Warhammer: Vermintide 2 News

Patch 4.4.2 is coming tomorrow on all platforms. This also marks the start of Geheimnisnacht, for a little tease of what's to come you can check out the treat of a trailer that follows.

https://youtu.be/sCTvV9dAa24

Below you will find the full patch notes for the release.


[h3]New Features[/h3]

• Chaos Wastes - The Grudge Marks Update
• Grudge Marks related Challenges
  
• New Premium Cosmetics

[h3]Quality of Life[/h3]

• We have expanded the in-game Tab menu to present more information about the current run, including party loadouts, mission modifiers and more.
  
• Steam Rich Presence has been added so you can easily spot if your fellow ratsmashers need another hero to fight alongside them, what difficulty they are playing, and which mission via the Steam Friends list.
  
• You can now open multiple chests at once, and get quick insight in to the quality of the items pulled from chests from the loot presentation screen.
  
• Items awarded to players from non-gameplay sources (such as DLC purchase) will now be batched in to one reward pop up.
  
• We now display additional information on the level selection screen with a focus completionist data. This is only visible through the gamepad UI at present.
  
• It's now possible to search Okri's Challenge book, you can check out our dev blog for additional text-based search queries to allow for specific queries such as reward types or the rarity of any rewards available in the challenge book.
  
• Character names are now highlighted in the subtitles (colour coding to come in an upcoming update).
  
• Added rumble to gamepads for PC players.
  

[h3]UI/UX[/h3]

• Duplicate events in the killfeed will be collapsed into a single entry.
  
• Keep interactibles now show a shortcut reminder.
  
• Fixed a case where button prompts may not appear for 'voters' during the vote-kick process.
  
• Added the missing subtitles from the current (Sister of the Thorn) intro video.
  
• Fixed a batch of subtitles for Bardin's VO where the subtitle and VO did not match up.
  
• There have been various adjustments and improvements to the gamepad interface experience.
  
• Fixed an issue where Pilgrims Coins were not showing a name in the interaction UI when looking at them in-game.
  
• Fixed the Troll health bar is not showing the correct amount of health left for clients.

[h3]General[/h3]

• Fixed numerous hard-to-specify crashes.
  
• Reduced the volume of console logging for mods.

[h3]Heroes/Weapons[/h3]

• Talents selected on the Modded Realm will now be deselected on the Official Realm if the character has not unlocked those talents.
  
• Zealot Saltzpyre's talent 'Smite' interface counter has been updated to be more intuitive.
  
• Fixed the long delay to swap to ranged weapon if the weapon swap is triggered while doing push attack with Saltzpyre's 'Rapier'.
  
• Fixed Kerillian's two handed 'Sword' heavy stab attack having shorter reach than most other attacks including light attacks.
  
• Fixed a situation where Kerillian's 'Thornwake' ability would not trigger if quickly pressed at a low frame rate.
  
• Fixed a bug where Halberd was not cleaving armored enemies as expected.
  
• Fixed a situation where the Gutter Runner's climbing animation would be skipped if doing a second climb within a short time period.
  
• Fixed issue with Kerillian's crit stacks not getting consumed from the Thorn Sister talent 'Morai Hegs Doomsight'.
  
• Fixed an issue where Outcast Engineer's 'Innovative Ammo Hoppers' talent would provide more than the intended amount of free use of the Crank Gun.
  
• Kerillian's Trueshot Volley should no longer automatically zoom out if you zoomed in during the start animation, also should not zoom twice if the Piercing Shot talent is active.
  
• Fixed 'Asrai Vigil' not working with Kerillian's 'Javelin'.
  
• Players who claimed their anniversary Shark Hats and whom also own Sister of the Thorn will now have access to the Sister of the Thorn's Shark Hat.

[h3]Levels[/h3]

• Against the Grain - Fixed some texturing issues around the ladder to the first Grimoire.
  
• Against the Grain - Fixed some streaming texture issues on various rocky areas of the map.
  
• Blood in the Darkness - Fixed an issue where the interactable books would be outlined inconsistently between host and client.
  
• Engines of War - Grounded some rocks and grass suspended in the air at the beginning of the level.
  
• Fort Being John Malkovich - Fixed some issues with end event respawns which could lead to players respawning in unintentional places.
  
• Garden of Morr - Tried once more to stop folks exiting the map and bolting to the finish :|
  
• Horn of Magnus - Fixed a hole in terrain and replaced some backdrop houses with higher poly versions.
  
• Into the Nest - Fixed some breakable door-planks which weren't always network-sync'd resulting in some situations where players could not pass through previously broken planks.
  
• Old Haunts - Fixed the crane house at the start of the level which would disappear on high FOV.
  
• Screaming Bell - Fixed a spot where bots could get stuck.
  
