Aztechnology
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- Genres: Cooperative, Action, FPS, Indie
- Developer: Fatshark
- Publisher: Fatshark
- Platforms: PC, with release for PS4 and Xbox set for Q1 of 2016
- Price: $29.99, $44.99 Collectors Edition.
- Release Date: October 23rd 2015
https://youtu.be/NbREAF-wmEg
https://youtu.be/dr3arT8OWAY
The time of mortals is ending, and the reign of Chaos draws ever closer. The Dark Gods are at last united in a singular purpose, loosing their madness across the world as never before. In the Empire of Sigmar, Karl Franz's gaze is focused on the incursion of the savage northmen, but it is not the only threat. As the Chaos moon Morrslieb waxes full, shrill voices echo through tunnels gnawed far beneath the Empire's cities, and a Skaven host swarms towards the surface. It emerges first in the city of Ubersreik, a screeching mass that consumes all before it. Soon Ubersreik is a channel-town, drowning beneath the malevolent shadow of the Horned Rat.
Yet even in the darkest times, there are always champions to light the way. As Ubersreik cowers, five heroes, united by capricious fate, carry the fight to the rat-men. It remains to be seen whether they have the strength to survive, let alone work together long enough to thwart the invaders. One truth, however, is beyond all doubt: should these five fall, then Ubersreik will fall with them.
Vermintide is a co-operative action first person shooter and melee combat adventure set in the End Times of the iconic Warhammer Fantasy universe.
Vermintide takes place in and around Ubersreik, a city overrun by Skaven. You will assume the role of one of five heroes, each featuring different play-styles, abilities, gear and personality. Working cooperatively, you must use their individual attributes to survive an apocalyptic invasion from the hordes of relentless rat-men, known as the Skaven. Battles will take place across a range of environments stretching from the top of the Magnus Tower to the bowels of the Under Empire.
The game takes place over thirteen levels each with a unique setting and goals. The game in play is very much like Left 4 Dead, in that it follows a loose story, but has no substantial plot. The team must attempt to complete the objective and reach the end of the level without perishing. To do this you will have your pick of a unique cast of characters and a variety of gear acquired while playing the game.
In your journey to push back the incessant horde, you may choose one of five characters each with their own unique equipment and skills. These characters for better or worse are stuck together, and learning how to leverage each characters skills will allow you to crush the Skaven Hordes beneath your boots. These characters are...
Witch Hunter
Judge, jury and executioner combined, Victor Saltzpyre is a Witch Hunter who will by any means necessary burn out heresy and corruption from the heart of the Empire. Grim and relentless, this sinister man is a member of the Holy Order of the Templars of Sigmar, an organization whose members seek to punish those who dare employ fell sorcery or consort with the agents of the Dark Gods. When battle rages and the conjurations of vile wizards tear the skies above, Witch Hunters are often all that stands between an Empire soldier and a most unnatural death.
Victor’s obsession with the Skaven has unfortunately led to friction with his superiors, preventing him from being promoted to Witch Hunter Captain. Additionally, his lack of objections towards working with other races separates him even further from his fellow members, even if he draws the line at not allying with anything outright evil or daemonic. In Victor’s eyes, the end justifies the means, and he is ultimately willing to fight alongside anyone as long as they are not apparent enemies of Sigmar and the Empire
https://youtu.be/kPeENIDvbkE
Additional Backstory
Equipment
Most often, Witch Hunters like to take on their foes using light and agile weaponry, making them quick and lethal in battle. They are masters of the Pistol, eliminating individual enemies with maximum efficiency at a distance. If the enemy draws near, the Witch Hunter will switch to his Rapier and start to puncture bodies with lethal precision. Occasionally, Victor will bring something different to the fight, such as a Repeater Pistol or a One Handed Axe. New weapon combinations like this add to or specialize his already impressive abilities, tweaking his fighting style to maximize his Skaven killing capacity.
Bright Wizard
Sienna Fuegonasus is a fiery tempered Bright Wizard who roams the land in a constant search for opportunities to indulge herself in the ecstasy of pyromancy.
