A few questions about survival - SA .48 Stable

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Hello,

 

I’m new to this forum and relatively new to DayZ, although I do have some hours under my belt running around Chernorus and mostly trying to live in a survival mode, by hunting, learning my way around the map, etc. Not much in the department of interaction with other players, though, as I tend to avoid airbases and only looted them a couple of times. Right now I’m trying to figure out a few things about DayZ and was hoping you can help me out, guys.

 

The first thing is definitely the tent. I’ve been trying to find one for hours through +100 feedshacks, to no avail. Castles also seem to spawn absolutely no loot as of .48 stable. Can you guys tell me any better way to grab a tent than to run from one shack to another? It occurred to me that maybe the tent has not been implemented after all and I had to check this forum to learn it is in fact there. And what about its persistence? Is it true that there are no HC servers with persistence on and you always have to roll up your tent before restarts anyway? If so, when can we expect fully operating tents?

 

The second thing is related to P2P interaction. Right now I have a lot of fun playing a lone wolf in more secluded areas. I manage to find a good loot, although maybe not the best in the game, in less visited spots like Turovo or Novodmitrovsk and I actively hide when I see other players. I’d like to interact sometimes and say friendly, but I’m always worried I’ll get KOSed for my backpack/vest/weapon/whatever. What can I do, if anything, to increase the chance of friendly encounters? Will looking poor do the trick? If I do look harmless, can I shout ‘friendly’ in locations like Berezino or Elektro, or are these still no-holds-barred warzones?

 

The third thing is about bows and crossbows – have any of you successfully used them? I understand they’re no match to guns, but are they or will they be worth any effort at all? Currently it’s my mini-goal to craft and practice shooting a bow. J

 

The fourth thing concerns medical supplies – I’m quite sure that for playing solo, only bandages and morphine do any good. Defi, epinephrine, blood and saline are for teams, the application of charcoal is very limited, while painkillers, antibiotics, vitamins and injection vial seem to have no effect at all, now that infections and diseases are not implemented yet. Am I right or am I missing something?

 

Thanks in advance for any help! :)

[RavenPanther 1]

While I can't answer much but the last two paragraphs, from what I've seen you're absolutely right about the medical supplies.

As for the bows:

The crossbow is easy to find, the bolts only take up 1 space (composite arrows take up 2). But the reload time is very, very long (~4-6 seconds after each shot). It takes 2-3 shots to down a zombie, military zombies take more. However the crossbow can be used with a holosight, which is handy.

The Ashwood Shortbow is easy to make (have an ax, and some rope, and find any ashwood tree near a town) and the arrows are relatively as common as bolts, plus they can be crafted from sticks and chicken feathers if you happen across a chicken. They take up 2 spaces (2 wide, 1 high), there's no 'iron sights' or anything, and as of this latest update, I've found it VERY hard to hit an animal from around 20 yards, I'm not sure why. The nice part is, it fits within a hunting backpack (letting you carry another weapon and not worry about dropping anything.) I've never shot at zombies simply because you CANNOT move while drawing the arrow back! So I cannot tell you how many hits it takes to kill a zombie (or even player.)

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Thanks a lot! I'm happy to report that I did manage to craft and use my first bow; a cool toy even if it doesn't hold a candle to guns! A deer and a boar went down for dinner. It's true that I found it hard to shoot them, once I was quite sure the arrow went straight through the boar (bug or my bad aim, I don't know). Now I'm on my quest to practice more and find some chickens. The absolute maximum range of a bow is ca 200 meters, so I hope it can be practiced to be a useful and reliable weapon for maybe 30-40 meters.

 

Also, a friend of mine found a tent and we pitched it (on HC), only to see it vanish right there with the restart. It seems as of .48, tents are as rare as they are useless...

 

As for the crossbow, each of my character seems to find either the weapon or the bolts. I don't know if there are places which reliably spawn either so I know I can find a complete set. With a crossbow taking up your weapon slot, it's never worth the hassle to me. A working tent would be a useful thing to stash items which require crafting or other items to work properly.

[Bonappetit 117]

Don't take me for granted but I believe I saw a guide where it said that you need to shoot once the bow is on the far left swing side for maximum accuracy.

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Thanks for the tip, I'll look for that guide. It's a bit strange, my preliminary observations indicate that arrows sway to the lower left a bit, but I got only a few composites so still need to do more shooting. But have already nailed 3 zeds! :) It's actually quite simple when they're running towards you from a distance and much more reliable than melee (I've always thought than axing zeds is like trying to hit an electron). I'll hope to report more once I get hold of those elusive, legendary chickens...

