My thoughts on Dayz Standalone and stuff

[law1977 17]

Cheers for taking the time to read this post, quick background about me, by the by I have not checked to see if these ideas have come up before so if they have been mentioned I am not fussed I am just putting my own views based on my experience of game and what I have read about SA.

Started played dayz when it was just started to get really popular, saw a review on website and thought it sound interesting. Didn`t own arma 2, (was a huge fan of flashpoint thou back in the day) so I read a few reviews about the game itself and then checked out this site and read all I could about the mod. Then decided to buy it with some friends of mine, a total different playing experience of any game, the tension and the guilt you had for killing your first person (i still remember it). For a game and a mod at that, months later to remember certain funny and pure tension bits makes the game very special.

Sadly after a while got frustrated, my main problems were :-

1. Lack of buildings to explore.
   
2. Unless you found the right server, cheating was quite common. (it did provide some amusing moments when tanks came trundling over a hill into town thou, scared the hell out of me).
   
3. Constant bugs, my friend never let us forget about the door breaking his leg and then it happening again.
   
4. Inventory system, was just rubbish and frustrating.
   
5. Loading and getting into the game.
   

So I stopped as well as my friends playing the game, I became a classic lurker on these forums never posting reading all the comments about the mod and seeing what happened when Rocket gave the hive to other servers to use as there own. While I waited for standalone news, I thought I would try Warz, suffice to say it didn`t have the same atmosphere as dayz and decided to give up very earlier on in its development (first week). Then it all hit the fan with steam and general changes to the game so I never went back, wish I didn`t spend the cash now it was just a gut reaction.

Right then views on standalone and things that have got me excited about playing it.

The time its taken for rocket and team to get the stage they are at.

Now me personally I hoped that the SA team would not rush it and quickly realise dayz SA and come out with a complete proper game (i.e. there xmas release date I thought that was a bit quick). I know they already had the engine but I wanted something more than the mod, the game I think Rocket wanted to make. So when I read the post about moving it to more server dedicated, this is the thing I hoped and even thou we have only seen screenshots I think its the right move for the game to develop into something special. So time was never the issue for me, I have read quite a lot of people on this forum frustrated about the promises made. Where I see there point I hoped that the SA team could address as many issues as they could and build on a more stable game. Which by the sounds of they are doing so happy days indeed!!

More people on a server (150 aimed at judging by QA's on reddit)

I am all for this if its possible, with a map with more buildings enter-able. Each village you reach will need much more time to explore, instead of going straight for the buildings you know you can enter. The best part of Dayz mod was the player interactions do you attack, watch and wait an see what happens. I have had some bizarre encounters with people in the game so the more player interaction the better for me. I want to immerse myself into the world and feel like a proper survivor so when you have these random encounters you have to make the choice weather to engage or sneak around them.

More buildings to explore and new loot mechanics.

This is one of the main reasons I stopped, I got so annoyed going into a village and finding a barn and one house to explore then leave, 5 mins done. Now obvious being a mod I understand why this was like this so i`m glad its being addressed in SA. When I was playing with friends I loved being the lookout, watching there backs on a hill as they explored a shop and kept an eye out for players and zombies. This made you feel like part of a team and again immersed you in the world, the tension you get from trying to get that extra bit of loot or have you pushed your luck to far. Now when you arrive at a village you have got much more scope buildings wise to explore and loot, which will MAKE the game into what it could be. How long should you explore a village for do you set a 2 min explore per a building to keep moving.

This is defo one of things i`m most excited about, than I believe it was Matt Lightfoot said that you have to explore the shelves of each room and under beds. Loot is everything in the game, you are your loot so the more actually searching you have to do the more personal the loot is to you. With the new improved inventory, which I am very eager to see after Rocket said its like XCOM (one of my fav games of all time). This should make the entire experience of loot and searching for it something that will make the game stand out.

Military grade weapons.

I have read a bit about this and apparently there are more of your standard weapons (i presume shotguns, melee weapons, hunting rifles and handguns), while the more powerful weapons will hopefully be more difficult to find. Now with the mod, you knew there were only a few places where these weapons appear so it was a haven for sniping fights etc.. I would like more places for these to spawn such as military style road blocks, more crash sites, police cars in roads with police grade weapons, APC turned over. How about secret weapon caches which have been created in basements but were overrun by the zombie attacks. Also if you see military/police corpse they could have a chance of having ammo or a weapon on them. I also read you have to maintain your weapon an interesting part of the game, I wonder if you will swim for bit and if you have weapon in your hand you have to dry it out to prevent rust. Going for that perfect kill shot and your gun jams, I can imagine the bitching at your weapon now.

As long as they are more random places as well as the standard military sites I think that would cut down on camping and increase the amount of people spread over the map. It will be interesting to see how this appears in SA, making sure loot is around and the extra special loot makes you feel very lucky to find it and makes you very nervous of going into a town for supplies.

