How to Approach other players?

[kimmaz 63]

Do you guys have any tips on how to approach another player with the intention of talking/joining them without them feeling threatened and attack you? What If there are zombies nearby, do you keep your weapon on your back, or in your backpack, or do you lay it on the ground? Or do you simply avoid others? I've been killed by a lot of ppl, doesn't matter if I got no weapon or what gear I have, seems like ppl meet so few others that when they finally do, they are desperate for pvp action or something,, even if they only have their hands as weapons.

[grindstone50k 208]

Have the advantage and keep your gun out. Explain your intentions clearly. Be ready to shoot at the first sign of a threat.

Edited September 25, 2014 by Grindstone

[tobias winfro 305]

There is no specific answer to your question, some will be friendly but most will kill you straight out. Your best bet is just to observe and be cautious but when you do try to engage them in conversation be prepared to die. Its a 50/50 shot if someone is gonna kos but all you can do is try. Be careful of people who claim friendly but then smack you around when you have your back turned

Edited September 25, 2014 by Tobias Winfro

[BAHADIR 124]

Never ever trust survivors with no clothing. Shoot Russians on sight.

[irishroy 1347]

 

How to Approach other players?

You don't. You avoid them.

That's how you apporach other players.

 

 

 

(that's at least my motto)

Edited September 25, 2014 by irishroy

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

From behind with your gun pointed at their head.

[Calvin Candie 189]

Do you guys have any tips on how to approach another player with the intention of talking/joining them without them feeling threatened and attack you? What If there are zombies nearby, do you keep your weapon on your back, or in your backpack, or do you lay it on the ground? Or do you simply avoid others? I've been killed by a lot of ppl, doesn't matter if I got no weapon or what gear I have, seems like ppl meet so few others that when they finally do, they are desperate for pvp action or something,, even if they only have their hands as weapons.

Ok let me share my wisdom here. There is a key to peacefully solve cca 80% of encounters.

Here is how, even if you are outnumbered.

Upper hand. Take a picture of a situation. Analyse what they are doing. Catch them unprepared (looting, eating ect.).

Vocalise your intentions, be friendly but equip a weapon. Lead the situation. Say what you intend, ask them what they intend. Trade stuff. Part peacefully. Check your back while leaving.

[JokersWarPig 16]

If they don't speak your language kill them.

If they have a fire arm kill them.

If they attempt to get within three feet of your player character kill them.

If they sound legitimately scared or they ask you for food/water/supplies you can probably trust them, but that's 50/50

If they ask for a gun/ammunition do not give it to them.

 

If you do end up having them join you then you should keep them in your field of view at all times

[kimmaz 63]

If they have a fire arm kill them.

 

If most ppl think like that, and most ppl have atleast a .22 or a shotgun without ammo very early on,, then most ppl would shoot anyone ^^ but its probably smart

[Caboose187 (DayZ) 3036]

If most ppl think like that, and most ppl have atleast a .22 or a shotgun without ammo very early on,, then most ppl would shoot anyone ^^ but its probably smart

99.9% shoot fresh spawns.

[JokersWarPig 16]

If most ppl think like that, and most ppl have atleast a .22 or a shotgun without ammo very early on,, then most ppl would shoot anyone ^^ but its probably smart

 

It's just my experience, I've been chatted up by lone people with guns and then killed mid conversation to ever trust a lone gunman again. On the other hand though the groups of 2+ people with guns I've run into have been very friendly, even going as far as to give me some very basic kit

[Dagwood 680]

Don't give them the opportunity to hurt you. Putting your weapon on the ground or even not having it drawn makes you an easy target. Approaching someone as a friendly and as a bandit should be almost identical.

"Don't move! I have a rifle pointed at your head. I just want to talk, etc."

If they don't comply or make any aggressive moves, you kill them, loot them, and move on. Dying over and over hoping to meet a friendly player is stupid. Keep the situation in control, and don't give them the chance to hurt you. People tend to respect wary survivors much more than the blindly trusting ones.

[Postmaster 3]

Sometimes it's a chance you take. I have meet some really cool people in dayz that I have now been playing with for over a year. But the situation started off tense and both sides taking a risk. Going into the situation be prepared to lose your stuff if you really want to take a chance.

