Simulate zombie sense of smell?

[maddogx 10]

I had this idea a few days ago, talked to a friend about it and we both thought it might be interesting, so I decided to post the jist of it here:

The idea is to implement a kind of time based "smell radius" for players. Basically, if you stay more or less in the same place for too long (e.g. within the same building or within 10m of one spot, not necessarily afk but not moving too far either), zombies within a certain radius will be able to smell you. The longer you stay there, the wider the radius will become.

Zombies within the smell radius should start investigating your area (no aggro until they see or hear you) - they would be drawn to your position, forcing you either to kill them or to move before they find you.

On the scripting side, this wouldn't be too hard to implement: poll the player's position every ~5 seconds and check how far he has moved from the last time. If he has stayed within radius R of the initial position for amount of time T, store that position as a "smell location" and give it an initial "smell radius" of X meters (greater than R, but not too high). As long as the player stays within the short distance of this position, keep gradually increasing the radius, up to a certain maximum of Y meters. (Values for R, T, X and Y are debatable).

If the player leaves the location for long enough, it should disappear.

What do you think of the general concept?

[Aysamo 0]

I thought of something similar today, although instead of camping triggering zombies to sniff you out, recently bandaged wounds or active bleeding attracts a big horde.

[Guest]

If would be nice if a person was carrying raw meat then the zeds would be attracted to it.

[Zeromentor 169]

Yes, good idea.

[SLASH-7 27]

I really like the idea. I believe something very similar is already implemented where zombies will gravitate to players. As in when you are crawling in a field and all of a sudden it seems like all the zombies are conveniently in your flight path. (Might not actually be real, saw somebody say Rocket had implemented it though.)

But I would definitely love something like this to be implemented. These last few zombie patches have made this game a great deal more enjoyable to the lone survivor. So this added tension knowing you've got to get your beans and go, before you have to shoot your way out of the barn you're in would be fantastic.

[Cavan 0]

I posted a similar suggestion involving bleeding players leaving a 'scent trail' as well as a visible trail for both zombies and players to find. I don't so much like this idea unless there's some criteria for making it happen such as recently bleeding or running around a lot or something. I feel like it would get annoying without that.

[sgtsnug 26]

Are you suggesting we take baths?

[Dark Assassin 4]

Are you suggesting we take baths?

I wouldnt kill you.

Well I guess it would