Dagwood

^^this. Relax, I wasn't attacking you or accusing you of impatience. No need to get defensive.

Is where you get shot on your body determined by skill? Shot in the front is a random vest item(s), shot in the legs is random pant item(s), shot in the back/backpack(large hotbox in some cases) is random backpack item. Putting more valuable items (ammo, bandages, etc) in your backpack makes them harder to access quickly, but less likely to be hit with a stray round. And because some items can absorb damage, there is some strategy in item placement. And larger rounds with higher kinetic energy might cause "splash" damage that damages multiple items. This would make it necessary to check every item to see if if had taken damage the shot (assuming you survived). I think this would add a nice little element of uncertainty and anxiousness. Kind of like not knowing whether this police station will spawn that pistol mag you so desperately want. I think the system could be done very well with some more development. Patience, friends. Edit: and empty slots could have a chance of being "hit" to prevent the metagame bag stuffing you mentioned.

They could also give larger items a higher likelihood of taking damage or being ruined. Smaller items would inversely be less likely to take damage. I don't think that would be too difficult to design.

But how can they see how cool they look wiffing if they aren't in 3rd person!?

What everyone should note here is that while interacting with this stranger was much riskier than just blasting him in the ass, it was also a longer engagement and probably had his heart pumping a lot harder and longer as well. And in my opinion, that is why this game is worth playing: the adrenaline rush. But this takes patience and maturity that the community lacks

Colors don't stand out enough so I move my perspective a foot over my head to make the colors more vibrant? Wut?? If anything, 3rd person eliminates this color vibrancy problem you seem to be having because they won't be standing in your LOS on the bush or window anyway since they will be peaking around said cover without physically being in view. I must say, a well constructed rebuttal, sir. Have my rotten kiwi.

When military bases and other militaristic structures spawn one weapon half of the time at best, players will move around the map more or they will server hop. The spawn rates in the alpha currently (gotta let us find weapons so we can test them and constructively gripe) are not a good representation of how they will be in the finished product. Hopefully we'll be desperately searching every shed and deer stand to find a pistol or shotgun while fighting off starvation and infection in addition to a bullet in the head. Also, when airfields are sufficiently infested with zombies, players won't be able to sprint in willy nilly without proper equipment.

.357 magnum is biggest (smaller projectile than the .45), higher velocity, ultimately it hits with the highest kinetic energy. .45 is the next heaviest hitter. Slowest speed of any hand gun round (maybe close in speed to .22) but because of the projectiles weight it has considerable power. The 9mm handguns I don't know too much about in-game. Probably highest velocity round and so it would make sense for it to also be the most accurate. .22 is a little baby round with very little stopping power. But because of the small charge, it is also pretty quiet.

Enjoy this time of ignorance. This is when dayz is the most exhilarating. Don't go on YouTube and look up where to find all the uber loot. Figuring everything out for yourself will be much more entertaining and ultimately fulfilling. Welcome to the clusterfuck that is dayz.

And handguards and buttstocks are more aesthetically noticeable. That would be my guess as to why. But I agree with you, a handguard or a buttstock modification would have pretty negligible effects on shots within several hindered meters.

Anyone think that maybe they incorporated this big difference in performance between a stock M4 and a magpul-equipped M4 to simulate differences in weapon condition and quality? That's my speculation anyway.

OP, how do you predict that a more dangerous environment will change player behavior?

Been rocking a red hoodie, beige cargo pants, black baseball cap and a courier bag to try and appear friendly and or a newish spawn (some consider synonymous). Getting frustrated at the lack of space for RP items in my courier bag (matches, cooking gear, extra tools for fellow survivors, etc). My question is: would a blue taloon backpack appear more or less friendly/newbish than my courier bag? Or should I just upgrade to an improvised backpack? (Which I consider to look more militant/threatening than most other packs).

Umm... How is looking less militant akin to running around screaming friendly? Are the people who play this game only capable of black and white views of how to play the game? I would like to think not. Whether Frankie staged his videos or not, I thought he would have taught everyone that playing friendly doesn't necessarily equate to throwing your life away.

This is the mentality I want to foster in strangers I encounter. Do you think the taloon or the improvised appears more "low-gear"? I would run the no pack look but I like carrying assorted tools and cooking gear with me.

Oh that's where I left it! Now I can upgrade my courier bag ;)

Same reason racists use racial slurs. Much easier to abuse someone who you treat as subhuman. Plus being shed in the light of the good guy is every little kids preference

The same way you "knew" I was an ignorant noob running around yelling friendly while playing dress up. Don't insult people and you won't get called out for doing so. It isn't listed on these forums, but it's a golden rule you have probably heard of.

^^thank you for the thoughtful response. Yes, the right clothing guarantees nothing. But I think what you're saying about the improvised backpack being camouflaged and thus a bit more militant is right. I guess the cost benefit analysis comes down to being harder for player hunters to see as the pro of the courier bag against the more civilian, non competitive look of the taloon pack making me appear less likely to shoot at someone who tries to talk to me. Such a difficult, insignificant decision haha

I had over 600 hours in the mod before the SA released, so no need to talk down to me. I've gone through the shoot everything to insure my survival stage. When you learn to talk face to face with armed, hostile players while doing it in a way that puts you in little danger because of superior positioning and effective communication skills, you will understand how foolish your black and white thinking and playstyle truly are.

Was checking my map in a red brick building (just south east of krasnostav) tonight trying to guide a friend in to me when I heard footsteps and heavy breathing. I closed the map to see a hoodied and helmeted player standing before me with his blazer shouldered. After nearly shitting myself I explained my situation to him, informed him of the loot situation at NEAF, and we parted ways. While many of you think that coast dwelling PVPers are the only people who play this game, there are some players who approach different players with different intentions based upon observations. Some of those observations are based upon their actions, and others are based upon the weaponry and garb of the survivor. "I shoot everything because I can't handle the risk of controlling a face to face encounter." If you see me first I'm screwed anyway so obviously I don't care how I look to you. This interest I have in appearing more friendly is for players who understand that player interaction makes this game exciting; not the glitchy, exploit ridden gunfights.

If players on regular server get magic floating cameras, is it fair that the zombies don't? And yes, this in response to the "everyone gets 3pp, so it's not an unfair advantage." argument :)

That would be more fair, no? And might put regular servers on more of an even difficulty level with hardcore servers?

Pov higher than their head*

Wait.... So you're telling me that people in this game will even shoot at friendly looking players? While I absolutely hear what you both are saying, I think towns off of the coast on hardcore servers tend to be populated by players that are a little less trigger happy. And I carry matches and other "dead" items to prepare myself for when carrying these things is necessary. Only having room for one mag and one stack of bandages makes gameplay more difficult and ultimately more rewarding. It also postpones the, "I have everything I'll ever need in my massive backpack... What now?" Moment. Revised question: does an improvised backpack appear more or less "threatening" than a taloon pack? Based upon your own experiences with players wearing either (forget the shoot everything people. I don't encounter them)