXFox (talk) • (contribs)

Pretty sure this system was in place in 2012. Only difference was who received it. After seeing it ingame it seems for this year, Its hourly for everyone. No matter ingame (Server) or not. I've left servers for hours come back and gift instantly spawns 5-10 later. So it seems hourly and guaranteed for everyone. Ashes (talk) 18:20, 31 October 2013 (PDT)

I've been testing this in-game all day; for myself and many others it's about 48 minutes. I have updated the page, but the interval can be changed to 45-50 minutes to reflect the ambiguity. Herrshaun (talk) 20:12, 1 November 2013 (PDT)

Gifts in Underworld ?

I know this was true in 2011, but is it possible that gifts can still appear in the UnderWorld?
Because I've found haunted items outside.
And I never saw again a gift in the Underworld. And you people ? SillyPingwins (talk) 03:58, 6 November 2013 (PST)

Spawning for multiple people?

I wasn't around for Halloween 2012 and 2013, I started TF2 in 2011, but I took a break. Can the HHG spawn for multiple users at a time? Also, is it clientside? Meaning that, when someone is looking for their gift, only THEY can see the model? — The preceding unsigned comment was added by Wafflesrawsome (talk) • (contribs)

I dunno for sure if multiple users can potentially get gifts at the same time, but I'd assume that it is possible. And yeah, the page states that Valve changed it to be clientside in the past. --Omolong (talk) 18:53, 10 October 2014 (PDT)

Gift time increased to 3 hours from 45 minutes?

I've been hearing around that the Haunted Halloween gift time on all maps was increased from 45 minutes per person to 3 hours per person. Is this true?

2014 Gift Spawning

I am very confused with the gift spawning, and how to get haunted items. When a gift despawns, it takes around 20-30 minutes to spawn again, not 5-10. As for haunted items, I had a gift active. When I went into the underworld, I looked around and there was no gift. Do you have to be in the underworld when the gift spawns? If so, this makes it ridiculously hard to get haunted items. They should be like Unusuals but with a higher chance to get them, like around 7%.

The Obamanomicon (talk) 08:20, 25 October 2014 (PDT)

Should this be categorized as a Removed Content?

If so, we should add {{removed content}} to the page. - ▪ - 01:11, 4 November 2019 (UTC)

The preceding discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it.