Zidago

I've actually had more difficulty trying to connect to an American server than an Oz. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to connect locally, sometimes more. The US servers I tried were all <20 minutes each.

Got my first player kill last night. I felt so guilty. I was in ANZ 3. I spawned to the right of Electro, near those barns. Made my way up very difficultly thanks to my controls being very screwed up (turns out if you play on a server with an older beta version it screws with your controls). I get to the barns, finding only hatchets and cans. There was also a dead body holding a load of beans. I heard the sound of constant gunshots coming from the city, saw flares casting an eerie glow on buildings and read names of people who have recently been killed pop up rapidly. I don't like Electro or Cherno, I have never entered either and survived. So with apprehension, I crouch ran in the darkness, going building to building gathering whatever I could. The server must have had something against me, if it wasn't empty cans, it was a damn hatchet. I was watching my thirst meter slowly turn red, and as I reached the medical tents it had begun to blink. I became desperate. As I entered my third tent, I heard footsteps nearby. Not those of another shuffling zed, but that of another player. He came bungling down the street, crouched down, hatchet drawn, being as careful as possible. He was like me, another survivor caught in a tough situation and was trying the high risk, high reward route that Electro offered. He crept up to the furthest tent and began going through each one, looking for whatever he needed. My heart was in my throat as I watched him, hidden in the darkness clutching my hatchet, waiting for him to accidentally enter the wrong tent. Yet for some reason he skipped over mine. Maybe he saw me; maybe he was just absent minded in the moment, maybe my luck chips were finally cashing themselves in. At that moment my thirst icon was pure red with a plus sign in the middle, my blood started to drain. I could physically feel my throat become dry and cotton-like, as I do when I am too absorbed in something. I had no choice, my scavenging proved no results. He had to have something, a drop of anything would do. So I crept. He didn't hear my steps from behind. He didn't see the axe raised high. He heard me say "I'm sorry, but I have to axe you this question" He turned to see a chunk of red metal speeding toward him. He hit the ground, face bloodied. His name appeared on my screen notifying his death. He let out a flurry of swear words and threats. My murder count went from 0 to 1. I felt bad, guilty even. What he held though was certainly worth it. A single can of coke and a hatchet, nothing else. I drank it down immediately, shook my head and went off into the night.

What I was trying to communicate was an idea. No where there does it say I dislike the PVP aspect of the game and I agree with pretty much everything you posted initially. If you don't like complexity for the sake of it, fine. I personally think it wouldn't add too much to the game, as the time inbetween each kill can be as long or as short as the devs wants it. The only thing I suggested that would really make things difficult for a PVPer is the screen shaking, but like I mentioned, it is a suggestion.

Oh god, where in my post does it say I have a problem with how people play? I made a suggested idea because I think it would be fun to implement it. Rather sad seeing people jump to conclusions so easily here. Hell, I've murdered my share (only in my last character though) and I had fun, but I prefer goign survival mode more. Think first before making complaints please.

I have an idea for what happens to those who play only for PVP. I have done a search and nothing has come up (I half arsed it). It is not a punishment, but a repercussion. The idea is that after a certain number of murders has occured against your name, (fluff) a sort of psychological problem occurs. This takes the form of screen shakes, the character making noises, not being able to holster weapons around people or aiming down the barrel automatically when ever you move the mouse over another player. The only way to put yourself at ease is to murder another player again. In other words: Murder a certain amount of people (lets say 15) Bloodlusting psychosis takes over An invisible countdown timer kicks in When countdown timer ends, a physical problem takes place Murdering someone resets the timer (maybe shortening it too) and removes the physical issue you might have If you dont murder anyone for a certain amount of time, you no longer have the psychosis but a couple more kills brings it back What does everyone think? It benefits both those who enjoy the PVP side of things and those who don't. PVPers have to keep on murdering or it gets harder to play, survivors have a greater chance of getting away and also getting the drop on a murderer.

-1 Personally I like the fact that cars are rare. Hell, only yesterday did I see my first one; a survivor was scavenging in the distance and he parked this old white sedan out the front of a barn. I was attracted by the sounds of his gunshots from clearing out the zombies. He rushed out of the barn to his car, finished off the five Zs that followed and began bandaging himself up. At that moment I went prone. I am usually a very nice player, I'll help people out if I can and have died many time because of it. Never had a single murder to my name yet. I was at least half a km away and only had a 1866 with three rounds left. I went prone in the grass, lined up my crosshairs and fired. Didn't even think about it, instinct took over as the lust for that car was consumed me. The first missed completely, but he still continued bandaging himself. The second shot clocked him in the torso, a stream of blood became visible. At that point he freaked and hopped into his car. The third shot went very wide as he drove off into the distance. I laid there, my heart in my throat and adrenaline rushing through my veins. All my shells had been spent and I was one again defenceless. I wanted that car. I wanted it enough to kill for it. What has the game awoken in me?