• Skittergate - Fixed some erroneously placed floating chains which attached to.. well, nothing.

[h3]SFX[/h3]

• Fixed various foley and sound layering issues with various weapons and their interactions.
  
• Fixed Kerillian's Javelin swing sounds playing over primary weapon sounds.
  
• Fixed Saltzpyre's 'Falchion' sounding like an 'Axe' on the second Falchion swing in the regular 'Axe & Falchion' combo.
  
• Fixed Kruber's 'Bretonnian Sword & Shield' not having sound if not using 2h sword in the other slot.
  
• Fixed an issue with Sienna's staffs having delayed charged attack sound.
  
• Fixed an issue where Deathrattler's shooting audio could loop indefinitely if he is stunned or interrupted whilst shooting.
  
• Fixed a popping sound heard in Sienna's Fire Sword sound loop.
  
• Fixed so that Kerillian's Life Staff sound loop doesn't get stuck looping.
  
• Grail Knight and Sister of the Thorn careers now have the correct footstep sounds!
  
• Added a missing zoom sound for Kerillian's 'Repeater Crossbow'.
  
• Frequency of 'Hoggars Bridge' VO heard when Kerillian goes on a kills-spree reduced a bit.
  
• Re-added the missing 'satisfying click' heard when reloading some of Kruber's handguns.
  
• Restricted an 'Athel Loren' themed VO line only Waystalker should be able to say to the Waystalker career.

[h3]Animation[/h3]

• Fix a minor animation issue seen during Bardin Slayer's push with one handed 'Axe' or 'Hammer'.
  
• Fixed a visual bug when inspecting Sienna's Fireball Staff while charging.
  
• Fixed a one frame issue where the Spear would appear coming from the viewport during a light attack with Kerillian's 'Spear & Shield'.
  
• Fixed an issue where Bardin's 'Throwing Axes' could accidentally show the third person axes in first person.
  
• Fixed an animation issue when Kerillian was sidestepping with the 'Spear'.
  
• Fixed Kruber's Halberds heavy stab attack's damage window to be more accurate to the animation.
  
• Camera movements during Saltzpyre's Bill Hook attacks are now a bit less extreme.
  
• Camera movements during Kerillian's Javelin melee attacks are now a bit less extreme.

[h3]Chaos Wastes General[/h3]

• Bolt of Change should no longer start triggering when players are still in the 'safe zone'.
  
• Fixed barrels disappearing into the player inventory when the 'Pockets Full of Bombs' potion activates.
  
• Fixed Chest of Trials VFX not appearing on spawned enemies for clients.
  
• Added a 4s delay after triggering a Chests of Trials to allow players to read the trial name.
  
• Fixed upgraded weapons being put in the wrong slot when holding a non-weapon whilst interacting with the upgrade reliquary.
  
• Map voting now favours majority voting instead of weighted anarchy (coin flip on a draw).
  
• Fixed an issue where a black screen would be displayed when going to the shrine while having the in-game menu open.
  
• Added text to the Shrine interface to inform users that purchases require a 'hold' action.
  
• Fixed a bug that made Valaya's Brew (free potion on ult) have a proc chance lower than 50% as intended.
  
• Fixed a bug where aquiring any boon in Chaos Wastes would reset the damage resistance buff from Bounty Hunter's Job Well Done trait.

[h3]Chaos Wastes Levels[/h3]

• Cinder Peak - Fixed an out of bounds in the arena.
  
• The Citadel of Eternity - Fixed an issue where players could get knocked through the floor and survive, resulting in them remaining stuck for the remainder of the level.
  
• The Citadel of Eternity - Moved some pick ups that were stuck in geometry or floating above it.
  
• The Citadel of Eternity - Fixed a cheese spot.
  
• The Citadel of Eternity - Fixed an issue players with a dash could dash through a stairway.
  
• Count Mordrek's Fortress - Fixed a bunch of spots where players could get stuck.
  
• Count Mordrek's Fortress - Fixed some out of bounds areas.
  
• Count Mordrek's Fortress - Fixed an issue where players could respawn behind the arena entrance.
  
• Count Mordrek's Fortress - Fixed some some enemy spawns which spat out dead Skaven. :(
  
• The Forbidden Trail - Adjusted some invisible walls.
  
• The Forbidden Trail - Fixed some enemy spawners that spawned corpses.
  
• Grimblood's Stronghold - Fixed a boss spawner that could spit out a dead Rat Ogre. :|
  
• Holseher's Tower - Fixed various places where players could get stuck.
  
• The Lost City of Marakza - Moved some pick ups that were stuck in geometry or floating above it.
  
• The Lost City of Marakza - Fixed a spot where bots would get stuck.
  
• The Lost City of Marakza - Fixed various places where players could get stuck.
  
