Possibly map notes unique to the individual map?

[VoltySquirrel 3]

So, a few clarifications first:

• No, I don't own DayZ standalone, so this may already be a feature. A cursory Google search didn't say otherwise.
• I have played DayZ Mod a fair bit, not within the past 8 months or so. Maybe things changed there but I highly doubt it.
• I did check to see if this has been suggested before and didn't find anything. Maybe I didn't look hard enough.

Anyway, with that out of the way:

 

One of the things that I thought was particularly cool about the map system in DayZ mod was that you could leave notes on the map. However, this was borderline useless in the mod, since the map system in Arma 2 makes it so everyone on your team can see the same notes. Since everyone is technically on the same team in the mod, everyone could see everyone else's notes.

 

This was frustrating for a lot of reasons. For one, it stifled a potentially interesting feature of the game. Even further, it actually made things harder for new players who didn't know about this quirk in the game. So, they could have marked a cache or hideout or something and get raided. Most of all though, it's just plain unrealistic, which is annoying in a game purporting and generally succeeding at being a realistic take on the zombie game genre. I mean, why should a guy miles away be able to see a note I scribbled on a paper map?

 

Now, I know that that was a limitation of the engine the mod ran on, but as far as I know the standalone release uses a slightly different engine from the one in Arma 2/3. Additionally, the game is still in an alpha state, so things can be easily changed. (To reiterate, no, I haven't played the standalone release. I'm just basing my assumptions here on what others have told me. Maybe they're wrong. Who knows.) Anyway...

 

So, the actual topic at hand: maps. They need to be reworked. First off, it shouldn't be possible for everyone to see what you have scrawled on your map. Each map should be unique. Additionally, it'd be rad if notes carry over, even if the original owner gives the map away or if they flat out die. Since, you know, ink/lead doesn't disappear the second you hand it off to someone.

 

Another potential addition would be to let other look at your map. This could be used in team up situations in order to plan attacks. Maybe even let each other see mouse cursors. Essentially the cursor would be an abstraction of a finger running over the map.

 

Of course, this might cause issues with the crafting system where you can combine map pieces. Just spouting ideas is all. Let me know what you think. That or tell me that I'm an idiot and it's already in the game. Thanks!

[VoltySquirrel 3]

Wow, I just noticed the typo in that title. *facepalm*

Anyway, I just had another possible thing you can tie into the map system. You could make it so you can only write on the map if you have some sort of writing utensil. Just a thought.

[applejaxc 2500]

Um? How am I supposed to make large, phallic representations of my superiority with your proposed individual maps?

Edited August 9, 2014 by Applejaxc

[VoltySquirrel 3]

Um? How am I supposed to make large, phallic representations of my superiority with your proposed individual maps?

Every great idea has unexpected casualties.  :P

[King Raptor 191]

Many people use external maps. I doubt it'd be used very often.

[Elle 562]

hrm maybe we could use the ingame maps to start fires with once we have scribbled all over them to the point of unreadablility. I have often wondered why I can't draw mini mouse pics on my map even tho I have a pen. it would be nice if I could pass an edited map to a friend (like I am ever gonna have any o them in the game) and let them make a copy of my notes to their map. could work like pouring one canteen to another so the menu would just add "copy map" to the "combine map" menu if you have a pen. I use the ingame map so much that I gave a whole map to some guy yesterday as soon as I had it complete just so I can go find more pieces to put together - woulda been nice if I coulda left a nice little note on it for him.

[VoltySquirrel 3]

Many people use external maps. I doubt it'd be used very often.

I mean, by that logic there shouldn't be voice chat in a lot of games because a lot of people use Skype for external chat. Besides, this would still be a positive change for those of us that want to be completely immersed in the game. Like, i dunno, me.  :D

Edited August 9, 2014 by VoltySquirrel

[King Raptor 191]

I mean, by that logic there shouldn't be voice chat in a lot of games because a lot of people use Skype for external chat. Besides, this would still be a positive change for those of us that want to be completely immersed in the game. Like, i dunno, me.  :D

 

Well, I'm not against the idea and I'd probably use it for kicks but it wouldn't make me use the in-game map more often.

I think developer-time is best spent on other projects.

[applejaxc 2500]

Many people *cheat

 

I'm sorry it was too tempting. But yes that is true, enough people either memorize the map or use skill supplements to circumvent the in game map altogether. It's a lot safer and faster to have a print out of the map near your PC; when looking at it, you can still see everything in front of your character.

[VoltySquirrel 3]

I'm sorry it was too tempting. But yes that is true, enough people either memorize the map or use skill supplements to circumvent the in game map altogether. It's a lot safer and faster to have a print out of the map near your PC; when looking at it, you can still see everything in front of your character.

Sure. Even still, it's something that I like using quite a bit. I'm not a huge fan of using external resources when there are equivalents in the game. At least in the context of a game all about immersion.

I do want to point out that I don't think this is something that absolutely has to be in the game. It'd be a nice feature to have. Not a deal breaker by any stretch.

[Redstar Payne 54]

A lot of us do memorize the map because we've either played a lot or just naturally good with navigation so to speak but still I do like the idea of using an in game pen to mark specific areas i find or to plan raids on a town if playing a bandit and have enough people to raid lol. Honestly if i did that with a print out map I'd have to have 50 of the little F***ers laying around and I haven't scene an online map that lets you mark things like that, plus I feel using an in game map just feels more natural sometimes.