#KIWF2 Spider Hunt Balancing

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open ice
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At a competitive level, the current state of KIWF2 Spider Hunt PvP is quite unbalanced at the moment due to map layouts and weapon mechanics. Currently, HSF Vindicator and the Artois Manor are exterminator-favored (because the maps are too small), and Hem Foods & Furniture is very spider-favored (because of vents, and geometry exploits in some areas), so the outcomes of the games tend to lean on whether you get assigned exterminator or spider depending on the map, as well as the weapon spawns that exterminators have access to (rocket launcher is essentially instant GG on any map). Not exactly very fun to win off of a dice roll every round.

A non-exhaustive list of points that I want to bring up:

  • The pipe geometry on HSF Vindicator really needs to be fixed ASAP. It's effectively an RNG roll on whether a laser pistol or rocket launcher spawns for an exterminator win.
  • Likewise, the stove and closet spots on Artois Manor and the vent geometry gaps on Hem also need a fix because they often can't be hit without explosives. If there is no C4 or rocket launcher spawn, it's usually GG unless an exterminator knows the specific geometry that they need to hit and get access to a fire weapon before they get stolen by other exterminators.
  • Hide needs a range reduction and line of sight requirement. Currently on Hem it's completely impossible to win with solo exterminator if a spider exploits the cafeteria shutters, and an experienced spider player in the warehouse can potentially solo a full team of exterminators due to the verticality of the room layout.
  • The recent patches to Spider Hunt has mostly not affected balance compared to the state at launch. Removing tracker mostly only impacts low-level play since competitive players can home in on any spider within 30 seconds anywhere on the map using sound cues alone. The spatial sound change is also mostly meaningless because in most spots spiders lack mobility once hidden regardless, and hiding spots are always fixed.
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  • Not sure if shuriken actually works in Spider Hunt. I've never actually seen anyone kill a spider with it ever. It's worse than the clipboard, and if it isn't going to be buffed, it should be taken out of the weapon spawn pool so that it isn't just a noob trap.
  • There are lesser geometry exploits that just make the spider hidden from every angle and would only work against most casual players, like the planters and HEM sign on Hem, the signs on HSF Vindicator, and the kitchen seats in Artois Manor. These should be fixed, but are comparatively low priority.
  • To bring up weapon RNG again, it often determines the outcome of the game because a lot of spots just can't be hit without fire weapons or firearms, respectively. It's a more difficult issue to tackle since rebalancing the weapons themselves would be hard and possibly break balance even more.