The DARK History of The Engineer | The Engineer | FULL Team Fortress Lore

The Engineer Family is one of the most important in the entire Team Fortress timeline. From Radigan's creation of the immortality machines, to Fred's support in the classic mercenaries, and finally to Dell and his fight in the current war. This family, behind the scenes, helped sinister characters behind the scenes keep this battle going.
How was the Conagher family brought into The Gravel War? Why did they help the ridiculous request of a mad man, and what role did they play in these conflicts? In this video, we explore the lore and story behind The Engineer in Team Fortress.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:18 Radigan Conagher (Early Gravel War)
07:21 Fred Conagher (Team Fortress Classic)
10:15 Dell Conagher (Team Fortress 2)
17:18 Dell & The Administrator (Classic Mercenaries vs. Current Mercenaries)
24:46 Legacy
25:52 Closing Thoughts
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Half-Life & Portal Lore Playlist: • The Borealis | Half-Li...
Standard Sources
Game Manuals
Team Fortress Comics
Team Fortress 2
Developer Interviews
Developer Commentary
AUDIO USED
Half-life 2 OST: Broken Symmetry
Team Fortress 2 OST: More Gun (Version 1)
Black Mesa OST: Catalyst
Team Fortress 2 OST: More Gun (Version 3)
Black Mesa OST: Resonance
Half-Life 2 OST: Triage At Dawn
#TeamFortress #Lore #Engineer

[@Skyrionn]

What is your favourite and least favourite class?

[@Wensleydale1]

No

[@Mercc_]

scout,demo,sniper top 3 for sure

[@netty.]

favorite: scout scout pros: - fast speed - good melee - shotgun goodie cons: - hard to aim - low range on the shotgun least favorite: heavy heavy pros: - fast fire rate - good range cons: - slow reload speeds - ubermode is kinda bad

[@CloudyNight2156]

Favs are sniper, engi, and pyro. Least favorite is soilder and spy.

[@Neometalll]

medic is the best

[@bizbug2687]

One quick note about Radigan that I love is that he ended up growing Texas-shaped chest hair akin to Saxton’s Australia shaped chest hair

[@prorandocopier7945]

Imagine Texastralium

[@krimson8089]

would that mean Gray Mann has UK shaped chest hair?

[@bizbug2687]

I don’t think the life extender gives that property

[@lastwymsi]

​@@prorandocopier7945Texastrium** source: I am Texan and proclaim this to be true

[@markelbro5130]

@@lastwymsias a fellow Texan I agree

[@milliman4]

TF2 lore is so insane but also really cool and engaging

[@Skyrionn]

There's so much!

[@jupieterr]

True, I've never paid attention to the lore before but god damn, is it interesting

[@friendlyneighbourhoodsloth]

it takes 400 years to learn a third of the tf2 lore

[@IdentifiantE.S]

@@jupieterrSame its so cool ! 😮

[@wolfjayyoon1138]

Better than Overwatch lore

[@derkatwork33]

“As with most valve creations, this story may never reach a conclusion”. That implies a valve story has reached a conclusion.

[@yamstree2454]

portal

[@Juancr2006]

@@yamstree2454 yes

[@Marcos42563]

@@yamstree2454 and L4D1+2

[@4ohc]

Portal, left 4 dead, at least 2 of them have

[@Juancr2006]

@@4ohc maybe tf2? Idk i'm not that good in lore

[@abe881]

I really wish someone would make a gamemode where you can fight as the 1800's team

[@TheMarianadealmeida]

Abe Lincoln burns stone wall jackson to death

[@donpollo3154]

@@TheMarianadealmeida the civil war all over again

[@progamer_2007]

Yeah I agree…

[@yungalmonds3990]

Abraham Lincoln rocket jumps 🔥🔥

[@AVI-lh6rm]

for getting a bunch of kills as Nobel you get "The Merchant of Death" achievement

[@Pudding404]

Dell always was the most chill, didn't realize he was alot more fleshwd out than the other 8 with his father being directly involved with the blu and red war. Saxton, a man responsible for countless deaths as said by the "Hale's Own" weapon rank wont fight a child even if it meant giving up his company. Professionals have standards.

