Starting a new character is currently too difficult... or I'm just not getting it

[ace42 (DayZ) 10]

Hi, as someone who has been playing DayZ religiously for the past few days, I'm thinking of taking a break from the game, and here's why:

 

It's too difficult to get started. I know DayZ is meant to be a difficult game but I don't think this is the right kind of difficulty.

 

I find that when freshly spawning, night time servers are out of the question. Not because it's harder to loot (from not seeing) but because I can't see the zombies. I find that when I try getting started/looting in a night server, I always end up losing an impossible blind melee with a zombie (even if I have a nice weapon). I know this can be argued to be a desirable aspect because it's realistic. Although, maybe when you are in the middle of a field under the night sky you should be able to see just a bit better. Or maybe campfires should be a thing.

 

The daylight servers are the other option for a new character, but the problem with these is that they are always full of other players. This causes two problems: 1) A lot of them will kill you 2) There is hardly any loot, and lots of time is spent exploring buildings that have already been explored by others. This definitely feels like the wrong kind of difficulty I mentioned, because it doesn't seem realistic.

 

I was trying to think of what an ideal server situation would be, but found that switching between servers too much gets your character deleted. I don't have a suggested solution for this, just wanted to see what other people think.

[WarAndRuin 19]

This is something that comes with experience, i have been playing DayZ for well over a year, not long after it was released ( the mod that is).

 

Adaptability comes with time, and knowledge, once you start to learn your surroundings and the map it's self, you gain a huge advantage over others, also navigating through town and major cities will come with time, you learn to avoid hot spots, avoid the infected, and keep visibility to a minimal to others.

 

There is much more as well, but the most easy way to help you, is to tell you to keep playing and keep trying, mistakes are there for a reason chappy.

[Robzpikes 0]

Campfires are a thing :P

[ninjacalypse 551]

Hi, as someone who has been playing DayZ religiously for the past few days, I'm thinking of taking a break from the game, and here's why:

 

It's too difficult to get started. I know DayZ is meant to be a difficult game but I don't think this is the right kind of difficulty.

 

I find that when freshly spawning, night time servers are out of the question. Not because it's harder to loot (from not seeing) but because I can't see the zombies. I find that when I try getting started/looting in a night server, I always end up losing an impossible blind melee with a zombie (even if I have a nice weapon). I know this can be argued to be a desirable aspect because it's realistic. Although, maybe when you are in the middle of a field under the night sky you should be able to see just a bit better. Or maybe campfires should be a thing.

 

The daylight servers are the other option for a new character, but the problem with these is that they are always full of other players. This causes two problems: 1) A lot of them will kill you 2) There is hardly any loot, and lots of time is spent exploring buildings that have already been explored by others. This definitely feels like the wrong kind of difficulty I mentioned, because it doesn't seem realistic.

 

I was trying to think of what an ideal server situation would be, but found that switching between servers too much gets your character deleted. I don't have a suggested solution for this, just wanted to see what other people think.

 

There are actually PVE servers which may be friendlier to newer players.  If you can't handle spawning in darkness and can't handle other players, then just server hop until you find a low pop, daylight server.  Click on the column where it shows number of players and sort by least amount of players first.

 

Stick to small towns when it's dark.  If you're really adamant about playing a specific server either hunker down and wait for day or just log back in later.

 

But if you're seriously giving up just because of darkness and other players...derp. 

[SixGunLover 54]

The night is indeed very dark. We may have to wait until each time zone is correctly tuned up.

We all know that night is a great part of this game, but after an hard week of work (or studying or whatever you are doing) that the player alone who should decide if he want to play at night or not. I used to play on many different server depending of my mood (new york, california, eu, uk, etc).

Sometime the player want to play at night, sometime not, lets wait until the time zone are correctly configured to do so (if this is the solution).

[nevillebartos 12]

When you spawn in, just run north, keep running north until you are close to starvation/dehydration, find a town, good chance if you have run far enough that there will be loot, at least food and water, then keep running north again, town hop, before you know it you'll have more loot than you can carry, even on high pop servers, the northern towns are untouched. Pretty easy to survive when you get away from the picked dry coastal towns.

 

If you get an east coast spawn, or inland, you wont have to run far to find the things you need to survive.

[ace42 (DayZ) 10]

Well I'm not giving up. I just feel like the daylight difficulties are a result of server (dis)organization as opposed to true game challenges.

 

I've definitely been trying the server hopping, but there's the character deletion issue with that. I've also tried filtering by # of players.

 

I'm not giving up though! Just might take a break until either initial hype dies down or daylight is more accessible.

