Car Keys

[LilBambi 35]

Have you ever stopped by in a town to grab some loot, then suddenly someone steals your car? Having car keys in the Standalone could change that.

 

So how do car keys work?

 

All spawned vehicles come with the keys. The keys would be located either in the "Gear" slot or it would be laying around somewhere near the driver's seat. The car key would only work with that vehicle type (for example, a Ural key would only work with other Urals). In order for the vehicle's engine to start, the key must be in the ignition. The key would be located in your "Tools" slot so you wouldn't have to tediously equip it or anything. If you leave a car's engine running, the key will be left in the car.

 

So how would you start a vehicle if you didn't have a key?

 

You'd have to hotwire it. In order to hotwire a vehicle, you'd need "Wires". The process of hotwiring a vehicle would take considerable time... at least 1-3 minutes.

 

So if you can hotwire a vehicle, why would you need keys?

 

First off, you'd need "Wires" which would be relatively rare. Second, you'd have to spend 1-3 minutes to hotwire the vehicle itself. Third, you may be shot by the original driver if you are stealing a vehicle yourself. The process would create a few loud sparks and some light flashes, so the driver may spot or hear you easily if he is nearby. Fourth, the "Wires" would be a consumable item. The vehicle will no longer need keys for the rest of its lifespan, but you will need more "Wires" if you want to hotwire another vehicle. Fifth, if someone finds your vehicle while it is unattended, they could easily steal it since they would not need the keys.

 

So how does this improve the gameplay?

 

The game becomes more realistic and immersive, car thief scenarios are more dynamic, and you have more protection for your assets.

 

So what do you think of "Car Keys"?

[Fraggle (DayZ) 15720]

Yes to hot-wiring, no to keys.  TBH I'd just smash the window.  The chances of ever finding the correct key to a vehicle are pretty slim.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Fraggle

[Skat3rat 1633]

Hot wiring is a good idea but like Fraggle said, you could just smash the windows.  You could do it with your fist or another item.  It would probably take a few attempts but you could do it.  There are keys in DayZ epoch and I'm not really a fan of it.

[LilBambi 35]

Yes to hot-wiring, no to keys.  TBH I'd just smash the window.  The chances of ever finding the correct key to a vehicle are pretty slim.

 

I'm confused. Why would you need hotwiring if keys aren't needed?

[LilBambi 35]

Hot wiring is a good idea but like Fraggle said, you could just smash the windows.  You could do it with your fist or another item.  It would probably take a few attempts but you could do it.  There are keys in DayZ epoch and I'm not really a fan of it.

 

Smashing the windows doesn't get the engine running. It just gets you into the car, lol.

 

EDIT: Sorry for double-post. My bad.

Edited August 28, 2013 by LilBambi

[IkaikaKekai 1957]

Smash window, hotwire engine.  No keys needed.  I honestly would like keys in some form or another, but there should be a bypass.  And you don't really need wires to hotwire a car, you're simply using the wires already in the car to bypass the ignition switch (the thing you put the keys in)

[Fraggle (DayZ) 15720]

Yeh sorry, I wasn't making much sense :/

 

Basically, I think in the scenario the game presents the chances of a survivor finding the right set of keys to a car are just so slim that it's almost not worth the effort to add to the game (imo).

 

But... I would love to see some crafting or tools involved with repairing and hotwiring etc.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Fraggle

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

Car keys are another security that only work in an ordered society, where someone smashing a car window is immediately suspicious.

[-Gews- 7443]

Alright... hotwiring on most of the older cars, perhaps... but how would a player defeat the locking columns, transponder keys and immobilizers, etc, that are standard on most newer vehicles?

[Statik (DayZ) 2695]

You could do it with your fist

Upload a video of you smashing a car window with your fist. I will not pay the hospital bill..

 

But a rock or 9mm should easily do the trick. So yes to hotwiring, no to keys.

