Playing at night

[bfisher 561]

Ok, first of all I hate that the game is on a real-time 24 hour day night cycle. Why not make it an hour or two like other games? I want to be like "oh shit it's getting dark. I better find someplace secure for the night." Not "oh shit it's getting dark. I guess I'm done playing for today since I don't have NVGs."

That said, for those of you who aren't scared of the dark, don't have NV Goggles and refuse to turn up the gamma on your monitor as a cheat, let's discuss tactics, strategies and experiences.

[ToddTaylor 8]

The problem with night is that 99% of veterans, and bandits simply adjust their video options, and PRESTO! no more night. Night needs to be recoded, because presently you are only effected by it if you choose to be. I think thats the main reason so many private servers run 24/7 day time. Not because they don't like playing at night, but because there are too many people exploiting it to kill defenseless noobs.

[BwobBwub 660]

The 24 hr time format is good as its unique a not like "Other games".

Night is a core part of DayZ as it adds another challenge to the game.

DayZ is meant to be hard and night shows one part of it.

[dsi24 227]

The gamma/brightness exploits need to be stopped, and servers need to save the current moon cycle position on restart (since the moon seems to always be new at restart, which is very dark, which scares most people)

[frosti 2165]

I think that game Alien vs Predator 2 had *true* darkness that could not be negated no matter how you turned up gamma/brightness in game or on video card. Oh and it was possible to do so with Neverwinter Nights mission editor, so using torches/magic light was mandatory.

And as for DayZ - yes - at medium/high populater server is it either to already have night vision goggles or you can log out for the night (or cheat with turning up gamma). NVG's are just so overpowered when it comes to night.

[SoulShaper2 243]

i man up. Play at night without the video and gamma tweaks and just get on with it

[Masterfocker 103]

I think that game Alien vs Predator 2 had *true* darkness that could not be negated no matter how you turned up gamma/brightness in game or on video card. Oh and it was possible to do so with Neverwinter Nights mission editor, so using torches/magic light was mandatory.

And as for DayZ - yes - at medium/high populater server is it either to already have night vision goggles or you can log out for the night (or cheat with turning up gamma). NVG's are just so overpowered when it comes to night.

"NVG's are just so overpowered when it comes to night."

I really hope you're joking with this statement.....

[Sercan (DayZ) 4]

If they could have some servers running day/night cycles at 2 hours that would be awesome for those of us who want that experience :)

Day time survival is very different from night time survival.

It would be interesting to have the two dynamics forcing you to survive in more uncomfortable circumstances.

[bfisher 561]

i man up. Play at night without the video and gamma tweaks and just get on with it

So lets talk about tactics. How do you play?

The most obvious challenge is that it is pitch black at night. Running around an industrial park with no lights would be dangerous even if there were no zombies!

The other most obvious challenge is that light from road flares, vehicle headlights, flashlights and chem lights can be seen for miles by people who probably will kill you.

The third most frustrating challenge is that other than a few guns with built in tactical lights, you either get flashlight or weapon...not both.

I find I can't do any serious looting at night unless I have a car. I'll drive up to a supermarket or apartment and illuminate the building. Run out. Grab what I can. Run back to the car and get the heck out. Obviously this has it's fair share of risks.

I did luck out on one server where some idiot crashed a helicopter into the Cherno town square. The fire lit up the whole town.

[irl-calibre 744]

the server I play on is thankfully perpetually full moon, now that being said and done its also a private hive and white listed, the server was recently reset so I don't think any or maybe a few pairs of NVG's probably exist on the server. The only tweak to my settings I use, is I always turn HDR up High and also give it some time for the moon to rise, dusk is the much harder time i find to see. I've just actually stopped playing on the server for this very reason as it's gmt -5, i'll probably log in again around midnight once the moon has risen..

[SoulShaper2 243]

So lets talk about tactics. How do you play?

The most obvious challenge is that it is pitch black at night. Running around an industrial park with no lights would be dangerous even if there were no zombies!

The other most obvious challenge is that light from road flares, vehicle headlights, flashlights and chem lights can be seen for miles by people who probably will kill you.

The third most frustrating challenge is that other than a few guns with built in tactical lights, you either get flashlight or weapon...not both.

I find I can't do any serious looting at night unless I have a car. I'll drive up to a supermarket or apartment and illuminate the building. Run out. Grab what I can. Run back to the car and get the heck out. Obviously this has it's fair share of risks.

I did luck out on one server where some idiot crashed a helicopter into the Cherno town square. The fire lit up the whole town.

This is how i play:

First look at map, i plan a route using just a compass direction and angle to where i want to be, then use a chem light as they produce a LOT less light and cna only be seen withen a few metres away from it and carry that with my main gun, when approaching the destination i THROW the flares around the area lighting it up and since it's more then one anyone with NvG's become blinded giving me enough time to run in with my flare. If it's not picture black i dont usually carry a chem light

[TheKingpin 19]

At night the ghillies with there NVGs and DMRs come out to play. Personally I've not experienced a lot of full night gameplay, like the guy above the servers I play on tend to be full moon, seen as though there private hives.

