Classes in normal mode or another gamemode?

Thanks for your input and it's much appreciated, 😎

Killer Classes in 2v8 mostly revolve around your role in the team, because Killer Powers already provide you a playstyle. You couldn't really apply Killer Classes to 1v4 in the same way, so you're either making a gamemode where Killers get nothing special, or trying to make Classes work for Killers which is probably going to turn out feeling much worse than Perks do.

I agree you couldn't use the traditional 2v8 class system. Although, that's where BHVR would need to overhaul the classes for a 1v4 scenario. Personally I can see some killers not liking the idea of being able to play meta perks. Where they can't hybridize their builds and use the "meta" for instance. Although I believe you don't need that many archetypes to satisfy a proper class system. The idea that Killers wouldn't want to play classes because of a lack of choice I believe is ridiculous. When the vast majority of players are using the same build concepts. Gen regression + Aura reading OR Aura + Anti-loop is seen in nearly every single one of my matches. To the point I get consistent use out of Distortion right from the start of the match. People play Distortion as an anti-aura perk but I use it more as an intel gathering perk. If a token is used on hook… A token is used on gen kick etc… Giving me a heads up on future interactions in that match.

Got a bit side tracked but my belief stems from the notion that it's been proven time and time again that we flock to the simpler choices. You can have a burger joint with 50 different kinds of burgers and next to you is a burger joint that sells the most basic burgers: Beef cheese burger and a Chicken burger. Despite the amazing options. It's been proven through marketing and psychology that people will show preference for the other burger joint with only two simple burger choices. We see this in DBD. I saw this in PoE 1 and 2. Hundreds of perks thousands of combinations. Yet only one or two "viable" builds at the end of the day.

My opinion on this, is that we can just create a more unified path for both sides. Less choices and worrying about meta or imbalances. If I don't run DS I'm not being smart and if I don't run gen regression on Killer than I am asking for pain. Why not eliminate the exploitative nature of builds and create a more balanced and stable environment that is easier to balance.

At least that's my counter argument. Feel free to nit pick and point out some flaws in my opinion as well, it's very much welcomed.

I personally think the better approach is to try and do things like Perk rebalancing, new Perks that incentivise synergies, Item changes, base mechanic overhauls (eg. making Chests worthwhile!) or etc to try and convince Survivors to specialise.

I agree with this as well! My issue with this revolves around the fact BHVR already does perk rebalancing. Perhaps not to "our" liking or as quickly as we'd hope for… Personally I feel we already see the failure that comes with attempting to balance nearly 300 perks. I would love chests to be overhauled. I actively enjoy builds that use chests. I'm avid fan of increasing the intractability with the world in a match. I would love to see more gen archetypes that have you finding parts to install over sitting there and hitting skill checks. The blood gens with the blood "gas" pumps were refreshing! Candles way back during the Halloween event were so much fun!

I personally just feel like the balancing of perks has failed. Why I feel it'd be better for BHVR to seek alternative methods to balance the game. Even if that meant keeping perks but reducing the number of perks for instance. Although, currently I personally feel the meta has become exploitative. I actively don't use DS or OTR because I have main'd Killer and I know how frustrating certain perks are to deal with. I main Survivor now but I truly believe the game would be better if some of these perks on both sides were simply removed from the game (unpopular opinion perhaps haha). I get why people use meta perks. It's in the name "meta" lol.

I do think unique Survivor archetypes are possible within the Perks system, they just need to be good enough to tempt Survivors away from jack of all trades builds. Going with Classes feels like giving up on that.

You could be right in this regard. Which is why maybe removing perks all together isn't the "right" solution. Although I think having an alternative option would be refreshing. I love the idea of Survivor archetypes and I get why they aren't baked into a Survivor but even if it was a sub personality trait that could be equipped would be cool.

I'm an avid fan of customisation in games right. I want to make it clear that I love perk diversity. I actively make custom builds for myself and I do my best not to use meta perks like DS or OTR. I create my own little tailored experience that suites my playstyle. Hence I love perks.

I also really love the 2v8 class system because during chases I feel like it's a perk-less chase if you get what I mean. Often the classes are a more subtle/specialised combination of perks. There is no lithe or DS. No Bamboozle etc… It's just raw Killer versus Survivor. No perks and pure chase and I love that so much! I love chases and I never enjoyed chases more than in 2v8. Overall it feels more like skill matters in a class based system where as in a perk based system. Instead of being punished for my mistakes I can just use OTR, DS or DH to gain more time. Poor positioning no longer is punished basically and that goes for Killers as well. Killers don't need to rely on skill very much anymore. When you can straight up block loops. If you are bad at looping… Just make loops obsolete! Hold 'w' strategy will eventually secure the victory.

For me I think if we took attention off of perks and focused that energy on interacting in the game via chases and interacting with gens or new gen archetypes it would make up for the loss of "perk diversity". Maybe I'm wrong on that matter. Although this is my further reasoning and again feel free to nit pick.