 

Edit: Might try going inland sooner (was trying this method before) but I was running into two problems running inland: 1) running out of food in between places 2) I noticed that as I go inland, the players I run into are much stronger (have the M4A1 and great gear) and so I've died that way a bunch.

Edited December 20, 2013 by ace42

[ninjacalypse 551]

Well I'm not giving up. I just feel like the daylight difficulties are a result of server (dis)organization as opposed to true game challenges.

 

I've definitely been trying the server hopping, but there's the character deletion issue with that. I've also tried filtering by # of players.

 

I'm not giving up though! Just might take a break until either initial hype dies down or daylight is more accessible.

 

I've hopped more servers than I can count but I've only seen one character wipe so far.  I don't really think there's any real rhyme or reason to it at the moment but you should expect character wipes regardless so I wouldn't get too attached.

 

Also, if you're not familiar with Chernarus you may want to study this a little:

http://dayzdb.com/map

[ZedsDeadBaby 2287]

Zombies are not incredibly difficult to avoid at night. If you hear a zombie yell, just start running and don't stop until you can't hear the zombie anymore. They can't outrun a player at full sprint.

[Ozar 108]

this gets weird with the sound bug i think :D

Edited December 20, 2013 by Ozar

[WarAndRuin 19]

Would you like to come on a server with me, maybe i could show you some of the ropes.

[Sabitsuita 4]

It's easy to find a hatchet. Usually i find melee weapon before i even see zombies.

[ace42 (DayZ) 10]

I've hopped more servers than I can count but I've only seen one character wipe so far.  I don't really think there's any real rhyme or reason to it at the moment but you should expect character wipes regardless so I wouldn't get too attached.

 

Also, if you're not familiar with Chernarus you may want to study this a little:

http://dayzdb.com/map

 

Agreed, definitely not getting attached to anything (I read the alpha disclaimer). Just trying to figure out what my strategy should be (and what I should recommend to less-patient friends).

 

I've seen at least.... 5 character wipes. It doesn't give a warning but I feel like it's happened whenever I'm looking for a "good server".

 

 

Zombies are not incredibly difficult to avoid at night. If you hear a zombie yell, just start running and don't stop until you can't hear the zombie anymore. They can't outrun a player at full sprint.

 

True you can outrun them. But I've found that no matter what, they will always keep following you (unless you jump into water lol). So basically once I hear a zombie scream at night, I know it's chasing me, and I either have to kill it or switch servers (if I don't have enough light to fight the zombie)

[ninjan777 104]

I had it hard the first two-three lives in dayz sa, i didn't understand the food system and all that but i learned a little and now i'm geared up outside NWAF with a fully kited out M4 and pistol and everything :P

A tip is to avoid zombies and don't try to fight them without an axe, most other meele weapons are ineffective against zombies. Also try to avoid the apartment buildnings north of elektro and cherno and just try to head north or northeast while looting every city you come across until you reach and airport, these things are still the gold of loot so you will probably find yourself a weapon or a big bag :P

[ritual 1]

Last 3 or 4 times I've spawned, there have been zombies on me almost immediately lol. Just punch them while moving sideways to avoid their swipes. Then head north. Grishino was completely untouched on my server last night, ended up with a bunch of food.

The radio tower north of Balota was fully stocked, too. I did a run from Balota to Grishino then started heading west, ended up fully kitted out with ballistic helmet, m4, .45, ammo box with a 100+ rounds, saline... once you get off the coast you don't have to worry as much about getting KOS'd or having a server hopper spawn in behind you.

I didn't even have a water bottle or can opener until I made it to the NW airfield. Made it all the way just on wells and pond water, and a few cans of tuna.

Edited December 20, 2013 by ritual

[mercules 1290]

I got Zombie agro in the dark. I started running and looked for places that were lighter. There was a streetlight up the way functioning and it wasn't much light but in the pool of radiance I was able to beat down the zombie. If you get lucky and find a head lamp use that when you get zombie agro. Run until you can turn it on and now I can have a melee weapon and still see the zombie. I sometimes giggle at what my fights look like to someone far away watching me duck and weave around zombies with my headlight bobbing.

[daze23 549]

my first priorities are usually finding a well, or other water source, and something to open cans with. also some gear with more pockets than the pants you start with

[mercules 1290]

my first priorities are usually finding a well, or other water source, and something to open cans with. also some gear with more pockets than the pants you start with

 

Yep. If you drink your fill you can often make it to other towns even without food although you had best find some immediately upon getting there. If I spawn in Cherno I avoid the normal Mod loot spawns and hit the newer ones that have 1-2 spawn points each. I often find a screwdriver, can opener, or food I can just eat without opening. Then I hit the well and run out of town. While hitting those points I tend to find a hoody/raincoat or even a backpack since people don't seem to check them.