[@secondheaven9545]

Heavy is pretty fleshed out as well. He grew up in a gulag and he values his remaining family, has a phd, and has a particular disdain for communists that came from his experience in the gulag. Scout isn’t that deep, but is absolutely hilarious. Scout is fleshed out as literally being God’s gift to women. I am not joking in the slightest. When scout died, God vowed to destroy the world because every woman on Earth hadn’t done it with scout, but he convinces him to give them a second chance and revives himself to bed every woman on Earth

[@KlorainCupStudios]

Eh, heavy's pdh is not confirmed

[@Randoinyourwalls423]

​​@@KlorainCupStudiosMost will argue that Poker Night at The Inventory is canon, and I will agree with them. It's funny.

[@draguladriver]

i love engie's personality so much. he's kinda goofy sometimes like in his stock shotgun taunt, and sometimes he's terrifying like in meet the engineer. sometimes we forget that our favorite goofy little texan has "11 hard science PhD's" and constructs robots to kill people. i just love him

[@Bookwyrm789]

16:54 Small correction here, Dell didn't create the Widowmaker or the Eureka Effect. In the Manno-Technology Bundle update page, there is a missive from Saxton Hale's assistant Bidwell explaining how he stole the Widowmaker, or at least the technology behind it, from Sarif Industries, the company in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which the bundle was a crossover with. The Machina, Diamondback, and the Short Circuit were also made using the stolen technology. The Eureka Effect came from a Dr. Grordbort Rocket that crashed into Dell's house in the comic True Meaning. That rocket was also where the Pomson 6000, the Phlogistinator, the Manmelter, and the Third Degree came from. Another of the rockets crashed near Solider and from it he got the Cow Mangler and the Righteous Bison. Finally, Dell might not have made the Jag, either. That weapon came out in the 2010 Australian Christmas update, and it is heavily implied that all the weapons and hats in that update were made for Old Nick by his kidnapped child workers, and that Nick is simply selling the duplicates online.

[@irgendsontyp8075]

🤓

[@Superstailsbros]

​​@@irgendsontyp8075How is he bring a nerd. He just fixing a mistake

[@ninjaguyYT]

Boy, I hope someone got fired for that blunder

[@Sebdet9]

Radigan Conagher created (in this order) the frontier justice, the wrangler, the southern hospitality and the gunslinger

[@D0NU75]

@@Sebdet9 based old timer engie, his gift to the world was no fun allowed hand

[@chickensandwich8052]

i love the part in the comics when the old scout asks the old soldier why he's covered in gasoline, and then pyro just spawns in

[@larrybyrd6596]

"Did somebody say gas"

[@donpollo3154]

Right after they talk about going to the pedophile sanctuary if I remember correctly

[@bottelofwater]

“MmMmmMMm?”

[@reidhanson4755]

I love that the entire premise of TF2 is 'they're literally fighting over gravel. Why? Because fuck my brother, that's why. Somebody get Lincolin on the phone he's gonna fight for me!'.

[@LMG_1987]

12:33 in TFC the sentry gun can fire in all directions, in game when you build a sentry it faces towards you. You just have to open a menu and make the sentry to rotate 180 degrees around and face the other way.

[@FMHikari]

So it was a software issue after all!

[@NicoTheCinderace]

@@FMHikari Dell perfected the software issue. :D

[@cihloun]

Uncle Dane has such a rich history

[@hiddendesire3076]

23:54 There had been the supposed release of the original last comic’s script. In it, one section claimed Spy had managed to get Fred out of the way without killing him, possibly sapping his legs, before going after the Classic Sniper. He ends up later uniting with his son in that likely fanfic/maybe truth.

[@soundwave8475]

12:18 The TFC Sentry Gun (Fred's) also had to be completely dismantled and rebuilt somewhere else, unlike the TF2 Sentry which can be moved and redeployed Although this stipulation also applied to the TF2 Sentry gun until Valve decided to allow the building to be moved instead of rebuilt

[@DefenderTerrarian]

I've never played Team Fortress, I honestly never knew it had so much lore. I shouldn't be surprised after Half Life and Portal. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that Dell was okay with his Grandfather's grave being desecrated. I also feel like Fred would have been hesitant to fight his own son, regardless of how close in proximity. However, I know absolutely nothing about Team Fortress, so it may just be a case of ignorance.

[@financialproblems9308]

Dont let his intelligence fool you, dell like all the other mercenaries are psychotic sociopaths and willing to do/ kill whatever and whoever for personal gain

[@Sebdet9]

Fred was never shown fighting Dell

[@DefenderTerrarian]

@@Sebdet9 True, however, I, at least, would struggle to fight against, even just on seperate sides of a war, my own family.

