Night to Day Ratio, and Time Sycning

[rverdi12@gmail.com 5]

Hey there,

I play APs'"UNtec. on OZ and US servers (I play OZ even though I'm a US citizen because I had tents/vehicles on the server due to my playing the mod for a little over a week now, back when it was the only server :)).

1. There seems to be a problem with time-syncing between players on the same server. Often, more than one of my team mates and I will have different corresponding watch times in Chernarus, and thus it will get darker/lighter for different players at different times- given the sometimes ruthless nature of surviving the harsh zombie apocalypse world, such a small difference as a half an hour in synced time provides a massive advantage/disadvantage for certain players. This needs to be sorted out.

2. Day:Night Ratio. I like the idea of a full 24 hour scale, it does bring with it a certain feel of realism. However, in a real life situation, survivors would most likely not travel at night and interact with the dangerous areas of the world- they'd lie low near a camp fire, sleep, perform tasks of utility they could complete locally, and generally await the rising of the sun, when everything would be much safer; this, paired with the fact that it is very difficult to traverse terrain during the darkest times of the night, makes me think that perhaps night time is too long atm. I suggest a 1:4 ratio as opposed to a 1:1 ratio, meaning night time will still exist for six hours at a time, and daylight will exist for eighteen hours (vs. twelve and twelve hours).

[Adam (DayZ) 193]

1. This is something that we are aware of, and are working on.

2. There are no current plans to change the 12/12 cycle that we have at the moment.

[stupideye (DayZ) 0]

Not sure if you guys have fixed it yet (haven't been on in a day or two), but how about adding a moon so I can see my own two feet without having to run around with a flare?

[Adam (DayZ) 193]

The moon is already implemented, but (like the sun) raises and lowers at different times of night, offering a differing amount of light.

[Deviant (DayZ) 43]

Not sure if you guys have fixed it yet (haven't been on in a day or two)' date=' but how about adding a moon so I can see my own two feet without having to run around with a flare?

[/quote']

Moon comes up around 3-4am right now.

Wait a couple weeks and it will be a full moon again.. =\ like in real life. Don't expect the moon to never have phases.

[alienfreak 6]

The moon is already implemented' date=' but (like the sun) raises and lowers at different times of night, offering a differing amount of light.

[/quote']

I can go outside in the night if there are no clouds at the sky and see a few meters just fine. Even without full moon or anything.

In DayZ you can haul your Gamma up to 2.0 and still not see even your own hand.

In DayZ night is about as dark as if you were standing in a cave. You can't see anything.

[grounddog 12]

The moon is already implemented' date=' but (like the sun) raises and lowers at different times of night, offering a differing amount of light.

[/quote']

I can go outside in the night if there are no clouds at the sky and see a few meters just fine. Even without full moon or anything.

In DayZ you can haul your Gamma up to 2.0 and still not see even your own hand.

In DayZ night is about as dark as if you were standing in a cave. You can't see anything.

I actually agree with this, the darkness is way too harsh. When there are no light sources you still have some visible view. Eye adapts after a while to the darkness. If you go from ligt to dark right away then you will not see at all. But considering its an open area, its a bit too hard. ArmA 2 default darkness at night is yeah a bit too bright but atleast tone it a little bit less on your mod. I just think it would be good. I belive many would agree with this on me.

[tpenn 9]

I disagree with OP about disproportionate ratios: keep day:night the same ratio as in real-time EXCEPT simply shrink the cycle to maybe half of what it is in real-time.

Currently the problem is this: most players play after daily obligations meaning they play at night or close to night, meaning all or most players playing on a time-regional server will end up playing at night, exactly the OPPOSITE of what realistically you'd be doing to survive.

Solution 1: simply shorten the cycle to 1/2 or 1/4 of what it is in real-time, that way regardless of when you start playing, a player will be able to experience at least some of both night and day instead of playing entirely just one all the time.

Solution 2: allow the server to introduce an time OFFSET, keeping the cycle the same as in real-time except offset by a few hours. This way regional servers will offset the game time so that players playing typical play time will be playing during the day (as would be realistic for survivors trying to survive)

Solution 3: (this is the current, lose-lose solution) play on servers outside your region. This is what's happening currently if players want to get out of the monotone of 12/7 black-on-black-on-red gameplay. Of course this solution is lose-lose: the player loses because of latency issues, and the server loses because of latency and over-crowding issues.

[TheRiddick 0]

Night-time sped up to 4x would be GREATLY appreciated. Sometimes people can only play during night due to WORKING day and it just be nice get into that sunrise faster. Perhaps a server option for it even?

[rverdi12@gmail.com 5]

I disagree with OP about disproportionate ratios: keep day:night the same ratio as in real-time EXCEPT simply shrink the cycle to maybe half of what it is in real-time.

Currently the problem is this: most players play after daily obligations meaning they play at night or close to night' date=' meaning all or most players playing on a time-regional server will end up playing at night, exactly the OPPOSITE of what realistically you'd be doing to survive.

Solution 1: simply shorten the cycle to 1/2 or 1/4 of what it is in real-time, that way regardless of when you start playing, a player will be able to experience at least some of both night and day instead of playing entirely just one all the time.

Solution 2: allow the server to introduce an time OFFSET, keeping the cycle the same as in real-time except offset by a few hours. This way regional servers will offset the game time so that players playing typical play time will be playing during the day (as would be realistic for survivors trying to survive)

Solution 3: (this is the current, lose-lose solution) play on servers outside your region. This is what's happening currently if players want to get out of the monotone of 12/7 black-on-black-on-red gameplay. Of course this solution is lose-lose: the player loses because of latency issues, and the server loses because of latency and over-crowding issues.

[/quote']

OP +1 to shortened cycles, much better suggestion.

[anthonyhosking@gmail.com 0]

agreed a short day night cycle is needed, especially majority of the players only can play after work / school which is usually at night. I dont mind moving through bush and fields at night but not so much near towns or buildings. I am having to resort to playing on a high ping US server just so i can get some daylight gameplay. Playing a fews days in the dark does lower how much more you want to play the game

[Adam (DayZ) 193]

Okay, this has already been answered on the FAQ, and on other threads.

The day/night cycle is directly linked to the local time of the host machine, and there are no plans to change this.

Thread closed.