[MaxTheSurvivor 152]

The truth is that there's no trick to approach people when you're a lone wolf, yet there are some pseudo-rules that you should keep in mind when you want to interact with others and this either you're alone or in group:

 

1. Avoid military facilities or über rare loot locations (greed and jalousy trigger anger).

2. If you need to go in these places always assume that you're not alone and that the guy you want to talk to is not alone either. (Keep in mind that even if the guy you start to talk to seems a nice guy there may be someone else around that both of you are unaware of, making both of you easy targets for KoS, therefore don't start to talk in dangerous places and go in the forest if you want to do so).

3. If you still want to make contact, ask yourself this simple question: what are we going to talk about? are we going to trade some items, team up for the time of this session or longer, do I need help, does he need help? If you cannot answer this simple question then there's no need for you to take the slightest risk because the truth is that you don't need to talk to other people. Even worse, your hesitations may make the other suspicious about you "Maybe you're on teamspeak setting a trap for him?".

4. As Caboose187 said, try to have the advantage, do not run right away in front of people yelling "Friendly, friendly". YOU have to decide when and where you will make contact, and in an advantageous position of course.

5. Be prepared for the worst and have a PLAN B, if you decided when and where then you should always think "What if?" and decide of an ESCAPE ROUTE that will allow you to lose your opponents (preferably near woods, never hide in a building except if you intend to flee using combat log)

6. Numbers matter, if you're outnumbered understand that you're not in control of the situation and the best is to wait for the perfect moment and go the hell out of there.

7. Approach people that are at pretty much the same level of gear you are. Don't think with this western countries socialist mentality "I'm going to help this fresh spawn", the guy will stab you in the back sooner than later. If the encounter seems unbalanced it may turn bad, the strong will tend to despise you, considering you as an easy target to test his new assault rifle on and the weak will only see you as a quick way to gear up.

 

It may just be a game, but the lack of police or justice in DayZ brings back in all of us the same feeling of insecurity forcing us to do bad things in order to survive.

[Rags! 1966]

My Golden Rule for interacting with players:

 

Never leave your fate in anybody's hands but your own.

[Death By Crowbar 1213]

It honestly depends on how I feel at the moment, and also whether:

1. If I've survived for a while and have some gear I happen to like?
   In this case I'll likely use caution and potentially avoid confrontation. However, if I see someone in distress I'll usually try to help, and if someone approaches me with their mic I'll likely spare what I have, especially if they're looking for something simple such as something to open cans with or bandages.
2. If I'm a bambi?
   In this case I'll likely take more risks and be more likely to interact hoping for charity and or cooperative help. In the few times I tried to take out someone well geared as a bambi have never gone well so I'm not one of the kamakazi "gear up quick by killing you because I have nothing to lose anyway" bambis.
3. If I've got an agenda - such as trying to meet up with someone, or go on a journey somewhere such as Balota or NWAF, or I'm on a mission to try something like fishing or making a bow and trying bow hunting?
   In this case I'll likely be a ghost, you'll never see me. I'll use the woods, deep woods, and avoid all roads or being seen at all. If I see someone at all I will avoid at all costs and will keep running with my weapons away for maximum speed. If I'm trying out a game mechanic for grins I may also try to find a low pop or empty server so I can do it in peace and quiet.
4. If I'm completely bored?
   In this case things get fun. I'll hide and use my mic a lot to draw people in and potentially have some fun interaction, if hilarity ensues, great. If someone dies, well, that's fine too. Running down main street in Berezino blaring "Turn down for what!" or "Harlem Shake" always makes for amusement. Sometimes I'll randomly throw chem lights at people and run away. Or I might simply follow someone running circles around them while leaning side to side and looking as silly as possible. Maybe I'll create my own zombie train and drag them to where I know other people are, that's always fun when there's a bunch of friendlies sitting around chatting. Sometimes I chop down as many trees as I can in a town for grins and then discuss what hard work I did with anyone who passes by... this gets me killed a lot though, I either get the KOS guy or the hippy tree hugger who doesn't appreciate my efforts.

Bottom line, it depends on what I'm up to and my mood.

[Cptn_Miller 83]

If they don't speak your language kill them.

If they have a fire arm kill them.

If they attempt to get within three feet of your player character kill them.

If they sound legitimately scared or they ask you for food/water/supplies you can probably trust them, but that's 50/50

If they ask for a gun/ammunition do not give it to them.

 

If you do end up having them join you then you should keep them in your field of view at all times

Words of wisdom... words of wisdom...  glad im not the only one that shoots non-english speaking people asap... and no, the cold war is not over...