[@darrenchen964]

if you look at dells face during the comic he is visibly angered and disgusted when he finds out that his grandfathers grave had been robbed@@DefenderTerrarian

[@DefenderTerrarian]

@@darrenchen964 Like I said in my initial comment, I know nothing of the lore of TF2. I know there's comics, but I haven't read them.

[@numublu1915]

Super excited to see you do tf2 content, I will certainly be here for it all

[@Skyrionn]

Awesome, thank you!

[@samuelantoniocastillomeza5034]

Engineer is also my fave class. So much interesting lore and the nostalgia of playing as him back in the Orange Box. Hoping there's a comic conclusion eventually.

[@_altoarcadevere]

Engineer is my fave class and character, his role in lore feels similar to his role in game; being the one helping and rolling the scenes behind (both scene and warlines). i feel like he was way more than what we are seeing in game and comics and i am willing to wait for it!

[@Laxhoop]

His worst crime is killing the heavy.

[@Skyrionn]

Heavys are the worst

[@Trynopolis]

@@SkyrionnNUH UH

[@lordirons7082]

THE HEAVY IS DEAD ?!

[@typicalpersons]

@@lordirons7082Heavy: Yes. I am dead! Spy: Why is the heavy dead?

[@lordirons7082]

@@typicalpersons engineer: idk Heavy: i think it wa...

[@RoseSupreme]

Man... for over 6 years, we've been left in suspense at just what this "Old Debt" of the Administrator is. God damn Valve's tradition of leaving us in suspension for countless years with their beloved franchises. They'd rather just focus on updating CS:GO 2.0 rather than wrapping up their stories that their long-time fans will never know the ending to.

[@wowie-mg8fz]

What about buff engineer 🗿

[@NoirKirbi]

🎵Tick tock-

[@AWESOMEPRO-xu4it]

heavy like a brings truck

[@W4Ffl3d]

looking like I'm tip top

[@lmahu6627]

​@@W4Ffl3d Shining like wristwatch

[@thebestbread9405]

@@lmahu6627Time will grab your wrist

[@barlotardy]

So, I'm old as dirt; I played TF classic on 56k dial up. I ALWAYS played engineer, for the simple fact that once you got your gun built, it wasn't affected by lag. It was the only effective way to play on dial up.

[@akagamino_moto]

I'm consistently impressed by the quality and depth of your video content.

[@omegalul8466]

It must have been so hard to make a lore for team fortress 2. The game by nature is so wacky and crazy so the lore needs to match that level of wackiness. But it also had to make sense to be taken seriously. And somehow they nailed it. The lore is crazy and stupid but it's very, very well written.

[@saschaberger3212]

I can't wait for the confusing Pyro Story. I really need to understand which pyro was which, where the old female pyro went and if there are sectets for the new one. Please consider creating this. My favorite is heavy tho that doesn't matter. Sandwich is love

[@lordjaraxxus5418]

To me, the engineer rewarded those who learned the maps of the game. Learn where you can build sentries in weird spots and know which spots to sentry jump from. know flanks to set up teles behind enemy lines or cut of flanking spies/pyros/scouts. This becomes even more rewarding after you find an out of map exploit, the ultimate map knowledge possible for the engineer.

[@DJpony01]

I’ve been playing TF2 lately to scratch that itch of playing team based shooters, and these videos make me wanna play even more. They’re genuinely so engaging on the lore and story of TF that I get excited whenever you make a new one! Thank you for these videos man!

[@AuroraIceFlame]

Fun fact it’s canon in the tf2 universe Abraham Lincoln invented rocket jumping.

[@guts60]

Remember: Heavy has a PhD in Russian Literature, making him more of a doctor than Medic Of course, Engineer is a doctor in 11 different disciplines-

[@DrLelek]

Great video, just as always. Pretty interesting choice of topic too, can't wait for the next.

[@nickstormm]

love to see that you're this passionate about content like this. BIg ops to you, honestly.

[@lostbutfreesoul]

I only got to do it once, and I long to do it ever since: MG tactics with two Engineers, doing a coordinated gunline, moving things forward in overlapping fire with military precision. We won a lot of matches that day....

