J-Flicks are definitely unintended, but they should be considered a tech
I have had a chance to read some of the post on the form regarding opinions on this technique, and I decided to create this post to organize my thoughts. I have heard both streamers and players call Jflicks an exploit (most often because they were hit by a blight using the technique) and argue on forms and twitch streams advocating for it's removal.
By definition, J-Flicks are definitely an exploit, but that does not mean it is unfair and needs to be fixed (Blight's hitboxes and the ability to pause the game to stop a rush is WAAAYYY more broken). In this post, my referment to 'Exploit' is to an bug which grants an unfair advantage to a player over another.
Regardless of what some might think, many games have unintended features as a result of a bug and Dead by Daylight is no exception. One prominent example is the tractor tech, which was removed at one point but reimplemented when the developers realized that it increased skill of play for both players, counter-play was available for both sides, and created additional depth to the game. In my opinion, the J-Flick is no different, and fits the same criteria as the listed example, and should be strongly considered as a tech before being patched out.
Here is the evidence for the reasons stated above:
- Increases the skill ceiling of play for both players: Although some might believe that a J-flick is simply preformed by setting your mouse DPI to 10,000 and throwing your mouse across your house, there is more complexity to it. The action itself is very technical and requires a balance in speed and distance. If preformed poorly, you often will take too short of a turn, bump into a wall, or even make the turn but over flick and miss your target (By moving fast enough, it is possible to do full 360s and beyond). This creates a level of technique similar in complexity to Billy flicks, taking hours to master at different loops and structures.
- Counter to what some say, the J-flick is not as uncounterable as one might think. When a blight goes for a J-flick, they ride the wall of the structure in order to make as much distance out of their lunge as possible. If you suspect a J-flick coming (which will usually be attempted on a blight's final rush as they have no reason to not take the risk), you can simply run out from the pallet/window/passage the blight expects you to go and side step the flick. Both console and pc survivors can do this. Keep in mind that a blight can expect this and instead of flicking play the loop safe and take turns wide and catch you out in the open. Compare the depth of that interaction to a chad spirit with stridor phasing after an injured survivor.
J-Flick Dodge (KYF Example): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN2OR0MhM3o
(1v1 Example from Xeno): https://clips.twitch.tv/TriangularHonorableRadishEagleEye-ff8pK7qWlIsrpMsn
Killer Perspective (AscensionWho's Stream): https://clips.twitch.tv/AstuteHedonisticVultureJKanStyle-y70baKfNoWAlomrE
TLDR: It takes both physical and mental skill on both sides to outmaneuver the other, and a blight J-flick has more counter play than a phasing spirit with stridor (Take it how you will, but I don't like spirit xD). Bugs have often been called features by developers, and that is what I am hoping will be the case with the J-Flick.
Now to counter some commonly stated arguments: (I will add to this list as arguments are brought up)
Q1: "J-Flicks can only be preformed on PC, so it is an unfair advantage given to one platform"
A: PC is already at an advantage in many aspects of this game. To state a few: Better FPS and overall performance, Better load times, adding shaders to make survivor blood neon green, the ability to change your resolution to some absurd values to see over tall stuff and delete mind-gameable loops, the ability to use a sound equalizer to make survivor grunts and breathing impossible NOT to hear (should I go on?). This is a problem beyond just a single trick on one killer, or even the game as a whole.
There will always be a gap between the hardware capacity of a controller vs a mouse and keyboard. Period.
As for the J-Flick, the only hinderance for players on consoles being able to preform is the controller hardware itself because it just cannot preform as well as a mouse in the sensitivity department. IMO, Since the developers added crossplay there is no reason to not add Keyboard and Mouse support for console, and it boggles my mind that this is not something the devs see as important.
Additionally, it's already proven that the aim ceiling is much higher on K&M than console, so any deathslinger or huntress is going to play at a disadvantage on controller, but that doesn't seem to stop them from playing well does it. Same with Blight. Blight can preform decently well without the use of the J-flick by playing smarter around tiles. However it would be a shame to remove a very interactive feature to simply make a killer weaker on one platform to level a playing field.
The ideal solution to this problem is to add K&M support to console. That would fix all movement related balance issues for console vs PC players. The J-Flick is a minor thing compared to other glaring issues in balance with this game.
Q2: "Because *Insert-DBD-Streamer-Here* said it's needs to be patched, it needs to be patched."
A: Ok? I enjoy streamers and their content as well, but you should make a decision for yourself. It's fine for someone to have their own position, but you should look at both sides yourself to make your own decision. Living your life purely by the ideologies of others is going to make you a sheep of society, and I don't like grass all that much. If after your analysis you still agree with that position, that is completely fine. This post isn't about a right or wrong, is it an exploit or is it not an exploit, but rather a statement advocating that the J-Flick is a healthy unintended feature to the game.
Q3: "Because J-Flicks/bugs are unintended, they shouldn't be in the game."
A: This argument is so pathetic I really don't want to answer it. sigh
Plenty of good things in the world are the result of something unintended (or wrong). Unintended consequences in cooking resulted in many popular foods throughout the world: Potato Chips, Dumplings, etc. Just because something is not your main intention does not mean the result is bad or a failure. Good can come out of folly.
Q4: "What is your definition of a tech vs an exploit?"
A: I would state that a tech is a unintended feature which adds complexity, depth, a level of skill to a game. Now, I understand that some people wouldn't call J-Flicks a tech, but I disagree. The reasons that I stated in the post are a good foundation to my reasoning: Counterplay, Increased Skill Ceiling for players, and increased depth to character or play. The J-flick checks these boxes, while also staying outside the region of being completely busted.
The J-flick does have counterplay, and blight creates a unique and exhilarating chase. It takes a larger mental capacity than a M1 killer but is more fair to both sides than a nurse or spirit (spirits often have more tools to find you than you do to find them). Blight doesn't turn invisible, or teleport through walls.
I don't think that the use of tools outside of the game make something an 'exploit' inherently. There are many examples of exploits which don't require tools (such as crawling under hooks) which are much more game impacting than someone using a struggle macro by use of a turbo button on a third party controller.
It's possible that tech is not the exact word I'm looking for, but bugs have often been called features by developers, and that is what I am hoping will be the case with the J-Flick. We don't know everything about it yet, and it's possible that in the future people will figure out a way to do it more consistently on console (It's possible, but it requires the game to lag and is not consistently reproduceable)
Comments
Yeah this sums up my feelings if they are removing this then remove literally every other unintended feature and tech