Set-Up Period

TuskSyndicate

One thing that I noticed while playing killer is the starting points of certain maps (like the Forgotten Ruins) can be ridiculously close to some survivor spawn points which got me thinking. The first 30 seconds of any given trial can be the most critical, so won't it be best for players to try to place themselves in the best position possible? We have lots of killers who need to dedicate a good amount of time in setting up, so why not have a set-up period? Likewise, we have killer and powers who can instantly be on the other side of the map in a flash (especially with lethal pursuer), wouldn't it be good for survivors to be afforded the ability to put themselves in a better position rather than awkwardly on the other side of the map (sometimes in the open)?

• Set-Up Period
  • Period: 15-20 Seconds
    • During this period of time, neither survivors nor the killer is allowed to see each other, nor can killers see their scratch marks. In addition, survivors nor killers do not affect the physical plane (like disturb grass or crows).
    • Survivors will be unable to repair gens or cleanse/boon totems. Killers will be unable to injure/affect survivors with powers. This includes placed traps/drones/snares/dream pallets/etc, survivors will be unaffected by them until the timer is up.
  • Goals
    • The Survivors' goal during Set-Up Period will be to place themselves in an advantageous position whether it be in the middle of a favorable loop or right next to a generator. Ultimately, this set-up period will cause survivors to not feel like they have immediately been caught through no-fault of their own. If a survivor places themselves next to a generator, it is a risk that they willingly choose if the killer happens to do the same thing.
    • The Killer's goal is to set up the Trial to be favorable for them. If the Killer is Trapper, Hag, Nightmare, or Skull Merchant they will be afforded some time to set up their respective tools of the trade without cutting into early-game pressure. If the Killer has a Hex Perk, it is at this time where they will designate which Dull Totem will be the applicable Hex Totem. Failure to designate will result in it being randomly applied like usual.
• Pros
  • Several killers are automatically set behind due to their reliance on affecting the map before chasing. The Trapper in particular is someone who has to give up 30-60 seconds of time to set up traps at the start of the trial, most often sacrificing 2 generators at the very start of the game.
  • Oftentimes, survivors do not get the opportunity to place themselves prior to the Killer coming for them. With this set-up phase, a survivor can choose whether or not to start in a protective area or riskily next to a key objective.
  • Hex Perks are highly RNG, more often than not the Hex Totem will spawn right next to a Survivor, and it will be immediately destroyed. By giving control to the Killer to choose, these perks can have more of an opportunity to shine.
• Cons
  • The Perk, Lethal Pursuer, will need to be nerfed to accommodate this change since if the killer chooses to start in the middle of the map, then 9 seconds of aura reveal will be overkill.
  • Hex Perks might need to be nerfed slightly if the Killer can choose which will be the most beneficial for placement. The basis of Hex Perks was that they were High Risk, High Reward. If the risk is lessened, so should the reward.

Hope that this is a good recommendation, Thanks for Everything!

Emeal

Follow my logic here for a min… If the Killers who need setup time are at such a disadvantage, then Why are their kill rate basically where every other Killer is now? If we introduced a new 30 second pregame, would that not just buff those Killers, when instead you could buff them without the setup time if they really needed it, right? Just food for thought.