SA: start out 'sickly'

[Xianyu 820]

So, what is one major problem with DayZ? No penalty for death. For people like me, death is a lark. I can just go get more shit, rather effortlessly. People have been talking about making zombies much harder, to make dying more of a problem... But still, once you get that gear, you're back where you were.

Where do survivors come from? They wash up on shore.

So... why not have the 'backstory' be something like they've been adrift at sea for weeks. Barely any water, negligible food.

Once you're back on the mainland, you can get proper food, and proper hydration, so you start getting your strength back.

There were hints from Rocket (apparently) that the better you look after your character in the long run, the better off he'll be in terms of health.

Why not start everyone at a very low bar?

Imagine if you had a 10 day old character, that has been properly fed for all ten days, and has his strength back. He can run fast, take a decent amount of damage, maybe his hands don't shake as much when aiming a gun. Basically, he's healthy.

And then you die, you loot your body.

In the current mod, you'd be exactly where you were when you died, because you got all your gear back. But if the standalone has 'sickly' starter characters, then when you die, you lose something that you can't get back instantly. You can't just find an item that makes you instantly healthy again. You have to fight malnutrition the old-fashioned way.

And suddenly, character lives aren't measured in 'gear' but in 'health'. A character's worth to YOU, won't be defined by something completely recoverable like simple loot.

Of course, if your character only ate junk food and soda for those ten days, then dying wouldn't be much of an issue... but a healthy character would be a much more potent thing to lose when compared to a sickly beach washup.

[rhym3z 6]

I like this idea, I like this idea a lot

[Azziax 81]

Interesting point of view....

Have to play it to see how I would like it I guess.

This way it is more about surviving indeed....

Beans for the idea!

Edited March 21, 2013 by Azziax

[ButtHat 96]

Interesting. I think it would be neat to introduce into the Alpha and see how it goes.

[Dancing.Russian.Man 1631]

Highly approved. Best suggestion in a long while if you ask me.

Should be something to try out in the Standalone possibly a little before the Foundation Release comes out, to see if it's any viable.

[boxman80 964]

My worry with something like this would be the advantage it would give when going PvP and how much it would encourage douche bags to rape and troll new spawns with already inferior kit and now with this proposition inferior skills/health. As with anything put into the game, theres a lot of players that just abuse features like this, rather than appreciating why they are there.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not calling for ultimate balance for PvP, or asking for Day Z not to be a harsh environment(the harsher the better for me), but this just is going to encourage some of the more frustrating elements to the game and not going ultiamely going to challenge players beyond a few days.

I do like where the idea is coming from though and players should be rewarded for longevity of a character and O do think this is the sort of avenues the mod/SA needs to explore.

Edited March 21, 2013 by Box

[Xianyu 820]

My worry with something like this would be the advantage it would give when going PvP and how much it would encourage douche bags to rape and troll new spawns with already inferior kit and now with this proposition inferior skills/health. As with anything put into the game, theres a lot of players that just abuse features like this, rather than appreciating why they are there.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not calling for ultimate balance for PvP, or asking for Day Z not to be a harsh environment(the harsher the better for me), but this just is going to encourage some of the more frustrating elements to the game and not going ultiamely going to challenge players beyond a few days.

I do like where the idea is coming from though and players should be rewarded for longevity of a character and O do think this is the sort of avenues the mod/SA needs to explore.

Perhaps. While that is a valid point, the same would be said for the beach snipers. If they start off sickly and less able to aim a rifle well, they can't snipe of they get killed and respawn. And if the damage in the standalone is the same as the mod...

Well, there's no FEASIBLE way for a guy with a makarov to kill anyone with an automatic weapon. Sure, you can aim for the face, but the odds are so far stacked against you, you might as well just duck and hope he misses all his ammunition. People will kill people on the beach no matter what you do.

[fluxley 2228]

Anything that makes people value their characters life more is good in my book.

[colekern 1364]

It's an old thread, but I've gotta say that I like the idea.

[Zarniwoop 1193]

WOW how did I miss an idea like this? This is a very good idea!

We would have to see how works out in practice first though.

[TheCreeper (DayZ) 3565]

I like the idea but, main problem, if you start off weak, whats to stop every ass hat bandit from coming down to the coast once their strong and stop you from ever meeting them on equill ground?

[fluxley 2228]

I like the idea but, main problem, if you start off weak, whats to stop every ass hat bandit from coming down to the coast once their strong and stop you from ever meeting them on equill ground?

Id say simply get away from the coast as soon a possible, even as things are now hanging around on the coast is just asking for trouble.

Also if theres more consequences for dying people might find hanging around a high pvp area in the hope of killing a few fresh spawns is not worth the risk,

[Rekli 995]

I like the idea but, main problem, if you start off weak, whats to stop every ass hat bandit from coming down to the coast once their strong and stop you from ever meeting them on equill ground?

isn't that what already happens?

[m.w. vindicator 880]

This is a great idea that deserves discussion. Why would some who just washed up on the beach be in good health anyway? Becoming healthy from good nutrition should take a day or so.

[bad_mojo (DayZ) 1204]

Great idea. It should be applied to the MOD, not just standalone.

It would be great fun as a hero to patrol the shores with lots of supplies helping sick players get on their feet.

[fluxley 2228]

Great idea. It should be applied to the MOD, not just standalone.

It would be great fun as a hero to patrol the shores with lots of supplies helping sick players get on their feet.

Agreed :beans: Out of beans for today, i owe you ;)

[DemonGroover 8836]

It is an interesting suggestion in that upon spawning your first priority should be to find food, water and medicine rather than making a direct bee-line for your old body.

If we are to assume you have washed up on the beach (?) then it stands to reason you probably aren't in the best of health.

[TIC 1050]

I can totally agree with this whole topic. Health should be more of a factor something that plays out more of your character's progress rather than gear.

[Very Ape 748]

I love this suggestion.

And about players worrying about spawn-rape; listen, it makes the game fun as hell. Bandits already do this. If they do it more, it'll make the game that much more challenging.

The game should be tough from start to finish. Dealing with zombies, sickness, hunger, thirst, and bloodthirsty bandits prowling the coast to kill you? That's perfect.

Add this suggestion to that of 'dynamic' changes such as tattoos and scars, and everyone will be very, very attached to their survivors.

[m.w. vindicator 880]

I love this suggestion.

And about players worrying about spawn-rape; listen, it makes the game fun as hell. Bandits already do this. If they do it more, it'll make the game that much more challenging.

The game should be tough from start to finish. Dealing with zombies, sickness, hunger, thirst, and bloodthirsty bandits prowling the coast to kill you? That's perfect.

Add this suggestion to that of 'dynamic' changes such as tattoos and scars, and everyone will be very, very attached to their survivors.

If people are more attached to their players than less people would likely risk banditry. Therefore, there would be a net gain of zero in banditry. Less people are bandits, but those that are more dangerous to a coastal noob

[attorney1977 311]

I think this is a great suggestion.

[dutch_miller 159]

An original, coherent, intelligent idea that I like on the suggestions forum?

....

Well, I'll be damned.

[Daemonkid 493]

Best goddanmed idea that I have ever heard in my life for this game.

[mushroom911 14]

Great suggestion adn I hope it gets implemented, at this current stage dying to zombies is more or less just the hassle to leg it back to your corpse.

[victusmortuus 1074]

Very nice man.