 

EDIT: You don't really need anything to hotwire a car. All the needed wires are located inside the vehicle, behind the steering wheel in the steering collumn area.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Statik

[IkaikaKekai 1957]

Clotheshanger + pliers = jimmy tool (keeps pliers) Jimmy tool = stealth way to unlock car (avoids breaking window as well).

Also, don't most military vehicles have push button starts to prevent a 'lost key' from making a FUBAR situation?

 

The way I would make keys (as unrealistic as it seams) they would be separated into types (sedan, pickup, truck, ect) and a chance to spawn in buildings (and in the vehicles themselves).  Once you use a key on a vehicle it'll be bound to that vehicle (IE I used a Sedan key on a Skoda it will only work on that Skoda, if it gets blown up the key is worthless, and that Skoda will not accept any other keys ((can still be broken into and hotwired)) ).  Vehicles will have a chance of being locked when first spawned, and non open cargo bays will be locked as well (IE you need to unlock the trunk of a sedan or unlock the cabin to check the gear in there (and get in ((keys in vehicles will spawn in the cabin, so there's a chance you'll break the window/jimmy the lock and then find the keys)) ), but you can check the back of a Ural or Pickup no problem.  You can lock or unlock the different 'doors' (IE you can leave the trunk unlocked, and lock all the passenger doors ((leaving the driver's door unlocked)) ).  You would need tools and time to hotwire a car or jimmy the lock open.

 

EDIT

 

Alright... hotwiring on most of the older cars, perhaps... but how would a player defeat the locking columns, transponder keys and immobilizers, etc, that are standard on most newer vehicles?

 

In a survival situation, Im not gonna take the 2014 BMW Z904hfapeDontLookAtMySmallPenis, I'm gonna take the 86 Nissan Pickup.

Edited August 28, 2013 by BigMike

[LilBambi 35]

Yeh sorry, I wasn't making much sense :/

 

Basically, I think in the scenario the game presents the chances of a survivor finding the right set of keys to a car are just so slim that it's almost not worth the effort to add to the game (imo).

 

But... I would love to see some crafting or tools involved with repairing and hotwiring etc.

 

I still don't understand why you would need hotwiring if a vehicle doesn't require keys to run, lol. Several other people are saying yes to hotwiring but no to car keys, when hotwiring is useless in a world without the need of car keys (such as it is now in the DayZ mod).

 

Alright... hotwiring on most of the older cars, perhaps... but how would a player defeat the locking columns, transponder keys and immobilizers, etc, that are standard on most newer vehicles?

 

I don't know too much about cars, but I believe the world Chernarus is set in has old vehicles (all of the models look at least 1970s) aside from maybe the SUV. On a newer car such as the black SUV, a more elaborate hotwiring process may be required (making them more valuable).

[creature 1189]

You do realise that all this would do is make people blow up cars they couldn't just get in a drive away right?

 

DayZ Epoch is living proof of this scenario.

[TheLastEmp 295]

As the OP mentioned.  All fresh spawned cars would have keys already in them.  either in the "gear" or lying in or around the vehicle somewhere.

 

Considering the above, I really like the idea of car keys in the game... If you come across a car that no one has "claimed" the keys will still be there.  If you come across a car that someone has already investigated and is intending to repair it, they may have taken the car keys...  Regardless, if you think the coast is clear and the vehicle is fixed up, you can get the vehicle running without a key by hot-wiring it (will take a minute and will draw some attention).

 

I dunno... I'm really intrigued by the idea and am having trouble coming up with a reason why it shouldn't be added...

[Skat3rat 1633]

Upload a video of you smashing a car window with your fist. I will not pay the hospital bill..

 

 

I've seen videos of people smashing windows with their fist.  I didn't say it was easy and painless though.

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

Upload a video of you smashing a car window with your fist. I will not pay the hospital bill..

 

But a rock or 9mm should easily do the trick. So yes to hotwiring, no to keys.

 

EDIT: You don't really need anything to hotwire a car. All the needed wires are located inside the vehicle, behind the steering wheel in the steering collumn area.

Maybe not bare fists but anything will do, i've seen an old dude break into his own car on a parking 2 weeks ago as i was on a family lunch, not really a feat.

