BHVR still hasn't realized they've made three different play experiences
The balancing of the game as of late (or longer for all I know) is being done under the assumption the game has two play experiences: Survivor and Killer. It doesn't. It has three: SWF, Killer, solo. Denying that is to deny a plain fact. We all know SWF provides a significant advantage over the other two, and Killer players can have an easier time stomping solo players due to that lack of resources SWF has.
And no, the solution to this isn't nerf or remove SWF. That's terrible. Bad game design is making one thing worse so it seems less awful in comparison to another aspect. That's why people want solo, the worst way to play, to be buffed to a degree that puts it close to what you have with SWF. The change to Small Game is a tiptoe in the right direction, but it's a flimsy bandage on an oozing wound.
If this disparity between SWF and solo is reduced greatly, or even outright removed, then there's nothing to hold BHVR back from letting Killers receive buffs and being *gasp!* fun to play. There'd be no need to consider "Oh, but what if the Survivor can't communicate with their allies? Better nerf Trapper because he might have an advantage in that case" because that situation wouldn't exist anymore. You work your way from making the worst experience better and go up until everyone has the necessary means to enjoy themselves.
I'm not the first to say this, and I won't be the last, but I'm noticing a recent uptick in "NeRF SwF, COmmS ArE CHEaTINg!" and it's particularly telling of how ######### BHVR has gone about balancing this game. So yeah, buff solo q then buff Killers. ✌
Comments
My Ideas to 'buff solo':
Once solos are closer to SWFs in terms of communication tools, then we'll see that it's survivor sided, and nerf gen speeds or whatever.
comparing a gamemode to a nigh-incurable disease that's taken the lives of millions and left their loved ones, friends and families lost and alone what a great impression to make in your first 10 posts!
oh my god looking at those ideas almost made me drool id kill to have those in the game.
stick in a totem counter at basekit too and id be the 3rd happiest ive ever been in my life
The big difference in solo and SWF is the quality of teammates. Solos doesn't need a buff it just needs SBM to be put into place so you have a decent team. Most people who play solo know the difference between winning and losing isn't how OP the killer is, it's how well your teammates all work together and if they know how to split up on gens and do well in chase.
Precisely why any "buffs" to solo, should come in the form of tools that aid in communication and coordination, without being too strong as to be a perk.
These sort of QoL enhancements wouldn't offer any additional advantage to SWFs, as their voice chat already supersedes them.
You also have the difference in experience between console and pc players. So more than 3
But that's exactly what makes SWF easy and boring which is why I prefer playing solo. If they bring in SBM and that as well even solo survivor is going to lose its challenging aspect and become easy the majority of matches.
Also true.
Obviously, once they improved communication for solos, they'd have to buff killers.
You wouldn't lose any challenge, and in fact SWF would end up being more challenging.
Personally I would prefer to keep the current atmosphere of solo games. Proximity chat or any kind of direct communication/messages/Glass Bead would disturb the atmosphere of loneliness for me. Empathy/Bond is probably too much, the information is too direct. Kindred as a base-kit sounds good, as long as we can't see the killer aura, only other survivors. A way to see loadouts of other survivors could lead to discrimination of other survivors and lobby-dodging. If you don't run meta perks, some survivors would prefer to dodge the lobby. I'm 99% DEVs will never add this feature.
My personal ideal way of buffing solo would look like this:
Add more HUD information to survivor avatars. This will not introduce any new controversial features into the game, since we are already used to it and it would not be "intrusive" atmosphere-wise. There will be no threat for the DEVs that they will lose any players because of this, so this is more likely to be added into the game:
That would be a good start.
Together with these changes survivors must get a nerf, in a way that affects both solo and SWF, or Killers must get a buff or both.
Just a simple premade chat like HSH like "ME DECOY"
And u will see Gens in Solo fly extremely fast as swf
I find solo is the best survivor experience, challenging and unpredictable. The lack of info that swf provides adds to the suspense and creates more engaging situations.
nerf swf
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