With the advent of the to-be-added Katana, it would seem the Berzerker class has an intense arsenal to choose from in terms of melee devices...
Axe, Chainsaw, Knife, Machete, Katana... Berzerkers easily have the widest selection of weapons to use, and yet the majority of them perform a roughly similar task. In fact, I feel they all perform (with the exception of the chainsaw) a little too similarly...
Regarding the Machete:
Rarely do I see anyone head to the shop to purchase a Machete... Rarely do I see anyone pick up the Machete during a wave and actually use it... In fact, the only time I ever see the Machete used is to make some extra cash by selling it to the shop whenever it's found. In its current state, it's not a preferable item to spend inventory slots on, especially not when it's overshadowed by more functional items like the Axe/Katana.
Once the Katana is finally implemented, I wonder what place the Machete will actually have... In fact, I wonder right now what place the Machete has at all, besides being a mediocre upgrade from the default knife. Personally, I'd rather have the remaining slots free in my inventory so that I can run faster using my default knife, than to spend them on the Machete.
Now on to my idea:
Add a "throw" option to the Machete.
The Berzerker class may have a multitude of weapons to select from... But none of them are projectile based. Adding the ability to throw the Machete at a target might add that extra consideration to the weapon when at the shop. If the Machete is the only option for the Berzerker to deal critical melee-based damage from a significant distance, it might actually become a preferable weapon.
This could work in one of a few ways... One would be to remove the "strong" attack from the Machete in favor for the option to throw it. Another could be to leave both attack types in, and just have users click the iron-sights button to heave it at specimen. Even further, you could remove the "strong" attack for the option to throw it, and when you hold down the iron-sights key, it centers the knife on the screen, giving a reference point for the user to aim properly.
In terms of damage, I was thinking it could deal relatively strong melee damage to a single specimen (similar to damage dealt by a Crossbow bolt), however it has no penetration and simply affects the one target. Upon striking the target, the Machete could fall to the floor to be retrieved, much like individual Crossbow bolts once they are fired. However, because of the nature of throwing your Machete, chances are it's going to land in a specimen-heavy environment, so retrieval would be rather difficult in that regard.
I feel the option to throw the Machete would have significant impact on the way the Berzerker class is played. Think of the following scenario:
It's the 10th wave, and you're team is being pummeled from all sides by raging specimen. As a Berzerker, you're right on the front lines, buzzing away with your Chainsaw. Suddenly, two Fleshpounds descend on you. You tear into them with your Chainsaw but it's no good. Each one smacks you silly, depleting your armor and knocking you down to 20HP before they fall. Before you can react, a Scrake nears your position. Your team blindly fires, causing the Scrake to rush towards you in a frenzy. If he reaches you, you're as good as gone. In an act of desperation, you whip out your Machete and heave it at him, delivering the death blow and saving your life.
In this respect, the ability to throw the Machete would provide a single "act of desperation" for the Berzerker, potentially saving them (or others) from life-threatening situations. It can only be used once, so the Berzerker would have to choose the proper moment to part with their Machete, potentially risking future conflicts without it...
Well, I pretty much wrote a book about it by now... So I'll leave it up to you guys to discuss/build upon.
Axe, Chainsaw, Knife, Machete, Katana... Berzerkers easily have the widest selection of weapons to use, and yet the majority of them perform a roughly similar task. In fact, I feel they all perform (with the exception of the chainsaw) a little too similarly...
Regarding the Machete:
Rarely do I see anyone head to the shop to purchase a Machete... Rarely do I see anyone pick up the Machete during a wave and actually use it... In fact, the only time I ever see the Machete used is to make some extra cash by selling it to the shop whenever it's found. In its current state, it's not a preferable item to spend inventory slots on, especially not when it's overshadowed by more functional items like the Axe/Katana.
Once the Katana is finally implemented, I wonder what place the Machete will actually have... In fact, I wonder right now what place the Machete has at all, besides being a mediocre upgrade from the default knife. Personally, I'd rather have the remaining slots free in my inventory so that I can run faster using my default knife, than to spend them on the Machete.
Now on to my idea:
Add a "throw" option to the Machete.
The Berzerker class may have a multitude of weapons to select from... But none of them are projectile based. Adding the ability to throw the Machete at a target might add that extra consideration to the weapon when at the shop. If the Machete is the only option for the Berzerker to deal critical melee-based damage from a significant distance, it might actually become a preferable weapon.
This could work in one of a few ways... One would be to remove the "strong" attack from the Machete in favor for the option to throw it. Another could be to leave both attack types in, and just have users click the iron-sights button to heave it at specimen. Even further, you could remove the "strong" attack for the option to throw it, and when you hold down the iron-sights key, it centers the knife on the screen, giving a reference point for the user to aim properly.
In terms of damage, I was thinking it could deal relatively strong melee damage to a single specimen (similar to damage dealt by a Crossbow bolt), however it has no penetration and simply affects the one target. Upon striking the target, the Machete could fall to the floor to be retrieved, much like individual Crossbow bolts once they are fired. However, because of the nature of throwing your Machete, chances are it's going to land in a specimen-heavy environment, so retrieval would be rather difficult in that regard.
I feel the option to throw the Machete would have significant impact on the way the Berzerker class is played. Think of the following scenario:
It's the 10th wave, and you're team is being pummeled from all sides by raging specimen. As a Berzerker, you're right on the front lines, buzzing away with your Chainsaw. Suddenly, two Fleshpounds descend on you. You tear into them with your Chainsaw but it's no good. Each one smacks you silly, depleting your armor and knocking you down to 20HP before they fall. Before you can react, a Scrake nears your position. Your team blindly fires, causing the Scrake to rush towards you in a frenzy. If he reaches you, you're as good as gone. In an act of desperation, you whip out your Machete and heave it at him, delivering the death blow and saving your life.
In this respect, the ability to throw the Machete would provide a single "act of desperation" for the Berzerker, potentially saving them (or others) from life-threatening situations. It can only be used once, so the Berzerker would have to choose the proper moment to part with their Machete, potentially risking future conflicts without it...
Well, I pretty much wrote a book about it by now... So I'll leave it up to you guys to discuss/build upon.