My idea on helicopters for Standalone

[sinkatze 52]

How hello's should be in SA, in my opinion:

• Random spawn locations, not always in the same place.
  
• Always broken when found, should take an amount of effort and work to get one fixed.
  
• More realistic controls, maybe Normal difficult from Take on Helicopters. Gotta remember its not a helicopter simulator either, but should be hard enough to fly if you don't know what you're doing.
  
• Refueling should take long (like the mod), but not going to mention much about that since who knows how refueling will be in SA.
  
• Repairing them would depend a lot on how vehicle parts will be implemented in the game, but specific parts like the Rotor and maybe more should be added. Also carrying big parts like engine, rotos etc. should require you to carry in a vehicle, or maybe not so realistic, but better than the mod. To carry only in your hands and can't sprint with them. Having a bunch of engines in your pockets seem a bit unfair. This would be the "Require teamwork" aspect of having choppers, but if you want to do it alone, you still can, in a harder scale.
  
• Fuel should be at airfields like some people mention, but also possible to transport fuel somehow. No point in having a chopper broken down somewhere and no way of getting fuel to it.
  
• Amount per server, maybe 2-3, it would be very hard to see all 3 flying around at the same time.
  
• Only civilian type helicopters. Like the Little Bird or other small ones you can find in Take on Helicopters. However not too big like Mi17 and none should have any weapons on it.
  

As a hardcore (server) helicopter pilot from DayZ mod I can say that choppers can be a disadvantage for some players, but the work there is behind acquiring one and maintaining it, should balance the advantage of having it. Many people don't even bother with them because they are a lot of work to keep. And by this is finding it, getting it repaired and taking off (if you still haven't got ambushed). Then refueling it when you are low is a task, and keeping it for the next day is a whole other story, this is in the mod. Standalone will also support much more people on the servers.

Being a Chopper "hoarder" (as some call me) I have even owned all 5 choppers of the server at one point. But using and hiding just one of them for over 2 days is already worth it. Most people will not go through all the work of obtaining a chopper to keep it only for 2 days. Unless you steal it, which normally ends up blowing up, because they don't know how to fly or don't care and just "YOLO" it.

But for Standalone, if you don't like choppers, you shouldn't feel the need of getting one because of the effort. And having them downgrade from guns and skill to fly should not affect the advantage of you having one or not.

And the people who do try to get them often, remember they will probably get ambushed at some point, they can only use it as a transport and it has no guns to shoot you.

I'm sure there are many things that I am missing or ideas, but having choppers in the game discussion should be similar to having land vehicles in the game. And having acquired a helicopter should also pay for your hard work of getting it running, just like a car would in its own way. They should not affect how you play.

 

Let me know what you think and/or what you would change.

 

Thanks!

Edited February 19, 2014 by Sinkatze

[cywehner1234 582]

I hope they're really rare like the mod, but REALLY hard to fix. Along with cars. I want cars to be really common, but extremely hard to fix. Theres should be like 5 helis on map but, it really should take hours to gather the resources to fix it.

[dethsupport 110]

Helicopters remove a large chunk of game play. Flying anything tends to be the downfall of ground travel so at most I'd like to see a few rare cars. Other more common forms of transportation could be bicycles, ATVs, motorcycles, maybe even small rowboats or kayaks. If people become too fast and too mobile it will skew the speed that the game is played.

[pale1776 375]

I say havd 4 busted choppers spawn.All are ruined. Find one you want and use spare parts.

[sinkatze 52]

I hope they're really rare like the mod, but REALLY hard to fix. Along with cars. I want cars to be really common, but extremely hard to fix. Theres should be like 5 helis on map but, it really should take hours to gather the resources to fix it.

I agree that would be amazing. The cars that you find in the wreckage on roadblocks, should be repairable, depending on where you find they would be different types of damaged state.

Helicopters remove a large chunk of game play. Flying anything tends to be the downfall of ground travel so at most I'd like to see a few rare cars. Other more common forms of transportation could be bicycles, ATVs, motorcycles, maybe even small rowboats or kayaks. If people become too fast and too mobile it will skew the speed that the game is played.

 

The vehicles you mention will be in the game. But I don't think choppers have that much of an advantage as you think. For a helicopter it is a task to land anywhere, there is so much threat for choppers from other players you wont even believe it. Plus you can hear them from a Km away. There are also chopper hunters, they basically track down choppers to take them out. So I don't think having more people on the server at the time will even make it more beneficial to have one. 

 

The "Getting snipe killed" feeling in DayZ also happens as helicopter pilots, and we just have more to lose. This is why I love choppers, they are a bit more of a challenge for the game than just camping people. Being a chopper owner gives it kind of an end game style for me.

 

I say havd 4 busted choppers spawn.All are ruined. Find one you want and use spare parts.

