In this patch, every class (Save for Firebug. No love for the Firebugs...) got a lot of fancy new weaponry and/or improvements. Except the Berserker. While every class was buffed, the Zerker got absolutely gimped.
First, the equipment nerfs. The Berserker got the Katana's attack rate slowed and the auto-attack removed. Thus, when you're surrounded, no more flurry of swings to break you out. Even spamclicking won't get you the attack speed you used to have.
And the Chainsaw, which already had pretty debatable use vs the Katana, was nerfed. It's constant-stream-of-pain primary fire's damage has been dropped to pathetic levels. Any enemies you decapitate now live long enough to smack you! Where the Chainsaw meant you could wade into a group of Gorefasts and come out on top where the Katana would get you hurt, it no longer does. In fact, doing so with the Chainsaw is suicide now. No redeeming features left in the Chainsaw whatsoever...
Then the new enemy and Fleshpound decap changes. The Husk is a Berserker's worst nightmare, as it can plink you from insane distances while you're busy hacking. Then, the Fleshpounds who used to be decap fodder for a Chainsaw or well-timed Katana swing with the "headbutt" attack, hardly every do the "headbutt" anymore. If you're a Zerker rushed by a Fleshpound, your weapons simply don't do enough damage to kill it and you're going to be clobbered if you don't get an insanely lucky decapitation...
Other perks far, far outdamage the Zerker now, FROM A SAFER RANGE, and can now easily deal with the bigger specimens that used to be the Berserker's forte... Why be right next to a Scrake right now, slashing away for 5 seconds when you can whip out an autoshotgun and blow him (And most everything near him!) away in the blink of an eye. Or pop his head with M-14 spam. Or blow him away with a pipebomb.
Most newbies from the free weekend get Berserker to levels 1 or 2 and give up on it because "The weapons suck and meleeing gets you killed". And they're completely right. Why melee, period, when the ranged options are so much better!? The bottom line, at least to me, is that these changes left the Berserker with no real competitive edge and, IMO, not much of a "Fun Factor" left. RIP, Berserker. We hardly knew you.
First, the equipment nerfs. The Berserker got the Katana's attack rate slowed and the auto-attack removed. Thus, when you're surrounded, no more flurry of swings to break you out. Even spamclicking won't get you the attack speed you used to have.
And the Chainsaw, which already had pretty debatable use vs the Katana, was nerfed. It's constant-stream-of-pain primary fire's damage has been dropped to pathetic levels. Any enemies you decapitate now live long enough to smack you! Where the Chainsaw meant you could wade into a group of Gorefasts and come out on top where the Katana would get you hurt, it no longer does. In fact, doing so with the Chainsaw is suicide now. No redeeming features left in the Chainsaw whatsoever...
Then the new enemy and Fleshpound decap changes. The Husk is a Berserker's worst nightmare, as it can plink you from insane distances while you're busy hacking. Then, the Fleshpounds who used to be decap fodder for a Chainsaw or well-timed Katana swing with the "headbutt" attack, hardly every do the "headbutt" anymore. If you're a Zerker rushed by a Fleshpound, your weapons simply don't do enough damage to kill it and you're going to be clobbered if you don't get an insanely lucky decapitation...
Other perks far, far outdamage the Zerker now, FROM A SAFER RANGE, and can now easily deal with the bigger specimens that used to be the Berserker's forte... Why be right next to a Scrake right now, slashing away for 5 seconds when you can whip out an autoshotgun and blow him (And most everything near him!) away in the blink of an eye. Or pop his head with M-14 spam. Or blow him away with a pipebomb.
Most newbies from the free weekend get Berserker to levels 1 or 2 and give up on it because "The weapons suck and meleeing gets you killed". And they're completely right. Why melee, period, when the ranged options are so much better!? The bottom line, at least to me, is that these changes left the Berserker with no real competitive edge and, IMO, not much of a "Fun Factor" left. RIP, Berserker. We hardly knew you.
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