I've played this game since launch with my buds, we play rather consistently but we aren't all 5-6 perk leveled monsters.. most of us have 1 level 6 perk and everything else is 3+. We've always played together, and I've played a bit of each class - my friends have played all as well.
Anyway, I'll break down in my mind how I saw the power levels of the classes:
Launch:
Support Specialist = Medic > Commando >> Firebug >>>> Berserker >>>>>>> Sharpshooter
Heavy Metal:
Commando > Support Specialist = Medic > Berserker > Firebug > Sharpshooter
Level Up:
Demolitions = Commando >> Support Specialist = Sharpshooter > Medic >>> Firebug >>>>> Berserker
Berserker to me was never powerful. I often hear tales of how on Hard-Suicidal (the only difficulties I ever play on) that they can decap everything and solo everything in the game. Every since Heavy Metal I could do that as a Commando and SS rather easily, and even as Medic sometimes. Firebug and Sharpshooter were by far the weakest. And SS never had issues with the FP in any patch ever.
But Berserker seemed very useless. Melee range is deadly, ever since the Gorefast strength increase.. and that was in Heavy Metal. The damage resistance never seemed high enough for the good ol' 'zerker. And what he can do I can do just as easily (and safer) as a Commando. The Katana was a great step in the right direction, but they are so heavily reliant on Medic support and constantly dancing around compared to other classes that sit back and shoot and take enemies down.
Now, with the Level Up patch, Commando is too easy to play.. I have zero ammo issues with the SCAR, and often keep it in semi-auto mode and it's literally 1 shot 1 kill for a lot of the specimens. Husks get dropped fast, and semi-auto headshots from a distance drop a Scrake easily. FP is only a touch rough if they manage to get up on me quick, but otherwise they go down without much fanfare. Sharpshooter is now a lot better because of that sniper rifle, and the autoshotgun is great. And demolitions is simply a monster. Which brings me to another point - if I do have issues with FPs, by the time they come around I can just buy some pipebombs and lay them down. Since they don't appear to take up any room/weight...
Berserker has never been a good perk in my book.. and with this hard nerf I can't see myself even bothering to play with it. And Firebug needs some kind of alternative gun or alternative fire - they lack stopping power. Otherwise, every other class is powerful and rather fun to play.
Anyway, I'll break down in my mind how I saw the power levels of the classes:
Launch:
Support Specialist = Medic > Commando >> Firebug >>>> Berserker >>>>>>> Sharpshooter
Heavy Metal:
Commando > Support Specialist = Medic > Berserker > Firebug > Sharpshooter
Level Up:
Demolitions = Commando >> Support Specialist = Sharpshooter > Medic >>> Firebug >>>>> Berserker
Berserker to me was never powerful. I often hear tales of how on Hard-Suicidal (the only difficulties I ever play on) that they can decap everything and solo everything in the game. Every since Heavy Metal I could do that as a Commando and SS rather easily, and even as Medic sometimes. Firebug and Sharpshooter were by far the weakest. And SS never had issues with the FP in any patch ever.
But Berserker seemed very useless. Melee range is deadly, ever since the Gorefast strength increase.. and that was in Heavy Metal. The damage resistance never seemed high enough for the good ol' 'zerker. And what he can do I can do just as easily (and safer) as a Commando. The Katana was a great step in the right direction, but they are so heavily reliant on Medic support and constantly dancing around compared to other classes that sit back and shoot and take enemies down.
Now, with the Level Up patch, Commando is too easy to play.. I have zero ammo issues with the SCAR, and often keep it in semi-auto mode and it's literally 1 shot 1 kill for a lot of the specimens. Husks get dropped fast, and semi-auto headshots from a distance drop a Scrake easily. FP is only a touch rough if they manage to get up on me quick, but otherwise they go down without much fanfare. Sharpshooter is now a lot better because of that sniper rifle, and the autoshotgun is great. And demolitions is simply a monster. Which brings me to another point - if I do have issues with FPs, by the time they come around I can just buy some pipebombs and lay them down. Since they don't appear to take up any room/weight...
Berserker has never been a good perk in my book.. and with this hard nerf I can't see myself even bothering to play with it. And Firebug needs some kind of alternative gun or alternative fire - they lack stopping power. Otherwise, every other class is powerful and rather fun to play.