Quarantining Chernarus - A Thought Exercise

[Katana67 2907]

"Quarantine is used to separate and restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they become ill" ~ Center for Disease Control and Prevention

 

I thought of the idea of a quarantine, as an interesting thought exercise in how we can fuse the ideas of lore, unique locations, zombie densities, and pragmatic gameplay considerations. This isn't a suggestion per-se, but more of a demonstration of how lore is important and can translate into in-game environments and gameplay dynamics.

 

Lore

 

 

Sometime after 2009, Chernarus was the host to a virulent outbreak of "infection" (we have no formal name as of yet, but this is the "zombie virus" as it were). As such, and being a pre-militarized nation which played host to a NATO/US/RU peacekeeping mission, the government (in conjunction with international monitoring organizations) attempted to quarantine the outbreak.

 

This saw a deployment of military personnel and emergency responders to construct an infrastructure to implement said quarantine. This included the rapid deployment of security forces to quell insurrection and rioting, the construction of a network of roadblocks and checkpoints to regulate the population, and the fortification of various entry/exit points into the country as to implement further regulations on the population.

 

These measures of quarantine obviously failed, as we're left with a deserted landscape populated by the infected (and pesky bandits). Yet the infrastructure of the quarantine would remain as both a blemish on the landscape of Chernarus, and as a remnant of the vein attempts to contain the infection. Thereby adding to the sense of post-apocalyptic survival in DayZ for the player.

 

 

 

Unique Locations

 

 

This brief bit of background has very real implications for the tangible in-game environment of Chernarus. Roadblocks and quarantine stations could be erected outside of every major city (Chernogorsk, Elektrozavodsk, Berezino, Svetlojarsk, Zelenogorsk, etc.) Likewise, certain areas could be wholly contained by retaining walls (see below) which has resulted (as per the failure of quarantine in Chernarus) in a containment of masses of infected in certain cities.

 

At these locations, who knows what one might find. A traffic jam, an abandoned military convoy, a mass grave, a burnt out husk of a roadblock, evidence of a riot, or just a horde of infected. Each one could be configured in such a way as to tell a specific story.

 

Likewise, in addition to land-based roadblocks or outposts, one would also find quarantine centers and/or hospital ships in the ports of Berezino, Svetlojarsk, Chernogorsk, and Elektrozavodsk respectively. This could perhaps explain the un-moored (and wrecked) ship south of Svetlojarsk.

 

 

Zombie Densities

 

 

This method of quarantining could lend to an approach which addresses a variety of zombie densities. For example, in a larger city with a trapped/quarantined infected population, it could be assumed that there would be a higher density of zombies in said city. However, in smaller towns which were not the subject of quarantine, the zombie population would be more diffuse or spread out.

 

Likewise, the quarantine (as a plot device) can be used to explain or to provide for a more dangerous experience in entering a city. Not only would a player have to potentially navigate around the physical barriers of a quarantine, but he/she would have to contend with a higher zombie count inside of a quarantined area.

 

 

Gameplay Considerations

 

 

As mentioned above, the idea of a quarantine (as opposed to a blanket treatment of zombie spawns across the map) may provide for more risky and rewarding urban gameplay, where zombies become the alpha threat. This is not to suggest that in rural areas, the zombies should not be a threat (they should). But to justify the added loot inside of cities, and potentially encourage people to be more mobile, I think this would be a good method of adding a bit of lore-friendly and environment-building danger to Chernarus.

 

Quarantine stations and roadblocks could potentially yield their own loot categories. Which would perhaps be limited to riot gear and/or police uniforms. I'm timid to suggest adding more military spawns to the world, but adding a diffuse (vice centralized) network of potential loot spawns is something to consider. The overall level of "military" loot should not be upped in my opinion. Moreover, any new loot building/location shouldn't be able to compete with the pre-existing barracks and jailhouse buildings we've got now.

 

Once vehicles are implemented, assuming that it's still more expedient to drive on roads, roadblocks could possibly be used by enterprising players/bandits as outposts. Which could lead to shakedowns, firefights, trade hubs, all that jazz. Likewise, once construction is implemented, these roadblocks could perhaps be cleared and fortified by the aforementioned players to be used as a fortress (which would of course be subject to infiltration and destruction).

 

 

Your thoughts?

 

TL:DR

 

- Lore is important in buttressing or providing for in-game environments

- Quarantine infrastructure could be used to add unique locations and in-game environments (such as roadblocks, quarantined areas, etc.)

- It could also be used to tweak zombie densities into the cities and/or surrounding quarantine infrastructure

- Quarantine infrastructure provides for unique in-game experiences with regard to looting, player interaction, vehicles, and construction.

Edited May 3, 2014 by Katana67

[Irish. 4886]

 

Your thoughts?

 

TL:DR

 

- Lore is important in buttressing or providing for in-game environments

- Quarantine infrastructure could be used to add unique locations and in-game environments (such as roadblocks, quarantined areas, etc.)

- It could also be used to tweak zombie densities into the cities and/or surrounding quarantine infrastructure

- Quarantine infrastructure provides for unique in-game experiences with regard to looting, player interaction, vehicles, and construction.

I applaud your efforts.. and opinions. I believe you are somewhat on track with BIS on this one.. the polishing of the map will come before too long. 

[king_of_the_beans 92]

I wish it could be something like this but at the moment there is a bunch of houses plopped down, we call them town/cities. At these towns and cities we have pvp, loot, and oh ya the occasional zombie.

[Katana67 2907]

I wish it could be something like this but at the moment there is a bunch of houses plopped down, we call them town/cities. At these towns and cities we have pvp, loot, and oh ya the occasional zombie.

 

Yes, hence why this isn't really commenting on current circumstance.