Beginner Lessons Learned After Four Days (1.7.1.5)

[astroz0mbie 5]

1st Day - Installing the game was f'n hard. This was because I joined when the beta version of Arma 2 had some compatibility issues with DayZ.

Afterwards, everything has gone well.

1. Steam install pointers... run Steam as Admin, Install Arma 2 CO.

2. Start Arma 2 and let it load up completely.

3. Start Arma 2 Op Arrowhead and let it load completely.

4. Copy your DayZ Mod files to the correct folder (documented in the install guide)

5. Install the Beta version of Arma 2.

6. Make a backup copy of your arma exe file, then copy the beta over to the right folder (check the install guide).

2nd Day -

I started in 1.7.1.4 and never got to start with a gun.

Starting without a gun sucks, but get over it and play the game.

Spend your first few hours doing the following.

-Run around trying to figure out how close you can get to zombies and how to outrun and lose them.

-Run around and figure out what buildings you can go into and which you can't. (You can go into buildings you can see in to, if you can't see into a building, you probably can't enter it)

-When you log in, look on the bottom right and figure out when you spawned. Try to get oriented and figure out where you are on the map.

I prefer dayzdb.com, but there are lots of online maps.

Face it, you are going die of dehydration and starvation until you figure things out...

3rd Day -

Once you get yourself oriented and figure out how to navigate, you have a choice.

Locate the closest deer stand and try to loot it for a weapon. (You will need one to get into buildings that have zombies inside them... I had a hard time finding supplies because I could get really close to a building only to have it filled with zombies.)

Hit the inland towns. The shores are filled with player killers. I was killed a number of times even after handing over supplies trying to show I was friendly.

4th Day -

Hopefully you have gotten finding a weapon down. Now make your way to some of the barns and stuff near towns. Find some supplies inside. (water bottle is critical in 1.7.1.5) and you will need matches and a hatchet to be able to build fires and make food (this is where I am at now)

Also, if you need to shoot zombies... try to go inside a building... They walk when they are inside...

I've been able to survive for a while sticking inland and skirting roads but I'm about to starve because I lost my matches f'n around with my backpack... I tried to put them in and they got deleted...

In the beginning the learning curve was a challenge because you are expecting a free world where you can do whatever you want.

Keep in mind this is alpha testing so things are going to be rough and from what I can tell only getting better...

Once you get those things down, the game seems more enjoyable. Still alot out there to explore.

Playing solo is quite isolating and can be frustrating... so be prepared if you can't get friends to play...

[astroz0mbie 5]

Ok... Logged in and was close to starvation... Risked looting a church to find out it was a single loot small room off the side of the church.

Also, this is my first encounter with crawling zombies.... Made my last stand shooting about six zombies... Attracted a horde and ran through them with about 300 blood left. Died about 150 yards out.. Back to shore to explore again...

[Berkut4796 0]

Nice to see you detailing your experiences and trying to provide other newcomers with some advice, its a refreshing attitude :).

[svardskampe 45]

You better use empty tin cans and throw them to lure zombies out of a building rather than having to find a weapon first.

Btw, search for an axe first, since you will probably spawn around a big city, it would be easy to find one. You can add it as your primary weapon with "Remove from toolbelt" option. Good for silent kills and your first defense.

[Toilet 204]

Shame you died, was going to ask if you wanted some food.

[astroz0mbie 5]

Ok this respawn I decided to be more bold. I had been crawling into town and I made it in and got a shotgun... With four shells. I found an axe and tried to equip it. I kept getting you do not have enough room in your inventory. I had to shoot a zombie and make a dash for the hills. I tried again in the hills and ended up deleting my shot gun. Once I lost that shotgun I could remove the hatchet from my tool belt and use it.... This time I low jog (x) ran into the town and into the building and silently disposed of a few zombies... I got hit by a few who came through a closed door... Found another shot gun and picked it up... Ran to the hills again only to realize I had dropped my hatchet for the shotgun.

Ran back and picked it up and settled in the hills with only 4k blood.

Finding optimal exposure and losing zombies really helps your gaming experience. Originally I spent a lot of time moving in stealth and avoiding contact.

[guidez 180]

It used to be harder when the zombies followed you across the map and logging in took forever: You were less willing to disconnect, so you were forced to take out zombies that you couldn't lose.

[Hetstaine 10852]

Shotgun is a virtually useless weapon. I would rather throw cans than get caught in a tight spot with the shottie.

Be careful with some items , like you found out with the axe/shottie. I always selct GEAR instead of PICK UP. That way you can see what is happening in your inventory

If you come across a bigger pack, czech . alice etc ..drop your smaller bag first then pick up the bigger bag. Then go back to your smaller bag and grab what you need out of it.

good luck :)

[ThatGuyCalledReptile 314]

Another tip is be prepared to not find anything. Set your hopes low, Like a makarov. Then you will be even more appreciative of an AK or if you get lucky with a deer stand, a DMR.

[bofadeez 2]

Personally, I just avoid the hell out of zombies, and it works very well for me. I pretty much never kill zombies in a town, or anywhere else for that matter. If I'm scavenging and I screw up, I haul ass out of town, then turn and kill the agrod ones. I find firing my weapon in town probably just means I'm going to be hauling ass with MORE zombies on my tail than if I'd just started running. If you're in a town near a steep hill, that's an easy way to ditch the zombies. Just find a slope that's too steep to run straight up, do some zig-zagging, and they're gone.

I am a stealth game veteran though, and Day Z zombies are very, very easy to stealth around once you figure out their detection rules. Keep a little distance, don't ever run, always crouch, and they pretty much won't see you unless you walk into one. IMO shooting zombies is just a waste of ammo. The one exception might be clearing out a barracks or a heli crash. Even in those cases, I'd probably only shoot if the zombie was standing right on top of something I wanted.

[astroz0mbie 5]

More lessons learned... when you arm yourself with a hatchet... don't forget to hit reload right away... I suffered a broken leg because my hatchet wasn't "loaded".

I assume a fix for this is on the way.

I know this gets said alot.. but don't trust anyone. Assume everyone on here is a player killer.... After playing for days on my own, I was headed into electro and was hiding behind a tree because I heard gunshots... the guy ran right by me and I warned him of my location via mic... I know I had to have scared him... he said he had no ammo... I had no gun but I had a hatchet... I asked if he wanted to join up to head into electro... he said yes, he's going to meet some guys... we run the rest of the way and when we get to a hill right outside electro... the douche bag starts shooting me. I had a bit of ammo, a hatchet and some other easily to find items so I took a chance... (I saw his name in game... I should have went to the lobby where it lists players names and wrote it down :))

I should keep those names on a post it note beside my monitor. :)

The world is truly doomed if PC gamers survive a zombie outbreak...