DayZ SA Pros & Cons list [+suggestions]

[whatisthis 0]

I've spent a couple hours every day this week playing the SA and doing so I've en-countered both the good and bad sides of this alpha. I'd like to say this is entirely my OPINION, it won't match all of those who view this thread, and bugs have not influenced either cons or pros.
(Note; I am aware that this is in alpha, again, it does not influence this list)

Starting with the PROS:
- Character customisation is a great touch, it's a good way to stop people from killing others to get certain skins and you get to give your character personality.
- Character movement is really smoothing, jumping whilst running is helpful and is in no need for further works- it's fine how it is.
- Gear inventory is good, but might need some improvements. Drag and drop works fine, vicinity works fine, almost everything works fine.
- Loot -though some people will say they can't find anything due to connecting to servers that have about 30mins to restart- I find that loot is fair; you can find M4's and Mosin Nagants quite easily if you search in the right places, you can find backpacks relatively anywhere, and food/drinks are there in the right places as well.
- Cherno and Elektro are no longer death matches like they were in the mod, they have decent amount of loot- just not enough to kill for, which is good.
- Water pumps! Now these are my favourite features, they're nicely put in convenient places and serve their purpose well.
- Melee weapons (specifically fire axes) work really well.
- Zombies are finally fun to kill! Yes I have been going to infested places with my axe slashing zombies like I was playing Dead Rising from time to time.

 Not much to say since there isn't much in the game right now, but in the future I plan on exploring this game as much as possible as it updates.

Now to the CONS:
- Thirst and Hunger. Yes, some people are going to stand against this personal CON and label me a noob, or, as people who came from League of Legends to every game ever like to say; "scrub", but hear me out. Thirst and hunger is really unbalanced, you start out thirsty (I'm not sure if it's purposely put there but it is really unnecessary) and it dies down really fast. You get barraged by these messages on the side constantly like my character is narrating his own stomach (which would be fine if it was Morgan Freeman). Even the food you eat won't do too much to cure the hunger, and you find your self going to looted places a lot (if you get unlucky) finding rotten food.
- Starvation, should be in the  "Thirst and Hunger" point, but it deserves its' own point. If I do come to the point of starvation, I lose blood almost instantly, and not being able to tell how much blood I've lost is a real killjoy because the infamous grey screen is all you can estimate with- and even that is a con itself. 
- Talking about blood, this is my favourite con (ironically). Bloodtypes- as if it couldn't get worse. I know Rocket wanted this realistic feel to it, like, worn clothing, worn weapons- worn everything, but bloodtypes is taking it to another level. I personally don't mind taking blood from other players (I do, however, prefer to find full bloodbags because FOOD doesn't do anything to help in my experience), but having to know bloodtypes is just annoying. Especially since every life you need to find a test kit which are RARE (I have not found one in a medkit at all), and even if you do find one you still need one to test on a player which 99% of the time have a different bloodtype so you either have to risk taking blood from somebody else and die, or stay grey screen and die. Now I'm not sure if the bloodtype remains the same, but I've had two different blood types in two different lives.
-Zombies can hear and see you from a kilometer away. I often find it annoying that zombies can hear and see you everywhere you go, they can even hear an axe slicing one of their friends up, I know I said I like to kill them but I do like to just go to places without being swarmed- though I understand that they haven't been properly opted yet, so I can say it isn't a solid con like the others, but it's still a con.
So those are my cons, it may be less than the pros, but they are a massive problem IMO. Whether or not you're going to get mad at me for stating these as cons, I couldn't care less about bickering with anyone.

To the suggestions! My favourite part of anything. (This is alpha so I think most of what I say will be included or done in a different way)

-Get rid of bloodtypes! Or at-least come up with a way to have one bloodtype overall, it's YOUR game, you can do anything!
-Blood and hunger/thirst icons! Because checking your inventory whilst doing anything (especially when you're in a firefight) is not very helpful, and since the messages don't really explain how much trouble you are in. Yay I'm bleeding, how much blood have I lost?! I kid, but seriously, classic DayZ icons please.
-A SQUAD SYSTEM/PARTY SYSTEM (however you want to refer to it). It would be nice to have some kind of system that allows you to identify your friends on a server, whether that be their name above their heads or a green spot like somebody put in the mod. It would be greatly appreciated if you could do that for those who have a squad because sometimes people forget to tell you where they are or they change in to different clothing and you find yourself killing one of your friends. Something like that would be helpful, especially if you have an in game map. 

