Rethinking Second Hook Phase – Let Survivors Fight, Not Die Instantly

peachdangos

Hey Behaviour team and fellow Fog-dwellers,

I'm sure that many have proposed similar ideas, but I just returned to DBD yesterday after a short break and was saddened to find the hook mechanic had changed.

I wanted to share an idea that’s been on my mind regarding the second hook phase. With all the great changes you’ve made recently—especially the anti-facecamp mechanics—it feels like the game is moving toward more fairness and engagement. But one legacy mechanic still feels out of place: instant death from missing a skill check during the second hook phase.

Why this mechanic needs a rethink:

• It punishes survivors harshly for a single missed input, often due to lag, distraction, or stress.
• It reinforces the “next match” mentality—players give up early because they know one mistake ends their game.
• It doesn’t align with your current design direction, which encourages survivors to stay in the match and fight for survival.

Proposed change:

• Remove the lethal skill check from the second phase.
• Instead, keep survivors on the hook until the timer runs out or they’re rescued.
• Visually, show them struggling against the Entity—clawing, resisting, fighting—without it being tied to a skill check.
• Keep the escape bar mechanic for anti-camping, so survivors still have a chance to escape if the killer stays too close.

Why this works:

• It keeps survivors engaged without punishing them for a single mistake.
• It encourages teamwork and rescue attempts.
• It reduces toxicity and early match abandonment.
• It makes the hook phase more immersive and cinematic.

I think this change would go a long way toward making matches feel more dynamic and less frustrating—especially for newer players or those caught in unfair situations.

Thanks for reading, and keep up the amazing work on the game. The Fog is evolving, and I’d love to see survivors given every chance to fight until the end.