DayZ SA Modding: A New Map

[LucidHills 94]

I really like the idea of very dark places that you 100% need a torch to see anything at all. So this would be caves and underground complexes as others have said.

 

As for a map, I kinda like the idea of a holiday island that was repurposed as a last stance for the military. I'm thinking a medium-small map with a small airport and a cruise ship sized dock. I think it'd be great if there was a fully enterable cruise ship and navy ship (possibly offshore a little bit) or even an aircraft carrier. These ships, no longer being staffed by a crew have gone dark and like I said, you would need a torch to explore. 

I suggest a holiday destination because I like the contrast between the paradise beaches with small huts, and beach chairs compared to the harsh military setup that has overtaken it.

Oh and if it's not in the game by the time modding is introduced, add blood on the walls/floor and bodies. As several others have said, tell a story with the environment. 

[S3V3N 1402]

I'm really looking forward to the release of modding tools, the sooner the better. Getting into the old tools is something I simply can't get myself motivated to do. It's likely the DayZ tools will be similar, but for all the better reasons I'm waiting on official release info now. 

 

I think the current engine won't work well with many unique building and highrise buildings. It's just gonna become too complex for the AI to handle. On top of that Dayz is not a parcours style game, so the movement through and over houses would feel awkward. Better stay away from big cities for now. 

 

A rural setting fits the game best, since we need lots of space on the map, so Chernarus was a good choice. However, if you are like me you've been playing the map since its ARMAII days and are getting bored with it. Doesn't matter how much they add or change, it will always feel like Chernarus. 

 

So, in order to start a new map, I'd first say start on another "note". What comes to mind is either a change from East (Russia) to West (USA), since basically the US-infrastructure and building style is simplistic when it comes to modeling. Sure, a baroque city with a small castle would be awesome, but the modeling alone would be a killer.

So secondly, I'd say its important to be efficient. If assets can be re-used from DayzSA and integrated with the new setting, that is a huge bonus, since you can populate a map with these assets first and use placeholders for your unique architecture; it will be much easier to prototype. 

Finally, scope is an issue. Nobody will build a map the size of Chernarus for a mod,  at least not right away. I'm still extremely surprised how many good maps there are made for Arma II. Taviana, Namalsk, Napf and others are just very well crafted maps. However to start with, I'd just take an area 1/16th of that size and see that everything works on a small scale, first. Prototyping and some modesty about initial goals will be important for anyone planning to release a new map. At least that's what I will do, since I have no prior experience with Arma mods/future Dayz mods. 

 

So for me it's either:

 

- islands map, starting with one island

- similar landscape to Days (to re-use assets), different environment (e.g. modern western architecture, vs. post USSR eastern)

 

I'm a bit curious how this will finally tie in with the Steam Workshop. In the past Dayz mods were free or at least for the regular client. It would suck, if people have to pay for that kind of content in the future. It would also suck, if we get overpowered weapons with 300-mags or just a flood of silly vanity items. I find its the right way to put Dayz on the Workshop, but I wonder how the microtransactions are going to work. I might make some money just selling skins for the game, while working on our mod. Donations would also be good to have, since there are product licenses, e.g. for Maya LT or World Machine 2 that could be paid for with donations.

 

I'm currently struggling with what to mod, ARK or DayZ. I know I won't have time for both, but I know Unreal Engine fairly well, while Enfusion is still a mystery and doesn't even have documentation or access yet. I toyed around with Ark Dev Kit and it's very easy to use if you used UDK/U4. However, I am strongly drawn to DayZ and feel it will be worth my investment of time, because ultimately I don't want to make the easier mod, I want to make the mod that I will want to play, too. Not alone though. So the final point would be: build a team. Alone you can change the map, but you can't change the game. 

