Ideas pertaining to the zombies

[Mandra (DayZ) 0]

Hello,

I have a few ideas pertaining to the zombies:

Idea 1 - I personally feel that the run speed of the zombies is not grounded in the same reality that the player is immersed in. From a distance I observed a group of zombies chasing down a survivor and it looked like the zombies were skiiing across the ground with a running animation that was too slow for their movement. The weight of their bodies doesn't sync up with the run speed. I know the speed at which they move adds to the jump scare factor, but this multiplayer mod introduces a fear that is far more superior and is more psychological in nature.

I suggest that their run speed is slowed to a more naturalistic pace. Not slow, but not quite as fast. This should give a sense of weight in their movement and the animation would sync up. It would also give a more human element to the zombies. Despite their animalistic force and rage they would still be limited to the boundaries of the human body.

Idea 2 - In addition to the wandering zombies, there could also be zombies who lay in a pile (like the groups in the buildings from 28 days later) But if you get their attention with noise they rise quickly and stare in your direction. At this point they could also alert nearby wandering zombies who would also begin to search for you. Because of their heightened focus any slight movement could alert them to your precise location (assuming you were close to begin with) and they would charge after you.

Idea 3 - The zombies could also be given a hunger meter. Instead of them starving to death, however, the meter dropping could increase their hostility and awareness. Essentially making them more desperate to kill and eat humans. This would make zombies that had been around longer more dangerous than newly spawned ones.

Thank you for your time.

- Mandra

[duddbudda 33]

speed is ridiculous as is - walking zombies need to be be slightly slower than the player, not dramatically faster

not just because escape is currently dependant entirely on finding a glitching enterable

because there's no tension now - once you're spotted you're flooded with ultra quick zombies and can only flee

a greater number of slower zombies would enable players to make tactical withdrawals and even standing their ground

[naizarak 41]

yes zombies seem a bit too fast. personally i'd like to see them slowed down just a tad, and instead spawn around the player during horde attacks. give the player a sense of being ambushed from multiple directions.

[Mandra (DayZ) 0]

Hmm, I had a visual in my head seeing zombies running down the hills out of the forests. Maybe some spawn deep in the woods.

Not sure if having them spawn around you would make things any better to them running fast. I think that sort of mechanic could work in a more linear game, like L4D.

This game lets you either avoid going in to a town with zombies or having to enter for supplies and risking getting eaten.

[GrIfFiN (DayZ) 3]

Mandra, thats some nice ideas! I wish only to add that zombies should go straight to the pray, not trying to avoid fire.

[discoamazing 0]

I'm with Sandy State Phantom, and the other posters in this thread: More zombies (lots more! Like, 1000+ per map) but make them slower. That's the essential nature of the zombie menace in fiction: They're slow, they're stupid, but there's so many of them that this doesn't matter.

Also, humans need a stamina bar. That way, while the player can run (hopefully a lot) faster than the zombies, they'll eventually get tired, but the zombies won't.

[godwine 2]

I'm with Sandy State Phantom' date=' and the other posters in this thread: More zombies (lots more! Like, 1000+ per map) but make them slower. That's the essential nature of the zombie menace in fiction: They're slow, they're stupid, but there's so many of them that this doesn't matter.

Also, humans need a stamina bar. That way, while the player can run (hopefully a lot) faster than the zombies, they'll eventually get tired, but the zombies won't.

[/quote']

Rocket has said they're more along the lines of 28 Days Later "zombies", so the zombie menace you're describing holds no weight here.

Yes, their speed might be better at a more human level, since every zed if like Usain Bolt atm. However, not much else needs changing.

[Zhivago 1]

A small speed nerf and a reduction of the zig-zagging would be ideal IMO. I like that they run though, shambling zombies would be no challenge at all. It's just that with the way spawns are right now, zombies have become a little too challenging to deal with. I'm sure rocket will tweak things accordingly.

[Mandra (DayZ) 0]

Thanks guys for reading!

Actually If I were to make my own "Zombie" game I would prob use 28 days later as my no.1 reference. All I was saying is put some weight in to their running so it feels like they are making contact with the ground and that there is traction between their feet and the dirt. I think that could simply be achieved through tweaking down the speed a tad.

Its a perceptive concept.

They will still appear fast, just normal fast.

Also what do you guys think of the other ideas?

Thanks again

[pat_bennink@hotmail.com 0]

I like the increased zombie count, towns feel more dangerous then just a stumble through without any threat, but the respawn at the moment is ridiculous. My mate and I were playing and we circled around the zombies got to the less populated part of town and then 10 zombies appeared from thin air around us. It is though the code is telling the game there is no zombies within 50 metres so make more, the same happens after the zombies are shot. More just appear in their place. In my mind the increased number is good, but after they have spawned when you enter a city no more should spawn for 20 minutes or so... because there is no way to clear a town out at the moment, making it feel a bit more like COD zombies and less survivaly. Just my 2 cents :)