Hunting and such like

There was a strange sense of pride when you cook your first meal after a bit of hunting, having your backpack full of cooked meat and knowing you can live off the land. I hope they develop this so you can do more, like Far cry 3 you could make holsters and such items from things your find. This encouraged you to go hunting and could be expanded on, such has bonus for eating well to stop you getting disease or even uncooked meat could have diseases on from animals. I remember reading that bow and arrows, crossbows will be in the game I like the idea of taking down people stealthy with your bow and arrow. Maybe you can make your own arrows or do a rambo and create exploring arrows with grenades (i have no idea if its possible sounds good thou).

Living off the land, from what I have read, is something Rocket is very keen on from his own experiences so I hope he will develop this into something you can realistically do in the game and maybe not even need to go into towns live off the land.

CO/op, PVE and PVP

I have seen some people say they would live this done by server, I could not disagree more, this is about survival you make your choices not the server. IF you want to kill people, go ahead your life, want to help people fair enough or want to just roam around, do that. It should be a completely open world, you play your game if you get sniped that is part of the game you help someone and they turn on you annoying yes, part of the game sadly yup. Bans from server should only come from cheating/abuse, other than that you can do what you like. This makes the mod what it is and what the SA hopefully will be.

Levelingish

Now this is a tough un, I like the idea if you can do something in real life (read stars for example), you can do it in the game. Thats fine but I know if I was in such a predicament I would be hopeless and would have to learn quick. I have never fired a real gun, I have no idea how to aim it other than what I have learned in games so i`m stuffed really. So my view is, the longer you survive the better you would become at things you do, examples

1. You would improve at handgun/rifles/shotguns use, so maybe when you start your hand shakes a bit so its difficult to aim, but the more you do it the steadier your hand becomes.
   
2. Sniping is a difficult skill and unless you char has military experience or your a gun nut you won`t have any idea what to do. So with that could you set your targets up like a bottle or a tree to practice on and your skill improves through that experience. (with obvious risk to people hearing you practice) Also when killing zombies this can improve your skills like getting headshots etc..
   
3. First aid, I have a base idea of what to do with a bandage, maybe you can find textbooks on how to do first aid with looting and you can learn it by reading. (making splints etc..)
   
4. Skinning and making things, If it tried to skin anything I would make a right hash of it, so as you do more of it you get quicker and you save more hide as your skill grows.
   
5. The longer you survive you get more used to going without food and water because your much harder character. AS long as you eat proper meat you develop more resistance to disease etc.. On the flip side if you don`t eat properly and live of beans you find it harder to run around and such like for longer periods.
   
6. Repairing equipment, I know I can`t do anything with cars and obviously there are people are very good and fixing them. So maybe away to be able to get repair manuals to read so you can do these type of things.
   

Naturally when you die these experiences would be lost to you, of course that would be an added frustration you would have to relearn these skills. Realistic yup, for a game very annoying but I believe it would create an even better connection your char and make them feel more like you in the game. Naturally when you die, you might throw a small hissy fit cause you were nails but heigh ho!!

Expanding on this if you find manual's in the game such as basic first aid, when you logout you have the option to read the manual, learn it (may take a few reads) until you have the option to do it game, this could expand until other things like weapon cleaning manual, skinning manual etc....

Reading this back I thought maybe you could choose what type of char you are and have a basic skill set based on that, examples

1. Survivor, You can skin animals, start off with a skinning knife,have bow and arrow skills.
   
2. Explorer, have a map at the start, can read stars automatically to show north (shown on hud).
   
3. Army, have the basics weapon skills abd start off with a pistol with 1 clip of ammo, but no other skills
   

This would create a bit of an RPG element, might not be a decent way to go but I feel it gives you a playing style, which you don`t have to stick to but would give you an advantage in certain situations. RPG maybe bit strong a phrase but I want the experience you gather through your char to matter.

End game content

Apart from living I would like more to do when I have the basics of life, weapons, food, water, hunting gear etc. I like the vehicles thing and the idea of adding bits to it does sound cool and I think you could come up with some excellent mad max style cars. Saying that bases is where its at for me, now I know rocket is keen on underground bases and these sound cool, I am sure he has some ideas. Here is how I see it:-

When I think these underground bases I like to think realistic goals, you are on your own you can only do limited base building. I am thinking in the style of Vietnam style bunker networks. These were made by hand and with basic tools. Perfect for SA, If you have seen Platoon you will know which ones I mean. So my vision would be when you log out you can instance to your bunker, so you find an empty space on the map and have some small thing which you can hide to represent your bunker. In the game you will need tools, like wood to support the tunnels, spades, supplies of food etc.. You can then find your hole on the map, click on it and it will give you options as long as you have food and water, you can dig out your bunker while you are away from the computer.

