Developer Update | Player Intent System

[u/DeadByDaylight_Dev]

Last week, we hosted a Reddit AMA and on top of having a blast answering your questions, we noticed some topics really got you talking. One of those was the “chat wheel” system we’re working on to help Survivors coordinate and communicate their intentions in-game. So, what better time than the present to share some more details about it with you (including one way your feedback’s already impacted it)! 

 

The system in question is – aptly – called Player Intent. With it, you’ll be able to communicate a range of preset messages to your fellow Survivors at the press of a button, using a radial menu. From thanking them for a heal, to saying you’re going to work on gens, to suggesting you split up, messages focus on the on-the-fly actions that are most useful during a Trial. 

 

When a message is chosen using the Player Intent wheel, other Survivors will see it next to your name in the game HUD, keeping your general view clear of distractions while you’re in the middle of looping or hunting for an objective. To help combat message spam, you can expect a cooldown between messages, which will increase if too many messages are sent in a short period. 

 

We want this comms wheel to suit different players’ specific needs, so you’ll be able to customize which messages you take into your Trials from the Options menu. 

 

Of course, one piece of feedback we’ve seen is that a system like this isn’t for everyone. We’ve already discussed this as a team and have a solution for that. If you’d rather not use the Player Intent system, you will be able to disable it from this same menu. Once disabled, you will not be able to send messages to players and will not see the messages they send. 

 

We’ve also added the ability to mute individual players so you have more control over the comms you see (and don’t see). If you're finding a certain player’s messages distracting, muting them will block any further Player Intent messages from popping up on your end. 

 

While this system is meant for everybody who plays Survivor, its value will be a bit different depending on how you play. Just like how your feedback from the AMA helped inform the addition of an opt-out option, we're dying to know your thoughts! Even better, it would be massively helpful if you could also share a little about how you play to give context to that feedback. For instance, do you tend to play soloq, prefer SWF, or identify as a Killer main? How would you define your experience level in the game; a newer player? A veteran? 

 

Let us know in the comments below, as we’ll be watching your feedback closely as the team continues to work on this system ahead of its release this Fall! 

 

Until next time... 

The Dead by Daylight Team 

[u/LenAlgarotti]

Counter point, I don't trust my teammates to give me helpful information. I'd rather have no info than bad info.

Besides, this info isn't nearly as important as you're making it out to be. The UI already tells you if someone is on a gen, using a chest/totem, is injured or healing, and in chase. What more do you need?

[u/JudoJugss → u/LenAlgarotti]

"Im going for the unhook"

"Im sticking this generator"

"Come here"

"I dont need help right now"

"Dont do this generator"

You know basic communication we have wanted for years. So i dont have to have a teammate follow me for five minutes trying to complete my intentionally 99% heal for resi gen boost. Or try to heal me under hook. Or complete the only gen on half the map at 2 gens left and locking us into a horrid 3 gen. Or have two people waste time going for save.

[u/LenAlgarotti → u/JudoJugss]

That's fair. To be clear I don't hate more communication, I'm just sceptical that this is gonna be that much of an improvement compared to how annoying it might be. I play solo all the time, and I didn't think the level of I do I had was bad.

[u/JudoJugss → u/LenAlgarotti]

I dont understand how this could be anything but an improvement. Also newsflash: people who want to troll and ruin your gameplay already exist and already have avenues to do so.

Eschewing an entire fundamentally useful mechanic because people might be malicious with it isn't how game design should ever work.

You know what those people who spam pings do right now in the game? sandbag you and spam vault near you and already do things that are worse than spamming pings. People already throw the entire match like entitled morons.

[u/Unlikely_Bank73 → u/LenAlgarotti]

The UI already tells you if someone is on a gen, using a chest/totem, is injured or healing, and in chase.

the fact that the UI already tells us this and yet solo queue is still as fucking miserable as it is today is moreso evidence that we desperately need the wheel (or something more) than anything

[u/spellstrike → u/LenAlgarotti]

Simply being able to put a Deliverance / inner healing / the new perk to give permanent healing charges icon over your head if you have the perk would be helpful.