Devblog | Sister of the Thorn - A Killer Support
This time we have really branched out, so to say, with a new class for Kerillian. The Sister of the Thorn is unmatched when it comes to crowd-control -- a true divide and conquer career.
In this devblog we will take a closer look at the Sister of the Thorn career and investigate why this is the one support career you want to master.
Damage is for the weak
Sister of the Thorn is one of our most unique careers so far. She is primarily designed to not be a heavy damage dealer, but instead she is the master of crowd-control. The unique Career Skill can be used to zone out large portions of a map, block paths and change the entire flow of the battle. The Thorn Wall can also be used to shield away enemies while you are saving your friends or to buy time to drink another vile brew (healing potion). Kerillian’s Thorn Wall is a great utility tool.
The Passive Ability of the Sister of the Thorn gives you even further control. It grants Kerillian an extra cast of the Thorn Wall when available. This makes it possible to place two Thorn Walls at any time, or even three when talents come into play.
Team win, you win!
The Sister of the Thorn is a self healing career and has extra incentive to look out for the party and keep them healthy. In typical Kerillian fashion, what’s theirs is yours! When a party member at full health gains temp health, Kerillian will automatically claim it as her own. Pretty neat. She enjoys the misery of her enemies so much that it empowers her. Because her primary focus is not on killing, and her main job is to keep everyone safe and sound, this mechanic allows her to stay back while still remaining healthy.
Developer’s Tip: Pair yourself with a Kruber in the Mercenary career to utilize this to the maximum. If the Mercenary uses his Career Skill while at full HP, you will instantly be at full health. Turn your team into a wandering health kit.
An Uplifting experience
The Sister of the Thorn has two new weapons: the Briar Javelin and the Deepwood Staff. Both have their own unique uses, and the Deepwood Staff is a real gamechanger.
Deepwood Staff
This staff has a burst fire attack, and upon use you fire four projectiles at once towards your enemy, and possibly a frenemy.
Most notable of the Deepwood Staff toolset is its ability to hoist enemies up into the air. Most enemies, except monsters, can be lifted up in the air and it can be used for multiple purposes. Lift an enemy to ease the pressure on your team to avoid incoming damage, or maybe lift them out of a crowd to quickly dispose of them. You will find more uses for it as you play! The limit of the staff comes down to overheating. The Deepwood Staff uses the overheat mechanic, similar to Sienna’s ranged weapons. Overall, this new weapon is a very useful tool to support all of your fellow ranged heroes, basically, it is the ultimate crowd control.
The Deepwood Staff can only be used by the Sister of the Thorn career.
Briar Javelin
This is the first time we have introduced a weapon like this to Vermintide 2, the Javelin is both a melee and a ranged weapon. You can stab with it, or throw it at your enemies. It uses the same mechanic as the Throwing Axes for Slayer Bardin when you want to do another throw. The only difference is that instead of summoning the Javelin back you magically conjure it back into your hands. See the GIF below for a proper demonstration. Be aware, the Briar Javelin lacks the defensive mechanics like other weapons, you cannot use it to block/push.
The Briar Javelin can be used by all of Kerillian’s other careers.
The right talent for the right job
It would not be a complete career without a new talent tree, and the new talent tree for Sister of the Thorn can be shaped to enhance Sister of the Thorn’s different strengths. It offers further enhancements in control, healing capabilities or additional damage. Depending on your team set-up you can adapt the career to become the ultimate support that your team cannot be without. It is all up to you (and your team).