Edited October 31, 2015 by S3V3N

[Yuval 221]

I find a quite nice solution - and I suggested it way before. Release a singleplayer option for modders to test stuff - I know things WILL change but for the next 2 updates they won't probably. Let us figure out how to make our own mods and test them in an offline environment so half of the community won't bash out about server files. Just give us a simple local exec console like you get in ArmA 3 and we're good to go. I really want to learn how would the attachment system work and regardless of the renderer they won't be changed anyway.

 

So come onnnnnnnnnn It's really not that hard to do and it will finally let us experience the first iteration of modding.

 

Enable BE or something so it will stop hackers or make it require an online connection and log everything so if hackers try to test their shit it won't work. But this is something that will really be awesome for: A) Modders to test their mods. B) The game itself as it will shape it's future eventually

 

Let us brute the wall by ourselves trying to fit towards the changes of modding after each update but please - let us mod content in... Modders are enjoying making their own mods way more than playing the actual game!!!

Edited October 31, 2015 by StanleyWasHappy

[BeefBacon 1185]

 

I'm a bit curious how this will finally tie in with the Steam Workshop. In the past Dayz mods were free or at least for the regular client. It would suck, if people have to pay for that kind of content in the future. It would also suck, if we get overpowered weapons with 300-mags or just a flood of silly vanity items. I find its the right way to put Dayz on the Workshop, but I wonder how the microtransactions are going to work

 

Huh? Microtransactions? Have you been talking to EA again?

[bonesnap 75]

All I really want is the Lingor map back in action. Tired of 200+ km maps with not seeing anyone for an hour or longer. Lingor was the most excitement I had during both the DayZ mod and DayZ SA days, and no one plays the damn map in the mod anymore because they are too busy jerking off NPC's in the new horrible "epoch" maps.

[pale1776 375]

Psh, give me either Namalsk or Taviana and I'm good.

Especially Esseker

[sneakydudes 278]

I would like the idea of importing arma2-3 maps, or mods whatever works.

 

Allow the server operator to design his server the way he or she wants. Having the tools to script, present different maps would be great.

 

I am eager to dabble into the dayz modding tools. Excited to be honest.

[Yuval 221]

You could actually "rebuild" any ArmA mao using Mikero tools, pac2pal ( or something like that) and some advance image software thing.

I once rebuild Taviana in ArmA 3's terrain builder. Took me about 40 mins - to generate a 0.5gb png image of the satmap (which is 26k pixels in height and width)

and a 3mb mask. Never continued from there, but I'm sure you can get an object file from mikero and build Taviana. Which is nice considering you don't release editions of the map publicly (Somewhere it is written you can use the files for education purposes only - and I cannot find a better way to practice object placement than to edit an existing map you know by heart).

I'm sure the same could be done for every map, including ChernarusPlus, and every ArmA 3 map. I could be wrong though.

Edited November 5, 2015 by StanleyWasHappy

[Konfucious K 183]

An oil rig off the coast could be cool, could throw a couple of tankers docked if it's not big enough. I would imagine a creative individual could adapt a significant amount of the existing models from SA for this. In fact, come to think of it, it is quite surprising there isn't one already around Czernarus... or a massive pipeline somewhere. How does Elektro even run? Imported coal?

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

The modding community will hopefully be able to pull this game out of it's slump with actually adding things the real players wanted. 

 

It's no surprise this game has been dying in the past couple years.  The devs have been focusing on knitting pom pom beanies and scarves for the bronies.  The real players from back in the day are fed up and waiting for the real DAYZ to come back. 

 

Now, I'll just sit here and await to be attacked by this horrible vocal minority that more than likely ruined the best game ever.

 

Did you have anything to actually contribute to this thread or are you just here to incite an argument?

[sausagekingofchicago 4711]

May be able to submit some small models/objects.  HIt me up with a few and I'll see what I can contribute.

 

Why do civilians in America need an M4?

 

There are a lot of history books to read if you're really wondering.

 

That being said, we really don't need this to turn back into a debate on guns as it was a few pages back.

Agreed. 