Blessed with a sharp intellect and a wicked sense of humour, Sienna will generally pass for a well-adjusted individual, as far as wizards go. Those who witness her in battle, however, will soon catch a glimpse of how deep her dependency on the adrenaline rush of pyromancy has taken her.
Sienna arrives in Ubersreik as the prisoner of a Witch Hunter, Victor Saltzpyre, and guarded by a former State Trooper, Markus Kruber. A trial indeed awaits, but of a different kind than they all expected.
https://youtu.be/2neVLi-xKy0
Additional Backstory
Equipment
Being a Bright Wizard, Sienna is always seen with a Staff in her hand. The Staff is used to channel her magic, and she can choose from a selection of Staves that will focus her magic into different attacks ranging from a concentrated beam of intense fire to a large flame column bursting up from the ground. Sienna needs to keep herself in check though, or she risks immolating herself. Use too much magic and the flames will turn on her. For close range combat, she can use her Wizard Sword or Flaming Sword to hack, slash and burn through the Skaven, or opt for the Wizards Mace to bash armoured enemies into bloody submission.
Dwarf Ranger
He may be the shortest in the group of heroes, but the Dwarf Ranger Bardin Goreksson certainly makes up for it in ferocity, determination and spirit. Gregarious, prideful and not afraid to offend, Bardin is frequently seen charging into the thick of battle, axe or hammer in full swing and leaving a trail of Skaven corpses behind him. Once the victory is assured, he will be the first back to the pub, roaring and laughing at the top of his lungs in a manner only is a dwarf is capable of.
https://youtu.be/7zccFcw6NCg
Additional Backstory
Equipment
Nothing brings Bardin quite the same joy as swinging an axe or a hammer, efficiently and brutally working his way through a group of Skaven. Fearless in battle, he never hesitates to launch himself into the fray.
For ranged battle, he can opt for his Grudge-raker to deliver close range area damage or exchange it for accuracy and range using the Dwarfen Hand Gun or Crossbow
Waywatcher
Enigmatic and sharp sighted, Kerillian is a Waywatcher who walks the lands of men, after having left her post as a guardian of the Wood Elves ancient home Athel Loren. The reasons why she keeps to herself. Using her exceptional skills with a bow and blade to take down anyone perceived as a threat, she is as likely to kill you as she is to begrudgingly acknowledge your presence. Kerillian regards the human race as nothing more than clueless children, and treats them accordingly, most often drenching her answers to their naive questions in patronising sarcasm. Unfortunately for her, Wood Elves are rare in human lands, and even if many recoil in fear, she is regarded as a curiosity and approached more frequently than she would prefer by foolish humans attempting to interact
https://youtu.be/MRZK9AtQdTk
Additional Backstory
Equipment
Waywatchers like to keep their distance while fighting, picking off enemies before they even realize they are in any danger. They are exceptionally skilled with a Bow, and often use different styles of arrows to efficiently take down their foes before they come within arms reach. If any of her enemies are lucky enough to avoid an Elven shaft between the eyes, Kerillian will swap to her Double Daggers and swiftly hack, stab and slash a path through them, leaving a trail of bloody corpses in her wake. Occasionally, Kerillian will opt for a more strength focused approach to her fighting, picking up one or even two Short Swords and taking down multiple foes in one mighty slice.
Empire Soldier
A veteran from the battlefields of Ostland, Markus Kruber is a highly skilled but war weary Empire Soldier. As the sole survivor after his regiment fell prey to the gruesome death magic of a Necromancer, Kruber is emotionally scarred but keeps up appearances by clinging to his old self, the affable soldier trying to do right in a world of wrongs.
https://youtu.be/PlQvKwbokHc
Additional Backstory
Equipment
Markus Kruber is a fearsome melee warrior, trained to excellence in numerous weapon techniques . When wielding large two-handed weapons, such as the Great Hammer or the Great Sword, he is capable of mowing down several enemies in one hefty swing, engaging a horde of rat-men all on his own. He is equally skilled with the One Handed Mace, the One Handed Sword, and the Sword and Shield Combo, his versatility enabling him to tackle any conceivable situation on the battlefield. For ranged combat, he is equally well prepared, wielding the devastating close range Blunderbuss, the armour piercing Handgun or unleashing a high volume of fire with the Repeater Handgun
Skavenslaves
The lowest of the low in the Skaven hierarchy, Skavenslaves perform the most menial and/or dangerous tasks, and constantly face the threat of being devoured by their kin. In battle, they are deployed for meat grinder tactics, swarming the enemy in sheer numbers, and therefore lack armour and decent weapons.
