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Five Perk Slots Suggestion

This post isn't a demand for five perk slots, just a suggestion. I've played the game since release and have played quite regularly since then. I play both sides fairly equally, survivor more so simply because I play with friends. I typically like playing non-meta builds since I get bored quickly of standard DS/DH/BT on survivor or BBQ/Pop/SB etc. on killer. With so many perks being introduced into the game now, there's a lot to choose from and I find myself synergising a lot of perks only to be slightly frustrated when there's one other perk I could take in a certain build that make it so much more fun. I think it's quite sad that many perks don't get used because most players are inclined to take a perk that is going to give them best advantage to survive.

What do you guys think about this? I know there would probably be controversy for this since four perks have been in the game from the get go and is a fundamental aspect of the game but I feel like it would really bring a breath of fresh air right now - something that isn't just new DLC. Some people in the past have suggested a "passive perk slot" that has a select few perks that can be used in conjunction with your build e.g. No One Gets Left Behind, Diversion, Lightweight etc.

I'm aware it could lead to some unfair advantages if people start taking only the best, meta perks but it may even create a shift in player's mindsets and give them an incentive to start taking builds that aren't exactly meta. I feel like this game really needs something brand new to it because I feel like new perks, the rift and DLCs just aren't bringing enough variability to a game that essentially thrives on its reputability. I think there should be a big change in the base game play as opposed to the assets within the game.

Comments

  • TAG
    TAG Member Posts: 12,871

    I don't think the game's balance can support a fifth perk for each player.

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    I really like the idea too. I feel like some sort of rework with perks is needed because ultimately some perks are just rarely used :( if they give these perks a separate "passive" status then could actually see the light of day :D

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    Yeah that's the biggest issue I think :( sadly the game isn't in a great place balance wise so this might end up causing too many problems for the game in a balance sense

  • FancyMrB
    FancyMrB Member Posts: 1,250

    I think it would be fun to test out and I love the idea of a 'passive' perk slot for all.

    There are so many perks that are good, but they are not always the optimal choice. Lightweight, Brutal Strength, Lightborn, Urban, etc.

    They are more like qol perks and not game changing perks. They could even be given a different colour/category. I guess the issue would be then what perks qualify lol.


    I also think it would be nice if only killers were given a 5th spot. Survivors have 12 slots between them and can get amazing synergy. Killer just his/her self to rely on and having a 5th slot could open up so much for that role.

    As others said above tho I am not sure if the current state of them game could handle such change.

  • YaiPa
    YaiPa Member Posts: 1,929

    no need to. There are so many games, way older than DbD, that didn't change the core elements. For example, Pokemon still has 4 moves slots.

    adding a 5th slot would increase the killer-survivor disparity ever more.

    I got what you were going for when you wrote the thread, but in nowadays DbD, it would never work.

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    I disagree to some extent. I know there are a lot of games that have kept their core elements and remained timeless to some extent. Some games have even made the game a lot worse by changing the fundamentals of the game (PAYDAY 2 for example). However, I feel like Pokemon isn't too comparable to DbD since it has so many other elements to it that make those four moves a fraction of what the rest of the game is since you have 6 other Pokemon to mix and match with. The only way you can achieve something similar with this is a 4 man swf where you pick specific builds for a certain strategy.

    I just feel that since the market of video games nowadays strives for replayablity that many developers of games following this archetype (MOBAs, battle royale games, MMORPGs) create variety by switching up the fundamentals of the game. Eventually so many perks are going to become so obsolete that people will complain they even exist in the first place since they need bloodpoints for them. A passive perk would probably be a solution to this.

  • fcc2014
    fcc2014 Member Posts: 4,388

    I think it is possible if perks were on a points system with a total of 20 points allowed per survivor and killer.

    Meta perks would still count as 5 each, while less used would count as 4. To get 5 perks they would have to be considered not meta which would be determined by current usage.

  • Archimedes5000
    Archimedes5000 Member Posts: 1,620
    edited February 2020

    HoLy #########, WHAT if we ranked perks based on their usage (%) and gave them value based on that?

    You would have max points so you cant use all most used perks, you would have to throw in something less meta.

    Wouldnt this completely solve meta perks problem?

