When and how do you make contact with strangers?

[iBane 381]

Other than as a fresh-spawn, do you ever try and make contact with other players (strangers) in your server when you don't have to?  

 

If so, what do you do to make contact without exposing yourself too much in case they are of the KOS/bandit persuasion?

 

• As an example, I was looting the Lumber Mill/Berezino area and heard someone on the other side of town shooting occasionally (pretty obviously killing zeds - not a firefight).  Now this is a very long spread out collection of buildings and I really had no idea how close the shots were...they sounded close enough to be able to see another player, but I'm not sure.
• My first reaction is to take cover and be ready to ambush them.  I'm not a KOS player, but I am well kitted and don't want to take unnecessary risks with other players I don't know.  I also didn't want to just hightail it out of town (making my presence known) in case there was more than one in the other's group.  So I hunkered down on the fringe of the town with a good view of my surroundings and waited for a few minutes.  The other player never appeared, but it's an interesting situation for us that don't want to KOS.  

 

Other than KOS or just letting them pass without doing anything, what would you have done to make contact with the other player had they appeared and how would you have handled the encounter if they wanted to trade or team-up?

 

I'm fairly new to DayZ so I thought it would be interesting to get feedback from the veterans in the community.  

Edited February 17, 2014 by iBane

[thelonewarrior 886]

My group try to contact most people we meet, just to see if they are hostile or not

I actually have a video I made a while ago on some tips and situations you might find yourself in so take a look and maybe you will find yourself in a similar situation and will know what to do

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-8NQZetsco

Best thing really is have someone cover you while you make contact, make out there's Only one of you and you usually see pretty quick what their intentions are

And always try to get into a position before they see and and say something like "I'm friendly but don't move or I'll have to kill you, put away your weapons and I won't hurt you"

Don't be afraid to be like that, if your in control and they comply you can relax a bit

If they turn, draw ther weapon or start looking for you then they are hostile and will likely try and Kill you as soon as they can so be prepared to fire first if they try to swing their gun around at you

If they listen and sound decent, do whatever you wish, trade, give medical aid but just always watch for them backstabbing you as well

Edited February 17, 2014 by Regulator Lone Warrior

[Methadon36 5]

I usually keep out of the mix unless someone is getting close by then I will usually give them a warning to leave or get shot..Most usually listen and the ones who don't get shot. I don't let ppl tag along or help anymore since 99% of the time I died cuz of being friendly. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

[Martmital 436]

I tend to just shout 'FRIENDLY' repeatedly down my mic till they get sick of hearing it and then hope for the best... then i come on the forums and bitch about not being able to be a hero!

[iBane 381]

My group try to contact most people we meet, just to see if they are hostile or not

I actually have a video I made a while ago on some tips and situations you might find yourself in so take a look and maybe you will find yourself in a similar situation and will know what to do

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-8NQZetsco

Best thing really is have someone cover you while you make contact, make out there's Only one of you and you usually see pretty quick what their intentions are

And always try to get into a position before they see and and say something like "I'm friendly but don't move or I'll have to kill you, put away your weapons and I won't hurt you"

Don't be afraid to be like that, if your in control and they comply you can relax a bit

If they turn, draw ther weapon or start looking for you then they are hostile and will likely try and Kill you as soon as they can so be prepared to fire first if they try to swing their gun around at you

If they listen and sound decent, do whatever you wish, trade, give medical aid but just always watch for them backstabbing you as well

I gave it a like.  Good advice in there.  Honestly, I just try an avoid any strangers.  

[dethsupport 110]

I never make contact if the situation it would put me in puts me at a disadvantage. Ambushes and surprise are key elements. When I successfully hold someone up I make them drop their pants and wiggle for me. Then I send them on their way with a can of my beans and water bottle if they need it.

[Mike Romeo 0]

*Sees stranger* - *Pulls out Sks and draws a bead on them*. I then usually wait to see if they shoot other people or if they spot me. If they shoot someone, I'll punish them. Otherwise, I let them be.

[Pao (DayZ) 18]

I tend to just shout 'FRIENDLY' repeatedly down my mic till they get sick of hearing it and then hope for the best... then i come on the forums and bitch about not being able to be a hero!

I do it too!

Yesterday I was in Elektro and a full geared guy tried to shOot me with a M4. I took cover and I shout like 20 times "FRIENDLY DON'T SHOOT, FRIENDLY DON'T SHOOT......"

[lemed 9]

contact with strangers:

 

1 - Say: -Hey you bitch, hands up! F2 NOW OR I BLOW YOUR HEAD OFF 

2 - order him to drop gun / backpack

3 - order him to stand still 

4 - BOOOM

5 - BOOOM (always double tap)

[Nicko2580 398]

I've been looking for people. I was in Dubky and Novoselky yesterday on a fully populated server and couldn't find a soul. I thought about wandering down to Chernogorsk but figured I'd more than likely run into KoS players before anyone friendly there so now I'm heading north to try and get hold of some better quality gear first.

So far my only player interaction is getting shot at in Elecktro, but I never saw the guy and he stopped shooting when I called out friendly.

I typically have my Sawn-off out when looting around houses and stuff and my SKS when I'm not planning on going inside anywhere. But I have  them pointing at the ground. I wouldn't aim them unless actually being shot at.

[bobbyb85 3]

Seen a couple of people. Some friendly, some pretend to be friendly to get you to let your guard down.

 

I always approach friendly, but now a lot more cautious than before.