[chodeofwar 145]

Wouldn't worry about a tent at this stage, I think we are in for a wipe before the end of the month. Fingers crossed.

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Sorry, I'm new here and didn't get that. What do you mean by a 'wipe'? Should I be scared? :)

[chodeofwar 145]

It is our intent once we have addressed the core issues with abuse of item duping, as well as resolved issues with the protection of player storage and opened game server providers rental of private shards, to wipe the stable branch clean.

This will allow us to ensure a clean start on player storage and camps, as well as remove issues such as:

• Bugged ammo quantity magazines
• Corrupt characters
• Duplicated items and ammunition

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware duping was such a problem in dayz. True that it happens to me every now and then, but I never got around to what actually causes it and didn't know ppl abuse it. Good riddance, then.

 

But what does the wipe mean for the tents? Are they to be removed or fixed?

 

I wonder why people right now put so much effort in combing for and stealing tents if they're so useless atm. Well, I guess I'll never understand some kinds of players in dayz...

[Parazight 1599]

The fourth thing concerns medical supplies – I’m quite sure that for playing solo, only bandages and morphine do any good. Defi, epinephrine, blood and saline are for teams, the application of charcoal is very limited, while painkillers, antibiotics, vitamins and injection vial seem to have no effect at all, now that infections and diseases are not implemented yet. Am I right or am I missing something?

http://dayz.gamepedia.com/Wooden_Splint

[ChainReactor 922]

 

 

 

What can I do, if anything, to increase the chance of friendly encounters? Will looking poor do the trick? If I do look harmless, can I shout ‘friendly’ in locations like Berezino or Elektro, or are these still no-holds-barred warzones?

 

 

 

Wobo tested this out.

 

 

A very fun series to watch. I loved the "obnoxious twat" episode. :)

 

Beans to Aggathor.

Edited August 25, 2014 by ChainReactor

[Avant-Garde 229]

I find the bow very shitty at the moment. You simply have no clue to where it is going to hit. Once I was like 20m from a zombie, aim at his head and shot an arrow that hits the floor right on the zed's side, lol. Useless weapon man.

 

The crossbow is cool, at least you can hit shit with it

[Killawife 599]

Lol! "I've been here for four hours, is it safe to come out?"

[karlkurtz32 59]

Engaging other players has basically always ended the same way for me...death.

 

When I first started playing DayZ I tried everything when interacting with others and it always seemed to end the same.

 

The only time I try to meet people is when I'm just goofing around and don't care much (which is almost never).

 

If I'm trying to play realistically (which is almost 100% of the time) I avoid all interactions with people and I only play at night. I have lived far longer this way.

It all comes down to your play style.

 

In a real post-apocalyptic situation, would you run around trying to meet people?  No, because you'd die.

 

To conclude, meeting people in-game is fun, but high risk.  If that is what you want to do then that's cool.  Just make sure you don't get attached to your character or gear.  You'll just end up dead.  

 

Play smart and Good luck!

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

A very fun series to watch. I loved the "obnoxious twat" episode. :)

 

 

Yeah, thanks for this one, I've watched it and loved it. :thumbsup: He's hilarious in some encounters. Definitely low gear is the way to go if you want interaction or want to help fresh spawns.

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

I find the bow very shitty at the moment. You simply have no clue to where it is going to hit. Once I was like 20m from a zombie, aim at his head and shot an arrow that hits the floor right on the zed's side, lol. Useless weapon man.

 

The crossbow is cool, at least you can hit shit with it

 

Too true, I've just crafted some improvised arrows (man those chickens are hard to come by! a friend of mine found one in Msta, fortunately) and practised some. The sway (mostly to the left and down, but quite random all in all) is too much to bear right now, unless maybe I shot like 100 arrows (and it's still looks quite randomized to me). I hope they improve it. Also, the rarity of 'ammo' (chickens) does not help going native. Now I need to get hold of a crossbow... Hopefully they'll allow to craft improvised bolts in the future. :)

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Engaging other players has basically always ended the same way for me...death.

 

 

I've spent some considerable time in Chernarus on my own, crafting stuff and getting to know the map, now I'd like some more interaction (so far was killed twice, killed somebody twice - 1 in the NWAF, 1 a berserk fresh spawn - and had one great NWAF raid with a stranger; but I actively avoided other players, not being a good shoot). I figured if I looked medium gear (good jacket and pants, hunting pack, vest only inside the pack, no rifle) and armed with a bow as a primary, maybe people won't be that hostile. We're going to find out soon enough. :)

 

Which reminds me - do you think that using vests like protector cases (they can be put inside a backpack for less slots) is a clear-cut abuse? After all, you can't do the same with jackets or pants with stuff in it, so maybe it was done on purpose. I found the vest trick somewhere here on this forum.