    Rankings would be updated every week, just like shrine. And maybe it would be based only on red / red + purple ranks so its more "skill based"

  • Exerlin
    Exerlin Member Posts: 1,352

    I don't think running 5 meta perks would be much better than running 4. On the survivor side, most meta perks are perks that killers have to assume the survivor is running and play around it. This would just make the killer's assumption more accurate. On the killer side, it would allow for more synergies that the weakest killers would benefit the most from.

    Plus, it would make innovative or "meme" builds both more interesting and more viable since you'll have one more perk to play around with or cover up part of the build's weakness.

  • MiniPixels
    MiniPixels Member Posts: 536

    While I think it would be fun, it would increase the toxicity in the game by a landslide, letting a survivor run BT, DS, DH, Adrenaline, and OoO. Should not be possible under any circumstances, with how strong these perks are, they would need to be addressed before even considering a fifth perk slot. Not to mention some of the crazy stuff killer would be able to do, Running something like Territorial, Iron grasp, Insidious, Agitation, and Mad Grit would be hell on earth to deal with, unless survivors were running all second chance perks.

  • NullEXE
    NullEXE Member Posts: 1,632

    I am okay if the Killer got a 5th perk slot, but survivors really don't need anything more - they are already far too powerful.

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    Yeah I definitely like the limited choice we have because you have to really think about the perks you take. I think the only thing that irritates me about the limit is that meme/non-meta builds could be just a tiny bit stronger if they had one more perk slot to bolster them e.g. I wanted to take Breakout/Flip Flop/Tenacity/Unbreakable/Breakdown as a build cause I feel like it would be a really fun build to take but the four perk limit makes you have to choose one over the other sadly. It's sad how one build like this is almost the equivalent in taking 1 or 2 meta perks like DS or BT in terms of changing the game in favour of the survivor.

    But yeah, definitely agree it would cause a big gap in those who wanna meme and those who wanna try climbing the ranks with meta builds.

  • ModernFable
    ModernFable Member Posts: 836

    @Peanits

    I’m personally against Behavior creating perks like Corrupt Intervention or Borrowed Time to address core game issues/frustrations like oversized maps and tunneling.

    Or selling community requested features as perks like Blood Warden or Buckle Up.

    Or selling the best means of making in game progression bearable in the form of Barbecue & Chili, or useless in the form of We’re Gonna Live Forever.

    That’s how I feel, personally.

  • Carpemortum
    Carpemortum Member Posts: 4,506

    I mean, when 4 moves were implimented, they had like 100 150 moves total.

    Now they have 300 or 4pp moves easily, and still works with the 4 move system.

    I think their point wasnt to compare, but to point out that with proper balance, leaving 4 slots and having over double the original options, is still viable.

  • AbstractPolygon
    AbstractPolygon Member Posts: 71

    My name grug me gamer.

  • andyollolloll
    andyollolloll Member Posts: 940

    Has been suggested as a way to help solo survivors and killers against SWF

  • Peanits
    Peanits Dev Posts: 7,555

    Well I'm sorry you feel that way, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand, so I'm not sure why you feel the need to bring it up here.

  • fcc2014
    fcc2014 Member Posts: 4,388

    When i say rankings i mean meta perks; DS,BT.DH,SB,Iron Will, Adrenaline, Lithe, Balanced Landing, NOED, BBQ, RUIN,Whispers,Enduring,Sloppy,Thanta,

  • Carpemortum
    Carpemortum Member Posts: 4,506

    I PERSONALLY think it's because were talking about perk use, balance, and personal preference: and how some of the things mentioned could be classified as those exact things. Personal preference about which perks are added how, and their use/synergy.

    But that's just how I feel personally.

  • AbstractPolygon
    AbstractPolygon Member Posts: 71

    Grug want 7 perks.

  • Archimedes5000
    Archimedes5000 Member Posts: 1,620
    edited February 2020

    Yeah I know, but devs have usage % statistics on ALL perks, we could use that to put them in "point tiers" and give a max amount of points your build can use. So like you have 10 points so you run Self Care, Plunderers, Lightweight and No Mither (7+1+1+1) (numbers are random, but SC really was top used perk, in like 70% games)

  • AbstractPolygon
    AbstractPolygon Member Posts: 71

    They need to remove perks so there are only 4 for each side so their won't be an problem. - grug

  • ModernFable
    ModernFable Member Posts: 836

    @Peanits

    I suppose I’ll explain how exactly it pertains to the topic at hand, since it appeared to be absolutely off topic.