[tiadashi 262]

I almost always interact, mostly dying from the interaction - I like to try, I always say im friendly, don't have a weapon in hand and do the side to side with my hands up - usually gets me killed but sometimes you find nice folks and that makes all the deaths worth it - If you see Chondra on the server, im friendly, I wont shoot unless shot at first - today I had 4 encounters died twice to groups of 2, I should probably just run when they don't respond but oh well 8)

[Demonica 311]

I'll try to avoid since I'm 99% running solo. Unfortunately, I get ganged up on a lot. And as soon as they realize I'm a girl, it just goes downhill. I had a group of three guys who had me at gunpoint.

 

After they took all my stuff, which I expected, they let me walk away and not even 3 seconds later I hear one of them go: "Should I shoot her in the back?"

I DM'ed him that shooting a completely unarmed person is one thing, but in the back? Dude, COME ON!

 

They didn't go through with it though. Probably just because I was able to hear what they said and called them on it.

 

Not that it would have made such a big difference, I had nothing left on me anyway.

 

But yeah, avoidance at all cost. It's the only way to go when solo. Don't expect to be able to gun down 3 guys armed to the teeth.

[Martmital 436]

I do it too!

Yesterday I was in Elektro and a full geared guy tried to shOot me with a M4. I took cover and I shout like 20 times "FRIENDLY DON'T SHOOT, FRIENDLY DON'T SHOOT......"

 

 

I was being sarcastic...

[ImageCtrl 719]

This situation solo. I would...

Take cover, camp. Not in a house where he can stuck you. (you don´t know his position, you have not 100% control)

I would only contact him when he knows that I let him alive. (big bonus to make friend)

Never contact someone when you can´t control him.

 

This situation with many people...

Contact... (he knows anyway than you have the control)

 

I make as many contacts as possible, make friends on the server let you stay alive in the long run.

100% control means NOT to force him to do something. This is no way to make friends. It ends often in a fight forcing someone to do something.

(hey dude, I can see you, it would be nice when you not point your weapon on me etc...)

 

Playing this way I survived over 130 h with my last char. 40+ positiv contacts.

Edited February 19, 2014 by NoCheats

[knight210 2]

If you really are trying to interact with other players on dayz you can do it smart and not just shout FRIENDLY. Basically the only thing you need to do to keep maximum safety is watch what is in their hands. For example if they have a weapon or axe in their hand, it'd be best to run away, not approach them at all, or keep a safe distance from them. Just give yourself enough reaction time. 

[CGNoodlePot (DayZ) 149]

I gave it a like.  Good advice in there.  Honestly, I just try an avoid any strangers.

There is even one time I did something similar. I was in the ambush position and they are in the open field. I just retreated to the woods and let them pass.

[africanhungergames 192]

When ??

 

As soon as i see them.

 

How ??

 

With as many bullets as possible

[GpB311 236]

Since Ive largely played alone, Ive learned to travel along roads in the trees. I observe people from afar, look for any weapons or friends they might be with, and then decide whether I want to avoid them or interact with them...I prefer to always surprise them if I can, even if they appear unarmed. I dont KOS or kill without reason, perhaps a weakness on my part, but I do prefer to be able to shoot them before they can get a weapon out need be.

[ld-airgrafix 403]

I dont have a microphone, so i try to play low population servers. So far only met 3 people. First one ambushed me for a rotten kiwi and torch. Second one was friendly, he had no weapons or a backpack, and i met him deep inland, gave him some cans of food and drinks. Third one stood there, than he ran behind a wall and tried to kill me, i ran away like little girl screaming

[akpe 36]

Just a quick hint, something I've learned the hard way. If you see another player and he does not see you, do not speak to him using the microphone. If you do so you will lose any advantage, if he's not friendly he will most likely be able to pinpoint your location and plan his attack.

 

Use the text chat instead.

[slims 1]

I just get shot. Or its usually a new spawn sees me and says oh shit don't shoot me. I never do and they're thankful. I cleared a town today walked into a building turned around after looting and saw a figure and while I pulled my axe out thinking it was a zombie he said dont try anything a shot me as I stood there. He was swearing but at least he said sorry as I was waiting to spawn. But 90% of people ive encountered jab tried to kill me and some are successful. I roll solo always. I dont have the luxury of people watxhing my back.

Edited February 20, 2014 by slims

[franciscojose 7]

I always try to make contact. Never seen a team of full equiped dudes anyway so I take my chances.

[Kukui 13]

Lie. Tell them you have a gun, and are ready to fire on them (or that a "friend" is) unless they put their guns away. Once you can see them on their back, try to find out their intention without showing yourself. 

 

If they seem like they will not harm you, show yourself with you gun/wep out.

 

Talk to them about w/e it is you want to know. Then let them leave. Tell them though, that if they draw their wep/gun while still in range of you that you will fire at them. 

 

If they do draw it, it takes a second before they can fire, so just shoot them. If they don't draw it, then they don't want trouble and you are free to go on about ur day.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

With that being said. I have had people come up to me, with their weapon put away, who then had a friend try to flank me. When you are with at least 1 other, one of you can watch the guy who has come up to you, and the other can look around to make sure nobody is trying to flank. If you see someone try to flank, shoot them both (starting with the guy right infront of you).

 

Just watch your surroundings. When this happened to myself and a friend, we did not see the guy till he was right there, I saw him from the corner of my eye. I wasted no time in moving around the other side of the building, taking my gun out while moving, turning around, and killing both of them. However, my friend died, cuz when he tried to follow, he got stuck on a lamp post.