[dirrly 70]

I've spent some considerable time in Chernarus on my own, crafting stuff and getting to know the map, now I'd like some more interaction (so far was killed twice....

 

Then you are really lucky... half of the time I meet sombody I get killed. Even as a "poor looking new spawn" (what I actually was) I was killed. Sometimes i was killed because I hesitated... when I am playing on a server that says "only PvE, be friendly" I didn't want to shoot a player on sight, but they wanted. ^^

 

For the future I will try to avoid other players. Can't trust them. ^^

 

The airfields I should also avoid I think, but I want to have a full-automatic weapon... so I think I will have to take this risk. And btw. I don't like snipers. :D

Edited August 28, 2014 by dirrly

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Then you are really lucky... half of the time I meet sombody I get killed. Even as a "poor looking new spawn" (what I actually was) I was killed. Sometimes i was killed because I hesitated... when I am playing on a server that says "only PvE, be friendly" I didn't want to shoot a player on sight, but they wanted. ^^

 

Tough luck, I noticed people here report very different impressions with their encounters. Tonight, once I've finally completed all the game options related to survival (crafting, hunting, fishing, cooking), me and my friend went helping fresh spawns. Made a campfire right in the middle of the street in Msta (a spawn point plus many animals and a well). We met a guy who barely spoke English, fed him with deer steaks and chicken, gave him rags and sent him on his way. Then we moved to Dolina, caught like 8 fish, set up a campfire right next to the police station, met an Irish guy, gave him steaks, rags, a loaded AK (yes, we did that and no, he couldn't believe that either), crafted an improvised backpack from a boar pellet for him. Another guy was hiding in the police station, we heard him and fed him as well. The four of us went through a factory to Polana, where we met another two fresh spawns. Killed a cow and gave them steaks and whatever spare stuff we could find (both Dolina and Polana had been heavily looted by then). Then we had to log out, leaving the whole gang warm and happy together around a campfire. I will cherish that moment the next time I take a Mosin round to my face. :)

 

Low/medium gear seems to make people much more at ease, I deliberately got rid of some military stuff (bow is my primary) and put on a yellow raincoat to look less intimidating (now it's an orange raincoat and a red bonnie hat).

 

This all happened at a server called something like German survival playground be friendly. HC.

 

Just wanted to share this story, I thought it's really cool. The last BBQ is below, me to the left, the other four have been meet within the past hour or so. :)

 

[dirrly 70]

Tough luck, I noticed people here report very different impressions with their encounters.

 

Really Nice... sounds like a lot of fun. A few days ago I also met a real nice Person, we travelled together for a while untill we were robbed by a bunch of guys with automatic weapons. ^^

 

 

The next time I start with a new character I will try it out. Take clothing that doesn't look too scary for other players and try to socialize a bit more with other players. ;-)

Hunting... mh... at the moment I a heading to the far north-west of the map, maybe i'll find something to hunt there. Never seen animals to hunt by now.

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

 

The next time I start with a new character I will try it out. Take clothing that doesn't look too scary for other players and try to socialize a bit more with other players. ;-)

Hunting... mh... at the moment I a heading to the far north-west of the map, maybe i'll find something to hunt there. Never seen animals to hunt by now.

 

I still recommend you do that, but exercise caution as well, lol. This is what happened just yesterday, my story with a moral:

 

After I got hold of a crossbow (far better than a bow!) and my friend at last found a Mosin, we went to a medium-pop 'RP No KOS' server to help fresh spawns. Starting in Novo, we immediately got shot at by a sniper, but he missed by quite a far margin. We tried to flank him, but he was gone already. So we went down to Dubrovka, killing and quartering animals on our way. After we started a campfire (again in the middle of the street, at the crossroads), we met 3 German clan guys, one after another, all of them having been sniped by someone in Olsha. We figured it's probably the same sniper, but somehow it didn't change our behaviour in any way, sigh... Then another fresh spawn came in. We shared like 16 steaks with the guys, gave them rags and basic stuff like compasses, knives, etc., also backpacks. Discussed the game, explained the controls to the new one, took pictures, in general had a lot of fun. Then two Mosin rounds were fired so we quickly dispersed. One after another, all of us perished within a minute. My friend claims that the sniper was a hacker as he was running around houses way too fast. One moment you have absolutely everything you need in your backpack and just want to have fun with a great character, minutes later you desperately try to run to your gear (it was gone by then) and stave off starvation by eating berries... Yet another day in Chernorus.

