Server Choice & Gun or No Gun

[Nerdsauce 1]

Hey fellow survivors!

I have a couple of bambi-style questions for you lovely peeps....

 

I have so far played between 24-48 hours of DayZ SA - all of them on virtually empty servers. I focused mainly on those because I am a lone player and I wanted to get used to basic survival and how the game mechanics work. However, now that I feel I can comfortably keep my character fed, watered and able to defend against the odd zombie attempt to make me its dinner I would like more interaction with other players. But - and here's where my problem lies - I have been made extremely wary of well-populated servers because of all the talk about players killing bambis on sight. I want interaction - not constant pointless death lol. As such I am not sure if I should chance the more populated servers, or stick to my rather lonely existence on virtually empty ones.

 

Also, again thanks to all the issues surrounding KoS players I am unsure whether or not to attempt to arm myself with a gun, or remain as an axe-wielding scavenger. I know that getting myself some decent armor and a gun will make my survivability odds better - but I am also acutely aware that arming myself makes my character an instant threat in many players eyes. Not to mention the actual difficulty of acquiring anything decent thanks to people camping out the airfields and military bases looking for bambis to shoot.

 

So, what do you peeps think? Should I stick it out on quiet servers with just my trusty axe - or should I start playing in higher populated servers and perhaps even try to get myself a proper weapon to better my chances of survival and make the game experience overall more interesting?

[YourClassClown 2]

As someone with the same mindset, I recommend a few things.  First, I'd say stick a server with 20 people at most.  That's my comfort limit if I'm just exploring.  If I'm looting I am for empty servers.  Secondly, find a few people to run with.  I'm not saying a clan, just a few buddies to help.  I'm usually a solo guy but those long ventures are a lot more enjoyable/safer when you have someone to talk to.  Lastly, GET A GUN!  Even if you're on a low pop server, there's no reason not to.  It's not going to get you shot more than being unarmed is.  Just learn how to quickly put it away if someone asks you to.  Those few seconds can be the difference between life and being a coastal cutie all over again.  If you learn where to find good loot quickly, you'll care less and less about dying.  I can be kitted out in under an hour so I make contact with every person I see.

[shadowjack 254]

Defiantly seek out others. Understand the risk and be smart. With great risk can come great reward.

 

Gear is nice and all but when dealing with others being smart and tactical will go farther than gear in keeping yourself alive.  Course all that can go right out the window with a surprise encounter which is probable on a high pop server. In those cases you have 3 choices. Shoot first and ask questions later, retreat/duck/find cover. The 3rd option is the worst option. Do nothing and react to what the other guy does.

 

There is a 4th option ... surrender. I don't consider surrender because to me surrender = delayed suicide. 

[Nerdsauce 1]

Thanks guys for the responses :) I think I will definitely go for a slightly more populated server (I think I will stick to YourClassClown's advice in going for servers with a max of 20 users on). I've got a small list of places that I don't think too many people visit that hold quite a bit of decent loot - all within a short run/walk from the spawn points so gear like backpacks, food and drink isn't a problem - I can even get my hands on a full med kit pretty quickly now too.

Do you think I should try and loot myself a gun from an empty server first, before entering a more populated one? So far, even on virtually empty servers I've yet to successfully get myself kitted out with one (though, I've found plenty of ammo) because the only time I came close, I made a noob error and tried to be nice to some heavily armed individuals camping out on the airfield and they shot me.