Changes to Obsession mechanics.
Rather than the Obsession being chosen at the start of the match it should happen 60 seconds into the game. Factoring in perks but also current performance of the survivors. Perks x BP = High = Obsession.
This initial 60 seconds would be the Obsession Countdown.
This would nerf perks like OOJ for the first minute but it would give a small buff to killers that require set up time such as Trapper.
It would also potentially nerf or buff perks that require the obsession to be targeted as it would give the Killer less time, however these perks could be improved to compensate for this. To account for this the only perks that really need to change in my mind would be.
Nemesis: Each time a Survivor blinds you or stuns you using a Pallet or Locker they become your new Obsession. If there is no current Obsession the Obsession Countdown ends and the survivor immediately becomes the Obsession
- The Survivor suffers from the Oblivious Status Effect for 40/50/60 seconds and their Aura is revealed to you for 4 seconds.
Minor change, forces obsession.
Rancor: Each time a Generator is completed:
- Your Aura's revealed to the Obsession for 5/4/3 seconds.
- All Survivors' Auras are revealed to you for 3 seconds.
Once all Generators are completed:
- The Obsession suffers from a permanent Exposed Status Effect.
- You are granted the ability to kill the Obsession by your own hand.
Minor change for delayed start, Aura rather than location
Remember Me: An old grudge rekindled. At the beginning of the game an Obsession is chosen overriding the Obsession Countdown
Each time you hit your Obsession with a Basic Attack, Remember Me gains 1 Token:
- The Opening time of both Exit Gates is increased by 4 seconds per Token, up to a maximum of 8 additional/12 additional/16 additional seconds.
- The Obsession is unaffected by this penalty.
No change by mechanic for thematic reasons.
Play with your food: Each time you chase your Obsession and let them escape, Play with Your Food receives 1 Token, up to a maximum of 3 Tokens:
- Each Token applies a stack-able 4/5/6 % Haste
- Status Effect, up to a maximum of 12/15/18 %.
- Performing a Basic or Special Attack consumes 1 Token.
Play with Your Food has a cool-down of 10 seconds on Token-accumulation.
Haste increase by 1% per tier to account for Obsession Countdown
Dead Man's Switch: After hooking the Obsession Dead Man's Switch activates for the next 40/45/50 seconds.
- While activated, any Survivor that stops repairing a Generator before it is fully repaired causes The Entity to block the Generator until Dead Man's Switch's effect ends.
- Affected Generators are highlighted by a white Aura
5 second time increase per tier to account for Obsession Countdown
Save the best for last and Dying light would get slightly buffed by this change for the simple fact that for the first 60 seconds there is no Obsession for them to lose tokens.
I feel this change would add another small dynamic layer to gameplay that doesn't feel arbitrary and can be earned not only through perks but by early game action. Befitting the idea of the obsession being the thorn in the Killer's side or a survivor that for whatever reason piques their interest.