Last of all, base building. Being able to build a fortress like people do in the expanded mod would honestly make this game a lot more fun than using vehicles and tents as the only use of storage. Base building, I guarantee, WILL bring this game to a higher level.

So that is my pro, cons and suggestion list, I'd like to see others opinions on their own pros, cons and suggestions but what I don't want to see is people being arrogant towards one another. I like to think that the DayZ community isn't like the every other gaming community like....League.... but anyway, share your thoughts whether you agree or not! Thank you for your time. 

 

Edited December 29, 2013 by DarthCheesecake

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

Blood types stay. Just use a saline bag, or eat and drink until you are full and you will regenerate health. I've done it hundreds of times. It works fine. Please stop asking to make the game easier.

 

I like the Morgan Freeman narration idea. Rocket needs to get on that ASAP.

Edited December 29, 2013 by SalamanderAnder

[DemonGroover 8836]

Being able to spot you friends in game - no way.

 

Learn to recognize them.  Having a little icon float above you friends heads in combat is lame and does not fit in with DayZ at all.

 

Same with blood types.  This game isn't meant to be easy and i would hope any features designed to help or make the game easier are neglected.

[Erik (DayZ) 61]

I don't think eating/drinking is too unbalanced.

My guess is that you are one of "those people" that camps around the shore or near balota/southern military camps. Right now, one run through the northern villages like Vybor will get you enough food/drinks for a couple hours. Besides, you don't even need drinks because there's water pumps in every village...

[whatisthis 0]

Being able to spot you friends in game - no way.

 

Learn to recognize them.  Having a little icon float above you friends heads in combat is lame and does not fit in with DayZ at all.

 

Same with blood types.  This game isn't meant to be easy and i would hope any features designed to help or make the game easier are neglected.

 I heard they were adding a kind of "hardcore" mode. If that is true, then they should make an easier mode for beginners. Knowing who's who is not the problem, it's turning around noticing a dude close up to your face then blasting their heads of is the problem. I know this because my friend mistaken me for somebody else, and he has played DayZ since it was first released (meaning the mod). I just want some kind of identification mode where you can enable it or disable it for your group to see- preferences, it's all about preferences.

Edited December 29, 2013 by DarthCheesecake

[whatisthis 0]

My guess is that you are one of "those people" that camps around the shore or near balota/southern military camps

No, when I spawn, I guide through them, then move in land with my friends. Too many people camp around Balota.

Edited December 29, 2013 by DarthCheesecake

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

 I heard they were adding a kind of "hardcore" mode. If that is true, then they should make an easier mode for beginners. Knowing who's who is not the problem, it's turning around noticing a dude close up to your face then blasting their heads of is the problem. I know this because my friend mistaken me for somebody else, and he has played DayZ since it was first released (meaning the mod). I just want some kind of identification mode where you can enable it or disable it for your group to see- preferences, it's all about preferences.

 

Um, no. This isn't CoD. There's no "hardcore" mode. The game IS hardcore. They're going to give servers the option to disable 3rd person and reticles, which should be the default way this game is played anyway in my opinon. Anything else is as close to "easy" as you're going to get. And no, no identifications. First of all, it can be used for cursor scanning. Secondly, just look at people's clothes and faces. That's how you identify people in real life. The risk of friendly fire is not going to be mitigated by some gameplay gimmick. Learn to use tactics and wear clothing that will help you identify each other. It's literally that simple. This game is not about preferences. It's about kicking the absolute shit out of you until you grow up and learn to deal with it. This isn't a casual shooter.

