Versus - Dev Blog #1

Vermintide 2 - Versus is a new player vs. player game mode for Warhammer: Vermintide 2. It will be 4 vs. 4 gameplay, and you will be able to play as characters from both the Skaven and Chaos, as well as the Heroes of Ubersreik. Take turns playing on the Hero or the Pactsworn side.

In this Developer Blog, we will get a closer look at one of the new features coming in Versus together with Game Designer Markus.

The Skaven and Chaos forces are relentless and agile when chasing down our Ubersreik Heroes. When we started introducing playable Pactsworn into Warhammer: Vermintide 2 - Versus we wanted to create some new features for their movement. This time we will take a first look at a new movement feature that will be available in Versus: Climbing.

What is Climbing?

We are introducing Climbing for Pactsworn players to utilize at their will. Climbing is useful for many things, such as taking shortcuts, getting to ambush positions, or making an escape when needed.

In Warhammer: Vermintide 2 enemies can be seen climbing or jumping much higher than what is possible for our Heroes. Since most ledges and walls in the game are climbable, enemies are allowed to get close and surprise players quickly.

Climbing is a necessity since most of the threat posed to players are close combat enemies. The Pactsworn needs to get close to the Heroes, and they do this by jumping up ledges to apply pressure to the Heroes, no matter where they go. We are introducing Climbing as a playable feature in Versus not only as a useful tool for players but also to deliver the full experience of a Pactsworn.

We are very excited to see where our players can find a use for this new movement mechanic.

How do I use Climbing?

At the moment, indicators in the world show where players can go to use of Climbing. Approaching any of the indicators will cause an arrow to appear visualizing the climbing path.

Climbing spots are visible from a distance, often located below ledges or on the edge of a big gap that can be leaped over. Climbing helps players make strategic decisions when and where to engage or disengage in combat.

When players Climb, the perspective changes into a third-person view for a better overview, and a full-body animation will play during the climb. Players need to know when the time is right to commit to Climbing, as doing it at an inconvenient time may result in death.

Climbing Availability

AI enemies crawling up from a hole in the ground or out of sewer pipes are a common sight while playing Vermintide 2. These spawn points are exclusive for AI and will not be available to the players. Even if there are hundreds of different places to choose from to climb, computer-controlled enemies can pick the best place. For players, we do not want hundreds of options because it will be too distracting. Therefore, we are handcrafting climbing spots to create the best experience for our players.

At the moment, we are going through the different levels for Versus to set up new spots, designed for players to get into right scouting positions or prepare attacks and escapes. We have to provide just enough options in routes while keeping the numbers down and the end locations interesting.