Isn't killing the only way to survive longer?

[_Anubis_ (DayZ) 139]

Hi All,

I have discovered DayZ a month ago, it was love at first sight. I have been playing for a while and now I start to make some sense of the inventory (the most counter-intuitive and stupid design I have seen in years), being accustomed to the weird DayZ bugs (like loot suspended in the air or Zombie moving through walls), find a way without a map and loot a town: the game is great after all, but I think there is no way one can survive without shooting on sight every player, I find this stupid, there must be some cooperative or at least neutral way to survive.

My experience interacting with other players has been so far limited: I have either watched them or simply said "Hi" on the chat and leave them and I never killed anybody even if I had this opportunity a few times (I spotted them before they spotted me), but it is useless: I can recall several occasions in which I was shot on sight without doing anything: it seems the simple fact I had even a low-grade weapon (such as a Winchester or a Lee-Enfield) was a reason good enough to kill.

So what is left? Either to shoot on sight or begin to play single-player, not so much at the end. To say "I am nearby XXX and friendly" is worse than useless (because people can home in on your location).

What's your view? I bet I am not the first one facing this dilemma...

_Anubis_

[danielmacpherson@live.co.uk 33]

Play with a friend that you can trust?

[IkaikaKekai 1957]

I'm a bit mixed, I'm not that great of a shot and have only managed to kill two people in my whole time play (both times in self defense, once against some jackass with an ax who ran up behind me while I barely had any gear, he go the first swing, I got the last. Second was against a bandit who I just happened to cross in front of his field of view on a broken dirtbike going 10kph, managed to kill him with a Winchester while he had an aks after a bit of a gunfight/run for cover fest). Honestly I think you can last longer by working together with others (even if you just end up killing other players). Someone watching your back or even just having the right skills can matter. I'm a good driver and a shitty shooter, I hang out with guys who can shoot but cant drive.

[mick17 93]

Lots of people KOS because, as far as I'm concerned, can't control their emotional reactions. Its just a simple act of self-control. I killed one person my whole time of playing (about a month, now waiting for SA) due to a bunch of circumstances that made rely on my instinct instead of thinking. Also panic has to do with KOS as well.

[Jamz 253]

If you're lone wolf your best bet is to avoid people, always stay in cover and never enter a high risk area without recon. Take your time. If you find yourself grouped (which can happen sometimes even if your not sure you want to) be wary of people who give you orders and always face you directly with their gun up. If you don't have RL friends who play or you know people off the boards, then you can either stealth it, KOS/Bandit or try and random group but I think they are all your options.

I treat every other player as a risk and avoid grouping with them usually. There was a good vidoe posted up on here about what to look out for with players, I'll post it again:

[ViciousHead 3]

I still have not killed another player in game. As I play more, I am learning better survival techniques and better ways to approach populated areas.

Tonight however, I did return fire to an enemy player. I had no choice, he shot first so I tried to defend myself. Sadly, he got the better of me in the gunfight.

[skywalker1162 17]

See buddy let me give you a piece of advice . I was a lone wolf for about a month and then through the forums I met a group of players and the mad times I've had since then are truly memorable. My advice - form a group whom you can trust blindly and all will be well for you . As for the other players whom you encounter . If they are armed , kill them , but not for their loot but to prevent them from killing you . Unarmed players are harmless . Let them be for the time being . Cheers .

[Siberian (DayZ) 527]

been playing since june..

still havent killed a soul.

guess im doing it wrong.

[herrjon 478]

Is it easier to survive if you KOS, in most cases, yes. Is it impossible to not kill and interact with people? Of course not.

I've been playing for awhile now and have only ever had 1 non-bandit kill, and my victim had fired on me first. I still actively seek out player interaction, not just avoid it. This doesn't mean I look to team up with randoms, as I prefer the lone wolf playstyle actually, but I'll usually heal them up, give them something to eat and drink, maybe exchange a story and escort them somewhere. It has happened before and it will happen again. You just have to be smart about it.

Edited January 21, 2013 by (TMW)HerrJon

[bogroll 35]

One guy I met.. we were both bandits so we ought to have killed eachother straight off the bat.. bizarrely we ended up going out hunting for other players. He loved a very long range headshot I pulled off with the Enfield and I in turn had to congratulate him on his CQB skills (3 armed noobs in under 5secs). Ended up shooting him in the face as I'm not a bandit really.. only had that skin by accident.

[thelonewarrior 886]

OP, no do not go kill on sight

Doing so will just get you into the mindset that everyone is a threat when most of them are like you.....just scared

I sugest playing on Dayz+ instead of Dayz, the zombies hit harder and are more of a threat. You will find some people on there looking for help or to team up but follow these rules:

1. NEVER take requests, if someone calls for help on side channel its always a trap and if not, bandits will be heading to their location

2. NEVER call friendly, tell them to drop their weapons if you sneak up on someone, if they argue or turn around then shoot them, if they comply, the chances of being friendly go up a lot

This video is my new series in Dayz+ but the rules I use can still be apllied to any version of DAYZ, have a look and get some tips for being friendly from it

[_Anubis_ (DayZ) 139]

Thanks to everybody. I have decided I will keep playing the good guy but avoiding as much as possible contacts, at least until I will find some group to join.

Meanwhile, I will focus on stockpiling items by camping: find a "12 items" respawn point outside towns (e.g. a barn) and gather enough food/weapons/tools by looting it several times in order to become rather autonomous and be able to travel around without fearing too much thirst and hunger.