Yeah the removing parts should definitely be in the game, if you find another chopper you should be able to rip it apart. But you also need to find chopper loot in other locations, not just within choppers. Because if anyone just decides to strip a chopper and throw all the parts under a pinetree to hide them and no one ever finding them, would probably never be able to use one because there would be no parts lol.

The mod already was like mention though.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Sinkatze

[Etherimp 1323]

Tbh I hope they don't add helicopters to SA.. 

[sinkatze 52]

Tbh I hope they don't add helicopters to SA..

They are already confirmed, so its just finding the best way of implementing them.

[DropBearChick 1216]

They should be solid gold and unflyable

[blackberrygoo 1416]

There needs to be one (maybe two) on each server , and like every one said , no weapons on it. It needs to be extremely hard to upkeep and extremely loud .

People just don't get/ dont trust how balance works, and they are afraid the game will be ruined if this( helicopters) were to happen . But in my opinion this is natural but we need to go out on a limb here and just accept that there isALWAYS someone who knows how to fly after the apocalypse. Hell even a couple of kids in my school learned when we were graduating , so it can't be entirely too hard to find someone with this skill (or learn yourself even on "the fly").

And when private hives are out I'm sure there will be plenty of No helicopter servers , just like I'm sure there will be some servers waaaay down the road with tanks(extreme example) haha.

Edit: although I don't fly helicopters well myself , I would LOVE to see them in dayz SA . Just imagine the beautiful textures they will have and the adrenaline filled feel of tryin to flag a helicopter down with a flare gun, cuz after all the people with helicopters will be the true saviors/ heroes and seeing one will make/ break your day depending on who's inside .

Edited February 19, 2014 by Grapefruit kush

[kingrex 85]

I like the ideas of helicopters, just like everyone has said they just need to be balanced well. I like the idea of light and ultralight aircraft.

[dethsupport 110]

Tbh I hope they don't add helicopters to SA.. 

Agreed.

 

They are already confirmed, so its just finding the best way of implementing them.

Things can always change.

 

They should be solid gold and unflyable

I just think if they add them they are destroyed and you simply can't fix them, but small pieces may be scavenged for lesser vehicles. Actually they almost have to be destroyed or inoperable, who in their right mind would stay in the land of the infected when there is a perfectly good working chopper they can attempt to escape with? Most would rather give it a shot and die trying to fly it than to stay and die to the infected.

 

And lets face it, how many of you actually have the knowledge and skill set to macgyver a helicopter into working condition (probably limited to a few military air wingers or civilian craft mechs) with improvised/severely limited tools (you're gonna fix a chopper with a just screwdriver, hammer, pliers and a hacksaw?). This isn't Ironman, you're not building or repairing a complex piece of machinery in the middle of nowhere with a box of scrap. It is also unrealistic to think you have access to tools necessary to operate/repair a (most likely damaged) fueling line and transport the aviation fuel, what are you gonna do? Use a jerry can and expect the hunk of scrap to magically be able to fly just because it has a drop of fuel?

 

Air travel will heavily skew the pace of the game as you are able to bypass all the terrain and move and high speeds. This game needs to remain slow and meticulous, the 10% adrenaline and fear cocktail you experience when shit hits the fan wouldn't be nearly as intense or interesting if it wasn't counterbalanced by the other 90% of the time that is slow and quiet.

[dethsupport 110]

But in my opinion this is natural but we need to go out on a limb here and just accept that there isALWAYS someone who knows how to fly after the apocalypse. Hell even a couple of kids in my school learned when we were graduating , so it can't be entirely too hard to find someone with this skill (or learn yourself even on "the fly").

That someone who knew how to fly after the apocalypse already received a bullet in his brain housing group and his body was picked clean by the bandits.

[kingrex 85]

I see what your saying dethsupport that's why I think most of the air vehicles should be one to two seater ultralights. Their slow and easy to work on, also easy to damage.

[dethsupport 110]

I see what your saying dethsupport that's why I think most of the air vehicles should be one to two seater ultralights. Their slow and easy to work on, also easy to damage.

I'm glad you can see my point of view, and I do see yours but even if they are slow it still gives you an elevation advantage meaning you don't have to deal with snipers which are a prime piece to the 10% I mentioned above.

 

If I had a working chopper I'd just leave Chernarus. If I'm going to die in a zombie apocalypse I'd at least like to be able to read the street signs.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Dethsupport

[kingrex 85]

Yeah but I recall a lot of times were pilots die do to ground fire, and the same was try for the mod. To be honest that why I want aircraft, to get an over head view for scouting.

[dethsupport 110]

Yeah but I recall a lot of times were pilots die do to ground fire, and the same was try for the mod. To be honest that why I want aircraft, to get an over head view for scouting.

