Sunderfolk's Berserker Class Explained

Sunderfolk transforms the collaborative play of tabletop RPGs into a couch co-op experience. Sunderfolk can be played as a single-player campaign but is designed for everyone to bring a full party of friends along for the ride. Sunderfolk allows parties of up to four players, with six playable classes to choose from.

The Best War Games spoke with several members of the Sunderfolk development team about the game's overall class system. Character designer Xavier Gordon shared that Dungeons and Dragons was a huge inspiration for many classes, but not all of them. This is largely meant to make the game more accessible to fans of other RPGs, who should recognize the role of each class at the first glance of their name.

Sunderfolk Classes Explained: The Berserker

As a turn-based tactical RPG, Sunderfolk's classes are a cornerstone of the overall experience. When adventuring with four players, party composition becomes a natural conversation before setting off into the Sunderlands. Each class (Berserker, Arcanist, Pyromancer, Ranger, Rogue, and Bard) was designed with a different player fantasy to fulfill, and they are intended to allow each party member to have a unique and important role through each combat encounter. Of course, the Berserker is no different.

The Berserker is one of the most straightforward examples of this design philosophy at work. With D&D's Barbarian serving as a clear inspiration, the Berserker is a frontline tank that grows more powerful as they soak up damage for their allies. When asked about the Berserker's class philosophy, Gordon explained,

"Do you enjoy smashing things with your bear — ahem — bare hands or giant hammer? Do you want to stand firm, shielding your allies, as your puny opponents break themselves upon you? Then the Berserker is the character for you."

Berserker Abilities

Bulwark: Move to position, then deal a nasty swing that provokes the enemy hit and gives the Berserker a shield.
Fling: Move, grab an enemy (or a friend!) And throw them where you think they should be.
Whirlwind: Move yourself and let loose your hammer to hit all enemies around you.
Grisly Force: Move towards enemies, then deal 3 damage to yourself. ALL damage you’ve taken adds to the final damage you deal to the enemy.
Take Down: Attack, then follow with a Move and another attack! If you take down an enemy with the first attack, you’ll get a strength buff AND a shield!
Hibernate: Move away, shield yourself, then use your Rage to heal. You get extra health if you use this card with less than five health remaining.

Berserker Fate Cards

Replacing the D20 in Sunderfolk is Fate Cards. Each Fate Deck is designed with some general cards but also effects specific for each class. Early on, the Berserker's fate deck focuses on Strength and Shield Buffs. Over time, players can unlock cards that let them choose from a variety of buffs, letting them focus on more tanky, more crowd control-oriented, or even stronger Berserkers. If every card is a strength buff, then enemies are in a for a bad, bad time.

Berserker Ultimate

Roar: Move 3 hexes, deliver a devastating area-of-effect attack that debuffs enemies, and shield all heroes and allies nearby.

Sunderfolk's Berserker Class Allows Players to Protect Friends and Decimate Foes

In other words, the Berserker is a simple class for players who enjoy the simple pleasures of life. The Berserker may have a bit of utility, just like any other class, but its overall game plan is simple: smash and tnak. Whereas other classes might have more resources to manage, the Berserker only has Rage to worry about, which should again prove familiar to fans of Dungeons and Dragons. A class like the Arcanist has to worry about saving mana, while the Berserker gets to focus on bashing heads all night long.

Thankfully, this bare-bones play style allows developers to focus on bringing out the fun of every ability. In addition to taking beatings and dishing them out, the Berserker can also throw enemies and allies around the map to lend an extra hand to the more mechanically-minded classes. If anyone looking to get their hands on Sunderfolk is still skeptical about whether the Berserker is for them or not, Gordon had another note about the class that should prove helpful.

"They capture the 'unstoppable force' archetype of players who just want to become enormous juggernauts by the end of the campaign — and I’m definitely one of them."

After all, the Berserker isn't solely about mowing down enemies. The Berserker also places a large emphasis on standing guard for one's squishier allies, and any offensive abilities are simply meant to dole out vengeance on their behalf. Other classes look to build advantage through careful consideration of their abilities, but the time it takes to find the right forward may leave them open to attack. If any player hopes to step in and protect them while becoming an unstoppable force in their own right, then the Berserker sounds like a perfect fit.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image