[@lite-e]

Love ur content man, yeah i could research all those lores behind those games by myself, but damn its really nice seeing it made so nicely like this, also tbh...its just way more comfy to watch it like that ngl xd Can't wait for the Aministrator lore!

[@aguszx9097]

This video is amazing!!

[@CREWAPP_]

Man i already amin engineer and love playing him but this just makes me want to play him even more. Loved the vid. Lots of cool stuff to think about and understand about engi and his roots.

[@DumbArse]

Realy nice video!

[@MichaelACastaneda]

I always loved the engineer. It was my go-to character.

[@masterzim3594]

Not much of a TF2 fan, but I do like the lore behind the game and if I had to choose a class it would definitely be engineer. I don't play TF2 much, but I have always wanted to read the comics. I've always been more interested in Half-life, whenever ep3 will be, and yet we wait for valve to overcome their fear of the number three. 😆😆😆

[@Yes-wu9vi]

This is going to be a great video

[@Skyrionn]

Lemme know what you thought

[@Yes-wu9vi]

@@Skyrionn It was awesome I love your lore videos

[@Gxaps]

"Designed by me" -TF2 engineer Well that was a fucking lie

[@TheMAZZTer]

You didn't mention even once that he solves practical problems.

[@Robin_lambda]

I like engineer its one of my most played classes, also the part when you were talking about the orange box was so relatable I still play on the orange box myself because I don't have access to steam but I still like classic tf2.

[@Averagebasementman]

I always had a theory that Engi was secretly Pyro’s father judging by their relationship, pyro’s weapons, and pyro’s talent for engineering business.

[@zekeholloway4413]

the engineer has always been my main in tf2, i love it!!!

[@spud7234]

as an engie main it feels oddly insulting to hear someone be like "im glad valve made a class for people that suck" engie has a lot more than just turtling

[@werh227]

Gaw damn that beard looked so good on him

[@gavmansworkshop5624]

I felt that was well done mate.

[@colonelcrockett2250]

So happy to see you covering team fortress, especially digging into the comics!

[@legion3343]

Nice just in time to unwind

[@Skyrionn]

enjoy!

[@averageplaystationenjoyer2082]

“His sniper friend” *HIS NAME IS VIRGIL* Jokes aside, good video about the Engineer’s backstory. I really enjoyed watching it

[@wiggytommy8607]

I like to think that QWTF is when the original generation of mercenaries fought. Even if the mercenaries look nothing like the 1800’s celebrities they’re supposed to be.

[@Turgineer]

As an Engineer main, I'm happy to finally know the Engineer's story.

[@Someone_1994]

love the vid

[@kristalange6824]

You should make a new series. The what if, like what if the seven hour war never happen.

[@Averagebasementman]

Dell is easily the most important merc on the team to the lore. While being my favorite class of the game.

[@UtopicTahu]

Nice vid

[@VaclavRytina]

Very good video

[@kirumba758]

Didn't expect a sudden tf2 lore, a welcome surprise indeed

[@talesofgore9424]

When I heard "Classic Mercenaries" i was really hoping for a nod to the mod for Quake 1 :(

[@BartekPll]

Super odcinek

[@Deadliermlg]

That prosthetic eye could also be useful if they are planning to add it.

[@noba04]

14:27 completely unrelated since its not official but... "..longer than you think."

[@LemonCakeYT]

"Wait, demoknight has been around since the beginning?" "Always hes been lad"

[@jimbob.9098]

13:55 For over a sentry-y, the mann brother had been stuck in a stalemate. Ain't that a cute little gun?

[@Captain_p0wer]

Can't wait to see more tf2 lore from you

[@KingJackofJackistan]

I was half expecting him to go Tea-For-Two Engineering Guy

[@aidaniwy]

love to see you do tf2 lore, i really like your portal and half life lore :)

[@joeeljalapeno1816]

Engie is like his in game , you dont notice him mutch on the front and is not the one driving the match ,however whit out his help the match would be a very , very dificult one

[@UnrealStew]

I got a ad about gun misuse that included accidental shootings, and the commercial ended with a school shooting and a photo of the gun cabinet missing its gun. It ended with "keep you guns locked, unloaded and away from ammo". Then the video begins with "and if that don't work use more gun"

[@MaskMajor]

God I hope one day the story gets finished

[@grits_taste_good415]

