Hybridartifacts

OK, so I have now had my first friendly encounter in the game. I was in the Police station in Cherno looking for loot and saw a guy being mobbed by zombies out of the window - looked like he was having a hard time. I asked myself - do I ignore it and keep looking for loot or do I go help him? I went and helped him. Turned out the guy was really decent - we shared some food and gear and both went exploring for a while until I got myself killed by a zombie. I could have been axed in the back and had all my gear stolen - but sometimes it seems you have to just risk that. He was probably just as worried I might do the same but neither of us really wanted to do that. It was well worth the risk.

It is possible to be friendly in this game - Its just harder to play that way. I am always friendly, I just get shot a lot. I wouldn't kill you, so obviously you have not met me yet. perhaps thats because I have been playing like a hermit and roughing it in the woods, occasionally venturing into a town for supplies. Im sure there are others like us that dont want to KOS and would rather team up or at least share some food and chat before moving on. Finding them is, it seems, a challenge. I have decided to stop playing like a hermit since I will probably never meet other friendly players that way and just take a few risks - the worst that can happen is that I die and start again. ps. It took me three posts to realise that 'quote' means 'reply'. One learns from experience.

Spawned near Solnichny - chased by Zombies east to the factory area where I fell off a ledge and broke both my legs. Miraculously escaped the zombies and crawled for what felt like hours over to three valleys looking for something I could use to make a splint... ended up doubling back to the coast where three zombies ate me.

I can sympathise with anyone who is trying to be a hero, or at least reasonably friendly, and keeps on falling prey to KOS players. Its been what most of my contact with other players has been like so far (except for one person who actually stopped to briefly chat). I dont want to be a bandit and it would be great to meet others who dont either. So I got shot? While its depressing some people do KOS, respawning and working out where you are and gearing up to survive is one of the things that makes the game challenging (and fun). Looking back, I suspect some of my earlier deaths were because I didn't have a working microphone (hopefully its working now) and its harder to suss someone out talking by text. I suspect some players are just cautious about trusting people who are typing as its harder to work out if they are OK or not. Some were I suspect because I was fully geared up in military clothes and running around with a rifle in my hand looking like I knew what I was doing when I didn't. Some were because I was just not being cautious enough and got sloppy. I have, what, only some 70 hours or so of play time under my belt so far. I have to learn somehow, and often it seems its by getting shot. Having said that, it would still be nice to occasionally meet some other players who are happy to team up - but if and when it happens in game naturally it will be all the better because its a rare event for me.