If I'm on a public server I will play in the dark I find it easier to loot in the dark, changing gamma doesn't help me it looks shocking don't know if its my settings or that's just how it is but I can't see shit.

[willey.erd@oundleschool.org.uk 506]

It's much easier to get around at night, and seeing as everyone disappears its not too dangerous either. :)

[SoulShaper2 243]

It's much easier to get around at night, and seeing as everyone disappears its not too dangerous either. :)

Despite your annoying picture i have to agree with you. :P

[bfisher 561]

This is how i play:

First look at map, i plan a route using just a compass direction and angle to where i want to be, then use a chem light as they produce a LOT less light and cna only be seen withen a few metres away from it and carry that with my main gun, when approaching the destination i THROW the flares around the area lighting it up and since it's more then one anyone with NvG's become blinded giving me enough time to run in with my flare. If it's not picture black i dont usually carry a chem light

Oh sure! It's easy once you already have chem lights, flares, maps and a compass! :D

[irl-calibre 744]

the north star is accurately mapped and clouds always move east, what more do you need?

also I don't get the whole crank up brightness and gamma thing it looks awful, just with I HDR I think night time is amazing in game, it's far from not being able to see a thing..

Edited February 10, 2013 by Calibre

[Siberian (DayZ) 527]

fuk nitetime.

seriously.

that is all

[zenorc123 137]

If my memory servers me right, Rocket wants the game to be hard and to provide players with less ease in playing it.

[Udak 104]

I thought max values for brightness at night were set by the server? Setting your brightness/gamma to high is far from 'veteran' play. It's also far from foolproof--most servers are too darn dark to ONLY use high brightness/gamma to get around...you end up with a supervisible sky and no distinguishing features

And seriously, stay outside in the dark (in real life) for more than five minutes, and be surprised how much you can see. No game incorporates (realistically) the eyes adapting to lack of light. You can see a lot more then Dayz gives you credit (though I think it'd be awesome if you couldn't clearly see the center of your screen, reflecting real life cone/rod distribution in your eyes). Wearing NVGs while looking at a flare/heli fire should blind you for minutes.

For those not in the know, blue chems are only visible from ~30m. I think it's 50-75m with red, and 100m with green. So when you're running around during the day, make sure you ALWAYS have chemmies on you in case you join a night server.

Especially after how the zombie difficulty was amped after the last update, I can't see the hate for nighttime.

[Thorsblood 26]

I like the night concept but can't really experience it due to my available hours, I either get only night or only day x_X

If they could make 4 Hour day/night cycle's that would be better for people with job's or other time constraints and enable them to enjoy both night and day. Plus it would make RP a bit better too since day time is easier to loot but nighttime could be safer due to zeds being less responsive :D

I understand trying to make the game as realistic possible but you have to remember people can't play 24 hours a day either!

[Maxgor 2314]

I'd be more inclined to play at night if the flashlight was easier to work with. I should be able to use my flashlight and pistol at the same time, not be forced to choose between one or the other, where it then requires me to drop the pistol or put it in my backpack. It should be done like the binoculars, where it has its own slot and can be used with your pistol, maybe at a loss of accuracy.

[tsandrey 379]

The 12 hour timer is not the problem here. The problem is that the night can sometimes be too dark. Yes, it's good in Arma where almost everyone has NVG. But it's impossible to play DayZ without NVG, when it's pitch black!

They need to reduce darkness a bit in standalone.

Edited February 10, 2013 by TSAndrey

[Morotstomten 34]

i turn up the gamma if i need to and im not ashamed of it for 2 reasons,

1. moonless nights are crazy dark, ive never seen that level of darkness outside in real life

2. the green light from nvg gives me a headache after prolonged use so when i find it i just give it away to someone who appreciates it more than me

and no im not gonna use chemlights/roadflares/flashlight, im not big on announcing my presence to everyone

[heathy87 1]

i think it would just be nice if your natural night vision would actually get better, if its a cloudy night it really does get dark, most ppl don't know how dark night time is because of city lights or street lights, the town i live in over the last year or so has started turning off the majority of lights at around 1am and it is DARK out there. although your eyes do adjust over time which doesn't really happen in game, what i see happen is the moon change position and light everything up.

but your at a severe disadvantage if you choose to play on a server where ppl have NVG, because they can see you and you can't see them, playing at night is fine if you've just started or are on with very few others.

Edited February 10, 2013 by Phill

[sobieski12 835]

I would have no problem to play on populated server at night.

* But there is no fun, since 80% of every server will just use the exploit.

- Thus the reason you never see any flares or chem lights.

If people played the game legit.

* It would be awesome, but that is not the case.

Personally, I use the exploit.

* Change brightness, gamma, hdr.

- Why?

Because everyone else is doing the same thing.

* If your armed with rare weapons and great gear, your not going to give any chances to someone that is using the same trick.

- Personal Suggestion -

* If rockets is going to bring back the setting to the standalone.

- Do not let people change the settings over 1.0

- Or they would just be kicked from the server.

- Or just have the limit set to 1.0

Edited February 10, 2013 by Sobieski12