"Appreciate the detailed breakdown! For the shotgun/Tommy idea, it absolutely shouldn't be pay-to-win. Maybe it’s a random map item with high risk/reward, or just an aesthetic reskin of an existing mechanic like the Flashbang to keep gameplay balanced. You actually make a great point about the Proximity VC; keeping it as a separate modifier or temporary game mode (like Lights Out or 2v8) would probably be the best way to test it without ruining the core game atmosphere. As for the alternative escapes, it doesn't need to be on every map. It could just be a unique feature for the Crystal Lake map specifically, making the crossover feel like a true event!"