Newbie class review
Relatively new to the game, but I got all 7 classes to level 30, so I thought I'd post my impressions of each, in case anyone cares. I didn't play Vermintide, so this game was a bit new to me. I didn't really look up any "how to build class x" resources.
Veteran - This class was (is) a huge disappointment from level 1 Uprising missions all the way to level 30 trying to do Heresy missions. Dying constantly, terrible damage, the shout is occasionally useful. Absolute chore to play because it feels like you're the weakest link in the team all the time. This is the only class where I went to the internet to try to figure out a build, because nothing I was doing was working.
Psyker - I did a melee crit build with this instead of the regular psyker stuff, and it's kind of bonkers--especially compared to the disappointment of the Veteran class. It absolutely rips through everything even on Heresy difficulty. It dies a lot (glass cannon), but I can tolerate it since it's actually being useful in-between getting downed. It was kind of slow to start, but once the crit tree opened up, it leveled up really fast. I can't really play more than 1 or 2 missions with it, because the mental energy it takes to slide/block/dodge/move/hit/block/dodge/hit wears me out.
Arbitrator - This class was like EZ mode from 1-30. Even jumping from Malice to Heresy, there was basically no difference in play. Damage output is kind of low, but I went for a knockback build with it, so it works really well as a team player, since I can knock things back and everyone else kills them. Very durable, rarely gets downed, always feels like you're being useful. The k9 companion is extremely useful for not getting caught by bullshit like trappers and pox hounds, which is honestly my favorite thing about the class. The aura ability feels useless in Heresy, because a) everyone is dropping everything so fast the aura is pointless and b) as soon as you drop it, a tox or flame bomber drops a grenade right on top of it, so nobody can stand in the aura.
Zealot - Went for a melee berserker build with this, and it works well. Damage isn't as great as the crit psyker, but it's much tankier and has better team support. Was easy to level up and feels useful even into Heresy. Again, very mentally draining to play due to constantly being engulfed in a blur of targets.
Ogryn - The best thing about Ogryn is that your teammates just kind of slow down around you and don't leave you hanging or sprint ahead as much. Team buffs are good. Knockback is good. Very tanky. Felt useful from level 1-30. Almost relaxing to play because it's so much slower than the psyker crit or the zealot barbarian.
Skitarius - This felt extremely OP at level 1 compared to the other classes because of its starting kit. The panic button ability is extremely useful. Damage holds up in melee and ranged. Just all-around good which is I guess why most games are like 3 Skitari and a special guest.
Hive Scum - Played really well in Uprising and Malice, but kind of dropped off in Heresy. Rocket launcher is fun at lower difficulties, but at higher difficulties other players are dropping the big targets faster than I can pull the launcher out. Higher speed and better dodging is good, so it survives better than the previous two melee builds, but melee damage seems really weak comparatively. Seems like I'm spending most of my time dodging around while not killing anything.
In general...not really a huge fan of all the melee grinding once you get into Heresy. Cutting through endless waves of mooks is tedious and a bit boring. Most of the time when I die, it's because of some bullshit like I get juggled by a trapper, a pox bomber, and tox flamer. Extremely frustrating to play with people who sprint ahead and leave you alone while you're surrounded by a mook wave, when the game repeatedly reminds you to stick together.
Anyway, that's a 140 hour impression.