Playing solo on low player count servers on Hardcore

[kroms001 99]

I have played a few large population servers, and love the element - but  I wanted something different just to change the pace up.  I find it a little more creepy being on a server with 1-5 people (on hardcore of course), like the zombie apocalypse has consumed most of mankind.  I have explored deep into the north and have made my way across much of the map.  Once I saw a player running in the distance being chased by a couple zombies and decided to move on because they seemed equipped enough to handle himself... but even if they were not, I would have most likely moved on anyway because of trust issues.  I haven't visited every city, the map is huge.

 

While this is just a game, the feeling of being nearly all alone and looking over your shoulders for creeping zombies gets pretty intense.  Sure, it can get boring at times - running to every town, city, air base in an exploration mission, but wouldn't it get boring IRL also?  The fear factor is always there though.  There are only a few people on the server, so you never really know who is watching you - or where anyone is.  It is a completely different game than playing on high traffic servers.  Sure, it might be a little easier, but I think with future updates a lot of issues will be fixed to insure great game play takes place on both populated servers and low player count servers.

 

Now, if they could only fix the zombies walking through everything issue (so we can find shelter and heal up) it would be great.

[PJSleaze 111]

I was just thinking about this myself. Yeah, contact of any kinds really makes you jump in this situation.

 

I play solo and HC. Just preferred style, and I think it helps even the odds a bit if I’m alone. All of the HC servers that I get with good ping are fairly small,  10 or so (it was up to 15 for a while last week). I’d like to move up, but there’s just not much for options, and I don’t want to switch to 3pp. So, yes, this is how I’ve been playing since i started. Knowing someone is nearby when there’s only 5 of you out there really gets the feelings of dread going.  Eerie at times. Anyway, I’m finally confident enough to start mingling a bit more on the coast now that I know the game a bit after a couple of weeks up north, where I’d see maybe 1 person every 5 hours of play. So I log in last night. I pick the one with the most people (about 10) and join.

 

I start way up north and slowly make my way south to check out Balota for the first time. Having heard stories I’m anxious as all hell and slowly case the airfield; 30-40 minutes of observing and making my way down the hill from the north through the trees, figuring there’s people there, and again, this playstyle makes you extra paranoid. I don’t see many people up north, so they must be down here, right? No sign of anyone. Doors closed, Zs swaying in the wind, and an LRS in the first hangar- that's as good a sign as any that no one has been here.

 

I pick my way through to the top of the ATC tower, and head back down, where I drop my M4 (another solo player who does the M4/Mosin switch) to axe a zombie that got all riled up at the bottom of the stairs. I was wondering what set that zed off, but I hadn’t seen anyone while upstairs. Before I can go back to get my M4, there’s someone standing in the doorway! He’s only got an axe, and seems friendly. I had just put my axe away, and wasn’t comfortable being in this particular place without a weapon in my hands (and he may have a gun on him), so I jammed my fingers into a number to draw another weapon, only to draw…my canteen. (Multiple valuable lessons learned here…)

 

But maybe this was good, because he became more chatty with me. Acting all casual and cool, as if to say “I don’t care that you’re here. I can take a drink anytime I like” I take a swig from the canteen and back up toward my weapon. (I tell myself I was cool- I was frantically trying to get my canteen put away so I could pick up the gun but hit the middle mouse button) I tell him there’s gear up there and that I’m leaving. I grab my M4 off the stairs and get out of there, as I’ve heard so many horror stories about this place. I’m half expecting him to kill me the moment I leave the building. He doesn’t. I watch him loot the stuff I left behind through my new scope from the woods. I hit P and realize we’re the only two on the server! 225 sq mi and we're 6' apart? What? Where is everyone? All that skulking around expecting the worst, and there’s only one other person? … and he’s nice? (And ABDano, wherever you are, you’re a good dude)

 

Did the other 8 drop off as soon as the good stuff got looted? It would seem that way, but this is a common loot area, and the place was untouched. I’d like to play with (or around) more people now that I’ve got some confidence in my game, I just can’t seem to find them on the HC servers that have good ping for me. Or maybe the emptiness of 5 people on hardcore is starting to break me after 2 weeks.

[odin_lowe 3686]

I've played on crowded servers and on low pop servers. For some reason, I rarely encounter anyone on high pop servers (even at the NWAF) and while on low pop servers, I often manage to stumble upon one of the only survivor with me on the server.

 

I share the same feeling as you mate. Always enjoyed DayZ, and the stand alone is not exception. Love the immersion and experience.

[kroms001 99]

PJSlease and Odin Lowe,

 

It does change up the pace, and even keeps you on edge every time you hear a Z - because you know there is a lot more than one coming at you usually (on hardcore).

 

Once I was going through Elektro and someone was shooting at me, they got me but didn't kill me and luckily I was able to evade them long enough to bandage up and then run like hell.

I hid out for quite some time in the forest to make sure I wasn't being stalked.  There were only 3 people on that server, and yes - Elektro is hot with activity, as are the Military bases.  Best to make sure to scout the area before even attempting to loot, even in the lower populated servers.

[alldaypk 63]

It was night time on a hardcore server, I was up the in the ATC when i hear a man talking from outside:

 

"Dude, hey you in the ATC, friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly friendly-"

 

"Yeah I'm friendly" I reply.

 

"Cool, I'm not looking for trouble - or a friend - so if you can let me leave in peace?"

 

"Sure, no harm done."

 

"Alright, happy hunting-" BLAM!!

 

"Hey, why you shooting? Are you alright? Hello?"

 

By this time I figure out there's another person outside, obviously not friendly. I prone in the corner and train my nagant on the stairs, 2 minutes later a girl runs up - holding a scoped mosin - I shoot at her, she runs back down. I tell her it was a warning shot. 5 minutes pass and it's a stalemate. Someone has to move, so I crawl outside onto the balcony, sneak down the ladder and make my way across the ground. I find the body of that man, shot in the head, 2 seconds later I'm shot through the head. I check the number of players and it's just me and her, 3 people in the entire map (3 including the dead guy) and she killed both the others. 10 minutes later I make my way to my body, it has despawned by now when I hear footsteps..

 

In a deep Russian accent he says; "You friend?"

 

He gives me a .357 Magnum, 12 rounds and a speedloader.

 

"Remembr, don kill on sight."

 

Still only two people on server.

[Mullraugh 1151]

I find that 90% of the reason there's low player count on a server is because it's night time. Are people really that wimpy?

[kroms001 99]

I find that 90% of the reason there's low player count on a server is because it's night time. Are people really that wimpy?

 

Night time brings a completely new dynamic to the game, and I have to say - I think it reflects how well a player actually plays.  If a person is just going to stick to daytime servers they are missing a lot of other aspects of tactics etc.  I do play daytime servers, but I have also logged a few hours at night.