 

Yes I got sniped for trying to help, but I'm not going to resign from that. The next time we'll just try to be more careful, maybe build a campfire in front of those doorless sheds and stay inside, scout around more, etc. Yesterday 4 guys added me as a friend via Steam, they're likely to help me out in the future more than once if we meet, it was worth getting sniped by a guy who's not only a hacker, but also preys on fresh spawns on friendly servers! I mean, how low can you stoop? (which reminds me - fuck you, twat!). Still, with that most recent encounter I have a ratio of 12 friendlies/neutrals vs. 3 bandits, not bad for a game which routinely drives normal, friendly people into KOS-just-to-be-safe paranoids. ;)

 

Coming back to fresh spawns, I noticed also that what helps is giving something extra. Anyone can find enough food and rags to survive, but if you give a decent backpack or a gun, most newly met people will appreciate a lot and will follow you even to dangerous areas (as long as you loot some guns on your way). Maybe some will put a bullet through your head the moment they are armed, shit happens, but I believe (and have certain experience with that) that most will cover you and use their last Morphine or Rag on you. So when you dish out steaks and good loot at campfires, in one evening you can raise an army capable of raiding the NWAF or Berezino like it belongs to them... Think about that. :)

 

Below - my friend, then a Latino boy, to the left, with three guys from a German clan. Less than an hour before we all got killed.

 

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

Re. hunting - I noticed most of the game somewhere in the middle belt of the map. Try Dolina, Polana, definitely Msta, Gvozdno. There should be cows south of Zelenogorsk and I saw boars and deer close to Severograd and Svergino. On the other hand, north-east of Krasny I haven't met a single animal. Fishing is also an option in virtually every pond, don't give up if you fish out just a pair of wellies. ;)

 

German friendly servers should increase your chances of not being KOSed, I met some great people there.

[dirrly 70]

It's always fun to read your stories.

 

What I already learned is to handle beeing killed... for a short time it bothers me, but not very long. :-)

 

 

German friendly servers should increase your chances of not being KOSed, I met some great people there.

 

Nice to hear that my (fellow) countrymen are kind to strangers. ^^

[Kirov (DayZ) 585]

So me and my friend turn up in Turovo, at the jail which is lit by a chemlight. We enter, sure enough there are 2 guys upstairs. They say we don't have to fight, friendly etc. My friend had a chance at a shot but didn't take it and wanted to talk it out. However, the other guy immediately shots him in the head. I wait and when he goes down the stairs, I shot my Magnum at him. I'm a poor shot and was super stressed at that moment, so didn't kill him, his shots also weren't fatal. I run away like hell, hide behind a house, bandage myself, leave my mountain backpack and come back with a Mosin. Heart pounding, I slowly make my way back the road, assuming they probably run to Kamarovka anyway. Waiting for like ten minutes, the door in my LRS, still nothing. Then a guy appear, I take a shot and miss. He appeared again, this time I got him. I reposition and wait for the other guy. Meanwhile my respawned friend is at Krasno and wouldn't you know it, overhears somebody drinking a soda at the police station. And the two of us and the two of them are the only people on the server. :). So he runs in with his pitchfork and starts chopping that guy. The guy screams 'Why? I don't have anything, I'm a bambi!' and my friend goes like 'You SOB you just killed me and my friend got you soon afterwards, now you're going to die again, you cunt!'. I laugh my ass off and still wait at the jail, but soon they both logged out. :D

 

So a bandit killed once and got killed twice for that. Karma's a bitch sometimes. And we honestly would have let them go on their way in peace, we werent' looking for trouble. Oh, well, too bad for them and the adrenaline rush from avenging my friend was priceless.

[Avant-Garde 229]

Nice stories man, keep them coming!

 

About friendly encounters, today I met a guy at balota airfield and it went surprisingly well for a encounter in a military place. The dude was in front of that camo building, I heard his footsteps and I laid low in cover. He goes running to the back of said building and I was hidding there, he had his gun out and so did I but I really didn't want to risk it all in a firefight so I  greet him and he says "Watch out man fucking zeds", and  I help him with the zed problem. 

 

The man kept his distance and weapons holstered while I was fighting the zed, which means he didn't have the intention to seize the oportunity and fuck me (and dude, I had a RAK submachinegun with ammo and a nice gear in general), and that for me was good to build trust on him. We talk a bit, and proceed to loot the airfield. Sadly the server restarts and I didn't even had the chance to know tha man's name.

 

Really unusual situation for me, I look like a bandit with bandana on face, weapons out and shit, the dude was with civilian clothes but armed and we both in a high risk place and we end up trusting eachother in the end. Chernarus does strange things to people.