The Skavenslaves will always attack in great numbers, either through a coordinated attack signalled by a battle horn, or through an ambush. If they manage to surround you, fight with righteous fury and pray to Sigmar you’ll live.
Clanrat
The Clanrats make up the bulk of the Skaven army and are among the lowest ranking in the vile clan hierarchy. Slightly shorter than your average man, the Clanrats matted fur is filthy and patched, with wounds and boils covering parts of their body. They are clothed in rags and scrap armour, carrying worn down swords, knives, maces, flails, spears, and torches.
The Clanrats’ strength comes from their great numbers, surrounding and overwhelming their enemy by attacking from all directions. While banded together, the Clanrats bolster each other’s confidence and aggressiveness, encouraged by the screaming of orders like “kill the man-things, quick-quick”. Yet these warriors are cowardly at heart and lack basic discipline and determination, so if the odds turn against them, the remaining Clanrats will start to cower away or even flee the battle.
Stormvermin
Wearing heavy armour, red cloth and a crest adorned helmet, the Stormvermin are among the fighting elite of the Skaven clans. Well trained in the use of halberds, they are tough challenge in one on one combat. Stormvermin will mix up stabs, swings, blocks and parries, to always keep the players on their toes.
The Stormvermin are often seen ordering the Clanrats around, shouting instructions and egging the rest of the army on, thereby bolstering their aggression. They are leaders in battle, and will not break and run as easily as the rest of their kind.
Poison Wind Globadier
Wearing their signature robes and gas mask and carrying a heavy rebreathing apparatus, the Poison Wind Globadiers have actually strapped a ticking time bomb on their backs, since the container is filled with highly combustible warp-gas. These hired elite soldiers can be heard from quite a distance, clanking and wheezing their way into battle, whilst preparing their globes with deadly green gas to be flung at their enemy.
Upon impact, the globe shatters and spreads the toxic fumes, dazing and damaging any who might be caught in the resulting cloud. Life is cheap in the eyes of the Skaven, and the Globadier does not care if Clanrats are caught within the cloud along with the targeted enemy.
If our heroes manage to cause heavy damage to the Globadier, it will go into a frenzy as its apparatus has been breached and becomes unstable. The Globadier will then charge the players in a suicidal attempt to take them out. If they don’t manage to kill it in time, the Globadier and his equipment will explode in their midst.
Gutter Runner
For a Gutter Runner, stealth is everything. Always moving in the shadows, the Gutter Runner wear a black cloak to blend in with their surroundings and make as little noise as possible. Equipped with Warpstone Rat Claws that glow a sickening shade of green, the Gutter Runner will expertly leap at its enemy, using its weight and momentum to knock the player onto their back. Left prone and vulnerable, the Gutter Runner will then proceed to hack into the hero’s torso, forcing the rest of the players to rush to the aid of their comrade.
Having undergone gruelling training in their mysterious fighting styles, the Gutter Runner is able to bend and contort its body, making it incredibly nimble and able to move at speeds unachievable by man. While attacking a hero, it will focus all of its attention on killing them, but once the other players start attack it, the Gutter Runner will roll backwards and disappear into a cloud of smoke.
Pack Master (Hook Rat)
Packmasters are Clan Moulder troops tasked with driving packs of ravening beasts into battle, using whips and intimidation to spur their charges into a frenzy of teeth and claws. However, the Packmasters hired by Clan Fester in their assault on Ubersreik, are predominantly equipped with things-catchers, a pole arm designed to incapacitate opponents by strangulation.
It is still unknown why Clan Fester has paid the extra warpstone tokens for this somewhat unusual specialisation.