[LilBambi 35]

Do you guys think it would be better to require extra wires to hotwire a vehicle or should you only need a toolbox?

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

Frankly you don't even need a toolbox...

[Fraggle (DayZ) 15720]

I still don't understand why you would need hotwiring if a vehicle doesn't require keys to run, lol. Several other people are saying yes to hotwiring but no to car keys, when hotwiring is useless in a world without the need of car keys (such as it is now in the DayZ mod).

 

 

I don't know too much about cars, but I believe the world Chernarus is set in has old vehicles (all of the models look at least 1970s) aside from maybe the SUV. On a newer car such as the black SUV, a more elaborate hotwiring process may be required (making them more valuable).

Because to hotwire older cars all you're really doing is bypassing the ignition which is where you would usually use the key and it's actually a pretty straight forward thing to do.  If you wanted to break into an older car you could just smash the window or jimmy the door and hotwire it, no keys needed.

 

I'd be more likely to do that than scour the whole country looking for the right set of keys :/.  Remember that the game is set in a scenario where the country is in a mess and it's unlikely to my mind that you'd find cars neatly parked outside peoples houses with the keys handily left on the kitchen table for you.

 

Obviously newer cars present loads of issues with that but even still, finding the actual original set of keys to a car you randomly find in the street isn't likely.

Edited August 28, 2013 by Fraggle

[LilBambi 35]

Alright... hotwiring on most of the older cars, perhaps... but how would a player defeat the locking columns, transponder keys and immobilizers, etc, that are standard on most newer vehicles?

 

I also forgot to mention that we're not going for total realism here. That would suck. In real life, you couldn't repair anything in a helicopter unless you had extensive knowledge and experience about it. We're going for gameplay here, not total realism.

 

Frankly you don't even need a toolbox...

 

Depends on the car. Also, it's mainly for gameplay reasons. Otherwise, it would be too easy for a fresh spawn to take a car someone worked hard to get.

 

Because to hotwire older cars all you're really doing is bypassing the ignition which is where you would usually use the key and it's actually a pretty straight forward thing to do.  If you wanted to break into an older car you could just smash the window or jimmy the door and hotwire it, no keys needed.

 

I'd be more likely to do that than scour the whole country looking for the right set of keys :/.  Remember that the game is set in a scenario where the country is in a mess and it's unlikely to my mind that you'd find cars neatly parked outside peoples houses with the keys handily left on the kitchen table for you.

 

Obviously newer cars present loads of issues with that but even still, finding the actual original set of keys to a car you randomly find in the street isn't likely.

 

Remember though, that in my idea I said that all cars spawn with their keys inside them and the keys are vehicle type specific, not individual vehicle specific (for example, a Ural key would work with any Ural).

 

Also, I don't think ya'll are getting it, lol. With no locking mechanism like a key, there would be no way to show "ownership" of the car. If hotwiring was in the game but keys weren't, the second you get out of your car, you'd have to hotwire your way back in. This would be silly, of course. That's why there has to be some kind of way to show "ownership" of the vehicle - a way to lock and unlock it properly. Hence, keys.

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

I also forgot to mention that we're not going for total realism here. That would suck. In real life, you couldn't repair anything in a helicopter unless you had extensive knowledge and experience about it. We're going for gameplay here, not total realism.

 

 

Depends on the car. Also, it's mainly for gameplay reasons. Otherwise, it would be too easy for a fresh spawn to take a car someone worked hard to get.

 

 

Remember though, that in my idea I said that all cars spawn with their keys inside them and the keys are vehicle type specific, not individual vehicle specific (for example, a Ural key would work with any Ural).

 

Also, I don't think ya'll are getting it, lol. With no locking mechanism like a key, there would be no way to show "ownership" of the car. If hotwiring was in the game but keys weren't, the second you get out of your car, you'd have to hotwire your way back in. This would be silly, of course. That's why there has to be some kind of way to show "ownership" of the vehicle - a way to lock and unlock it properly. Hence, keys.

