Items' variants and addons
I would like to talk about items and their rarities, mainly about fog vials, keys and maps, and their add-ons.
I dislike how different variants of an item are the same but have higher stats the rarer the item is. Same with add-ons, every add-on (excluding iri addons) literally does nothing but increase the stats.
What I'm trying to say is the items should be more unique from each other, not like in the example below:
- common map: has 4 uses and low range
- uncommon map: has 5 uses and medium range
- rare map: 6 uses and a long range
Such style "rarer item = higher numbers" is boring, EVERY player will always pick the rarest item because it has the best stats, leaving the other versions useless. Look at old medkits, toolboxes, and flashlights, where rarer variants aren't just about higher numbers: some of them have stronger effects but downsides, while others are good at only one category (like both purple toolboxes having completely different purposes, or old purple medkit had more charges but didn't provide any healing speed buffs to the user)
Same with the add-ons, every addon literally is: 2 more uses, aura reading lasts for 2s longer, activation time is 50% faster, item now reveals killer but has 2 fewer changes. Sure, keep these addons but add more that change the usage or bring special effect. Examples of the CREATIVE AND UNIQUE addons and item variants that should exist.
- New fog vial's addon: duration of fog is shorter and the fog isn't as thick, but grants the survivors 4% haste that lingers for a short time after leaving the area.
- New fog vial's addon: killers who enter the fog suffer from blindness status effect that lingers for 20 seconds after leaving the area, but the cooldown between throws is increased.
- New map variant: Consuming a charge reveals generators and exit gates. (no longer reveals pallets and vaults).
- New key variant: Consuming a charge no longer reveals survivors but grants the user elusive status effect for a few seconds, instead.
- New key variant: This key is too big to open chests, but its above-average size allows it to store more power. Stronger aura reading effects but cannot unlock chests
Instead, make the said items similar to toolboxes, flashlight and old medkits where each variant has DIFFERENT effects/stats and so there is more difference between variants than just better stats for rarer ones. Look at flashlights: purple flashlight is stronger but has worse aim, and sport flashlight has less battery but a better aim and this is how it should be
Bonus balance changes for fog vial:
I agree fog vials were too strong to the point they were annoying, but I barely see anyone using fog vials anymore.
- Increase the number of uses to 3. Making uses no longer infinite was a good chance, but 2 is too low amount.
- Buff brown addon's effect to 10 seconds or more. The decision to limit uses nerfed this addon, as it now activates only once per match (after the first use)
I hope you understand my point.