Edited December 29, 2013 by SalamanderAnder

[whatisthis 0]

Um, no. This isn't CoD. There's no "hardcore" mode. The game IS hardcore. They're going to give servers the option to disable 3rd person and reticles, which should be the default way this game is played anyway. Anything else is as close to "easy" as you're going to get. And no, no identifications. First of all, it can be used for cursor scanning. Secondly, just look at people's clothes and faces. That's how you identify people in real life. The risk of friendly fire is not going to be mitigated by some gameplay gimmick. Learn to use tactics and wear clothing that will help you identify each other. It's literally that simple. This game is not about preferences. It's about kicking the absolute shit out of you until you grow up and learn to deal with it.

Yeah, here we go with the FPS/COD comparisons. 

I will guarantee servers who will do that will call them "hardcore" servers, which is what they are if they are harder than the norm. 

Well if they're so afraid of cursor scanning, work out away  to counter it. Which is what I have in mind, something that is private between your friends, and nobody but your friends can see you. Call me a noob, tell me to "grow up" (really?), I would like something that is like that.

Edited December 29, 2013 by DarthCheesecake

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

Look man it's not personal. If you want an arcade experience, play WarZ. Your "preferences" will ruin the game for everyone else.

[whatisthis 0]

Look man it's not personal. If you want an arcade experience, play WarZ. Your "preferences" will ruin the game for everyone else.

So it will ruin the game for everyone else even though what I was suggesting, suggests that it remains private between your friends who wouldn't mind it? I knew that part would get misinterpreted, but people will do that..

[SteveLord 32]

Look man it's not personal. If you want an arcade experience, play WarZ. Your "preferences" will ruin the game for everyone else.

 

+1. Got to watch out for the new kids on the block and their crazy suggestions or ones that have been said 10,000 times already for the DayZ mod.

[serenityrick 218]

If you're getting the thirsty/hunger message all the time it's because you're doing it wrong.

 

Those messages signify dangerous levels of dehydration or hunger. It would be like going for a run all day without water in real life and being like "damn! I'm thirsty!" and going to the fridge, pouring yourself a half glass of water and thinking you'll be fine. You're thirst may be quenched for a little bit, but you didn't get enough water, plain and simple.

 

Same deal in the game. You only drank (or ate) just enough to stave off dehydration/hunger for another few minutes.

 

When you find a water pump, spam the action key and keep drinking until your stomach is FULL. You won't have to see another thirst message for hours.

Same deal with eating. Don't hoard food. Eat everything you come across. Preferably, you want to get some food in your stomach before you completely fill it with water.

 

Once you realize this, your "issue" with the hunger/thirst system will completely go away.

Edited December 29, 2013 by serenityrick

[whatisthis 0]

Base building wouldn't ruin the game though... it would make it better.

[whatisthis 0]

If you're getting the thirsty/hunger message all the time it's because you're doing it wrong.

 

Those messages signify dangerous levels of dehydration or hunger. It would be like going all day without water in real life and being like "damn! I'm thirsty!" and going to the fridge, pouring yourself a half glass of water and thinking you'll be fine. You're thirst may be quenched for a little bit, but you didn't get enough water, plain and simple.

 

Same deal in the game. You only drank (or ate) just enough to stave off dehydration/hunger for another few minutes.

 

When you find a water pump, spam the action key and keep drinking until your stomach is FULL. You won't have to see another thirst message for hours.

Same deal with eating. Don't hoard food. Eat everything you come across. Preferably, you want to get some food in your stomach before you completely fill it with water.

 

Once you realize this, your "issue" with the hunger/thirst system will completely go away.

 I know this... but it's besides the point..

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

Base building wouldn't ruin the game though... it would make it better.

 

This I agree with.

 

 

Your name option, I don't. What happens when one loner comes up against a group? That's called an unfair advantage. By adding nameplates between partners you are just tipping the scales even further in the favor of the group, when sometimes friendly fire could work out in the favor of an individual. I'm not misinterpreting anything. It's bad enough that groups can use 3rd part VOIP programs to telepathically communicate outside the game. Identifications would only reinforce that style of metagaming. No longer would there be tense moments between friends going "IS THAT YOU IS THAT YOU?!" So basically, you're just further removing the terror from a game that is meant to terrify you. Might as well ask the director of a horror movie to add an on screen timer before every jump scare so you don't embarrass yourself in front of your girlfriend.

