Roadhog users remember a time when the hook and scrap gun combination reigned supreme. No other hero possessed such an offensive advantage like Roadhog. After the release of several patches, gone are the days of one-hit kills. While players unanimously agreed on how overpowered he was, they did not expect such a huge nerf to the scrap gun.
This nerf to the scrap gun included a 33 percent boost in firing speed and 30 percent less damage. The reduction in damage was a travesty for the man down under. The patches changed the overall dynamic and playability of Roadhog.
The tank has always been extremely popular for his offensive power. Players were willing to deal with his slowness for the benefits of Roadhog's scrap gun.
Now we see a slow tank with limited offensive power. An attempt by Blizzard to balance the weapon and character obviously was too one-sided. Roadhog is simply not as fun to play with anymore. This makes other tanks more useful in terms of offense and user playability. This huge alteration to Roadhog demonstrates the importance of maintaining a hero's identity.
The Call for Change
Fortunately, Blizzard's infinite wisdom makes them recognize the need for change. "Overwatch's" principal designer Geoff Goodman stated;
"We're testing some stuff internally for Roadhog.
The focus of changes we're trying are around his defenses, rather than his offensive capabilities. Even though the hook combo is weaker now he can still dish out a lot of damage overall. If he had some more suitability he would be in a better place."
Roadhog looks like he might be in for a buff... pic.twitter.com/SYdRSZ0HMF
— overmeme (@theovermeme) July 12, 2017
Time to move on?
Well hey, it may not be the answer we were all hoping for, but at least its a step in the right direction.
Many players still argue a tank should be more offensively inclined because after all, Roadhog is a tank. It is difficult to speculate when and how Roadhog will be updated in a future patch.
According to Mr.Goodman, what we can expect is a definite increase in defense. For some players, this could make up for Roadhog's decreased scrap gun damage.
Others will resent the fact that they will never feel his one shot kill again. Whenever Roadhog's update does come out, we must be ready to adapt. An increased defense can give you more time to take down enemies (which also means more time for the opposing team to narrow in on you). Despite past and future changes, one can always adapt and learn from the styles of various heroes. Looking forward to seeing this update.
