I figured since we didn't test it on the Test Server, and I haven't seen any threads, it is time for us to talk about the new enemy faction, the Swarm.
So far, I really like the concept. A blended mix of monster types and damage types means that most gear is viable against the Swarm. Some choices are better than others but most are useful. Also, the various types of monsters have different attack patterns, so it isn't simply a matter of dealing with zombies x a large amount.
However, I do have some gripes.
The first is that most don't feel threatening enough. At the final fight you've got, I dunno... 3 zombies, 2 gremlins, 3 slimes, a lumber, 3 wolvers... something like that. The problem is, the zombies are pretty weak, the gremlins are pretty weak, and the wolvers are pretty weak. Also, the gremlin AI is awful - they run away to use pills, basically crowd-controlling themselves, since normally Swarm monsters that are killed would just respawn with full HP and rush you again.
The second thing is that the slimes feel far too deadly. 95% of the damage taken is from the slimes - I believe they do split piercing/shadow damage, and they poison you for 10 seconds. The projectiles are basically invisible and travel extremely fast. Their attack animation is basically non-existent; they show a white-ish aura under them and then spines explodes out of them.
That's just my feedback. I'm interested in yours. How do you feel about them?
I like them from a story point, as well as in aesthetic structure - the axe-wielding Swarm Lumbers are especially cool. I do get the feeling that swapping the Wolvers out for Alpha Wolvers would make the Unknown Passage too difficult, though >.>
Changing Swarm Lichens so that they telegraph their attacks better would be reasonable, as would fixing the Swarm Gremlin AI to charge the front more..