Overview
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide (also known as Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide) is a dark fantasy co-operative first-person action game developed and published digitally by Fatshark for the PC (via Steam) on October 23, 2015.
Set in the fantasy universe of Warhammer, Vermintide takes place at the beginning of the world's apocalyptic event known as the "End Times". As the city of Ubersreik is invaded by hordes of rodent-like humanoid creatures (known as the Skaven), five unlikely heroes must band together to purge them from the city (and its surrounding areas) while finding a way to stop their plans once and for all.
The game is heavily inspired by the Left 4 Dead series, as four players (human or A.I.) must progress through each level while performing objectives, collecting items, and facing waves of randomized Skaven ambushes, all while combating unique enemies that require constant attention. Each of the game's playable characters have an unique assortment of weaponry (both close-ranged and long-ranged), which affect their strengths and weaknesses.
As players progress through the game, they earn random loot (including weapons with unique traits and special "trinkets" which grant buffs) by completing missions. On each mission cleared, players start an automated dice-rolling system (which can be improved both by difficulty and by finding special items) to determine what loot they get and how rare that loot is. The game also features a robust crafting system, where players in the main lobby hub can smelt weapons to gain special ores, which they can use to unlock, improve, and replace special weapon traits.
Along with numerous updates and paid downloadable content, the game was ported to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (both digitally and in retail boxed form) on October 4, 2016. It later received a direct sequel on March 8, 2018.
Characters
Each playable hero brings different weapons and a set of unique skills to assist their comrades.
Victor Saltzpyre, The Witch Hunter
The Witch Hunter The Witch Hunter, as his name implies, is dedicated to rooting out and burning the corruption and heresy within the Empire by any means necessary. The grim, relentless Victor Saltzpyre is a member of the Holy Order of the Templars of Sigmar, an organization whose purpose is to punish any who seek to employ fell sorcery or consort with agents of the Dark Gods. As a result, his "relationship" with Sienna Fuegonasus, the Bright Wizard, is less than cordial.
His obsession with the Skaven and their impending attack, and his willingness to work with other races has isolated him within the Templar organization. Luckily for the city of Ubersreik, his focus on the ends justifying the means allows Saltzpyre to work as part of this motley crew for the good of the Empire and Sigmar.
Witch Hunters prefer light and agile weaponry. Initially, Victor favors the pistol and rapier combination, but players can loot different weaponry, such as a repeating pistol and one-handed axe or even a two handed great sword.
Melee Weapons
- Falchion (only dropped on missions from the Karak Azgaraz DLC)
Ranged Weapons
- Volley Crossbow (only dropped on missions from the Drachenfels DLC)
Sienna Fuegonasus, The Bright Wizard
The Bright Wizard Sienna is a master of pyromancy with a combustible temper. She has been roaming the lands, always searching for new ways to indulge in her favorite pastime - burning things. While she maintains a somewhat controlled exterior, those who have seen her in battle understand the true depth of her pyromania can be.
She arrives in the city of Ubersreik as a prisoner of Victor Saltzpyre, the Witch Hunter, and is guarded by Markus Kruber, the Empire Soldier. Originally she was scheduled to face trial for murder and arson, but pragmatism prevails as the Skaven launch their assault on the city. Now she must work with her captors to save the city one fireball at a time.
As a Bright Wizard, she is never far from her staff, which she uses to channel her magic. She has to keep this in check, however, as too much pyromancy can cause self-immolation. For close range work she favors a flaming wizard sword or mace.
Melee Weapons
- Ceremonial Dagger (only dropped on missions from the Death on the Reik DLC)
Ranged Weapons
Bardin Goreksson, The Dwarf Ranger
The Dwarf Ranger While easily the shortest memeber of this motley crew of heroes, Bardin Goreksson more than makes up for it with his ferocity in battle. Often found charging straight into a horde of ratmen, hammer or axe swinging, he is just as happy slaying the Skaven as he is draining a pint at the Inn. Loud and gregarious, you will definitely hear Bardin, even if you can't see him.
He has recently travelled to Ubersreik to purchase a tome which he believes will lead him to the lost Dwarven hold of Karak Zorn. The Skaven attack alters his plan, but does not put and end to his quest.