    If Behavior wants to continue addressing issues/frustrations/suggestions through perks:

    Then kindly add more perk slots so players can at least attempt to have a complete and functional experience playing this game.

  • DarKStaR350z
    DarKStaR350z Member Posts: 765

    Just wanted to point out that although Pokemon still only has 4 moves, they did evolve the game in many ways.

    Pokemon never used to have passive abilities and now each Pokemon can have a choice of passive ability through breeding.

    They also not only add more Pokemon like DbD does with killers/survivors, but also added new types that weren’t previously there such as Dark and Fairy.


    <3 <3 <3

  • supersonic853
    supersonic853 Member Posts: 5,542

    I mean i could see weaker end perks being changed into passive perks (like make them their own type of perk) like lightweight that way you can still only run 4 of the metaperks. Also it opens a new avenue of more ideas for perks.

  • McLightning
    McLightning Member Posts: 949

    This would break the game.

  • Rey_512
    Rey_512 Member Posts: 1,620

    It’d be interesting to have a 5th perk slot, but only for an INCREDIBLY passive effect, such as Lightweight for Survivor or Predator for Killer.

  • fcc2014
    fcc2014 Member Posts: 4,388

    We couldn't really use "usage" because of the rifts and how in some cases it forces you to use a perk to complete the task. You would have to make it so the max value of any perk would allow them to play at least 4 perks but no more than 5.

  • memiieko
    memiieko Member Posts: 187

    It's not like killer could do anything about most of them anyways

  • memiieko
    memiieko Member Posts: 187

    Ahh I can already see: DS, BT, Adrenaline, DH, and either Resilience or Spine Chill

  • xFAKExAxoN
    xFAKExAxoN Member Posts: 73

    A lot of things would have to change for it to happen, though if it did happen then it would be really interesting if it was only for a really passive or really situational perk. Another thing that could work would be that the fifth slot would only work for the perks of the specific survivor or killer you're using, an example in the case of killers could be huntress with lulliby in the 5th perk slot or in the case of survivors then jake with calm spirit on 5th perk slot

  • YaiPa
    YaiPa Member Posts: 1,929

    exactly, they shifted the meta heavily introducing new mechanics, not adding the 5th sloth. That's what DbD should do, since it's basically the same format since 2016.

  • IceCreamPrincess
    IceCreamPrincess Member Posts: 226

    An issue with the 5 perk suggestion is that while theres a chance it'll shake up the meta, its more likely that players would just use the normal 4 perks + another great perk, making a new meta. Having 5 perks doesn't suddenly make borrowed time, decisive strike, pgtw or bbq and chilli any less meta, it just means you can suddenly add that other perk you wanted too

    For survivors they can now add iron will to DH, DS, BT and unbreakable, and killers (who are more varied due to differentiating powers) can now fit in that niche/utility perk

  • ToastyBois
    ToastyBois Member Posts: 26

    I would agree, but that could become busted quickly. Plus if killers get the 5th perk slot it could literally be game breaking, ie a hex build. There are only 5 totems that spawn, and if you were to run haunted with 4 other hexes, there aren’t enough totems.

  • Slickstyles
    Slickstyles Member Posts: 446


    That would be an easy fix by limiting the amount hex perks a killer can bring to 4 or having the fifth perk hex slot light up when haunted grounds is broken. It shouldn't be that difficult to code. I'm all for killers having 5 perks and I always thought killers should have 5 perks to go up against 12 survivor perks. However, to balance this, I would nerf all slowdown perks and toolboxes to increase killer/survivor interaction rather than have an m1 simulator game. On a similar note, they should just remove mending from this game and replace it with a broken status effect.

  • csandman1977
    csandman1977 Member Posts: 2,358

    I like this. Wouldnt have to rank them. Purple perks 6 points, green 5, yellow 4. Up to 20 points. So you cant run 4 purple perks. But you could run 5 yellow perks. Or 1 purple, 2 green, 1 yellow.

