Yuletide Horror beta: My impressions

[Aya]

Winterbite Revolvers

Initially, i was turned off by the low damage numbers, seeing that they are on par with the AR-15 Varmint Rifles, though after a few deaths with them in my hand, I was able to make use of its freezing functionality. Definitely a powerful addition for what they offer, though I feel like the Level 2 and Level 3 damage scaling could use some increases, as it's pretty wasteful to upgrade them more than once. Another issue i've noticed are that siren screams destroy the Winterbite's projectiles which i feel hinders their usability at times. Lastly, i don't know how to feel about having to aim for the Fleshpounds legs to make use of them, as shooting them in the head enrages them a little too early, making them immune to freezing.

Incisor

Don't know how to comment on this as online matches no longer work for me. For what they offer, I can definitely see a large degree of utility in focus fire tactics and I guess the best way to describe them is that they're what the Hemogoblin should've been: A huge chunk of damage with some debuffing on the side. Only improvement i can think of is to give the medic darts increased damage and a penetration strength of 4, since it's just too satisfying to kill zeds with the dart launcher.

Unfortunately, i can't see this being part of the Medic meta [sarcasm]as it is simply too much fun to use.[/sarcasm]

Seasonal objective: Maternal Instincts

Seems almost impossible to get the Matriarch to spawn. IMO, the number of completions required should be reduced to 4 rather than 10, as it seems somewhat unrealistic to get this goal throughout during the Steam CHRISTMAS SALE (pretty sure that's when the update goes live)

Other issues not addressed in this beta

Gonna be posting old threads from both the Steam forums and Tripwire's. Please don't necro any of them.

• 9mm pistol: People will always find a reason to complain about the 9mm. It either doesn't do enough damage to decapitate clots or it doesn't have enough ammo. I think a compromise is in order
  
• Berserker: I'd argue that this perk is actually underpowered because while you are as powerful as you need to be at level 25, getting there is honestly not all that fun at all and you're actually pretty weak until you reach max level. I think moving elements from his current skillset to passives is the best solution. Also, Massacre sucks. Hyperlink text[forums.tripwireinteractive.com]
  
• Katana: It's pretty useless in its current implementation. IMO, i think it needs to have its price reduced to $750 and weigh 3 blocks again so as to reinstate its utility for off-perk parrying, as its current stats actually make it a downgrade to the Crovel.
  
• Fire Axe: Being a stopgap towards the Tier 3 and Tier 4 melees, i can see its rather crappy attack speed being excused, though it definitely needs to have a faster switch speed, since you'll still want to carry your crovel for clots. The VLAD-1000 buffs also make the Fire Axe even less attractive
  
• Survivalist: There's a reason the perk is as unpopular as he is, though I still think buffs > rework outright. Here's a post i made in Tripwire's forums regarding how the Survivalist could be improved[forums.tripwireinteractive.com]

[gothgirls]

I'll probably get the last two achievements and not play the rest of this seasonal. It's just super boring and I've been enjoying playing other games like BO3 or Destiny 2.

The Sanitarium map looks cool(ish) but I'm not liking it due to how tight the map feels. The HRG weapons I haven't even bothered to look at. Just don't really care about the concepts of either of them. I don't play medic and ice revolvers, while cool, I don't care much for after Overwatch(I mained a counter sniper Mei). And I found Mat to be a pushover on suicidal. Not that that matters. All the bosses are basically pushovers or just boring chores to fight. I find bosses more fun to fight on solo HoE though.

Regarding the seasonal objectives, nobody uses traps to begin with, or at least from most of the games I play, so I don't even know why they're in the map to begin with. The other objectives for the seasonal are pretty normal. My only issue is the traps and it's not even really an issue. I like the Jaeger skins but don't think I'll end up getting any of them due to my disinterest in this game as of late. Might end up selling most of my inventory, I dunno.

In regards to your semi off topic stuff:

I despised their decision to reduce the reserve ammo for the 9mm. They could've simply buffed damage and left it at that. I almost stopped playing online HoE games because I would use the 9mm very often for first and second wave. Just a thing they did I never forgave them for.

I actually really like how squishy perks are when levelling up. It helps me focus on practicing survivability tactics. I've actually gotten insanely good at prioritizing bashing targets because of my time levelling my Comm to P5L25.

Survivalist is one of the only two perks I never play. The other being Firebug. I've always felt Survivalist should have the ability to choose a loadout of weapons and skills. Choose what T1, grenade, and knife, as well as one of each level of skills. It's passives would focus simply on survivability, 25 more health and armour but still be a normal slow perk. It would also have 25% damage boost to electronic and makeshift weapons.

TL;DR I find this game super boring to play now and I'm pretty much moved on. Too many things I just have no interest in.

Sorry about this novel I typed up.

[JJ, Mockery of Mankind]

I got 10 spawns in less than the time this beta has been live, to this post, under 24 hours using endless.

Bad gripe on that bit.

[Wandering Flare]

3 Matriarch spawns in ~30 boss fights, ain't that fun. I'm not sure why they called the Objective challenge "Settling a family affair" if Matriarch is in no way involved and isn't even the final boss (which would significantly help with Maternal Instinct).

They should've either given her increased spawn chance for the event or at least lower the requirements.