Like most Dwarves, Bardin feels most at home swinging an axe or a hammer either two handed, or using a one handed variant with a shield. For ranged weaponry, Bardin can switch between a crossbow, hand-gun or his patented shotgun-like Grudge-Raker.
Melee Weapons
- Pick (only dropped on missions from the Karak Azgaraz DLC)
Ranged Weapons
Kerillian, The Waywatcher
The Waywatcher Kerillian is a Wood Elf, and former Waywatcher who now walks the lands of men. For reasons she keeps to herself, she abandoned her post guarding the ancient Elven city of Athel Loren. Though she has left her homeland, she views the human race as nothing more than idiotic children, and is not afraid to let others know it. Her sarcasm is often as sharp as her arrows.
Many humans have never seen a Wood Elf, and those who do not recoil in fear tend to approach Kerillian and ply her with questions - much to her chagrin. She is more content to keep to herself, avoiding the unwashed human masses, but the Skaven attack has drawn her to defend the city.
Naturally, Kerillian is deadly with a bow, often switching between different arrow types - from armor piercing bodkin arrows to poison tipped hagbane arows - to down her foes. If, somehow, any Skaven survive this onslaught, Kerillian can switch to her double daggers or short swords to stab, hack and carve her way through the horde.
Melee Weapons
- Glaive (only dropped on missions from the Drachenfels DLC)
Ranged Weapons
Markus Kruber, The Empire Soldier
The Empire Soldier Markus is a loyal servant to the Empire and a veteran of the battlefields of Ostland though his years of combat have made him war weary. His experience as the lone survivor of his regiment, after they were waylaid by a Necromancer's gruesome death magic, has left him emotionally scarred. Still, he continues to present himself as the affable, loyal grunt seeking to right wrongs and fix injustices within the Empire.
Most recently he had been hired by Victor Saltzpyre to help him escort the Bright Mage, Sienna Fuegonasus, back to Ubersreik to face trial. A plan which unraveled in the face of the Skaven onslaught. Now Markus must fight once again for the safety of the Empire.
Markus prefers to fight with two handed melee weapons - preferring the great sword or the hammer. He can also switch to a one handed sword and shield or war-hammer in a pinch. For ranged fighting, he relies upon his repeating pistol or blunderbuss to get the job done.
Melee Weapons
- Executioner Sword (only dropped on missions from the Stromdorf DLC)
Ranged Weapons
Skaven Bestiary
Clanrats & Skavenslaves
The most common enemy found in the game, Clanrats are the weaker soldiers of the Skaven army. Armed with simple weaponry, Clanrats are only strong against players when they overwhelm them in greater numbers.
A weaker form of Clanrats, the unclothed Skavenslaves, attack in even greater numbers through ambushes.
Stormvermin
Elite soldiers with heavy armor (that negate most basic attacks) and powerful long-ranged halberds. While they are commonly encountered, they are usually only grouped together with other Clanrats.
On special occasions, a large tight-knit pack of Stormvermin can be found loudly patrolling areas. Careful groups of players can avoid fighting the patrol by sneaking past them.
Ratling Gunner
Wielding a large gatling gun, Ratling Gunners are special enemies that focus on firing a hail of bullets in the direction of the closest player in its sights. Like Stormvermin, they are heavily armored.
Gutter Runner
Similar to Hunters in the Left 4 Dead series, Gutter Runners are special enemies that move in the shadows to pounce on a single unsuspecting player and incapacitate them, chipping away their health with their deadly Warpstone claws.
Once they sustain enough damage from other players (without being killed outright), they will roll away to dodge further attacks and disappear in a puff of smoke (waiting for another opportunity to strike again). Once they die, they mysteriously dissolve and leave no corpses.
Packmaster
Similar to Jockeys in the Left 4 Dead series, Packmasters are special enemies that focus on grabbing a single unsuspecting player with their unique polearms (built for strangulation) and dragging them away from other players (incapacitating them in the process).
After being dragged for a certain time, the victim gets hoisted into the air and hung on the pole arm, where they will slowly lose health.
Unlike other enemies, Packmasters cannot be knocked back from attacks and pushes.