Edited November 26, 2015 by SausageKingofChicago

[brzator47@gmail.com 524]

The modding community will hopefully be able to pull this game out of it's slump with actually adding things the real players wanted. 

 

It's no surprise this game has been dying in the past couple years.  The devs have been focusing on knitting pom pom beanies and scarves for the bronies.  The real players from back in the day are fed up and waiting for the real DAYZ to come back. 

 

Now, I'll just sit here and await to be attacked by this horrible vocal minority that more than likely ruined the best game ever.

That's funny considering modding ironically ruined DayZ mod, the best game ever.

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

That's funny considering modding ironically ruined DayZ mod, the best game ever.

 

[sneakydudes 278]

That's funny considering modding ironically ruined DayZ mod, the best game ever.

I see lots of people playing dayz mod. How is it ruined?

 

Are you saying that there wasn't enough vanilla servers left after modding?

would that not conclude there wasn't enough support to run your own server with 0 mods?

 

You still have every option left in your arsenal to startup a dayz mod server and continue to repair it the way you see fit. Enough advertisement and you might have some friends to play with.

All it takes is some learning with scripts, and some c++ to make your own Mod.

 

The arma modding community is huge, many many people like to do this.

 

Its what we live for.

[sneakydudes 278]

anyways i would really like to see lots of information on creating your own map. Tools, and the same wiki type information of class names and images.

 

I cant wait to see where this goes.

[aces 8]

All I really want is the Lingor map back in action. Tired of 200+ km maps with not seeing anyone for an hour or longer. Lingor was the most excitement I had during both the DayZ mod and DayZ SA days, and no one plays the damn map in the mod anymore because they are too busy jerking off NPC's in the new horrible "epoch" maps.

 

I absolutely loved Lingor. Great memories of lone wolfing on that map, so awesome. Sad that it's no longer played.

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

No argument here, other than the one you might try to start because you didn't like what I said.

 

Truth hurts, huh?

 

To which truth are you referring? Whether or not you or I like something has no bearing on objective truth. For the record, I wasn't trying to start any argument. Just trying (again) to keep the thread on track.

Edited December 3, 2015 by ColdAtrophy

[Reacher (DayZ) 15]

Some really good ideas here.

Me, I am thinking in terms of the movie "I am Legend". A big ass city with zombies (or infected) roaming the streets in large numbers. Yummy :)

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

The fact that the modders will complete this game to the community standards when they finally give us the SDK.  

 

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=subjective+vs+objective

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

 

I haven't even touched on the fact that SA has bullet desync like I've never seen before.

 

 

Actually, you haven't touched on anything really. Other than your opinion that has little, if anything, to do with the topic at hand. I will ask you this one last time to please stay on topic. If you have something to add about what you'd like to see in DayZ within the context of new map ideas, then please share. Otherwise, please move along. The button for reporting nonsense is really easy to find.

[ScipioII 176]

New Map Idea: Walt Disney World Florida

I know this is probably not feasible due to copyrights etc. but something in a themepark line. 

But the disney princesses will make great infected characters, not to mention Goofy and Mickey...

[ColdAtrophy 1850]

New Map Idea: Walt Disney World Florida

I know this is probably not feasible due to copyrights etc. but something in a themepark line. 

But the disney princesses will make great infected characters, not to mention Goofy and Mickey...

 

I could see something like this becoming a thing. Obviously, one would have to invent a theme park. And also explain why there are guns and ammo everywhere. Still, as an element of a larger map, it could definitely work.

[Espa 711]

I'd love ADDITIONS to the original map, such as war-impacted zones. Craters left from artillery, as well as tons of broken ruins. A sprawling city capital that is constantly flooded with zed, as well as every supply you could possibly want, would be amazing.

 

Basically, that city would be a hellhole that would be both rewarding (if survived) and terrifying as it was the possible source for the Infection Attack.

 

Smack-dab in the center of the map would be neato.

[S3V3N 1402]

its all about choice...cherarus is so boring to many of us.

