Just a thought
This proposal outlines a necessary infrastructure update to standard 1v4 matchmaking. Currently, a double standard exists: when a Survivor disconnects, the team is forced to play with an underperforming AI bot. However, when a Killer disconnects, the match terminates immediately. This results in the complete loss of rare items, add-ons, and high-value bloodpoint offerings (such as Anniversary Cakes or Bloody Party Streamers) for the remaining players.
By leveraging existing AI frameworks from the Tutorial and 2v8 modes, Behaviour Interactive can implement a basic Killer Bot replacement system. This ensures match continuity, protects player investments, and equalizes the standard of AI compensation across both roles.
The Problem Statement
- Total Loss of Value for High-Tier Offerings - when a Killer leaves a match prematurely, the lobby closes. While players retain baseline points earned up to that moment, their rare offerings and add-ons are completely consumed. The minor "Killer Disconnect" bloodpoint bonus fails to compensate for the massive multipliers lost, effectively punishing innocent players for the Killer's departure.
- The AI Quality Double Standard - The current justification for avoiding Killer bots relies on the mechanical complexity of advanced powers. However, Survivor bots are frequently assigned a low functional rating by the player base—often hiding in corners or refusing to enter terror radiuses to make saves. If Survivors are forced to accept a suboptimal AI teammate to keep a match alive, the same standard should apply to the Killer role.
Proposed Feature: The "M1 Core" Killer Bot Takeover - To bypass the programming hurdles of complex Killer powers, the game should implement a streamlined "M1 Core" AI system for mid-game disconnects:
Power Suppression: Upon a Killer's disconnection, a generic bot takes over the character model. High-skill or physics-based powers (e.g., Nurse blinks, Blight rushes) are disabled entirely.
Basic Chase Logic: The bot reverts to a baseline "M1 Killer" mechanical standard, utilizing fundamental chase, vault, and break logic already coded into the Tutorial and 2v8 game files.
Objective Preservation: The main purpose of this bot is not to simulate a high-tier competitive opponent, but to act as a moving hazard. This allows Survivors to complete generators, trigger their active perks, preserve their active map offerings, and finish their Archive challenges.
Addressing Exploit & Intent Detection Design Flaws
Implementing a Killer bot concurrently resolves the community deadlock surrounding hard anti-tunneling mechanics:
Intent Isolation: A primary hurdle in penalizing toxic gameplay (like early-game target tunneling) is the engine's inability to detect killer intent versus survivor mispositioning.
The "Conspicuous Action" Safety Net: Because code already exists to deactivate basekit Endurance and Decisive Strike the moment a Survivor interacts with a generator or healing action, a hard mechanical targeting block can safely be introduced.
Protected Early-Game States: If a Killer attempts to repeatedly tunnel the exact same player out of the match before any objective interaction occurs, a point-nullification modifier should trigger for that specific chase bracket. If the Killer disconnects to avoid this restriction, the "M1 Core" bot seamlessly assumes control, protecting the lobby.
Expected Outcomes and Benefits Zero Wasted Player Time:
Matches are consistently carried to a natural conclusion, ensuring players always receive full value from their rare event offerings.
Reduced Queue Frustration: Eliminates the sting of sudden lobby terminations after long matchmaking wait times.
Role Equity: Harmonizes the gameplay rules, ensuring that neither faction holds the mechanical power to completely erase the match rewards of the opposing side.
Just a thought.
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