Before talking about the main point, the old dear VETERAN, I need to say a few words about the ammo economy. These are two different topics, both with their strong own identity, but closely related
I want to start with the most controversial point: many will disagree but Darktide is not Vermintide. If Vermintide is indeed a melee-focused game… Darktide is not. Should not. I can come to you: maybe not 50% melee and 50% ranged? But at least 60/40
And we can see this from several factors. From how the game was sponsored in the first place. By how melee combat is easier. From how, at least initially, ammo was plentiful. From how the “mage class” has a more permissive handling of overheat
Instead we find ourselves in the paradoxical situation where, in Vermintide, ranged careers had enough ammo regen to shoot at every threat… in Darktide on the other hand, where shooting should have more space, you can’t do that. Not even with the Veteran: the RATIO ammo amount/special&ranged enemies’ number is more permissive in Vermintide
I might remind you that “melee” is NOT synonymous with “skilled gameplay” as “ranged” is NOT synonymous with “flat gameplay”… rather I often find easier beat everyone up in melee comfortably with a tank than to pick up a ranged weapon with a fragile character and watch out for the slightest threat… BUT, even before balancing, it’s a question of fun… of letting each player choose his own style
And, specified this, we can finally talk about the Veteran, because everything becomes more serious if we think how the Veteran is clearly the weakest class. And on this I think we all agree
But that’s not all: the most used kit isn’t even its ranged branch, it’s simply spamming Voice Of Command
This is a situation that absolutely must change. Now, I understand that pre-nerf Survivalist might have been excessive, that’s because it gave too many ammo even to careers that should be melee-centric, but we need to find a solution…
…and that solution should focus to its ammo economy. For me it’s a nice try to kill two birds with one stone: give a stronger and more unique identity to the Veteran and open up the game to more style and variety
One possibility is to replace Survivalist with something else related to ranged weapons, like reload speed or weapons swapping…
(which should be regardlessly a fundamental point: the Veteran continues to be too vulnerable and clunky in this aspect, especially on higher difficulties where you are constantly under pressure)
…and, at the same time, give to the Veteran something passive to REGEN ITS AMMO. Something that works only for it… but more effective than current Survivalist
In addition to making the Veteran more balanced and open up the game to more style… it would be an indirect nerf to those melee careers who may result too good at the shooting part too. So it’s important to note that this change is not aimed at shifting the melee/ranged balance too much towards the “ranged” side… but redistribute it differently: “more ranged” the Veteran, “less ranged” the others (those would lose Survivalist buff)
Thanks for reading