New killer: Hive Keeper

Hive Keeper

Appearance:

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/DLm25E

A more modern version is also possible:

Of average height, limping and slightly crooked, dressed in dirty camouflage clothing and wearing a mesh mask that hides his face. A smoker hangs at his side, and bees fly around him. When the Hive Keeper moves around the map without terror, a faint buzzing can be heard.

Ability – Swarm of Bees:

On the map, a limited number of beehives are initially placed near certain generators and key areas. When a survivor enters the hive’s radius, the bees are triggered and swarm, inflicting damage to one of the survivors.

The swarm’s launch can be prevented if a survivor closes the hive lid in time upon approaching it. After a while, the lid is forced open again by the swarm, and the hive needs to be closed once more.

The released bees target the nearest survivor. If they aren’t driven off in time, they inflict a deep wound and reveal the survivor’s location (similar to the Artist’s crows). If the hive remains open, it will release another swarm after a certain period.

While driving off the bees, the survivor is slowed down. The only way to fully escape them is to quickly jump into a locker.

The Hive Keeper can carry hives and place them wherever he needs, allowing for strategic play centered around hive placement. This makes him somewhat similar to the Trapper in terms of gameplay style. It’s especially effective to play around “the triangle” by placing multiple hives near crucial points.

While carrying a hive, the killer’s movement speed is reduced to 4.2 m/s, and he cannot attack until the hive is placed on the ground. He can be blinded while carrying a hive, but it won’t drop during this time. The penalty for picking up and placing a hive is minimal.

On the other hand, the Hive Keeper is also a decent foot-chase killer with an additional ability called the Smoker (described separately).

Ability – Smoker:

By holding the ability button, the Hive Keeper releases a stream of smoke (similar in mechanics to the Vampire’s fire), which affects survivors like blinding the killer with a flashlight – their screen goes completely dark. This allows the Hive Keeper to counter loops at pallets and windows, as well as sneak up on generators and catch survivors off guard, especially when combined with perks or add-ons that suppress the terror radius.

Additionally, the smoke stream drives off any bees currently attacking a survivor and temporarily disables the nearest hive for a few seconds.

Countermeasures for Survivors:

Repair generators in pairs — one survivor draws the bee swarm away while the other continues fixing. Healing in pairs is also effective. Keep moving around the map to close hives (similar to the TV mechanic with Sadako), and stay near hives to make it less beneficial for the Hive Keeper to use his smoke ability. In some situations, it might be better not to heal, since the bees can't bring down a survivor, but they can interfere with repairs — especially because survivors can't move hives themselves.

Notes:

The hives will either not be allowed to be placed in the passageways, or it will be necessary to make it so that the survivor can pass through a closed hive in a narrow passage.

For the voice work, I suggest giving him no actual speech—just raspy, grunting sounds (I can send over test versions). I’d also be happy to write his in-game lore if you’re interested.

Add-ons

Ultra Rare

Jar of Honey
When a survivor closes a hive, they become injured (this cannot put them into a dying state).

Hornet’s Nest
Hives reveal survivor auras, even when closed.
Survivors within a hive’s radius are affected by blindness.

Very Rare

Human Skin Gloves
Increases the Hive Keeper’s movement speed while carrying hives to 4.6 m/s.

Shoulder Pouch
Adds two additional hives to the map.

Hallucinogenic Honey
A survivor who drives away bees becomes exposed for 7 seconds.

Dried Bee
Bees prioritize attacking injured survivors first. Even after the swarm ends, the affected survivor cannot heal for a limited time.

Rare

Smoker Fuel
Significantly reduces the cooldown of the smoker ability.

Bloody Honeycombs
Hives reopen (reset) more quickly after being closed.

Black Smoker
Increases the duration of survivor blindness caused by the smoker.

Bundle of Herbs
The killer’s terror radius is suppressed while carrying a hive.

Detachable Nozzle
Increases the range of the smoke stream by 2 meters.

Uncommon

Caustic Smoke
Survivors hit by the smoke are slowed for 2 seconds in addition to being blinded.

Wooden Box
Increases the time it takes survivors to close a hive.

Amulet with Nectar Inside
Expands the hive’s radius by 2 meters.

Totem of Leather and Cotton
Survivors cannot see the hive radius outlines.

Heavy Smoker with Multi-Nozzles
Reduces the killer’s movement speed to 4.4 m/s but emits smoke in a full cloud around the Hive Keeper.

Common

Sea Salt
Increases the Hive Keeper’s movement speed briefly after placing a hive.

Sturdy Supports
Increases hive radius by 1 meter.

Sly Aim
Displays the projected path of the smoke stream.

Pollen
Survivors who close a hive are briefly slowed afterward.