herrjon

Except in your given senario, both your and your aquatance have ample supplies to get on for now. The situation I would shoot to kill is when I'm desperate for supplies. Chances are unless he's a hoarder he won't have enough food to sustain two people, so it's much better for your survival to shoot, grab, and run. It's also harder to travel the more people you have with you, more supplies needed, bigger target for those phyco-bandits, more easily alerting the horde in towns, etc. It would be reasonable for 2-3 for watchmen and what not, but beyond that it would become more difficult rather than easier. And of course if they shoot at me, I'd shoot back, clearly they don't want to be friendly. The PK'ing in this game is a bit high, but the argument is valid.

I realize the absolute safest spot is in the woods, out of a direct path between towns, but I can't camp there until I get the knife, hatchet, matches, and canteen. So far I've only done this once, looting a dead body I found at the NW Airfield, only to be sniped down on my way out. Just wanted to know if there was any city in particular that was less populated with players that I could hang around until I got geared up. I did find a link to the loot map while on the forums, so that'll be helpful. I'll probably hit up Berezino and Krasnoskov and see what happens; haven't been over there yet so we'll see.

Well based off the area, even Cherno wouldn't be that populated, maybe 25k at most like bilbo said. Also have to consider this virus or whatever could straight up kill some people, and that 10% may be a bad assumtion. Then consider people attempting to leave town to go to the military for protection, initial kills durring outbreak, etc. etc. The game also handles it by respawning Zeds, instead of just having some massive number being widdled away until server reset. As far as the shoot on site mentality, I honestly would if I was desperate enough. If I didn't have anything and you had a bag full of supplies, I'd definately consider taking you out. It just depends on the situation. Yes the game has become a little too deathmatchy, but it's still somewhat justifed. Edit: Even if it really is 10% fighting over remaining resources, they'd still be scarce. Durring the outbreak, people will get as much food as they can only to turn into zombies, so it would still be there, but in peoples bags and cars and what not. A lot of food isn't good for very long, and it's hard to get drinkable water without the pipeline running. Also in the situation where you bump into another guy at the super market, both looking for food, sure it's logical to think "I'll just check out the next one", but there's really no knowing if the next one isn't cleaned out already or if you'll have competition, or if you can even afford to be in town that long anyways. In the heat of things you'd shoot, grab, and gtfo.