Edited December 29, 2013 by SalamanderAnder

[whatisthis 0]

This I agree with.

 

 

Your name option, I don't. What happens when one loner comes up against a group? That's called an unfair advantage. By adding nameplates between partners you are just tipping the scales even further in the favor of the group, when sometimes friendly fire could work out in the favor of an individual.

Sure, but there are countless ways to balance it. I just thought it would be a good idea so when you are meeting up with your friends you can see them from afar. Though I didn't think of that friendly fire advantage, there are always endless ways to manipulate such systems to your favor.

[Fuddinator 18]

While I can see why a lot of people would like your suggestions implemented, they just don't fit in with DayZ as a whole. This game is meant to be brutal and make you question why you even bother playing the game. I will hit your cons as constructively as I can. Keep in mind Dayz is going for a certain amount of realism/authenticity.

Thirst/hunger- There is already tons of guides and videos on this subject. I think the system is perfectly fine as is. Just learn to understand it and it will be a non issue. It is just a game mechanic and you quite frankly have to get used to it. Hunger/thirst/blood/health icons, in the sense of the mod, will never come. The UI is supposed to be very minimal. The current compromise of looking in your inventory for your status is a perfect solution. It doesn't clutter the screen but the info is still accessible.

Blood- Sticking with the realism aspect, no, blood types stay in. First of all, it isnt hard to do some homework and find compatible blood types. Keep a note of it close by. Second of all, you should be searching for saline bags. Saline gives more without the risk of whole blood. Blood bags should only be used in an emergency only. With the new regeneration system, the need for blood/saline bags is greatly reduced. They are for emergency medical treatment. Just fighting zombies, you don't need them.

Squad identifiers- This is a big No no. Again this comes down to a realism aspect. Having these would simply break the whole reason DayZ is popular to begin with. This is not CoD or BF. If you are having problems within a squad with friendly fire, your squad need better communication and teamwork. Practice actually working as a team, like real life fire teams do. Have a standard set of call outs and phraseology. Form attack plans, defensive positons, and flanking manuevers ahead of time so everyone knows their role, what to do and where to go. And practice them. Also know the terrain. And practice. Use Armex in Arma 2. While the map is outdated, it isnt that different and still a great tool. Those are all things your squad needs to do to minimize friendly fire. It is gonna happen still.

As a compromise to overhead markers, a feature that can be added is craftables your character wears to distinguish themselves from others survivors i.e. a blue armband or customizable squad patches. This I feel is something that fits in with the dayZ theme.

Basebuilding- Confirmed feature coming to standalone in the not so near future. It will come just not for monthes to come.

[Ryant (DayZ) 10]

For the basebuilding thing, I'd rather it if it was just camps etc, no fortress building

[whatisthis 0]

Blood- Sticking with the realism aspect, no, blood types stay in. First of all, it isnt hard to do some homework and find compatible blood types. Keep a note of it close by. Second of all, you should be searching for saline bags. Saline gives more without the risk of whole blood. Blood bags should only be used in an emergency only. With the new regeneration system, the need for blood/saline bags is greatly reduced. They are for emergency medical treatment. Just fighting zombies, you don't need them.

Squad identifiers- This is a big No no. Again this comes down to a realism aspect. Having these would simply break the whole reason DayZ is popular to begin with. This is not CoD or BF. If you are having problems within a squad with friendly fire, your squad need better communication and teamwork. Practice actually working as a team, like real life fire teams do. Have a standard set of call outs and phraseology. Form attack plans, defensive positons, and flanking manuevers ahead of time so everyone knows their role, what to do and where to go. And practice them. Also know the terrain. And practice. Use Armex in Arma 2. While the map is outdated, it isnt that different and still a great tool. Those are all things your squad needs to do to minimize friendly fire. It is gonna happen still.