• Pinnacle of Nightmares - Fixed an issue where players could start the map surrounded by specials/hordes.
  
• Pinnacle of Nightmares - Fixed various places where players could get stuck.
  
• Pinnacle of Nightmares - Fixed a cheese spot.
  
• Pinnacle of Nightmares - Fixed some enemy spawners that spawned corpses.
  
• Slaughter Bay - Fixed various places where players could get stuck.

“Rat-beast! Looks angry, darlings!” - Sienna

The Grudge Mark Update will be released this week on October 28, and today we are taking you on a deep dive into the update to look at the different attributes and more.

"With the End Times approaching, Okri's grown concerned that a number of long-held grudges might go unfulfilled. Accordingly, he's taken the unusual step of asking the Ubersreik Five to settle accounts (as drengbarazi, they're as near to being honourary dwarfs as makes no difference) for families wiped out by war."

Want to know more about the message from Okri to Lohner? You can read the Lohner’s Chronicle by clicking here.


[h2]A New Challenge[/h2]
Encountering a monster with two spears poking out through its back will provide an extra challenge in the Chaos Wastes. A Grudge Marked monster spawns at the end of an expedition in an arena, or from a Chest of Trials.

[h3]Attributes [/h3]
“Remember your training, mates.” - Kruber

Attributes change the flow of battle. Learn the attributes and learn them well (by heart is our advice). You will rarely encounter a monster with the same attributes twice.

Depending on the difficulty and progress in an expedition, the number of attributes a Grudge Marked monster can spawn with varies. The minimum amount is 0, and the maximum is 3. Even a monster with no attributes is a little tougher than its unmarked counterpart.

[h3]ATTRIBUTES PER DIFFICULTY:[/h3]



[h3]LIST OF ATTRIBUTES[/h3]

• Shadow-Step
  Mark has a chance to warp to random locations near the player when hit.
  
• Illusionist
  Mark periodically summons 3 mirror images of itself.
  
• Relentless
  Mark cannot be staggered.
  
• Mighty
  Mark periodically deals more damage.
  
• Vampiric
  Mark heals from the damage it deals to players (and bots!).
  
• Rampart
  Mark is immune to ranged damage.
  
• Invincible
  Mark periodically becomes immune to damage.
  
• Crippling
  Mark severely cripples players it deals damage to.
  
• Shield-Shatter
  Mark breaks blocks and briefly prevents stamina regeneration.
  
• Regenerating
  Mark regenerates health over time.

[h2]Now It’s Personal[/h2]
Another feature that helps distinguish a Grudge Marked monster from a run-of-the-mill boss is their names. Each Grudge Marked enemy will have a name to set it apart from the others.

[h2]Challenges & New rewards[/h2]
Okri is providing more challenges to complete in the Grudge Marks update. In total 60 new challenges will be added together with new rewards: 15 new character skin color variations. You can track the progress of these challenges in Okri’s Book from within the Keep.

*Owners of a Premium Career(s) will receive 4 extra challenges per career to unlock an extra skin color variation per owned career.

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.



It’s turning into a bit of a crossroads, hereabouts. No mean feat when you’re halfway up a mountain and shrouded in seething shadow magic. And that’s before you get into the fact that my lads are watching the roads and Kerillian’s … well, trees, I guess … are watching the rest.

Blessed Sigmar, but you wouldn’t catch me straying through the nearby woods at night. Then again, I’ve seen what happens to those what do. Parts and pieces everywhere and some very pleased-looking ash-trees lining a suspiciously welcoming-looking path. The trees are bloodstained too, of course, but folk do still try. They probably don’t stop to think that the trees ain’t the worst of it.

Case in point, I saw one of the spites kicking an eyeball around the cellar yesterday. Pretty little thing she was, at least at first blush. No bigger than my hand, with gossamer wings, moth antennae and a sugar-sweet smile. Then she took a big old bite out of the eyeball with a mouthful of jagged teeth. Part of me wants to lock my bedchamber door at night. Most of me knows that’ll not stop the spites getting in, if they’ve the mind. Still, I’ve not seen a rat about the place since the spites moved in, and it’s a poor heart that never rejoices.

Anyway, arboreal accidents notwithstanding, we’ve had a fair few guests of late.

First there was my old vampire acquaintance – still can’t remember her blessed name, and I didn’t dare ask – who had a few choice things to say about old Balthasar Gelt. Seems our esteemed patriarch of the colleges is venturing into new horizons. I’m sure it’ll end well.

