I've neglected the latest NG+ run of the game the last little while. So many games so little time. But I was looking with interest to the new Butcher's Circus DLC. To my surprise it was given free to all players who had already purchased the game. Very nice indeed!
While I installed and tried a few matches I was constantly disconnected/desynced. First(second, third and fourth) day teething and all. To be expected. So I settled with a few better matches with steam friends.
It's an interesting mode of play. Slower than PvE. Slower than I'd imagined it to be. Also not as heartpouonding as I thought. Almost like a game of chess. Move and counter move depending on team composition and the abilities as well as your opponents understanding of moves and countermoves. You need to be a few steps ahead but also not get thrown when a player does something unexpected. There doesn't seem to be a meta crew to run yet. Players are going for all kinds of mixed teams. Stun teams, dodge teams, teams based on all out physical DPS or heavy on blight or bleeds.
I am thankful that unlike in PvE, damage over time abilities do not kill even with a character on deaths door, a last physical attack is needed to finish. Otherwise it would've been all about bleeds and blights all the time.
One thing that's obvious are characters with the ability to move an opponents team about are true controllers of the engagement. Bounty hunters may be just about the nearest thing to a meta must have(has a push and a pull).
For me I tend towards Bounty hunter(for uppercut and come hither), Flagellant for the abuse he can take plus his heals as well as the stress he can counter, Vestal for group heals and stun and Plague Doctor for her blight/stun and combat heal/cure abilities. I'm also keen on the Occultist, Highwayman and to a lesser extent a Hellion with Iron Swan and Yawp. But also the Jesters buff/stress relief is good..... As well as the Antiquarian for dodge.....
In truth there's so many combinations and so many team compositions, so many characters and ability combinations it's such a glorious mash up. Hard to counter everything. Then you add in trinkets.
You can go unprepared and face a team and get a resounding victory but the flip side is also true, face a team you think you're setup to kill and see yourself get trashed. Yet it's not that black and white, there's a true ebb and flow to how a game goes as well as luck. RNG is still in there.
On a softer note the art is still great and the music is so very apt not to mention the voice over lines.
Creating a banner from unlocked game elements is fun.
Having the game mode appear in the campaign is a good way to get PvE and PvP players to mix without the need for one to ruin the others progression. Without it having forced on players or have players be labelled as one or the other. Really well done DLC.
More fun to be had but I think I'll be playing with friends than with the randomness of the general internet.
This game with friends and (out of game) voice comms is a great experience. I'm glad the game hasn't got any kind text or other communication with random opponents. That would just lead to general internet unpleasantness(only takes one and they are out there).
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