 

And why is it a problem that people can steal your car, it's up to you to ensure the safety of your gear. For gameplay reason no security should EVER be ultimate otherwise you have to deal with the "litter" from players that left the server or simply do not come online enough to deserve the benefits of a persistent asset, maybe a key per vehicle type but making a skeleton keyset wouldn't be that hard really.

 

Well technically if you hotwired your car, it is still hotwired when you exit it. It's some form of "repair" or modification in a way ( If you consider a keyhole to be a faulty element :) )

 

Ownership beyond crude lock and key systems is a very bad idea, this isn't the kind of game where you want ownershipo to be built into the game code. And for vehicles, if you have a look at some lockpicking youtube videos, you will realise that car locks and ignition locks are very very very easy to bypass (for most of them). The reason it's relatively secure is because it's instantly suspicious looking to do that anywhere but on the side of a deserted road.

 

Of course there are electronic locks now, but then you only have to hack into the onboard computer. Which, as has been shown in hacking conventions, is painfully easy if you have unrestricted physical access to the vehicle.

[LilBambi 35]

And why is it a problem that people can steal your car, it's up to you to ensure the safety of your gear. For gameplay reason no security should EVER be ultimate otherwise you have to deal with the "litter" from players that left the server or simply do not come online enough to deserve the benefits of a persistent asset, maybe a key per vehicle type but making a skeleton keyset wouldn't be that hard really.

 

Well technically if you hotwired your car, it is still hotwired when you exit it. It's some form of "repair" or modification in a way ( If you consider a keyhole to be a faulty element :) )

 

Ownership beyond crude lock and key systems is a very bad idea, this isn't the kind of game where you want ownershipo to be built into the game code. And for vehicles, if you have a look at some lockpicking youtube videos, you will realise that car locks and ignition locks are very very very easy to bypass (for most of them). The reason it's relatively secure is because it's instantly suspicious looking to do that anywhere but on the side of a deserted road.

 

Of course there are electronic locks now, but then you only have to hack into the onboard computer. Which, as has been shown in hacking conventions, is painfully easy if you have unrestricted physical access to the vehicle.

 

It makes more sense that you can lock your own car that you worked hard to get. It would still be relatively easy to steal it, just not stupidly easy as it is now. All you would need is, say, a hatchet/gun (to break the window) and a toolbox (to hotwire), and then of course the 1-3 minute timer to complete the process. The locking mechanism that stands in the way for a car thief isn't an "ultimate" security system by any means. It's just a way to give the original driver a chance at protecting his assets.

 

Yes, a hotwired car would stay hotwired. That's one of the disadvantages I mentioned that would be incurred if someone hotwired a car they found rather than wait for the driver to come back and then steal his keys. It's a risk-reward system for both the driver and the car thief, which I think would make the game more interesting.

 

I'm sorry if my post implied "ownership" beyond anything of a simple locking mechanism. It just a term I used to refer to someone's assets (like in the case of someone's tent).

[AP_Norris 1018]

Maybe, but I bet people would just horde keys for every single vehicle they see.

They'd be one bandit with 20 sets of car keys and everybody else would just have Hotwire cars that anybody can step into and drive off.

[klesh 2423]

...you could just smash the windows.  You could do it with your fist or another item.  It would probably take a few attempts but you could do it...

 

Fists no, another item, maybeeee

 

Edited August 29, 2013 by klesh

[RedTailedLizerd 12]

I just think that this ridiculus. It's a zombie APOCALYPSE. Nobody cares to leave their keys in or around their car. Personally, if I didn't have keys to a car or wires I'd just slash their tires. I think this ruins the attachment that comes in DayZ. The hatred of the person who stole your groups white pickup truck with full fuel, loaded with guns, ammo, mres and LIFE. Now, who does not enjoy stealing someones' group's car, leaving them in the airfield with an attack heli on the way? Hearing their shouts and curses. Feeling the adrenaline as M16 shots ring through the cold Chernarus moribg air.