Poison Wind Globadier
Similar to Spitters in the Left 4 Dead series, Globadiers are special enemies that focus on area-of-denial tactics by surrounding the players (and unfortunate Skaven in the vacinity) in toxic fumes that slowly eat away health.
They primarily attack by throwing globes of warp-gas from a far distance. Once they sustain enough damage, their apparatus becomes unstable and they instead charge towards the players (attempting to take them out in an explosive sacrifice).
Rat Ogre
Similar to Tanks in the Left 4 Dead series, Rat Ogres are rare boss enemies (often spawning only once per mission) with humongous strength and size.
Sack Rat
Rarely found in the game are Sack Rats, each carrying a sack with some item pickups that are dropped on their death. Instead of attacking players, they try to run away from them.
Missions
The base game includes 13 missions set in and around the city of Ubersriek. Players start with the Prologue mission unlocked and must complete all missions in each "Act" to progress to the next set of missions.
Each mission can be placed in one of two categories: short missions (which focus on a single objective not far from the starting point) and long missions (which have numerous objectives with long paths in-between). Players can often find two types of special items in long missions (Tomes and Grimoires), both improving the dice used in obtaining loot at the end of the mission (if they are in a player's inventory at the end of the mission).
Players can also unlock additional missions, set far away from the city of Ubersriek, via paid DLC. Similar to Payday 2, these missions are added to the game in free updates and can be played without owning the DLC if the lobby host owns them.
Prologue
- The Horn of Magnus - Three tomes, two grimoires.
Act I - Consolidation
- Supply and Demand - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- The Wizard's Tower - Three tomes, two grimoires. On July 12, 2017, the map received a cryptic puzzle (similar to the "Overdrill" event in Payday: The Heist) which unlocks a secret map (Trial of the Foolhardy).
Act II - Retaliation
- Engines of War - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- Garden of Morr - Three tomes, two grimoires.
Act III - Annihilation
- The Enemy Below - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- The White Rat - One grimoire. The final mission of the base game, The White Rat is hidden until the other Act III missions are completed.
Drachenfels
Released on May 26, 2016 for $8.99. These missions have two exclusive loot drops: the Glaive (for the Waywatcher) and Volley Crossbow (for the Witch Hunter).
- Castle Drachenfels - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- Summoner's Peak - One tome, one grimoire.
- The Dungeons - Two tomes, two grimoires.
Karak Azgaraz
Released on December 15, 2016 for $8.99. These missions have two exclusive loot drops: the Warpick (for the Dwarf Ranger) and the Falchion (for the Witch Hunter)
- Khazid Kro - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- The Cursed Rune - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- Chain of Fire - Two tomes, one grimoire.
Stromdorf
Released on May 7, 2017 for $6.99. These missions have an exclusive loot drop: the Executioner's Sword (for the Empire Soldier).
- The Courier - Two tomes, one grimoire.
- Reaching Out - Three tomes, one grimoire.
Death on the Reik
Released on December 13, 2017 for $6.99 (and free for those who pre-ordered the game's sequel). These missions have an exclusive loot drop: the Ceremonial Dagger (for the Bright Wizard).
- Reikwald Forest - Three tomes, two grimoires.
- The River Reik - Three tomes, two grimoires.
Waylaid
Released on February 19, 2018 for free, serving as the game's epilogue and tie-in with the game's equel.
- Waylaid - Three tomes, two grimoires.
Last Stand
A bonus game mode, added on March 7, 2016, where players fight off waves of Skaven to earn experience points and crafting ores. These cannot be played on Easy or Normal difficulties.
- The Fall - Requires the Schluesselschloss DLC ($2.99).
System Requirements (PC)
| Minimum | Recommended |
|---|
| OS: 64-bit: Win 7, Win 8/8.1, Win 10 | 64-bit: Win 7, Win 8/8.1, Win 10 |
| Processor: Intel Core2 Quad Q9500, 2.83 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 940 | Intel Core i7-4790K, 4.0 GHz | AMD FX-9590, 4.7 GHz |
| Memory: 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 | AMD Radeon HD 5770 /w 1GB VRAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 | AMD Radeon R9 290 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Network: Broadband Internet connection | Broadband Internet connection |
Hard Drive: 30 GB available space | 30 GB available space |
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