Combat Timers to prevent combat log off

[Calanen 2]

It's reasonably dispiriting finally getting that nasty bandit in your sites, leaning over a railing with your best gun on full auto, firing, and then going, wtf - he was there I'm sure? The answer is, he's pulled his internet connection out of the router and logged....

Many moons ago for those who played the MMOG Eve, this was a real problem. Any bad guy you fought just hit the kill switch if you got the better of him. Eve changed things so that you remained in game even if you disco'ed for 1 minute if not aggressed and for 15 minutes if you were aggressed, ie taking combat actions. This stopped the 'disco switch' cold, so if bad guys (or good guys I suppose) were losing they had to stick around to face the music even if they didn't want to.

Some kind of addition such that you remain in game for a time, even if you log off or disco, I think would help stop the 'router off' exploit.

[-Gews- 7443]

Yikes, not for 15 minutes... I lost my connection today, luckily I had already run a ways off and hid in a tree, but if it had occurred in a less fortunate spot I would be toast.

Remaining in the game for about a minute would probably curb most of the combat logging while not leaving legitimate players too vulnerable (find a safe place to log off).

[Blondedash 403]

Yikes, not for 15 minutes... I lost my connection today, luckily I had already run a ways off and hid in a tree, but if it had occurred in a less fortunate spot I would be toast.

Remaining in the game for about a minute would probably curb most of the combat logging while not leaving legitimate players too vulnerable (find a safe place to log off).

I think he means dicks who got shot once and logout and the person who shot them gets no loot and they walk away fine.

Edited April 3, 2013 by nousernamehelp

[TIC 1050]

I think the only game I know of who does combat timers right is Runescape. It should be at least 10 seconds after combat to log off. I also think the symbol should be different than a glock. I don't like it. It should be a clock. The clock will be completely red and the green color will change clockwise to a complete green color to let you log off. This way you know when to log out instead of a flashing red pistol

[-Gews- 7443]

I think he means dicks who got shot once and logout and the person who shot them gets no loot and they walk away fine.

Yes, but a simple in-game timer won't solve the problem the weasels can close the program, or even shut their computer down to avoid death. It would have to be implemented for everyone at all times... which isn't really unfair - if you're not being shot at or chased by zombies, it should be relatively safe to log off, and if you are being shot at or chased by zombies, you shouldn't be logging off.

[Blondedash 403]

Yes, but a simple in-game timer won't solve the problem the weasels can close the program, or even shut their computer down to avoid death. It would have to be implemented for everyone at all times... which isn't really unfair - if you're not being shot at or chased by zombies, it should be relatively safe to log off, and if you are being shot at or chased by zombies, you shouldn't be logging off.

they will always be people like that though. removes the purpose of playing a multiplayer game. im too scared to interact with human beings ill pee my pants and log off ah!

Edited April 3, 2013 by nousernamehelp

[Calanen 2]

Appreciate the constructive feedback guys.

I was giving the example of what Eve did, not to say, that Dayz should do exactly the same thing, only that this was a real example that worked very well. Space has huge distances, the maps on Eve are mind blowing, so 15 mins is not a long time in the vastness of space. 1 or 2 minutes might be more appropriate for a person on foot. However when you think about it though, even the 15 minutes is not that bad if you are legit, because, you can come right back on after you disco and go about your business if you are legit - remember the log off at 15 mins in Eve is only for when you are in combat, which imho, is not a time any body should be deliberately logging off. Any other time there is just a 1 minute timer. Should mention however, that even with combat log of 15, it just means that you are 'in world' for 15 mins, does not mean you cant log off or have to hang around necessarily. Put yourself in a safe place and log or, walk off the aggression meter before you go.

In Eve at least, made you think real hard about where you should log off to make it safe.

Yes, but a simple in-game timer won't solve the problem the weasels can close the program, or even shut their computer down to avoid death. It would have to be implemented for everyone at all times... which isn't really unfair - if you're not being shot at or chased by zombies, it should be relatively safe to log off, and if you are being shot at or chased by zombies, you shouldn't be logging off.

Absolutely agreed.

It is true that disco can happen any time anywhere to anyone, just the nature of the internet. Murphy's Law says that it can happen at the worst possible time. Balancing all things considered however, it worked really well in Eve, as I was about (many moons ago) for the best disco hits of the Curse Alliance who excelled in the combat log, and then later on, they couldn't do it anymore, and our ships were actually grabbing them and killing them for once. (Somehow even a decade later still expecting an old Curse veteran to appear in this thread and lay down the smack).

The times shouldn't matter too much - that's just tweaking. The downside is - a person who does legitimately disco during combat does get killed, but that is far rarer imho than the deliberate log off during combat. 1 or 2 minute timer for everyone to remain in game before they vanish I think would work well in Dayz.

I think the only game I know of who does combat timers right is Runescape.

The logoff system I quoted in Eve is legit, the specs are here if anyone was dubious:

http://wiki.eveonlin...i/Combat_Timers

Edited April 3, 2013 by Calanen