7Sep
We are pleased to announce an expansion of the statistics system on our L4D2 cooperative servers - Perk system!
It has been a long road toward implementing this system. We spent a lot of time considering all the aspects it could address. There were many reasons not to introduce such a system at all, mainly due to the risk of significantly disrupting the game's balance.
The perk system was first proposed back in 2022 as a way for professional players with PRO Ranks to gain certain advantages in the game that would better reflect their in-game status. At the time, the proposal was added to the list of future developments, but no implementation date was set.
In 2024, Ogoom, who originally proposed the perk system, published his concept in a graphical format, including perk names and descriptions. Unfortunately, there was still no timeline for implementing the system.
Finally, the time has come to bring this idea to life!
Many of you have achieved great success in the professional ranks, reaching the highest positions in the statistics and constantly competing against each other in the top tier! The PRO Rank system was introduced more than 10 years ago and was originally designed with the idea that players at these ranks would eventually be able to put their hard-earned points to use.
A lot of time has passed. Players have spent hundreds and thousands of hours in the game, continuously increasing their PRO Rank, and many have reached the very top — a point beyond which, unfortunately, there is nowhere else to climb...
For many, this became the ultimate sign that they had truly demonstrated their survival skills in the absolutely insane chaos of a zombie apocalypse!
The statistics system has been changed many times over the years, with various adjustments made to ensure that the game remains enjoyable. And now, finally, we are expanding the possibilities available to professional-rank players!
The perk system will let you choose what you want to get out of the game. Perks allow you to slightly change the rules of the game according to your own preferences. We know there are plenty of things on the servers that can be annoying (but hey, that's what hardcore is all about 😉 ), and now you can adapt the gameplay to your own playstyle!
There are 6 perk groups in total, with at least 3 perks in each group. You can select only one perk from each group.
Each perk has its own activation cost. Since the statistics system has been around for quite a long time, perk costs may vary significantly from player to player. This is done to preserve the fragile balance between players.
The money used for activation comes from the funds players have been collecting from regular infected throughout all this time. Activating a specific perk will deduct its cost from your $ balance.
If you have selected only certain perks from a group rather than activating all of them, you can always activate perks from another group in the future without worrying about being charged again for perks you have already activated.
However, if you change the perk selected within a particular group, the new perk will require a new payment.
Each active perk also costs 500 points per hour of gameplay on the server. For example, if a player has perks active in all 6 groups, the total cost will be 3,000 points per hour.
To make sure you don't have to keep all these complicated numbers in your head, the perk selection screen includes a calculator showing the activation cost in $ and the number of points charged per hour before you apply the perks.
Overall, we have tried to create a system that allows you to spend your points not only on increasing your PRO Rank, but also on directly influencing the gameplay itself. Everyone can choose whatever suits their playstyle.
However, perhaps hardcore is child's play for you, and you are perfectly happy continuing to play exactly as before, showing off your full skill without using any of those fancy perks! 😉
Special thanks to for providing the graphical materials and for contributing ideas for some of the perks!