No sooner had she cleared off into the night than Gorin Baldor shows up with a few more bits and bobs for my old Emporium and a promise of aid in my – as yet fruitless – search for Hedda Bardinsdottir. He drives a hard bargain, does that dwarf, but he’s a terrible card player, so I managed to finagle him down with a bit of careful dealing, if you take my meaning. Not strictly ethical, but Gorin had it coming. You don’t get to amass his sort of wealth without pulling the odd swindle of the unsuspecting. In fact, now I think on it he hasn’t been welcome in Nuln for some years now. Then again, that countess they have down there knows how to hold a grudge.

Last up was a fellow claiming to be an old mate of Kruber’s – one Grullman Grosz, onetime mercenary captain. Had a fearful look in his eye, he did, and a tall tale about how some old debt was coming due on those who held the line at Grossebad. No idea what he meant by that, and I didn’t have chance to ask. Went haring off into the night, he did, rags, unkempt beard and all.

Probably ought to tell Kruber about it, when he gets back. Might do a bit of digging on my lonesome as well, just in case he’s not forthcoming.

On October 28th there will be new Premium Cosmetics available in Lohner’s Emporium of Wonders on all platforms. There will be one all-new character skin and hat for each hero, totaling up to 10 new premium cosmetics.

Each of the cosmetics will be available in bundles and as separate items on Steam.

Previews of the items follow below, but for a closer look at each piece, check out the Dev Blog over on the Official Vermintide Website

[hr][/hr]
[h2]TAAL’S HUNTSMAN[/h2]

Embrace your inner beast and roam the Stirland wilderness as a champion of King Taal.

Career: Huntsman


[hr][/hr]
[h2]ELLYRIAN HANDMAIDEN[/h2]

Don the garb of a temple handmaiden of Ellyrian; stern, austere and unflinching before those who would threaten Ulthuan.

Career: Handmaiden


[hr][/hr]
[h2]LONG DRONG'S LANDLUBBER[/h2]

It's time to set sail for plunder with the famed slayer pirates. Or it would be, if there was any sign of their ship.

Career: Slayer


[hr][/hr]
[h2]MOLTEN MOTLEY[/h2]

Garb fit for the most magmatic of magicians. Unleash the fury of Aqshy in inimitable style.

Career: Battle Wizard


[hr][/hr]
[h2]ACOLYTE OF SEA & STORM[/h2]

Though the shipwreck drowned your companions, Sigmar has saved you for a higher purpose - one steeped in skaven blood.

Career: Zealot

An absent-minded man of mysteries, Franz Lohner relies on his bulging journal to keep track of occurrences, intrigues and arguments around Taal's Horn Keep. Sometimes his notes are even useful, believe it or not. The Franz Lohner Chronicles are extracts from that journal.



Well, this is one of them red letter days. Literally, I mean, because I’ve had another missive from Okri in its usual natty red envelope. At least, I think I have. It’s hard to be certain of a letter’s provenance when you’ve never seen its author. Harder still when said letter shows up in a variety of unusual ways.

Okri - and let’s assume it is Okri, for the sake of sanity and wotnot - is an inventive soul. I’ve had letters sent down the chimney. Delivered by couriers of all shapes and sizes. Although that ogre had eaten half the envelope before I wrangled it off him, price of dying it in blood, I suppose. Carrier pigeon, that was another one. Bardin ate it, as I recall. The book of challenges was dropped off by airship, or so I understand. It was a cloudy day. Endless ingenuity at work. I admire a fellow who puts in the effort, if I’m honest.

Anyhow, everyone’s totally real dwarf has a new task for our delightful Ubersreik Five. Seems that a few grudges have gone past the point of aging gracefully, and have now become urgent business. Specifically, there’s a bunch of monstrous individuals lolloping around, and Okri has marked them for death. A Grudge Mark, if you will - and I would, if I could.

Alas, the hunting of ferocious beasties is long behind this grizzled grey head of mine, but it sounds like a splendid way for the Five to keep themselves limber, doesn’t it? Everyone wins. Okri gets his grudges settled. The Ubersreik Five get a bit of much needed exercise. And me? Well, never you mind. It’s win-win. Well, not for the monsters, but I think we can count them as being acceptable casualties, all things considered. Not that they’ll be easy targets - these are the worst of the worst, with a bevy of cruel characteristics that’ll keep our heroes on their toes.

Should be fun. Worthy of song, even. Might even have another crack at poetry, if I’m stirred to it. Five Go Slaughtering Monsters. Not sure about that as a title, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

Of course, I’ll have to be a bit more circumspect about the particulars this time. I don’t want to set Kerillian off, as she’s not one to respect the bounds of poetic licence. We’ll keep it all anonymous this time around. Yes! That’s the stuff of folk tales: desperate danger, slavering monsters, plucky heroes - an unspoken whiff of romance between Cerrilian the archer and Kroober the proud knight. All carefully separated from reality, and thus old Franz safe from the doghouse.

And if it all goes wrong, I’ll just blame Okri. It’s not like anyone’s to know better, is it?