Old fashioned persistant world technique: in-game server switching

[RSF TheCapulet 45]

Back in the day, I used to run persistent worlds in Neverwinter Nights. Back then we didn't have fancy multi-threaded server apps, so we made due by running multiple server instances and connecting them in game through "portals". By that I mean that we had scripted objects or "conversation" fired scripts that would save player info to the db and then connect them to the next location server IP. They'd see a loading screen telling them they were switching servers and then it'd be done.

The reason I bring this up is because I think it'd be a perfect feature to use in DayZ, if it's possible in the engine (or possible to patch it in). But instead, it could run different islands. For instance, taking a fully fueled boat or aircraft far enough west in cherno could port you to Takistan, Zargabad, Utes, etc. And when the new DLC is released, if you can check if the client has the full DLC installed before player transfer, you could even include those maps.

This would obviously create a nearly seamless transition for moving between land masses "in-character" in game. You could then have the script match-make the player to another server running a different island with similar difficulty settings and ping or allow them to select one on their own. And then said system would take care of players who log into landmasses where their character doesn't exist by explaining the laws of physics and how you're applying them to their character that cannot be two places at one time.

[alexander_q 6]

I support anything that increases the size of the playable world. I'd like to eventually see one persistent world though.

[7-75 callaghan 43]

I think they are planning this actually, or at least it was mentioned in an interview, and I posted this idea on another thread about map additions.

Personally, I think Takistan would be bad for it (no cover between towns), but Utes to the South or East (or south east if you are feeling particularly crazy), reachable by boat, perhaps Zargabad (or more convincingly, the PMC DLC map, forgotten the name, but I remember it being quite spooky for some reason) to the North and the soon-to-be-released Czech DLC map to the West (which has similar terrain to Chernarus) would work quite nicely imo.

The existing map is enough for any individual PC to chew on as it is, so anything larger would just make it harder to run for most people.

[xximrtwoixx 104]

I posted a similar idea also based on prior NWN game play, I wonder OP and I played on the same servers?? ALFA?

http://dayzmod.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=21536

[RSF TheCapulet 45]

Nope. Ran the Wheel of Time: Third Age server.