    I think this would definitely make people think harder on builds.

  • Zamblot
    Zamblot Member Posts: 270

    If you used a relevant example to one of many competitive games that would actually work in this context you would see that actually fundamental changes occur often to already developed playerbases and it just causes the playerbase to adapt to it. Having another perk slot on both killer and survivor would be great in my opinion as let's be honest. Dead by daylight gets boring pretty fast

  • TheDiz
    TheDiz Member Posts: 243

    I think it should be a backpack type system where you can bring perks to reach a number for example 20 slots but exhaustion perks take 5 slots where passive perks take 4 unless they are meta. So you could take 5 perks if you don't run any of the strongest perks as they would take 5 spots but really weak perks take 3 or 4. Same for killer. That would be cool so if you take crappy perks you could take up to 6 or stronger perks 4 or 5. That way the game doesn't have sooooo many perks that don't ever get used... almost makes creating them useless since there's so many I don't even try anymore because they just aren't worth the space.

  • HagIsBestGirl
    HagIsBestGirl Member Posts: 158

    I was thinking about this earlier and I'd love to see a "Deck System."

    Like, pre match you can see each surv and killers deck of 8-9 perks, but they only take in their chosen 4 of those.

    Then the use/countering of perks isn't entirely left to chance. And more like a back and forth between players.

    Kinda like a sideboard in MtG.

  • PB182
    PB182 Member Posts: 80
  • Archimedes5000
    Archimedes5000 Member Posts: 1,620
    edited February 2020

    This could work too, but after half a year we would be back to what we have now, just a little different meta. And perk colour doesnt equal its strength, look Cruel Limits and Monstrous Shrine. Some perks are even better on lvl 1, like Discordance or Make your Choice.

    Certainly easier to do, but I think it would be just a bandaid.

    Your idea would probably be a great way to balance addons and items instead.

  • CupOfCyanide
    CupOfCyanide Member Posts: 3

    I always thought it would be cool if each character's 3 unique perks were available for 1 perk slot. Like you pick one of the characters 3 perks in one slot and only that characters perks can go in there. And then you still pick the 4 perks you want like we already do.. so 5 total but one slot can only have 1 of 3.


    Example:

    Trapper has unnerving presence, agitation, brutal strength.

    So I set up my 4 perks as usual just throw randoms I'll use Franklin, blood warden, spirit fury, and ruin. But then there is a 5th slot I can use but that slot will only hold one of the trappers own perks. So for this example we will say unnerving presence.

    5 total but 5th slot has to be the characters own perk only. And this goes for survivors and killers.

  • Mandy
    Mandy Administrator, Dev, Community Manager Posts: 23,210

    I like the idea of a 5th perk slot because there's always an extra perk that I want to run...but I think it would be a balancing nightmare in all honesty and an incredible amount of work for the developers, I very much doubt that it is something that would be implemented for these reasons alone.

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    I completely agree. There's always just that one other perk that would make my build perfect. The meta shift it would bring could cause so many issues for the devs and players. It would be safer sticking to what the game is like now but I think its a idea to think of how the game would change.

  • Aurelionunu
    Aurelionunu Member Posts: 16

    I actually quite like this idea. Although some people would complain certain survivors would be stronger than others now (possibly even going as far as saying pay-2-win with characters like Laurie), I still think it would be a good idea and bring some meaning to each character rather than just a re-skin.

  • Deadeye
    Deadeye Member Posts: 3,627

    I would also say, in the current state only the killer should have a 5th perk slot. But that also would be a band aid to the current balancing, so not a good design idea. Question is, how quickly the balancing will happen, since the ruin changes somehow break several killers on several maps. Survivors just learned since then, that committing on gens is the best strategy and killers' heartbeat is not that scary. Toolbox changes are not the core problem.

    Regarding a passive slot: might be interesting, but it also sounds like a band aid to get weak perks into play

    @Mikeasaurus Iron Will would definitely not be in my rarely used, passive perk list.

    I think his need to bring this up was pure salt

  • Tro
    Tro Member Posts: 223

    I think this would be great for both survivors and killers