NPH - New Player's Handbook, what you need to know.

[knyghtfalcon 10]

I see plenty of posts, people asking for help or not knowing what to do. And of course people offer advice, some people write guide posts as well, and I've decided to try and make a 'Player Handbook'. Something that includes information from all sorts of posts and resources to make a handbook for both the new player, or even the more experienced players. It will be updated regularly, with more added to it. I'll try to keep it simple on the outside, and provide more in depth information as the guide continues.

 

Section one - 

 

You're here, you're in the world. You spawn, you have pants and a shirt, and some battery and a flashlight. First thing a lot of people do is get curious, look around, click on things. Some people laugh when they see you can lick your battery, or they'll just enjoy the way the world looks. No matter what though, unless you've already recieved advice or you're very familiar with survival type games, you might start to panic. It's a big world, with lots to think about, and it's easy to get turned around or lost if you're a new player. 

 

A few things first! 

 

Get out a seperate device, phone or tablet or a laptop maybe. Open up these.

 

http://dayz.gamepedia.com/

http://dayzdb.com/map/chernarusplus

 

A map, and access to a wealth of knowledge in the form of the gamepedia page. A lot of information is present here.

 

Now, look on the map, the second link. First thing is to get your bearings. Find a sign where you are, and check the map. Can you match up the names? If you can, you have a huge advantage of knowing where you are. Find out information about the area and plot out your course of action. If you can't match the names, look for landmarks you see and check the map for them. It's a little less accurate, but it's useful.

 

Now, once you have this done, begin your traveling. It's good to start by going house to house and picking up what food or clothing you find. Good, high inventory slot clothing is useful, and it's better to find clothes that are either worn or pristine. With the added inventory slots, you can carry more food you find. A backpack is also a good advantage, but if you can't find one now you'll be able to later.

 

Good things to look for are -

- Water Bottles/Canteens

- Can Openers (If you can't find one, screwdrivers, knives, and bayonets work as well.)

- Splitting Axes/Fire Axes (Fire axes are way more rare.)

 

What this will give you is a way to open canned food without spilling much, a weapon(The Axe) and a refillable source of water. While you're wandering, you'll find small ponds and streams around to drink from and fill your bottle or canteen, which will allow you to stay alive in the wilderness longer or re hydrate you when you need it. Keep at least one bottle of water with you, it'll come in handy. The axes are good for killing zombies, but not as effective with human players. Putting yourself in melee range puts yourself at way higher risk in PVP, and players with guns will... Well, gun you down. If you can be stealthy, you may get an easy melee kill, but more than likely you'll get a bullet. 

 

Once you've looted the first town you're in, find another town nearby. Some players stay on the coast, some players go inland. I like to stay on the coast for a short time when I start, but if there is a high population of players, you're better off inland. So, after you've picked a place, next pick a goal location. A place you want to get too, maybe with good loot or a higher population for PVP if that's what you're after. Find this place, make a note of the name. Now go to the first town you spotted, and from there keep going from town to town to your destination. It works well this way, and you shouldn't get lost. You'll also pick up some good gear along the way. 

 

Things to look for -

 

Binoculars.

Compass.

Backpacks. 

High capacity food/Good nourishment food (Rice/Tuna/Canned Goods)

Green, Brown or Black colored clothing.

Ammunition

 

Once you reach your first destination, great! You've made your first trek in a large, dangerous world. If you die along the way, that's no problem. DayZ is a game where death is very prominent. Don't get mad, figure out why you died and make plans to avoid it in the future. Die of starvation/Thirst? Find more food and stock up on more! Die to a zombie? Make sure you have an axe or other melee weapon, and try to avoid them when you can. PVP? Avoid that town if it has players and try a different route.

 

Section two -

 

Movement, things to know, tactical advantage!

 

Players some times don't realize the mechanics that can help you. Mainly versus other players, or for spotting zombies.

 

When approaching a corner, edge yourself to the very end and press either -q- or -e- depending on the direction. You'll peer around the edge and may see something you hadn't before. 

 

Use third person when you can! It's a huge advantage, and everyone has access to it. See around walls, see above you. It's useful and is used constantly. If you do not appreciate this, or if it seems to break immersion, there are servers with a small tag listed as 'First Person Only', which ban the use of this feature.

 

Use the numpad, it allows you to look behind yourself, or to your sides. You can do this while running, climbing, crawling, etc etc. It can save your life.

 

Crawl, move slow, don't run head first. When dealing with other players, you have a huge advantage if they can't see you. Stay hidden, be stealthy.

 

Don't take shots if you aren't sure you won't kill. People can fire like crazy, but depending on the situation, most of the time they won't land but a single shot. People fail to realize you can aim down sights, and use PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN to zero in on your range, and place accurate shots. While this doesn't go for all situations, it's a good thing to remember. If you want to lay down covering fire or suppressing fire, then be my guest! It's great for groups. But if you aren't in a firefight and you're not at risk yet, use patience and take the time you need to lay down accurate shots.