That alone is too much of an advantage. If you're on a crowded server somewhere like electro, cherno, berezino etc. and you see some doors open, a few zombies and hear some sound residue you can only assume that other people are there, you don't know for sure and that adds paranoia which is a key element to the game. By having aerial surveillance you remove that element, and if you have friends/clanmates/squadmates on the ground you could easily communicate the location of other players to them giving you and your friends a very unfair advantage as you can call out their every step, which direction they are facing, etc. from overhead where obstacles without roofs such as grass, cinder blocks and concrete walls which are normally extremely important will mean nothing.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Dethsupport

[kingrex 85]

That's true but the same could be said for just playing with a group/clan. I lose that sense of fear when playing with others, though I see how it could be a powerful tool but isn't that the point. It just takes one shot to bring it all down, also no third person and no auto pilot.

Edit: But at any rate nice debating with you, I'm off for tonight.

Edited February 19, 2014 by kingrex

[dethsupport 110]

That's true but the same could be said for just playing with a group/clan. I lose that sense of fear when playing with others, though I see how it could be a powerful tool but isn't that the point. It just takes one shot to bring it all down, also no third person and no auto pilot.

Edit: But at any rate nice debating with you, I'm off for tonight.

The same cannot be said for just playing with a group/clan because you're all still on the ground - even if you have a sniper/spotter he may have elevation but is still on the ground. A 100% aerial birds eye view is a much different situation and robs players of far more suspense, because as I said any type of cover but a structure with a roof will mean nothing. I can go prone behind a concrete wall and get out of the sniper's field of view - going prone behind a wall would do nothing against an eye in the sky. I am off as well and it certainly has been a pleasure talking with you. Glad to see things didn't devolve in a flame war - faith in humanity carries on for another night.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Dethsupport

[AdtCLone 0]

I think quads would be good, i don't like helicopters.

[sinkatze 52]

Agreed.

 

Things can always change.

 

I just think if they add them they are destroyed and you simply can't fix them, but small pieces may be scavenged for lesser vehicles. Actually they almost have to be destroyed or inoperable, who in their right mind would stay in the land of the infected when there is a perfectly good working chopper they can attempt to escape with? Most would rather give it a shot and die trying to fly it than to stay and die to the infected.

 

And lets face it, how many of you actually have the knowledge and skill set to macgyver a helicopter into working condition (probably limited to a few military air wingers or civilian craft mechs) with improvised/severely limited tools (you're gonna fix a chopper with a just screwdriver, hammer, pliers and a hacksaw?). This isn't Ironman, you're not building or repairing a complex piece of machinery in the middle of nowhere with a box of scrap. It is also unrealistic to think you have access to tools necessary to operate/repair a (most likely damaged) fueling line and transport the aviation fuel, what are you gonna do? Use a jerry can and expect the hunk of scrap to magically be able to fly just because it has a drop of fuel?

 

Air travel will heavily skew the pace of the game as you are able to bypass all the terrain and move and high speeds. This game needs to remain slow and meticulous, the 10% adrenaline and fear cocktail you experience when shit hits the fan wouldn't be nearly as intense or interesting if it wasn't counterbalanced by the other 90% of the time that is slow and quiet.

 

Many people don't know how to fix a car either..hell people don't even know how to drive them, but you can still do it in the game. Why? Because its a game.

 

 

That someone who knew how to fly after the apocalypse already received a bullet in his brain housing group and his body was picked clean by the bandits.

 

And then he respawns right? Sounds like a typical day in DayZ.

 

That's true but the same could be said for just playing with a group/clan. I lose that sense of fear when playing with others, though I see how it could be a powerful tool but isn't that the point. It just takes one shot to bring it all down, also no third person and no auto pilot.

Edit: But at any rate nice debating with you, I'm off for tonight.

You stole the words of what I was going to say. My perspective in the thread was as a first person server only player. It is extremely different experience flying in first and third (way more than on foot). So this is a big game breaker in my opinion if its third person.

First person flying is nothing the advtantage as in third. A chopper could fly right next to you and easily miss you, so player vs chopper experiences are epic! You wouldn't know until you tried it

[DMentMan 707]

i don´t think thay will be added soon, i think it will be about, hmm…  1 year?

Edited February 19, 2014 by DMentMan

[sinkatze 52]

i don´t think thay will be added soon, i think it will be about, hmm…  1 year?

They wont, choppers will probably be one of the last things to add, but its always good to give suggestions up ahead and I hope they implement them the right way.

[Chaingunfighter 917]

I'm not entirely sure how common ultralight aircraft would be, as interesting as they are. Helicopters like the Mi-8/Mi-17 would be common, and it's unreasonable to expect them all to have been severely damaged, especially ones in hangars or unused ones. Helicopters obviously need to be rare and hard to fix, but it makes good endgame content because it's honestly terrifying to assault people with an Mi-8 armed with a PK. 

Yes, you could call it "OP" to have usable machienguns on a helicopter, but getting enough ammunition for it to be effective is going to be a lot harder.

[kingrex 85]

They seem to be popular all over Europe and in the Czech Republic. Sure their not as popular as say general aviation aircraft but their out there, and sense the map is mostly rural there could be some around.

http://en.laacr.cz/laa-in-numbers.htm