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Should Punishment of the Damned hits Inflict Torment: The Executioner vs. The Plague

Here are my thoughts on it:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Torment Trails are the only killer power/status effect that survivors can outright deny for the killer. This was true for Plague until she got buffed but the scenario for her then is essentially the same for Pyramid Head now. Before her buff, survivors would rather stay sick and injured all game rather than give Plague corrupt purge. Currently, survivors would rather crouch mid-chase or run the opposite way and let the killer get a free hit rather than become inflicted with Torment.

Both of the above scenarios are very similar and create unhealthy gameplay for both sides. Survivors denying the killer their power is boring and unfun for the killer. Forcing the survivors into scenarios where they feel like they have to make a bad play to avoid something potentially worse is annoying and unfun for the survivor.

After Plague's buff, she now starts with 1-3 corrupt pools. Survivors can no longer deny Plague her power entirely, so they adapted by cleansing strategically, which created more dynamic and fun gameplay for both sides. The question was no longer, "Should I cleanse?", but "When should I cleanse?".

Along with the upcoming PTB changes for Pyramid Head, I think it would be a great time to test if Punishment of the Damned (POTD) should inflict Torment on successful hits. If the devs want Pyramid Head players to go for more skillful uses of POTD instead of just waiting for survivors to use windows/pallets, why not reward them for landing those skillful shots?

If survivors are tormented more often, Pyramid Head players may feel more inclined to use Cage of Atonement more often as well rather than never caging just to save final judgement. At the same time, survivors who are good loopers won't have to feel forced to give the killer free hits if there are Torment Trails in the middle of a loop. They can still avoid it if they want to, but if the killer is good at landing POTD hits, then the survivor may be better off running through the trail and taking the status effect but being able to loop the killer for longer by not out positioning. This creates more dynamic and fun gameplay for both sides.

Lastly, it just doesn't make sense that the trails inflict Torment but POTD doesn't since they are essentially the same thing. One is static and the other is visceral form of damage, but they're both trails of barbed wire and metal.

I would love to hear any thoughts for or against this. Thank you.

Comments

  • APoipleTurtle
    APoipleTurtle Member Posts: 1,274

    Personally, I think Torment in general could stand to be buffed. It's basically just a lesser version of Plague's Sickness that allows PH to use the passive half of his power (Cages of Atonement and Final Judgement). I'd be fine with reworking the Cages a little too (since what's the real incentive to use them instead of saving Torment for Final Judgement?)

    I would love if PotD applied Torment to make it a more present effect in most trials. BUT, I think they need to make Torment a better status effect and might also need to consider improving or changing the means by which survivors could de-Torment themselves.

  • Mister_xD
    Mister_xD Member Posts: 7,669

    i always wanted the Punishment of the Damed attack to leave a Rites of Judgement trail where it was shot, so your idea would come as a passive to that (as the survivor who was hit now also stands inside a Rites of Judgement trail.


    but maybe that could be a little too oppressive, as that Tormented status effect is quite a gamechanger in some cases...

  • Blueberry
    Blueberry Member Posts: 13,598

    I've always thought it should do that. His Torment effect is pretty underwhelming.

    I was originally hyped for the extra time it would save, but in reality it doesn't.

  • Snitz
    Snitz Member Posts: 97

    The main usefulness of his cages is eating DS even though most people here ignore it because TuNnEliNg Is MeAn; this killer has no map mobility so instead of zooming around the map his cages allow him to rush kills and slow the game down.

    Cages can also be useful for when you need to stay in one area, for example when you down a survivor near a gen that's about to be finished.

    The last use i can think of is when you set up a 3 gen, you send the survivor to the furthest point of the map from where you're at, gives you some nice pressure.

    I personally like torment in it's current state, but survivors probably despise it when used properly.