How could the stranded ship be converted into a base or trade-post

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

 

I have been thinking a fair bit about the stranded ship, and how it could become the site of an emergent (I love that concept) trade post or base if a decent sized group decided to inhabit it, and the game provided the the right tools. I am interested in this being emergent and player driven, not enforced with top down game rules. While I know lots of groups would use it as an exclusion zone for other people, I would love to see a trading centre of sorts (a la Fallout 2 or Stalker: Call of Pripyat) emerging in some servers.

Why the ship? Already has a lot of useful spaces:

 

and a clear area around so players can be seen approaching, and it is elevated so if you were on the top decks you would have an advantage in a fire fight:

So what would be needed? I have a couple of ideas.

First, assume that server hopping is fixed . It's a known issue so it's likely the devs want to sort this.

Second, allow welding of metal to some existing (metal) structures, so that gaps can be filled.

Thirdly, some form of constructable gate system (e.g. draw bridge, liftable shipping container (e.g. via forklift or crane) or even a modified school bus that could be driven forward back to act as a gate).

Fourthly, lock boxes (for a trade centre) - at the entrance so that players entering to trade could relinquish their weapons to make an emergent safe zone - NOT a game-determined safe zone (a la WarZ).

Fifth, I would love to see 'bar across door' type barricades - similar to this but metal brackets bolted or welded onto the ships metal door frames:

These would allow effective barricading of some spaces but only work if you (or an ally) are within that space. This means that they can't be used purely for resource denial as seen with barbed wire and tank traps in the mod. Add in explosives like C4 or TNT and they can be blown open, although if there is a stash behind the door, perhaps the gear is damaged or destroyed. Working doors would be needed on the ship.

Also added the ability to 'construct' barrel fires around the perimeter to make those approaching at night visible and to mess with their low light visual adaptation (and NVGs).

Final touch (and not strictly necessary but I like the idea - gardens on the top deck for food production.

Now I know that this isn't the easiest way to do things but if at least some of these things were implemented - perhaps later in development - then that would add a lot to the game.

 

I'm keen for people to toss this idea around and see what they come up with. Remember - I'm not saying it should be made to happen but rather that the right tools are provided in game so this sort of thing could happen - in the ship or other pre-existing structures.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Roshi

[Dchil 829]

The first thing that would have to happen for this is for it to be converted from "Glitchy as f*ck" to "Safest place from bugs ever". There are many people who don't go near it because of the glitching (i've gone there almost every time i'm near, a M4 ususally spawns there too) and many have died by falling off an edge or falling through a floor.

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

The first thing that would have to happen for this is for it to be converted from "Glitchy as f*ck" to "Safest place from bugs ever". There are many people who don't go near it because of the glitching (i've gone there almost every time i'm near, a M4 ususally spawns there too) and many have died by falling off an edge or falling through a floor.

Yes very true - I tried my first attempt at DayZ free running on the boat with the character in the pics - didn't end well... 

 

But for arguments sake assume that I'm talking about later development when a lot of these issues are ironed out (one can hope).

Edited January 19, 2014 by Roshi

[Dchil 829]

I don't think free running would work all that well in DayZ. Something about the "Vault" button instead of a "Jump" button doesn't scream parkour to me.

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

Yeah - they talked about it in a live stream pre-release. Hasn't worked for me. Anyway back to the topic at hand...

[ep_metheus 75]

Any solution how to prevent the players who want to come to the ship and trade from being butchered by groups of bandits?

I'm thinking something like a boat operated by the group on the ship which would take the players to safety after they've finished their trading. But they could still be shot before they reach the ship. 

[AP_Norris 1018]

Any solution how to prevent the players who want to come to the ship and trade from being butchered by groups of bandits?

I'm thinking something like a boat operated by the group on the ship which would take the players to safety after they've finished their trading. But they could still be shot before they reach the ship.

It would work best on a private hive where you might get a better community and people not trying to server hop right into where you're trying to run things.

You could assign every new entry with an escort who would manage their weapons until they are clear from everybody but the over watching snipers.

Tell them the way to leave where they are protected by the snipers and let them be free.

Players would have to be handcuffed and searched for anything that can be used for restraining or to kill which would be taken and protected by the escort until they leave.

You could have a nice bar, hospital and market area.

Guards would be fed and get the pleasure of gunning down potential bandits.

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

Was thinking that a hands behind head animation, but in standing, that allowed you to be searched would be useful - so people could know that you're not sneaking weapons in.

Also I like the idea that bandits would find out about the place and could try to attack it. I would want it to be defensible but not immune to attack - in DayZ nothing should be immune to attack.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Roshi

[Roshi (DayZ) 397]

I think knowing that the run in and out could be dangerous would make it an exciting place to visit. Would make it important to play carefully and to do due diligence (scouting etc). The group running the show may want to do patrols - would be pretty fun I reckon. Also if traps of some form get in game then trapping promising sniper positions would make sense.

[RedPhantomX4 26]

....You had some hackers on your server....BattleEye took care of them....I give my beans to BattleEye......

[Vector636 30]

Yeah I do really like the boat and who knows what else they are going to add that will be similar. The 1st thing I wanted to do when I saw pics for the boat was to host a Fight Club inside, people could bet with ammunition. It does remind me of the Skadovsk, it would be really cool to see  it turned into a trading post. Hopefully they do add so barricades that you can build to properly fortify the area.