[barnabus 1708]

I had an experience with a Bambi who approached me and tried to talk, I was just trying to evade and did not feel like talking, I was looking for a tent so I didn't want any company.  He was persistent to the point that I had no choice but to shoot him, he kept invading my personal space, which in this game is about five meters. 

[dirrly 70]

My Golden Rule for interacting with players:

 

Never leave your fate in anybody's hands but your own.

 

That's ok... but it's more difficult in reality.

 

Yesterday I was at a military base. Walked out of a barrack, when I noticed another player. I didn't want trouble so I searched for a place to hide and went into a garage, pointing my gun towards the entrance and waited. A short time later someone entered the garage. Now you have just 2 options. Shoot or don't shoot. Each of it can be wrong or right. I decided to shoot not and yelled "friendly". The other player had his gun in Hands, but not pointed at me and answered also "friendly". I said that I will lower my weapon too, what I did. Seconds later his 3 friends also entered the garage. He said to them that I am ok and we talked a short time. They asked me to join them, because they searched only specific items in the Military buildings and would let me the rest if I want it. So I did. This time my decision was right. Because I survived, would I have shot the first guy, it would have been difficult to kill 3 more or to flee. Next time it could be the wrong decision.

 

Eeehm, what I wanted to say. Acting not (in this case shooting not) doesn't mean I didn't have the fate in my own hands. ;-)

Edited September 25, 2014 by dirrly

[ebrim 998]

Yell into your mic: "Hi fellow survivor!"

 

Alternately: "Cheeki breeki!" and open fire.

[BugZ (DayZ) 49]

If they don't speak your language kill them.

If they have a fire arm kill them.

If they attempt to get within three feet of your player character kill them.

If they sound legitimately scared or they ask you for food/water/supplies you can probably trust them, but that's 50/50

If they ask for a gun/ammunition do not give it to them.

 

If you do end up having them join you then you should keep them in your field of view at all times

IF they say too much if kill them.

[ChainReactor 922]

On top of the other guys advices, one thing that i always stick to is:

 

Sound friendly

 

You cannot expect a controlled encounter when you start yelling "YO PUT YOUR EFFING GUN DOWN" and throw the other player in panic. Mostly, when i'm confident that i have the drop on the other player, i just say "Hello man, i'm friendly and i have my gun aimed at you" ( I love how ridiculously less sense that makes :) ) with a relaxed voice. If he stops and answers, this is the point - as stated before - to make your intentions as clear as possible. If you're hiding in cover, don't leave it until at least this point. Noone likes to be suprised, give the other player a chance to realise and get used to the situation. I do that almost every time and roughly 8/10 of my encounters ( with communication ) are friendly.

 

You have to be selective though. If you encounter a fully geared squad of 6 people, sometimes you could sing "Don't cry for me, Argentinia" over Direct and they still turn your body into a bloody pile of mud.

 

Speaking about "sound friendly" : One day i couldnt find anything else but tracksuits, so i decided to RP my way. I just "jogged" towards Berezino and when i met the first player on my way, I opened my mic and said "Good morning sir, already picked up your newspaper?" while passing him with a tone in my voice like you really would meet your neighbour on your morning run around the block.

 

I wouldnt call that an encounter though, because he interrupted my cardio with his shotgun immediately.

[kimmaz 63]

Many great advice's here! someone should pick the thread up and make a guide of it on dayzintel or something :D

 

I really play dayz for the survival, and exploring.. When I want some pvp action I go play some competitive CS:GO ffs!! hehe,, I think this thread makes my dayz playing alot saver and more fun, thank you everyone!

[sachad 1016]

Agreed with the tone of voice. I judge people mainly on how they talk to me. Squeakers and screamers will likely get shot at. People with a relaxed and calm demeanor will not.

 

I've also noticed that being outnumbered adds a layer of protection, which seems counterintuitive. A lone player in my experience is far more likely to be hostile than a group. Groups feel safer when approaching lone players so they are less inclined to shoot you. Even if one of them dies at your hands, the rest will kill you, and the dead one will just come back to collect his gear.

 

Also, never ever raise your hands in surrender unless specifically told to. I saw a guy walk towards another person with his hands up, trying to look non-threatening. He got shot instantly.

 

And if possible, talk to them without them seeing you. 

[Cpanther 221]

Is always a 85% chance you will get kill... if you want to approach people be ready to die a lot, but you will die a lot from snipers and koSers anyway.. so.. why not.

 

Also...don't do things because you see people doing it in youtube... most of that Vids are prearrange and recorder in private servers.