 

Don't trust people you don't know. People may call for help, some may say they're friendly, but most of the time they are dangerous. Don't approach people who are armed or seem like a threat. Don't put yourself at risk!

 

Camo clothes actually help! Depending on the area, camouflage clothing can seriously benefit you. DayZ is not a game where your tag appears when they put their cross hairs over you. If you look like a bush, and they think you're a bush, they have nothing else to tell them otherwise. It can save your life if you lay down in foliage while people are attempting to kill you. You might convince them you've just left or dissipated. Do you want to be a super duper army trained L33T ghille suit sniper? Well, it actually works in this situation. 

 

Section three - 

 

Find your place in the world, pick your play style and the gear based around that.

 

Do you play solo? Try these generalized 'Load Outs' if you're having trouble picking through countless layers of items to find what is best. 

 

Do you enjoy close ranged areas or combat? Maybe good zombie killing weapons. Maybe you like to stay in cities? You can try a 'CQC' (Close Quarters Combat) Loadout.

 

Guns to look for -

Shotguns

Assault Rifles

Pistols

 

Clothing to look for -

Gray or black clothing, try and get vests and helmets to give you extra protection.

 

Advantages -

Close quarters in cities allows you to be near loot constantly. Focus on stocking up on what you need, find food as you go, constantly fill your pack!

Pistols and Shotguns aren't useful in long range, but they are very useful and can dominate in close quarters.

More intense, stressful battles, more fun!

More zombies in cities, for the PVE enthusiast!

More cover, lots of escape routes, ways to escape.

 

Disadvantages -

At risk of being sniped.

More at risk of being snuck up on.

Close areas, tighter fighting, more dangerous.

Zombies can become an issue.

Players appear more often in cities, and puts you at more of a risk.

 

Do you enjoy staying at a distance? Perhaps you're a long range enthusiast! Try this 'Sniper' inspired loadout.

 

Guns to look for -

Marksman rifles (Preferably a mosin, but an SKS is also a good rifle.)

Assault rifles (Preferably use semi auto only when in these situations of long range combat. It's useful though, because you can switch modes of fire if you're suddenly thrown into close quarters.)

Side arms (For emergency, if you need something to fire fast at close range. Good if people outflank you or try to sneak up on you.)

 

Clothing to look for -

Green or camo clothing, ballistic helmet or a green bandana. (Best if you stay in foliage with this. A bush walking through a city isn't exactly... Being hidden.)

 

 

Advantages -

Safer, at a distance, less likely to be noticed.

Less stressful, some times slower paced. Take your time to make the shot.

Less risk of being snuck up on.

Easy to escape.

 

Disadvantages -

Little access to more supply.

Risk of being outflanked.

Risk of running out of ammo.

Once you shoot, people will be all over you.

Requires more skill, knowledge of distance adjustments.

 

 

But if you want to be versatile, you can try an assault rifle or a semi auto rifle like the SKS, pick the clothing that suits you best, and stay moving!

 

Section four 

 

The in depth mechanics that most people don't see.

 

Blood 

Hunger

Thirst

Energy

'Health'

 

These are all in affect, and these videos are very useful in explaining it! Better than I can at least.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7-m7Hjc8zk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zci9FnbXoNE

((Blood and Health, hunger and thirst, In depth guides! /\ ))

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDmVcJe94Wo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BI1Jpr3ASI

((Status guides and medical item guides! /\))

 

 

((Guide will be updated, it's in progress currently. Contribute if you want, you will be credited appropriately.))

[Conrad_The_Comrade 577]

First flaw (After which I stopped) is telling people to open a map from the internet. This game is intended not to know exactly where you are when you start. You're supposed to gain your bearings and find out your location, use the IG compass and map, and thrive to survive.

[leviski 2152]

Great guide if you want to ruin new players experiences and teach them tactical KOS tactics.

[Cptn_Miller 83]

if your on a daytime only server = dump flashlight and battery...

 

then take off your shirt / right click on it / make into rags / pick up rags..... if you are bleeding, right click on rags in inv and use... this will stop the bleeding.  most shirts and bandanas can be turned into rags = life saver.

[knyghtfalcon 10]

I'm teaching people survival tactics available to all players. It may not be intended, but unfortunately they are there. Not using them is putting you at a disadvantage.

 

@Stryker

Edited September 11, 2014 by Knyghtfalcon

[Beck (DayZ) 1768]

In section 2 add something about holding down the ALT key to look around rather then using NUM PAD. Also, double tapping the ALT key allows for free look. Also, you should provide different play style examples and how to survive by playing the game differently, whether you want to be a tree huger, PvP addict, or a friendly guy.

Edited September 11, 2014 by Beck

[MaxTheSurvivor 152]

You can add the FOV settings tip, good for snipers, good for scavengers, good for anybody who needs to enhance his vision.