Mister E here,
I recently made a video summarizing many of these thoughts but overall I want to congratulate fatshark on a solid update. Ogryn and havoc have both had fresh life breathed into them (though neither are without their issues). I would like to leave this post to enumerate many of the successes of the update, but also to draw attention to lingering issues. So let’s get into it!
HAVOC
EDIT: Before I give havoc any praise, i have to give a BIG criticism to the new ranking system. it SUCKS. i want to play lower ranks and help people but it is actively demoting me from 40 to 39 every time i lose a game in the 20s. makes no sense, and makes people really not want to bring anyone into the group they havent extensively vetted. I imagine there are more ppl than ever playing this mode and yet nothing on the party finder.
Good: New havoc is great, much better balancing of ranged vs melee, the vast majority of losses coming from overwhelming odds and not cheap ranged damage.
Needs work: The odds of completing a mission is largely decided by the map seed. Sometimes generating shotgunners only and sometimes filling the map with reapers and gunners. These seeds are too easy and too hard, respectively.
Good: New mutators are a better fit for the game than the previous set. I am especially fond of purple and the summoning circles.
Needs work: Purple effects arent very clear which enemy they are affixed to, since the light can be a bit ambient. Demonhost summoning circles sometimes summon at the increased rate when they are nowhere near the team, forcing a demonhost encounter.
Good: Mini bosses and increased captains/twins spawns are very chaotic and open up roles on the team to deal with these threats.
Needs work: Twins attack with almost no warning, and the knockback from the sword twin is very high-even ogryn are shoved nonstop. Captains with power sword can channel invisible attacks. The triggers for bosses are often incredible close together, and venturing even a foot further can spawn additional threats.
Good: Emperors fading light nerfs have been an immense help for reducing the threat of small shooters, and making more builds viable at high ranks. The relaxations on ammo nerfs are also welcomed and groups without veterans are no longer ammo starved.
Needs work: Gunner-centric seeds are still a huge pain.
Good: New maps!
Needs work: Conditions such as ventilation/lights out/ POX GAS need to be reevaluated as they are completely random and can make some maps many times harder. Especially fk the pox gas maps, please make them gone.
OGRYN
Ogryn is SO fun now. Many different builds and lots of paths to flex with your talent points. Good job on this one, design team.
I do have concerns that point blank barrage is now sort of bad by comparison. It no longer boasts boss killing damage, nor armor penetration. I think a revisit on this skill is in order if it is to compete with the other two A+ tier abilities ogryn now has.
Overall, I am very pleased, and I haven’t even played the new game mode yet! Very excited for 2025 if this is the quality we can expect this year.
TL;DR watch this instead
https://youtu.be/jqh6ixMhwmw