So you can draw a rough version on the scrap bit of paper of square paper which you can find while looting and you can draw a basic tunnel which ends in a room. Each square takes x amount of days/hours to do, this would be done in real time and you will need supplies in backpack or in bunker to do work (more than usually cause its hard work digging). When a tunnel is dug out you have to support it with wooden beams which have to made again either in game or during logout sessions which you can set to do. Naturally you have to sleep so that has to be taken into account, if you have a friend click on the same base he can help you build the tunnels and cut down on days/hours of work time. Of course you will need more food and drink for each person who helps you.

When a tunnel and room is complete, you have to scavenge supplies for your new home. Such has storage, sleeping bag, lighting (torchs/candles will do) etc. you can than expand on this with friends who can connect to your system and develop and underground community will all people sharing supplies etc and you have a clan base!!. I also think if you log out in your bunker you should get a bonus such as, health restored, food and drink icons back to full (as long as there is food/water in bunker), diseases can be easier to care for cause out of the elements. I think this would be easier than doing things in the game, digging I cannot believe can be made into an exciting game and you can personalise your bunker with things you can collect so its like an extension of your backpack. You can restock your ammo/food/drink etc.. from your bunker and go out into the world come back and store your goodies.

In keeping with the game, this bunker can be raided by anyone. So you need to add some Vietnam type booby traps which you have to disable before entering your bunker and enable before you logout/ leave bunker. I like the idea of someone sneaking in, but have to negotiate traps you have put in, which can`t be seen by the naked eye unless you have a device for detecting them or knowledge of that type of trap. So if someone finds your bunker by accident (they should be very difficult to see), they have to risk there own lives to get your loot.

I think this will develop the teamwork in the game and give you and your friends a proper sense of a base, without adding to much to the game and allow instancing naturally to work within the games design. These bases need to a realistically achievable by one or more people, as much as I would like massive underground bases I believe it would not be realistic and in the interest of the main bit of the game. Everything needs to be realistic and I admit I would not know where to start with building such a base, hence why you may need to find a manual on how to create a base or something like that.

Of course if someone finds your base and gets past your traps, then they can loot it and take it as there own base, such is the way of the game. Expanding on traps, I choose this because of having a door or something similar you have to break in to get access the bunker is not totally realistic for one person to create a door with lock on (combo or key one). Maybe you could like I suggested for levelling you could read on how to create one, while traps are easier to create and also allows you a bit more personnel in your defence of your home.

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Right then, thank your for getting this far in my post I am sorry for any bad grammar, spelling etc.. I love to say English is not my first language but it is i`m just crap at it ;-), If you agree or want to expand on my own views feel free and post your thoughts. This is like my second ever post, so decided to get a lot of my chest about a mod which I have really enjoyed and can`t wait to see what the SA brings to the table. Just read it through using preview and if you have read my entire post, you deserve some beans, man I waffled on there!!!

[joe_mcentire 2074]

first of all: TL;DNR!!! But maybe i'll give it a try ;)

Edited January 19, 2013 by joe_mcentire

[Michaelvoodoo25 3120]

Welcome to the forums.

There are many of us hoping the mod features are better in the SA, but you have to admit, so far the information and pictures we've seen, they already improve over the mod. lets hope the time and effort of the SA is worth waiting for I for one cannot wait now I've seen the new pics, Q&A's and interviews the last week.

[Testwd3r235 2810]

I read the bullet points....they have been brought up before and most confirmed. The rest aint getting read.

[guisho 258]

I'm sorry for you having to take so much time to write all of that but... the majority of the points you made are already in progress (or even completed) for the Standalone, so you are going to see a lot of those items being inside the game.

[BwobBwub 660]

Some suggestions you have suggested, are more than likely going to be added to DayZ on the foundation release or later.

[Dancing.Russian.Man 1631]

The context of OP's post is alright.

But dear god the silly typos.

"Thou" means "You."

"Tho" is a short for "Though."

I wish I didn't even have to point out "tough un," or the difference between "your" and "you're."

[law1977 17]

Hoho yeah it was bit long, just went off on one and yup i realise everything I stated is around abouts on this forum but I still wanted to type it. I don`t think I wasted my time, i just wanted to put down my own thoughts in my own words about a game I have enjoyed and where its going.

I agree with michael, they have improved and thats why I put about the time they have taken over the game, lets all hope the game will be a cracker.

Keep comments coming in, TEA TIME now methinks

[law1977 17]

The context of OP's post is alright.

But dear god the silly typos.

"Thou" means "You."

"Tho" is a short for "Though."

I wish I didn't even have to point out "tough un," or the difference between "your" and "you're."

I know *hangs head in shame*, I am an idea's type of person and putting them down in a readable form is not my strong point. I read that post three times and did not spot the stuff you said, "your" and "you're" is something I always mix up.

Sorry for that I did my best, I need to hire a proof reader!!

[Testwd3r235 2810]

It's good ideas but as I said, almost all of them are already said to be going into the SA.