As a grizzled online co-op veteran with over 200 hours sunk into Vermintide 2, I‘ve battled through my fair share of Skaven hordes in tense tunnel runs. But nothing prepared me for the twisted horrors lurking in the bowels of Atoma Prime.
Tracking down every last Scripture to fuel my obsession…I mean dedication to hoarding loot takes expert tracking skills. A few months into launch, I‘ve finally extracted data on Scripture mechanics, categorized locations by probability, and mastered strategies to find these elusive tomes consistently.
In this extensive guide, I‘ll dump all my hard-earned knowledge so fellow guardsmen can reap the same rewards!
What Makes Scriptures Different?
On the surface, Scriptures function identically to dusty old Tomes – grab them for nice loot bonuses and some quick coin at mission‘s end. However, after extensive testing I‘ve noted a few key differences that set them apart from past games.
No Health Drain
Unlike dreaded Grimoires that sap your strength, carrying Scriptures is 100% safe! Load up without worries of massive HP debuffs. This makes them significantly more viable to stack.
Higher Gold Values
Extracting with a single Scripture nets a solid 60 gold, equivalent to an Emperor‘s Chest at mission‘s end. This edges out the 50 gold average for Tomes previously.
Not game breaking, but still useful when saving up for better gear.
Unstable Spawns
The biggest departure is Scriptures lack fixed spawn points. I‘ll expand more in locations later, but they can randomly materialize across huge chambers one run then tuck into tiny crates the next. This unpredictable nature keeps you on your toes!
Their mystical appearances knows no bounds…
Weighing Grimoire Rewards
Occasionally you‘ll stumble upon an eerie Grimoire rather than plain Jane Scriptures. Despite having hundred of hours across multiple games, I still hate these things.
Sure, they DO provide much juicier payouts – we‘re talking 100-150 gold apiece later on. But is gimping your entire team‘s survivability really worth it?
Losing 25% max health per carried Grimoire adds up quick. This also reduces the amount healers can restore you on top of that. By mid-level missions, even veteran teams struggle badly when lacking the sustainability to push through.
- 1 Grimoire – Significant added risk, but usually manageable
- 2+ Grimoires – Squishy as all hell, but glory and riches for those who survive…
My verdict after getting team wiped too many times? Avoid Grimoires entirely early on, maybe grab one late in a map once your power level stabilizes. Otherwise enjoy having actual health bars!
Indicators & Sounds – Your Scripture Spidey Senses
Even once you know the dark secrets of how Scriptures function, finding the darn things consistently still proves challenging. Unlike Vermintide tomes with fixed locations, their unpredictable spawn points leave many teams scrambling about blindly.
But after countless hours spelunking tunnels, I‘ve discovered a couple key traits to activate your "Scripture sense":
Mission Select Diamond
On the pre-game lobby screen, certain assignments will feature a special diamond icon on their banner image. This signifies upgraded chances of uncovering a Scripture, Grimoire, or both!
While never a sure thing, diamond missions should shoot to the top of your priority list when hunting books.
Distant Rustling
Once deployed on site, your best friend is sound. Scripture‘s emit a distinct rustling paper sound effect from surprising distances – even through walls! If you hear faint crunching relatively nearby, that means a book lurks tucked away somewhere.
I highly recommend gaming headsets if possible. Pinpointing the origin based on stereo directionality steers your Scripture Hunter straight to the source!
With these early warning senses fully activated, you‘ll transform into a loot divining rod in no time.
Categorized Location Breakdown
Even seasoned teams struggle finding every last Scripture without understanding their behavioral logic. Through extensive recording and data aggregation, I‘ve managed to categorize different location types by probability across various maps.
This handy breakdown should greatly assist hunting efforts:
| Location | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dead End Tunnels | 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 | Prime real estate in previous games and remains top priority |
| Storage Crates | 🟩🟩🟩🟩 | Check inside crates & on top |
| Under Elevator Platforms | 🟩🟩🟩🟩 | That dark crevice beneath is a favorite |
| Large Chamber Corners | 🟩🟩🟩 | Areas just outside lantern light |
| Heavy Machinery Alcoves | 🟩🟩🟩 | Tucked within powered down equipment |
| Across Bottomless Pits | 🟩🟩🟩 | Bridging walkways offer opportunities |
| Inside Maintenance Closets | 🟩🟩 | Easy to overlook small rooms |
| Top of Data Terminals | 🟩🟩 | A strange favorite of the entity… |
| Across High Rafter Beams | 🟩🟩 | Need ranged or vent crawling |
| Underneath Silos | 🟩 | The dark foundations where few tread |
As you can see, Scripture‘s cling to darker, neglected spaces off the main paths. While still unpredictable, understanding these behavioral preferences helps narrow down your search area considerably!
Key Multiplayer Strategies
Attempting to extract with every Scripture solo often ends in heartbreak and failure. The key to consistent wins? Leverage your entire squad through efficient coordination.
After reviewing gameplay footage and separating vital factors, I‘ve identified 3 core multiplayer strategies:
Assign a Scripture Hunter
Every team should designate one player with collecting Scriptures/Grimoires as their main priority each mission. Who exactly depends on makeup:
- Zealot – High mobility to reach far corners
- Veteran – Access elevated spots more easily
- Psyker – Manipulate objects remotely in a pinch
The key is focusing one person on the task so the rest can continue pushing forward. Too much backtracking for books slows down overall progress.
Keep 500 Gold Reserves Minimum
Upgrading weapons and gear is obviously vital for handling higher difficulties. However, everyone should resist spending every last coin between missions. Save at least 500 in reserve for your Scripture Hunter.
Nothing hurts more than finally locating an epic book, but lacking the 400~ gold to actually pick it up! Buy sparingly and hoard a bit for opportunities.
Ping Everything
For online random groups, constant communication is essential. Don‘t just immediately snag books you see either – loudly announce in voice chat and mark the ping system appropriately:
- Scripture here! -> Blue ping marker
- Heard rustling this way -> Yellow "question" ping
Good callouts let the Hunter break off to investigate while the team clears space. Few things feel better than everyone working together in perfect harmonious loot hunting!
Final Thoughts
And there we have it – all my deepest darktide secrets uncovered in one fell swoop! Hopefully this guide has demystified the complex world of Scriptures: what makes them tick, highest probability locations, and effective teamwork strategies.
Now get out there and start drowning yourself in beautiful bonus loot! The Emperor Protects…his most devout treasure hunters at least.
For the Imperium!