I guess this is the "eremite" path people are talking around...

_Anubis_

[Nicolaitic 26]

I thought the game was more friendly...

Then i saw a afk guy and didn't shoot him and walked slowly away without touching him. Then i was running and later got back to the same place and saw the same guy standing with a gun and he just Kos'ed me...

[DazTroyer 227]

You can get along not killing other players but it is very hard at times. There are sooooooo many pvp douchebags that your constantly at risk of imminent death but it does make life interesting.

[nathan2302@hotmail.com 1]

If you want, we can jam it up together? I also have the same view, I want to play with people, I don't know anyone in RL who play it, so I am alone, I am brand new as well, no great gear so shooting me is likely to waste your ammo just as much as my time :< But I do want to group with some people and make friends,

if your interested umm..... I don't really know how to add people, but there is a way! Just tell me how and I'll do it. I want friends :<

[KrAcKeRsTaXx 0]

what do you think? Kill or be Killed your choice..

[Guest]

I play solo all the time, If i see someone and I am not near cover, I will shoot you regardless, however if I have cover, then I will talk to you in chat whilst hidden.

It's your call, If you want to practice your target practice, do what you must :)

[fathairybeast 246]

If your intention is simply to survive then engaging other players should be your last priority. Unless you're some kind of pvp god. Even the best player killers inevitably shorten their life expectancy by shooting - if for no other reason than the fact that it aggros other players within earshot.

All things being equal (i.e., no hackers to tele-kill me) I can survive virtually indefinitely if I'm stealthy and avoid PvP. It's when other players are involved that the length of time I spend alive changes dramatically.

If you're interested in finding buddies then advertise for a partner. Find one you like and travel together. Alternate oversight/infil so neither of you gets bored but you always have someone watching over you.

[dallas 5195]

I was shot on sight without doing anything: it seems the simple fact I had even a low-grade weapon (such as a Winchester or a Lee-Enfield) was a reason good enough to kill.

Maybe doing nothing got you killed.

As in maybe doing nothing is the worst thing you can do as a friendly survivor. Just because you're friendly doesn't mean everyone you meet will be friendly too. I see a lot of friendlies, when I enter Cherno supermarket, who simply say "friendly, friendly" and then continue looting, while presenting me with the back of their head if I were so inclined.

Whenever I see someone, I always take cover behind something solid and then I say: "Friendly, friendly!"

Then I say: "Please keep your distance with that axe."

Or: "Don't point your weapon in my direction please."

So not only have I become less of an imminent threat to the stranger, the stranger is also less of a threat to me. If the person attempts to flank me, I'll take it as an act of aggression and will either make a run for it or fire a warnig shot. Depending on the situation the warning shot may or may not be aimed in the general direction of his face. The point is only you can guarantee your survival and while you may not play as a killer, you should at least avoid being a sitting duck.

Once both of you have survived the initial contact, chances of a peaceful encounter has just increased by 100%. Strike up a casual conversation, pay attention to the person's replies and attitude towards you, but keep an eye on his movements and never turn your back towards him.

1. Always use concealment or cover and know the difference.

2. Always keep cover close.

3. Always chose the best concealed access route.

4. Always keep your escape options open.

5. Keep on the move, when moving.

6. Move unpredictable, change direction at most corners.

7. Seek cover/concealment, when not moving.

8. Loot fast.

9. Loot with your back against the wall.

10. See someone take cover.

11. Someone shoots at you sprint to nearest cover and keep placing solid objects between you and the shooter.

People can't move and shoot as the same time. If they are forced to run after you, they lose stamina and accuracy as long as you keep moving, don't run is straight lines or run into open fields, but keep placing buildings and walls between you and your pursuer, you will slowly create distance and increase the chance of escaping or finding an advantageous position to defend yourself from.

Edited January 23, 2013 by Dallas

[_Anubis_ (DayZ) 139]

Well the eremite thing works. I am still alive after a few days in dayZ, with a full load of food (cooked meat), water bottles, tools and low grade weapons, but weapons nevertheless and plenty of ammo.

I "live" in a forest nearby a farm, which is a wonderful place for noobs/casual players like me for at least 4 reasons:

1. it has 12 spawn points so with patience you'll get a full kit after a while

2. zombies are easier to kill while they climb the ladder with an axe

3. nearby one can find animals and therefore meat

4. The process to get things is dead simple: stay in the forest, wait, visit the barn, kill a few zombies for extras, leave the barn, hunt into the forest, kill and cook and start all over again, much better and faster than wandering around any town

Best of it, if (when!) I will die, now I know I can repeat the process rather easily, so I take things with philosophy. After the first two days dedicated to stockpile items I now wander around, kind of exploration treks returning at the end in the forest: deer stands and helicopter crash sites are the next targets.

One day or another I will visit some city just for the fun of it (I am close to Cherno) and most likely I will be killed by a sniper sooner or later but guess what? I do not think anymore it is a big deal, I will simply restart.

During those days I have only seen two players, they did not spot me and I decided to not take any risk and remained hidden in the forest. But next time who knows...

I like this game!

_Anubis_

p.s. anybody who want to team up, feel free to contact me by email, I have no problem in starting another 'life' on other servers

[camycamera 36]

yeah, this is the main reason why i am waiting for SA. the game needs more teamwork, or at least better zombies, for this game to stop being an open world deathmatch with survival elements and zombies as a minor annoyance, and be more of what it was supposed to be in the first place.