Killer FOV accessibility should not be locked behind perks.
I propose that Shadowborn (+15° FOV) be implemented into basekit as a slider that allows the player to adjust killer FOV between 87° (the current base amount) and 103° (max possible with Shadowborn). Accordingly, Monitor & Abuse would also no longer need to have the FOV effect, which could be replaced with something else. Below are the reasons for this suggestion:
Accessibility
Some people get nausea or similar problems from playing on low FOV. Accessibility should not be locked behind perks.
Why it should be a slider instead of full +15° Basekit
Not everyone wants max possible FOV and too high can also cause problems for some players. Thus, a slider allows for adjustment between the current default up to the maximum Shadowborn can give.
Innovation
This would allow Shadowborn to be reworked into something more functionally up to date and helpful/interesting.
No meaningful loss of gameplay
Yes, I understand this game was/is balanced around FOV for killer. That said, when you think through most examples, unlike some other accessibility-adjacent perks (eg, Spine Chill), it does not actually change much.
Slightly better vision during stuns/fatigue
Again, does not impact much because stuns/fatigue will force the camera down as well as usually prevent or reduce sideways turn rates. AKA, the killer will not be able to look directly at the survivor regardless. Only is relevant for peripheral vision, which (a) doesn't matter if the survivor doesn't run to the side, and (b) would still be seen even at 87° (current base killer FOV) even if to a lesser extent, which would still clearly reveal the survivor ran towards a side rather than directly away.
Happening to coincidentally be in the super-far peripheral of the killer's vision
Again, something bypassed by good habit of play: Checking around side to side while traversing the map to see if anyone appears by the sides prior to arriving at whatever intended destination. Particularly helpful at the very start of the game.
Hiding right beside the killer (for example, after a vault)
Already completely impossible if the killer has the common sense to just look behind them if the survivor isn't immediately apparent to either side. Fast vaulting is impossible due to the proximity needed, and a medium vault is a free hit for the killer at that distance.
Conclusions
Overall, it's long due for Shadowborn to be updated and for FOV to no longer remain as a point of balancing when it does not actually impact much about the game that isn't already negated by good habits to play with and learn anyways.
Comments
87° is just comically small. I'd rather they just made it something like 95° as a base and 105° with Shadowborn. (Additionally give Shadowborn a second effect of brightening everything slightly too to make up for the -5° nerf)
This alone would help prevent survivors crouching in front of the killer yet still outside their FoV. This disproportionately affects console killers, who cannot look around as quick as PC players without sacrificing camera control.
Agreed.
I've proposed a toggle before, but a slider between the current value and the Shadowborn value would be perfectly acceptable too, maybe even better. There's really no reason for a perk to provide this kind of service- hell, it's not as though having Shadowborn FOV actually incentivises anyone to use that perk unless they have to for accessibility reasons.
I have no idea what Shadowborn would do after this, but I'm sure the devs could come up with something.
Killers are supposed to have a narrow field of view…it’s not a mistake. I hate first person view as much as the next, but it’s there for a reason. Giving killers a wider field of view would be a huge buff.
Being able to crouch in front of the killer, and remain entirely out of view, is broken beyond all reason. Increasing the FoV even just a few more degrees would prevent this.
It's also bizarre that you can blind a killer with a flashlight outside of the killers FoV.
Most first person games are around 90°-100° degrees. 90° tends to be console while 100° tends to be PC, due to proximity to the monitor. 87° is just... weirdly specific.
Shadowborn is the only Perk that makes Dredge with the doll skin playable. The left hand is way too big, easily covers up half the screen
It is not a huge buff. That has been completely debunked and explained above. Everything possible against killer because of low FOV is already useless and impossible if the killer pays any attention whatsoever.
Hiding right beside killer: If the killer sees the survivor suddenly vanish, there is literally no other possible place than right beside the killer.
Stuns/fatigue: They push the camera down so the killer can’t see forwards regardless. Even on base (87°), you’d still see if a survivor ran to the side because Shadowborn only gives horizontal FOV, not vertical. You do not see any more vertically than you would without it regardless.
Seeing someone on peripheral: Killers should be looking side to side while traversing the map/before picking someone up/etc regardless to look for survivors or scratch marks, not just straight ahead.
i agree.