 

Okay enough with the squad identifiers, I get the message, everybody wants realism- blah blah blah, yeah, okay it's not COD or BF (again with the comparisons... that's not what I am thinking of).

I have not regenerated before (when I haven't been hungry at all), if there is one, it is slower than the mods system. If there is a video out there explaining it, I would like to see it.

I still don't agree with blood-types.

[whatisthis 0]

For the basebuilding thing, I'd rather it if it was just camps etc, no fortress building

Well they can always add both really. They could always make fortress building a lot more difficult than using tents. It's just in the mod your stuff was a lot more secure if you had wooden or concrete walls around. If you watch FrankieonPC1080p's video called "stronghold" you'll see exactly what I mean.

[Fuddinator 18]

http://forums.dayzgame.com/index.php?/topic/159251-in-depth-video-guide-on-eating-drinking-and-blood-regeneration/#entry1598240

Didn't look very hard did you? It is a long video but does an excellent job of explaining the nuiances of the system.

Blood bags are, simply put, obsolete in Standalone. Saline bags are like blood bags of old and completely refill health and blood (unconfirmed though). With the blood types, it adds an element of risk to using a blood bag. Either you bet on the odds and have a chance to live, or just die. Again do some research/ homework (amazing what you learn from school) and keep a reference chart on hand. Personally I ignore blood bag kits and throw them out. If my character is that bad off where i need a blood bag, ill just take the chance. I would probably die anyway.

Not related, but of the same lines, when I was highly active in the mod as a squad sniper, I had a ranging chart on hand at all times. I could guess-timate range and my zero based on the height of a player, width of a door of a particular building, car height etc based on their size in mildots. I also used armex and made range charts on a small printed out map for my common over watch spots. For example, like from the western mound to north barracks at NWAF was like 450 m (not sure notes trashed long ago).

My point is this, to truly succeed and shine in DayZ, it takes some effort. Again research goes a long way.

[serenityrick 218]

 I know this... but it's besides the point..

 

You:

 

 

- Thirst and Hunger. Yes, some people are going to stand against this personal CON and label me a noob, or, as people who came from League of Legends to every game ever like to say; "scrub", but hear me out. Thirst and hunger is really unbalanced, you start out thirsty (I'm not sure if it's purposely put there but it is really unnecessary) and it dies down really fast. You get barraged by these messages on the side constantly like my character is narrating his own stomach (which would be fine if it was Morgan Freeman). Even the food you eat won't do too much to cure the hunger, and you find your self going to looted places a lot (if you get unlucky) finding rotten food.

 

Doesn't sound like you know it to me.

 

I found the nearest water pump, ate a few cans of food and didn't have another thirst/hunger message for hours.

[soulfirez 901]

Sure, but there are countless ways to balance it. I just thought it would be a good idea so when you are meeting up with your friends you can see them from afar. Though I didn't think of that friendly fire advantage, there are always endless ways to manipulate such systems to your favor.

There is no balance for this it is intended you wont know who is who unless you look at them and recognise them or they signal you its them. Dont try take the realisim out of the game cause you want to make it easier lol .

 

This is one of the worst ideas i have ever heard for dayz it has no place in reality or in a game simulating an ulternate reality where zombies exist authentcly.

 

For group recognition im not against finding in game arm bands(or using bandanas as such ) but these would have to be found in game to get all matching colours but even then a stranger by chance could wear the same arm band its realistic its balanced no arcade crap please....

[irichey25 17]

Why is it that when ever someone calmly states their opinions on the game everyone jumps on the poor dude as if he just said "lol this game is gay and stupid.". All this guy did was state what he thought about the game, and what he thought the cons and pros were, and in a nice manner and he gets jumped on with "omg go 2 war z you carbar" "omg this is not cod". 

[tingkagol 9]

I wish we were given the option to stash gear in a house. Cupboards, drawers, cabinets... lots of wasted potential storage space in-game. That's so far the only gripe I have at the moment (besides low FPS issues in cities and the clunky engine, the latter- I've grown used to, the former- unacceptable).