What are they?

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

There has been a lot of discussion about the AI and what they are. Let's see what you think.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Caboose187

[gmrussell 0]

Surely if they were already dead you would only be ale to kill them as in the walking dead via head shot or decapitation..?

[pacific_coast 632]

they are neither.

 

they are ghosts.

 

scratching, leaping, ghosts.

[AzrailCross 48]

Knowing almost nothing about the mod or origination of DayZ beyond recent dev videos I've watched; it just comes across that they are infected. They run, they don't appear decayed, but being alpha.. could just be something waiting to happen; the moment we start seeing a zombie with no legs crawling around - is when I'll lean toward undead (and that will be awesome) but honestly I'd be happier to find out it's both :P

 

Some are runners that never died but lost the fight to infection and 'turned' so they die like anyone else, chop off a limb and they'll bleed out and their heart will stop - down they go! Stab the heart, same deal, or just do blunt hit to the head hard enough and it'll shut them down at least if not kill them. But 'the others' died and THEN the infection took over, and now only die to head shots; unfortunately they are also already decayed by the time the infection takes hold so they can't run, toss in some other little quirks and such, things will have gotten a lot more interesting.

Edited April 9, 2014 by AzrailCross

[Damnyourdeadman 1045]

They are living-infected,that means they have:

-Increased speed

-High Tolerance on pain

-Insta death from headshots,but can withstand multiple shots on the chest(should)

-Sharp senses

-High temperature tolerance

[IkaikaKekai 1957]

I lean toward infected, knowing almost nothing about the mod or origination of DayZ beyond recent dev videos I've watched; it just comes across that way. They run, they don't appear decayed.

 

On the other side of the fence though, I find it interesting that they spread - even in the standalone at a 1% chance - an infection from what I've read somewhere. That leads to a bunch of text over time, like with hunger or thirst or a broken bone, that leaves your blood constantly draining; can maintain food and water enough to try to live - but eventually it'll kill you. At which point your officially dead. Your character isn't lingering around, no, just dead. So makes me think.. mixture? Some are infected, still alive .. some are dead, cause, why not.

It was more like 1% of the world's population was immune to the virus (or 5% but only 1% remain alive, bit confusing).  All the zombies are living, breathing humans, just infected (with what I assume is an airborne version of rabies or similar virus).  Basically everyone that could be infected and wasn't killed by the infected or some other means are zombies.  Dean's brother (a virologist) wrote a paper on the DayZ zombies (how they could realistically exist and what not), and I would assume that is the lore.  I have yet to read this paper or even know if it's available to the general public (if someone has it I'd love a link or something).

[fluxley 2228]

From one of the files in the mod

 

 

DEAN HALL PRESENTS

 

A USECFORCE PRODUCTION

 

On 12 March 2013, a prion disease and spreads among the worlds population triggering a global pandemic

The disease causes proteins in the brain to be replaced with prions ceasing regular function

Most people progress to dementia and then death as the brain is replaced with ineffective sludge

86% of the worlds population die

Some survive with the disease in a chronic state. 

Lacking regular brain function, they are scarely human. They are unable to communicate, 

driven by insatiable desire for violence, and attracted to the scent of those uninfected

Society crumbles as the pandemic spreads rapidly

You are one of the 2% who are not infected yet

 

THIS IS YOUR STORY

[AzrailCross 48]

It was more like 1% of the world's population was immune to the virus (or 5% but only 1% remain alive, bit confusing).  All the zombies are living, breathing humans, just infected (with what I assume is an airborne version of rabies or similar virus).  Basically everyone that could be infected and wasn't killed by the infected or some other means are zombies.  Dean's brother (a virologist) wrote a paper on the DayZ zombies (how they could realistically exist and what not), and I would assume that is the lore.  I have yet to read this paper or even know if it's available to the general public (if someone has it I'd love a link or something).

 

Go figure I radically edit the post in my half-dead state (braaains.... well more like.. must stay awake.. a while .. longer.. then.. can.. sleep.. at..last...sleeeep...) 

 

But anyway, as for my original thoughts on it; I should probably find the time sometime to look up the paper and see what all it says about it; just to get to bit more into the history of DayZ. But if that does turn out to be true I'll be a touch disappointed, I was kind of hoping for a mixture of living-dead just for kicks. :P 

 

Still interesting though.

