Got hit with BS automatic update also from steam. So here is how to start Steam in offline mode.

But first THANKS Dalet for making it possible for so many people to enjoy the game. I'm dying for the new 1.4 -->1.3 downgrade patch to come out so I can play again.



1st make sure you've set Steam to remember your password. 
Then open your steam directory search for loginusers.vdf  or go to STEAM/config/loginusers.vdf and just open with notepad.

and add the value WantsOfflineMode to 1 to the end of the script. If you don't want warning about launching Steam in offline mode just do the same with SkipOfflineModeWarning. it should look like text below. After the quote marks at end of your time stamp numbers hit enter and add: 

"WantsOfflineMode"      "1"
"SkipOfflineModeWarning"        "1"

You have to set file to READ ONLY or steam will change it back.



"users"
{
    "<your profile number>"
    {
        "AccountName"       "<your login>"
        "PersonaName"       "<your display name>"
        "RememberPassword"      "1"
        "Timestamp"     "<01010101010110>"
        "WantsOfflineMode"      "1"
    }
}