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BHVR still hasn't realized they've made three different play experiences

The balancing of the game as of late (or longer for all I know) is being done under the assumption the game has two play experiences: Survivor and Killer. It doesn't. It has three: SWF, Killer, solo. Denying that is to deny a plain fact. We all know SWF provides a significant advantage over the other two, and Killer players can have an easier time stomping solo players due to that lack of resources SWF has.


And no, the solution to this isn't nerf or remove SWF. That's terrible. Bad game design is making one thing worse so it seems less awful in comparison to another aspect. That's why people want solo, the worst way to play, to be buffed to a degree that puts it close to what you have with SWF. The change to Small Game is a tiptoe in the right direction, but it's a flimsy bandage on an oozing wound.


If this disparity between SWF and solo is reduced greatly, or even outright removed, then there's nothing to hold BHVR back from letting Killers receive buffs and being *gasp!* fun to play. There'd be no need to consider "Oh, but what if the Survivor can't communicate with their allies? Better nerf Trapper because he might have an advantage in that case" because that situation wouldn't exist anymore. You work your way from making the worst experience better and go up until everyone has the necessary means to enjoy themselves.


I'm not the first to say this, and I won't be the last, but I'm noticing a recent uptick in "NeRF SwF, COmmS ArE CHEaTINg!" and it's particularly telling of how ######### BHVR has gone about balancing this game. So yeah, buff solo q then buff Killers. ✌

Comments

  • Seraphor
    Seraphor Member Posts: 9,429
    edited April 2021

    My Ideas to 'buff solo':

    1. Survivors can view each others perks and item loads outs in the lobby, so they know the capabilities of their team mates.
    2. Survivors can press a button to trigger a pre-set map-wide message, something like "Killer is here", "Coast is clear", "Help me", "Leave me". In addition, have this 'ping' in their direction so you know where the message is coming from. Maybe with a 30s cooldown.
    3. Make the 'Glass Bead' add-on a default mechanic of all maps.
    4. Make something 'like' Kindred/Empathy/Bond (but not as powerful) a basekit feature. Perhaps you can hold down a button to trigger 'Survivor Instinct' which gives you a general direction that each survivor is in via the 'heartbeat' graphic of Killer Instinct. Give it a cooldown obviously. This wouldn't be an aura so not technically as strong as Kindred etc.

    Once solos are closer to SWFs in terms of communication tools, then we'll see that it's survivor sided, and nerf gen speeds or whatever.

  • GoodBoyKaru
    GoodBoyKaru Member Posts: 22,819

    oh my god looking at those ideas almost made me drool id kill to have those in the game.

    stick in a totem counter at basekit too and id be the 3rd happiest ive ever been in my life

  • Kirkylad
    Kirkylad Member Posts: 1,927

    The big difference in solo and SWF is the quality of teammates. Solos doesn't need a buff it just needs SBM to be put into place so you have a decent team. Most people who play solo know the difference between winning and losing isn't how OP the killer is, it's how well your teammates all work together and if they know how to split up on gens and do well in chase.

  • Seraphor
    Seraphor Member Posts: 9,429

    Precisely why any "buffs" to solo, should come in the form of tools that aid in communication and coordination, without being too strong as to be a perk.

    These sort of QoL enhancements wouldn't offer any additional advantage to SWFs, as their voice chat already supersedes them.

  • Mugombo
    Mugombo Member Posts: 509

    You also have the difference in experience between console and pc players. So more than 3

  • Kirkylad
    Kirkylad Member Posts: 1,927

    But that's exactly what makes SWF easy and boring which is why I prefer playing solo. If they bring in SBM and that as well even solo survivor is going to lose its challenging aspect and become easy the majority of matches.

  • Seraphor
    Seraphor Member Posts: 9,429

    Obviously, once they improved communication for solos, they'd have to buff killers.

    You wouldn't lose any challenge, and in fact SWF would end up being more challenging.

  • _VTK_
    _VTK_ Member Posts: 383
    edited April 2021

    Personally I would prefer to keep the current atmosphere of solo games. Proximity chat or any kind of direct communication/messages/Glass Bead would disturb the atmosphere of loneliness for me. Empathy/Bond is probably too much, the information is too direct. Kindred as a base-kit sounds good, as long as we can't see the killer aura, only other survivors. A way to see loadouts of other survivors could lead to discrimination of other survivors and lobby-dodging. If you don't run meta perks, some survivors would prefer to dodge the lobby. I'm 99% DEVs will never add this feature.

    My personal ideal way of buffing solo would look like this:

    Add more HUD information to survivor avatars. This will not introduce any new controversial features into the game, since we are already used to it and it would not be "intrusive" atmosphere-wise. There will be no threat for the DEVs that they will lose any players because of this, so this is more likely to be added into the game:

    • Add a chase indicator for ALL survivors, not just the obsession. This is probably the most needed feature. We will see less annoying solo survivors crouching behind rocks, not doing anything, because they are afraid to run into the killer.
    • A heartbeat indicator. As soon as a survivor hears a hearbeat, a heartbeating icon will appear next to it avatar.
    • If a survivor is working on a gen, we see a wrench/screwdriver icon next to his avatar. (Gen progress bar could also be useful, similar to the health bar, when someone is bleeding out).
    • When someone is opening the gates, we also see a appropriate icon next to his avatar (and maybe also a progress bar)
    • Totem counter
    • A "sprinting" icon: it shows that a survivor is currently sprinting. It could be useful for many situations, but not really necessary

    That would be a good start.

    Together with these changes survivors must get a nerf, in a way that affects both solo and SWF, or Killers must get a buff or both.

  • C3Tooth
    C3Tooth Member Posts: 8,266

    Just a simple premade chat like HSH like "ME DECOY"

    And u will see Gens in Solo fly extremely fast as swf

  • DemonDaddy
    DemonDaddy Member Posts: 4,167

    I find solo is the best survivor experience, challenging and unpredictable. The lack of info that swf provides adds to the suspense and creates more engaging situations.

  • Lord_Tony
    Lord_Tony Member Posts: 2,109

    nerf swf

  • Mandy
    Mandy Administrator, Dev, Community Manager Posts: 23,357

    A very stern reminder to stay on topic here, and to follow the forum rules when posting.

    Here's a reminder of what they are, in case anyone has forgotten: https://forum.deadbydaylight.com/en/kb/articles/137-forum-rules