[hellcat420 212]

they are lepers

[blunce 991]

They're infected living, not animated dead. This has been confirmed on multiple occasions. & us survivors are immune to the infection

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

They're infected living, not animated dead. This has been confirmed on multiple occasions. & us survivors are immune to the infection

It's been confirmed yet there is a sticky called "Post Patch Zombie Feedback" lol

[AzrailCross 48]

It's been confirmed yet there is a sticky called "Post Patch Zombie Feedback" lol

 

 

Ahah!

Further evidence to support my BOTH poll request :> 

Well, the request I never asked for until now anyway.

 

They are demented people with a hunger that run around in a frantic state when non-infected are around and can be seen dormant and walking around otherwise, with some hint of humanity still captured inside.. but twisted, brutal, enraged and then those that only turned well after death; who's brain has lost all logic entirely and just shamble (or in the legless case, crawl) around in a continually decaying state when alarmed, and stand still when dormant.

 

This is the new found truth of the infection, non-believers shall be shot on sight!

[IkaikaKekai 1957]

Zombie is an umbrella term.  Real zombies are simply brainwashed people turned into slaves who's deaths were faked with a drug that makes them appear dead, some would have brain damage either from the drug, or being buried for too long, and sometimes attack people in a rage.  When most people think Zombie they think George Romero types, even though he used the term Ghoul while filming (and Ghoul usually being more of a ghost than a flesh and blood monster).  Ghoul doesn't quite sound as cool as Zombie (I would blame the 1930 'Zombie' movies for this as establishing the word).

[Wrinkled Sack 15]

I think they're telemarketers. They're almost that annoying, at least.

[Jamz 253]

To be honest, exactly what they are isn't really important. I, like most people, use the term zombie for convenience but they could just as easily be dead or undead in game. I like the fact that the true nature of what has happened in Chernarus has not been explained, it lends itself well to the survivor situation and fuels the imagination.

Personally I do consider them infected humans (although I call them zombies) as I think that's more plausible in this situation, but as always, my heart (and braaaainzz) is with the zombies! They've always fascinated me.

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

To be honest, exactly what they are isn't really important. I, like most people, use the term zombie for convenience but they could just as easily be dead or undead in game. I like the fact that the true nature of what has happened in Chernarus has not been explained, it lends itself well to the survivor situation and fuels the imagination.

Personally I do consider them infected humans (although I call them zombies) as I think that's more plausible in this situation, but as always, my heart (and braaaainzz) is with the zombies! They've always fascinated me.

The reason I ask and created this poll is because I've seen a lot of complaining about the AI not being able to do what they are doing as in sprinting and jumping because the "dead" shouldn't and can't do that.  Yet, when I've pointed out in the so called feedback thread that they are not undead I get flamed for being an idiot  :huh:

[Rick1633 136]

Where is the choice for "glitched and fucking broken" ?

[kichilron 8550]

Where is the choice for "glitched and fucking broken" ?

 

 

Watch it there. Don't overdo it. Feel free to post constructive feedback.

Edited April 9, 2014 by kichilron

[ptk (DayZ) 178]

In a time full of rampant slaughtering of thy fellow man, emotional unrest, dramatic bouts of dehydration and starvation, loneliness, depression and with a bleak future ahead, i have come to know them as...

Friends

(they always want to hug you!) :)

[Nienko 41]

Ticket sellers that come to ring my door bell everyday. Those are zombies...

Open the door and you are screwed.

[Nienko 41]

.. oh and "Eircom" call centre customer service (Ireland). All zombies.

[OrLoK 16187]

Hello there

 

Whilst the Zeds are carriers of an infection, I like to think of them as forum trolls.

 

Rgds

 

LoK

[Deathlove 2286]

Im pretty sure the Dev team has said they are infected at some point.

Im pretty sure in the recent Rezzed or whatever Dean called them zombies on the presentation lol.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Deathlove

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

Im pretty sure in the recent Rezzed or whatever Dean called them zombies on the presentation lol.

That he did.  I think it's as others have pointed out, most people recognize zombie over saying infected even if they are not zombies lol

[Deathlove 2286]

That he did.  I think it's as others have pointed out, most people recognize zombie over saying infected even if they are not zombies lol

Than really Dean needs to stick with one or the other. And ppl need to go by that. Because confusing the player base is not a good thing even with an alpha. You have infected you stick with the word infected. If they are zombies like he says than i expect to see more decayed skin options.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Deathlove