The Xbox Orange Box TF2 servers are still active, but are especially alive on weekends. I had a full dust bowl game for multiple rounds last weekend. Quite nostalgic

[@TheV4D3R]

it is funny, cause i have just read the comics about a month ago. somehow even tho i am a extreme heavy fanboy of half-life and its story,...i have to say... I just can't get enough from TF-Lore. From all Sci-Fi Lores from Star Wars over Marvel and things like Dune, Warhammer and even Lovecrafts works i am really saying the following: From all the things I have read in my life, Team Fortress has one of the most interesting lores, most interesting worlds i have ever witnessed. And you don't realise even 7 % of it when u play the game. That alone makes it so much more fun to discover... call me a fool but Team Fortess open end is like Beethoven's unfinished piece...it is something truly saddening for the whole world Awesome video by the way i really like how you were able to fit it all so compact!

[@ragerider1392]

13:54 for over a sentry 💀

[@ronvansover]

Hi! Just a quick question. Will you at some point make a Full Doom timeline like you did for Half-Life and Portal?

[@dryft7906]

yooooo finally :D

[@Naedlus]

So, around the same time that they released that space robot mode, and the game was in further player numbers decline, they had a desire to keep going, but with no idea how to turn the space mode into something popular, they figured they may as well just let it languish.

[@arteyx2119]

gotta like these tf2 vids ! thx again for ur good work !

[@trafficconecop180]

Hell yeah i was the same with xbox 360 orange box. Haha Crazy to think we might have been on the same server at some point.

[@wilddoggames5949]

Im happy billy the kid was mentioned

[@Courier2077]

I would love to see Skyrionn go over the red dead redemption lore

[@LordPebble2309]

non snow covered barn blitz is hurting my head

[@The_House_Always_Wins]

I love reading Reddit posts of people talking about what tf2 mercs they could take on in a fight it’s always a good laugh because generally people think they could take engi in a fist fight

[@lmahu6627]

Engineer's pretty stocky, so who knows how they would get to that conclusion.

[@manofbree6739]

Fighting any TF2 Mercs are death sentence. They survive drinking water with lead for years. Half of their internal organs might as well be made out of Machines that allow them to be revive by Medics. It will be like fighting against Cyborgs.

[@HarryJCook]

"His greatest creation, however, would come in FAIRY PLATINUM PLUS CAPSULES!

[@JamesTDG]

Hey there, any plans to get the l4d full story done?

[@Tu_Pana_Angry_munci]

Bro the close thoughts was too sad, i like engineer too

[@zachredd845]

This Texan Family was and still is the Fort of Team Fortress... 2

[@DONG-502]

I was wondering when you upload another team fotress 2 video

[@luthfihar3211]

there's a lot of mistakes in the details, but still a good summary of the whole story of the family

[@Iron_Soil]

Best character

[@cyberknightgaming2094]

man is giving us the FULL tf2 lore but we still dont have the last comic out

[@ZugzugZugzugson]

i cannot believe you did not give the pybro even an honorable mention. he is literally the most valuable asset when it comes to protecting an engi nest since he has his flamethrower (the spy's greatest fear) and the homewrecker hammer which can remove sappers. not to mention the good ol' reliable shotgun, should the spy stray out of range.

[@manofbree6739]

It's a "Team Fortress" Everyone do have a role supporting each other. Aside from Pyro, Engineer also need supports from the other classes. Medic's overheal makes him able to get out of a hotspot and take more damage. Heavy acts as a forward tank, taking a shot instead of Engineer's sentry. The power class like soldiers help securing a ground for an Engineer to set up a base.

[@TheChitakus]

Oh yea TF2 lore! Some of my fave stuff!

[@Skyrionn]

There's so much more to come too!

[@TheChitakus]

@@Skyrionn Woot! This is really gona test my memory. Bring it on!

[@craftboy338]

It sucks that we will probably never see the final comic

[@tactial_bonkz3711]

tf2 lore was so unexpected but it came out really good

[@solifuctioncorruption4343]

I wanna see this for all the mercs

[@mengdong1909]

I didnt know that dark TF lore was a thing

[@flumperflip2614]

Can’t wait for Pyro lore

[@iwinjerrudouyourmum8415]

engineer lore just dropped?! Build more things boiz!!!!!!

[@muhammadarya8979]

"More gun." -engineer

[@zachredd845]

This Heavy Caliber Tripod Lil ol Number designed by Conaghers