A Darker, Grittier, More Retro DayZ

[Saethkept 134]

* I noticed that not far below this new topic is a topic that discusses increased zombie difficulty. I am in no way attemping to detract from or duplicate that thread.

I feel that the zombies in DayZ should be the primary threat - followed by the environment which forces survival and then other player survivors. I spent a couple of weeks running Taviana.eu on my server, and while many bugs exist in the loot table and humanity system, the aspect that kept drawing me back in was the zombie difficulty: zombies could only die by headshots. At the end of our run on Taviana.eu, I had amassed around 330 zombie kills but I had expeneded well over a thousand rounds of ammo to achieve this, as you can pump round after round into their chests and legs, and the headshot zombies keep coming and coming. I have to say that the taviana.eu zombies are the only zed in DayZ that over the months I have been playing the mod, have felt like a real and unavoidable threat to the player.

What I suggest is, to model the zombies as a whole in DayZ after the zombies in the cult horror film 'Return Of The Living Dead'. In that film the zombies were immune to both "body" and headshots; one had to basically do them enough damage to either impede their locomotion, or destroy them entirely. Both the damage model and the appearence of the zombies in the aformentioned film ought to be reproduced in DayZ. Nothing would inspire true player teamwork like having to enter a city where the dead are next to impossible to destroy.

Additionally, I suggest greater environmental risk for us survivors in the game. Harsher climate variables, a wider range of bones that can be broken by not taking care with various terrain and architectural features, etc. I love the challenge both Namalsk and Celle pose with cold weather, however both can be nullified too easily by finding the proper clothing or with heatpads. How about swamps that cause disease when wading through them or venemous reptiles and insects? The list could on quite endlessly.

Just a few ideas.

[victusmortuus 1074]

I wish Zombies only died from headshots, however many members will now post "They're not zombies they're infected humans".

[Welch (DayZ) 756]

I wish Zombies only died from headshots, however many members will now post "They're not zombies they're infected humans".

They're not zombies they're infected humans.

[gamerman001 182]

they're not zombies, they're infected humans. B)

[-Gews- 7443]

Look at the zombies from any movie with "runners"... they're extremely dangerous and would be terrifying. The DayZ zombies are a joke right now and are literally no threat whatsoever unless someone is shooting at you or your legs are broken.

If a group of zombies runs at you, you should be running too, and they should also be able to catch you if you are out of breath.

[[Gen]Adzic 241]

They are infected human beings from planet Earth.

[Hal-9000 8]

The classic well balanced zombies: http://zombie.wikia.com/wiki/Romero_zombies

Show walkers proper respect or rename the game to DayI(nfected) or something :)

[sausagekingofchicago 4711]

I played on a DayZ+ tavi map and thought the headshots required were part of the DayZ+ features. I found it outstanding and it kept me on my toes as I couldn't rely on my little hatchet to get the job done without learning how to properly aim it. I don't know what direction the SA will go towards but headshots only or major damage required to the chest would be a great change for the mod. Right now, double tapping a zed with 2 rounds from an m4 is just way too easy. Many of us are at the skill level where we could survive 20+ zombies out in the open. Anything that adds more challenge is welcome in my book.

[Saethkept 134]

I played on a DayZ+ tavi map and thought the headshots required were part of the DayZ+ features. I found it outstanding and it kept me on my toes as I couldn't rely on my little hatchet to get the job done without learning how to properly aim it. I don't know what direction the SA will go towards but headshots only or major damage required to the chest would be a great change for the mod. Right now, double tapping a zed with 2 rounds from an m4 is just way too easy. Many of us are at the skill level where we could survive 20+ zombies out in the open. Anything that adds more challenge is welcome in my book.

I agree with SausageKing. The Tavi.eu zombies took me down a number of times ... mostly because I was not paying attention or trying to land an unarmed heli in the middle of Krasnoznamensk with a swarm beneath the skids. But, recently on a 1.7.6.1 server, I went to reclaim gear off my body just west of Cherno by the dock past the brick factory. I was armed only with an open sight M16 and a few mags. I had to shoot at another player thus aggroing a large number of zeds. I was able to survive the swarm by kneeling and calmly firing semi auto shots and burst.

I want zombies that terrify the *ell out of me, or at least pose to me the risk of dying and losing gear. I love the PvP, but come on this is a zombie/infected humans from Earth, survival game. Return Of The Living Dead baby! Braaains!

[Bullseye471 3]

The classic well balanced zombies: http://zombie.wikia..../Romero_zombies

Show walkers proper respect or rename the game to DayI(nfected) or something :)

I'm not sure but I think the Z in DayZ stands for Zero and not for Zombie.

But anyways I think the developers know what they're doing and know that the zombies aren't much of a threat right now and are working on it. In one of the dev blogs they showed the new path finding system so the zombies catch up to you much faster.

Edited March 25, 2013 by Bullseye471

[Very Ape 748]

They can remain infected humans and be more challenging.

Beans for your suggestion, because you've the right idea of how zombies should be.

They should be able to take a few rounds to the torso, but they shouldn't be completely immune to them. Their arms and shoulders should be immune, but not their torso or legs. Repeated fire to the legs could cripple them, and torso shots could kill them if the gun is powerful enough and you've shot them enough.

For example; if I try to take on a group of zombies with an M16 and fire only at their torso, I'll have to reload before I even kill two or three of them. But if I've got a friend on a rooftop with a light machine gun, he'll be able to mow down most of the zombies and buy me some time.

[Saethkept 134]

I would add that while DayZ is the only thing, the best thing zombie survival going right now, the lore of the headshot zombie has existed for forty-five years...stretching back to George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead. Disabling a zombie is one thing, but to destroy them should require a headshot, total incineration or high explosive rounds.

I also disagree with the use of the "Neo-Zombie" infected human as a bait and switch for the true once living now dead and animated zombie. But as I said DayZ is the best thing going right now, I would just rather be pursued and tracked down and hounded by "zombies" that are, that are rotting, falling apart, long or recently dead and still coming for me ... squad machine gun belt half expended or not.