Without support from the rest of the group, the hero will face inevitable death when caught by a Packmaster. After catching his prey, the Moulder-kin will first try to put as much distance as possible between the captured hero and the rest of the team. When ready, the Packmaster will hoist the helpless victim into the air, and end the hero’s life through a gruesome hanging.
Ratling Gunner
The Ratling Gun is a six-barreled monstrosity of a gun, powered by warp steam and operated with a hand crank. This fearsome weapon of unparalleled rate of fire is normally operated by a Clan Skryre weapons team, but the version deployed in Ubersreik seems to be of a lighter, experimental type, capable of being moved and fired by a single Skaven.
Encumbered by the weight and unwieldiness of the weapon, the Ratling Gunner is far from quick on his feet, but once he cranks up his weapon and opens fire, warpstone laced hell is unleashed. Single minded and persistent, the Ratling Gunner will pick a target, and then continually track it, firing relentlessly until either the weapon jams, needs to reload or the Hero lays dead and shredded beyond recognition.
Much like his colleague the Poison Wind Globadier, the Ratling Gunner won’t let a small fact like Clanrats or Skavenslaves blocking his line of fire stop him. If a Hero can keep her wits about her (or him), the Hero can make the Ratling Gunner mow down his kin, whilst dodging from cover to cover. However, be sure to not get caught in the open, or face a rapid fire death in a hail of warpstone gunfire.
Rat Ogre (AKA Tank)
About twice the size of a regular human, the Rat Ogre is the result of horrendous surgical and crossbreeding experiments (mainly, but not limited to, between Skaven and Ogres). A feral, primal nearly unstoppable killing machine, the Rat Ogre has the strength and size to cause the ground to shake as it charges. Should our heroes fail to move and be caught in the charge, they’ll find themselves on the receiving end of the Rat Ogres claws.
The Rat Ogre is also known to grab nearby victims (like a hero, for instance) and throw it quite a distance. For the hero, sailing through the air might be exhilarating, but the abrupt and painful landing is definitely not.
On the whole, the Rat Ogre is a mindless brute, relying on aggression and muscle to get the job done. It will focus its attacks on one hero at a time, enabling the rest of the party to assist in taking it down, while the Rat Ogre’s attention is focused on its sole target. As always, the key to victory is teamwork.
Tips: The Rat Ogre as it says above likes to focus a single target, have other teamates take care of hordes and smaller rats first while you kite the ogre. The ogre uses two attacks, and upwards sweeping attack that can be blocked but will knock you backwards and expend all stamina. The other attack is a slam, this cannot be blocked, only dodged. Best strategy is to face the Rat Ogre with block up, watch for his swing animation and dodge backwards as he swings/pounds successfully dodging the attack. The rest of the team should continuously hit the ogre with arrows or in the back until it switches targets provided there aren't other rats around.
Stormvermin Patrol
Facing a lone Stormvermin can be quite a challenge, but taking on a whole Patrol is borderline suicidal. Using their tactical training, the Stormvermin Patrol will quickly surround individual heroes and with just a few well placed blows bring the player to their knees. If the Patrol is engaged, the players must work together and be constantly aware of their surroundings if they are to survive.
The Stormvermin Patrol are the only enemies in Vermintide that can be avoided, if you manage to sneak past them. While you may risk bumping into them later as they continue their patrol, avoiding them is oftentimes the safest and best bet. Accomplishing Mission Objectives is what will win the war, not suffering unnecessary casualties in pointless engagements.
Tips: AVOID AVOID AVOID, on higher difficulties this group can crush your group if not handled perfectly. Hide away in a side building or behind cover far enough away for them to not notice you and they will pass right by. If you someone draw their ire, use grenades or have your shield carrier push them back while you rain piercing projectiles onto their heads.
SACK RAT
The Sack Rat is a pilferer of goods. He appropriates loot from fallen soldiers and townsfolk and collect it in his bag. Should you see him, you need to act quickly to kill him and take his loot for yourself. He will often have bombs, health kits, potions or possibly even higher level loot dice (Cursed Die) in his sack. So count your blessings if you see one, it just might be your lucky day.
