Did they patch the Hammer? Last I knew it was doing like.....8% extra damage on a headshot, demonstrated by someone in the Psykhanium. It seemed so woefully underpowered against lighter enemies that all it really did was knock them behind you so you could either spin around to finish them...or get stabbed in the back.
It's been kind of eye-opening playing a Zealot. I've been going into Heresy way under ranked and taking out elites and specials with an axe. And it's weird how my survivability overall seems way higher playing zealot, even though it's ostensibly the class taking more risks than Vet or Psyker. Dunno why, but everything feels faster and smoother on zealot. But as soon as I swapped to the Catachan sword, I suddenly felt weak and fragile. It may just be the axe delivers that hard.
Also I had a moment of pure, undistilled rage at the game last night. We were just starting an auspex scan on Heresy when a pack of las rifles spawned pretty much right in front of me. I immediately backed off and sought cover, but they all opened up on me. Toughness instantly vaped. So I keep dodging, keep trying to get to cover. Meanwhile, I see my teammates around me dealing with horde and what not....and the las squad just KEEPS targeting me. They finally down me.
Then to add insult to injury, once I'm rezzed and we call the elevator, a sniper spawns. And since we had a grim and I had one wound left....guess who the AI decided to target?
I swear there is predatory behavior among the AI, where ranged spawns and specials will preferentially target the weakest person. Whoever is lowest on toughness or health, the AI seems to make a beeline for them. Particularly with Pox Burster spawns.
It's happened to me enough that I seriously think that's the case. It's not like Vermintide AI wasn't predatory....but it also didn't spawn whole squads of guys with perfect aim that could strip your health and/or toughness off you with a single attack.