 

this would be amazing:

http://arma3.com/tanoa

 

look at those lush jungles!

 

It would be cool, if Bohemia would release these assets on the DayZ workshop to be used for modding! It's an awesome looking map and it seems they have either conquered the problem with models popping up (LOD), or they just made it look good for the trailer. Amazingly though even a Bohemia trailer can't run without frame chopping...

 

Also, please remember that ripping content from other games is illegal without prior consent from the creators; the problem with that is they can also revoke their consent. It's what happened with a project of mine (Duke Nukem Reloaded), which was first approved of by Gearbox, but as their release of DNF drew near they canned our fan project. Because it looked too good ^^

 

A great day-z map would be if someone could copy Michigan's Mackinac Island. It's a fairly small island with no cars, has a neat old timey town, TWO colonial era forts, and an airstrip. It's a combination of urban, suburban, and rural environments with a lot of rich features packed into a small area. With day-z nutbags running around it would be absolutely ridiculous. Since it's a historic area and tourist area there are lots of documentation and pictures for a talented modder to use.

 

Island overview:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this place! A lot of other ideas would be great, for example I'd love a downtown city map or a version of "Arlington" (Washington City suburb with the huge army graveyard). However, we already see the frames dropping severely in the comparable small cities we have now. A city map is not a good idea for a first modding experience, but I think we could make a smaller part of a city and block it off to the center, so at least you could loot the outskirts; at least it would look awesome! I'd also like something completely different, like Japan, for example. But that would mean dense city areas again...

 

What I like about Mackinac Island is that there is a nice, but not huge assortment of interesting places there. It would be possible to get a lot of information about the area, probably even a heightmap and sat imagery for the actual mapping process. On top of that, I could imagine survivor camps added to the existing locations and some camping spots in the forest. There could also be a lot of stranded boats or an ocean liner nearby to explore that has a full zombie crew; that would require some character modeling work, perhaps. Also, the survivors would probably wear lighter robes and short pants, etc. since we're not in the depressing rainscape of Chernarus any more. It would be a more colorful apocalypse :P

 

The only thing I don't like about the island is that it has no mountains. Perhaps it would be legit to change that and add at least one peak with, e.g. an observatory to create another point of interest. On the whole, I think a lot could be done to the place with a little bit of tweaking. 

 

My choice for a map would be Arkansas or Oregon coast. Especially Oregon coast has this solemn and depressing beauty we know from movies like "the road". The main problem will be creating all those new models needed and getting them to work ingame. I can model and texture, but I'm not gonna learn yet another game engine. I think when the time is right, I'll try to find a group to work with, so I can supply models, but others do the integration. It will be faster to work like that anyway. Looking forward to all the great stuff about to come! I want an america map, too. Even if it would be kinda generic, like in State of Decay it would still be awesome! But then there is a lot of things to think about: new vehicles are among them, but we can probably use some from ArmaII and I've seen modded muscle cars, etc. for it. So, provided we can get the approval of their creators, the first task should be to make a list of assets and find out, how many we can get that are already finished and need minor tweaking to work in Dayz.  

 

P.S.: I hav no idea why some of the text turned white. Sorry about that!

Edited December 5, 2015 by S3V3N

[sneakydudes 278]

Here is something i found out. This might help with the map and FPS.

Off the map in dayz i had 277+ fps Looking at 1-2 trees no objects.

 

On the map i had 45 fps, to 90fps depending. To a whopping 20 fps in heavy bugged cities.

Trees and buildings decreased the FPS a ton.

 

Graphics on high, with the current tool set in dayz.

 

If you where to make a map, size may only matter if we where loading the map up all together. So size i don't feel is a problem.

I think its more along the lines of what and how many objects are loading at once.

 

So what type of theme would you consider? a semi treed area, lots of water, lots of rocks, and fewer buildings?

 

Cities just don't seem to be nice. As much as we want them.