What good are the class config files?

Question

Everytime I see somebody type a script for TF2, even if it is a script specifically for one class, I see people put it in the autoexec.cfg. It seems as though the best place to put a rocket jump script would be in the soldier config, and the best place to put a sap script would be the spy.cfg.

Is there a reason people use the autoexec.cfg rather than the class config files?

Answer 1

The individual class configs only need to be used if you have a bind conflict, as it won't matter what your binds for the Spy are while playing Scout, as long as they don't impede your other controls.

Generally, it's just laziness and not wanting to avoid all the binds in the other class configs.

Answer 2

I'm answering my own question here because I tinkered around with this last night and discovered the real reason people don't use the class configs. They don't work right.

If you add a rocket jump script to the soldier config I would expect that every time I play a soldier, and only a soldier, the rocket jump script would be enabled. This is only mostly true. The fact is that once I play a soldier the rocket jump script is now on all my classes.

Lets say I assigned the rocket jump script to mouse2 (which is entirely reasonable since the bazooka doesn't have an alt+fire). I play a soldier for a while, but then my team needs some defense and I switch to a demo man. When I try to detonate my sticky bombs using mouse2 I now jump and fire another sticky. Very, very annoying.

If you use the autoexec config at least you know that everything you add will affect all classes and you can plan accordingly.