The Zen Bandit

[kebman 213]

I noticed something. The creators of DayZ believe in karmic reincarnation! They must, or else there wouldn't be any need to get born again in a bandit skin (or hero skin, for that matter). I seriously think they're buddhist. Hey, I happen to think it's probably one of the best religions out there, however, I'm not sure it's the best thing for this game.

So OK, I guess you need to know who's a bad guy somehow, but once you rack up a few kills and want out, you're in nearly no matter what. As the game is now, it's a one way street. You're doomed to forever be a bandit. That's some seriously bad karma right there...

I'm not even speaking about the skin, which players may like or dislike. I'm speaking about the skin's effect on other players.

A bandit skin automatically instills distrust and KOS dynamics. So what's a poor bandit gonna do to defend himself? You'll just have to shoot back if someone attacks you. Then you rack up more kills. Even if you cry out "Friendly" or offer blood transfusions left and right, you're going to end up in a firefight one way or another, and if you shoot a survivor - even if in defence - you're yet more points down the spiral of doom.

It all comes to a point - the point of no return - where even trying to do right will become an impossible task, and you're stuck, forever a bandit. IMO this is too harsh, and makes for too limited gameplay. In fact I kind of long for those days where you really couldn't know whether you could trust another player. Those were indeed exciting days!

I'm not the bandit type myself, but I've got some friends who just gave up trying to be nice. After a while of trying to get back on track they simply just accepted their "karma" and went on being bandits, mindlessly killing.

I happen to think it's bad for a sandbox game to give so strong incentives for how to play the game. IMO everyone should be given the chance to affect their own fate without artificial karma being pulled down over their heads.

Suggestion: Remove the bandit skin, or make it much easier to get back to being a regular survivor. At least try out some new algorithms, so that repenting sinners get a new chance. The most important part is removing the point of no return. As it is, it is simply too hard to change your ways so that you once again can become a regular survivor.

Edited February 13, 2013 by kebman

[Raged 187]

I'm pretty positive I've never seen a post like this before.

You sir, have earned my beans. :beans:

[burritoman259 593]

When I used to have a bandit skin a long long time ago I just went on rampages through cherno and elektro killing all bandit skin players,

In my defense they gave good humanity points.

Edited February 13, 2013 by burritoman259

[FlamingDefibs 421]

While this was well said, practically every single person that has ever played this mod has suggested the same exact thing. There is nothing to disagree with what you said, but this provides no additional discussion whatsoever.

[Jars (DayZ) 63]

The problem is , you're hanging around the coast too much .

It's quite easy to not be a bandit , you just have to play ...... intelligently .

The problem is , people want ACTION ALL THE TIME , and you fell FORCED INTO BEING A BANDIT , but it's the situation you choose , so learn to deal with it .

[colekern 1364]

The bandit skin is being replaced with something more subtle in standalone.

[burritoman259 593]

The bandit skin is being replaced with something more subtle in standalone.

Colonel Sanders goatee.

[kebman 213]

The problem is , you're hanging around the coast too much .

It's quite easy to not be a bandit , you just have to play ...... intelligently .

The problem is , people want ACTION ALL THE TIME , and you fell FORCED INTO BEING A BANDIT , but it's the situation you choose , so learn to deal with it .

Thanks for teaching. :D That was really enlightening. Just play intelligently, huh? Does playing other maps than Chernorus count as not hanging around the coast?

To all you others: If you can't be original, at least be unoriginal with style. ;)

Also, if it's still an obvious problem, nagging works suprisingly often.

[scoffield77@gmail.com 192]

I agree, I'm a Arma vet, so that means in my group i'm the one who carries the weight in a fire fight. But I'm a nice guy, I like helping out people. Cause I put people down in fire fights, i end up with -20,000 humanity and is pretty much impossible to return to the normal survivor skin. It doesn't mater how many blood bag I give out. It was impossible to return back...

Personally I'd like there to be no humanity system. But I understand there is something needed in the Mod (not SA). Needs some changes or at least polish it out since the mod is what we have to deal with for now.

[CreepySalad 108]

I just think the humanity system should go away forever.

There's no way to tell who's a "bad man" in real life, so why should there be here?

[kebman 213]

I don't agree. There are ways to tell if a guy is "bad" or not. Stuff like clothes and better skinning will also make Wanted Person profiles easier to make for law enforcement. Check out my new post, How to spot bad behaviour regardless of skin.

Edited February 16, 2013 by kebman

[CreepySalad 108]

I don't agree. There are ways to tell if a guy is "bad" or not. Stuff like clothes and better skinning will also make Wanted Person profiles easier to make for law enforcement. Check out my new post, How to spot bad behaviour regardless of skin.

Not true.

In a zombie apocalypse, there's no wanted signs, and people who wear leather jackets and chains aren't bad.

The examples in your post are kinda eh too.

Someone getting close to you could be a sign of trust as well.

Someone not trusting you is natural, considering.

Telling them to drop their gun within five seconds, on the other hand, is a good way to tell that your a bandit.

Edited February 16, 2013 by CreepySalad