idea for a starting weapon

[whitey (DayZ) 0]

Okay, I agree that starting with the makrov or a hatchet is a bad idea, and that I believe starting out with a traditional weapon is a bad idea because it would totally kill the suspense. But I can't tell you how many times I've searched 5+ barns/houses/loot spots only to not get so much as a crowbar, and while searching one zombie will spot me and cause enough damage to pretty much cripple me to the point where I die or need to re-spawn.

What I suggest is starting with a weapon that is capable of "breaking", (maybe a pocket knife?). Every time you spawn you get this weapon and it is maybe capable of killing .5,1 maybe 2 (or more) zeds before it "breaks" and becomes un-usable ever again. This way, early game if one zed spots you, you're not completely screwed, but it also means you can't go on a spree like you could if you had a hatchet. I think this would be a great way to prevent cheap early game deaths.

I'm also thinking the amount of zombies you can kill with it could be random. Sometimes you can kill 3 with it, sometimes you might only be able to land one hit on a zed before it breaks.

[Sparklefart 10]

There was nothing wrong with starting with a makrov just the amount my mags needs need to be reduced to 1 MAYBE 2

[enforcer1975 1111]

Most ppl overestimate a knife...read what happens when untrained ppl fight with edged weapons.

[L0G!N (DayZ) 149]

I have been suggesting finding 'drift wood' on the beach with say 15 'shots' on them, needing 5 'shots' to kill a zombie... while it may still mean you end up bleeding and with 6000HP atleast it would give you something...

[Takas 91]

I think spawning unarmed is currently the best solution. The game style encourages you to play stealthy and defensive, which I like. But you are not forced to do so. You can always run into the next house and hope for a weapon. Zombies won't chase you down completely. And if you don't find anything... try again in the next place. Repeat. Profit.

Edited July 13, 2012 by Takas

[Zeromentor 169]

Most ppl overestimate a knife...read what happens when untrained ppl fight with edged weapons.

This a million times. So many people think that knives are the wonder weapons that humans overlooked in history for whatever reason, when in reality they are not 'easy' to use. Killing a person with a blade is risky business and very hard without proper training. Killing a zombie would be much, much harder, as they seem to ignore our normal human limits.

So yeah... I'd rather not start with a weapon. Sure, when I die, it's in packs of 10-15 times before I get lucky and find a great loot spawn pile in a store, or find a dead survivor with everything I need, and those deaths are from either swarms of the infected before I get a weapon, or from a player soon after I do. But the feeling of having NOTHING for defense at the start is something you won't get many other places.

And I was against spawning without weapons in the beginning.

Edited July 13, 2012 by Zeromentor

[xloppielx 2]

I just started trying to play this game and I have got to say starting out with nothing to defend your self is crap, especially since you cant even swing your fists to try and punch a zombie. If you made it so you could at least use some sort of melee attack than not having a weapon would be ok.

[aversionfx 63]

This a million times. So many people think that knives are the wonder weapons that humans overlooked in history for whatever reason, when in reality they are not 'easy' to use. Killing a person with a blade is risky business and very hard without proper training. Killing a zombie would be much, much harder, as they seem to ignore our normal human limits.

Oh, thanks for your wisdom, Armchair Expert! Who would have thought that to kill a person you'd need to be an expert!

And here I was, thinking that all you had to do with a knife was insert the pointy end, pull it out, and re-insert it! What a fool I've been!

I wish the self-proclaimed experts would just not post their (incorrect) expertise.

[Quagmire (DayZ) 119]

No.

[xloppielx 2]

I think spawning unarmed is currently the best solution. The game style encourages you to play stealthy and defensive, which I like. But you are not forced to do so. You can always run into the next house and hope for a weapon. Zombies won't chase you down completely. And if you don't find anything... try again in the next place. Repeat. Profit.

Zombies won't chase you down completely? WTF if Im being chased by a zombie and I run into a house that doesn't have a way out besides the one I came in I am guaranteed to be taking some kind of damage, they follow you right in. On the off chance you find a weapon in the house with a zombie chasing you it does you no good because stopping to try and pick it up and then having to equip it will get you killed unless you take off running some wear else and find something to loose or slow the zombie on to make it back to pick it up and hope you don't run into another zombie on the way.

[YourStepDad 6]

There was nothing wrong with starting with a makrov just the amount my mags needs need to be reduced to 1 MAYBE 2

There was. Players PKing each other at start. Everything was wrong with it. Having just one bullet would be wrong. Go away.

[Ramtex 1]

You know you can pick up empty tins and cans to throw them to attract infected away from where you want to walk. Same thing with flares.

Get creative. They don't even give you food to start off with, maybe you should be asking for food and water before wepons?

[DayZPvP.com 143]

I usually have some kind of AK or AKM, a pack and 1/2 of may basic kit in about 30 minutes. Make sure you hit med/high value stuff, don't bother with the tiny houses, although I have found 2 packs in a log cabin before.

[Lanceo90 5]

I really think you should spawn with a hatchet at least.

Honestly, when we all think about surviving in the real world in a zombie apocalypse we look to the stuff we may find in our house. I think everyone has been in there kitchen at least once, found their largest/sharpest knife and told themselves "I'd take this with me if it came down to it."

I don't know what the background idea is for your character, but I imagine he grabbed a backpack, threw some stuff in that looked useful in his own home and bolted. I think he(or she) would take the time to grab a kitchen knife, or screwdriver even. The character had time to get to the medecine cabinent(painkillers and bandages), he should have had time to grab some sort of weapon.

But that's my suggestion. Add an item like a kitchen knife or screwdriver. Not being meant to be weapons they would have a lot less shots than a hatchet and perhaps even shorter range.

Because honestly when I saw the videos and blogs about the game that got me really pumped for it was more for the PvP aspect. There's that old saying "It's not the zombies you need to worry about, it's the people." Well I've only died once directly by a player, once indirectly(got shot at till my bones broke, glitched out of the building, fell on zombies, zombies killed me), but I've died... I don't know, more than ten times to zombies. Usually it's while I'm prone-crawling and somehow get spotted by a zombie a kilometer away.

I will say starting with no gun is just fine. Not a huge cross section of society has firearms in their home, so it's totally understandable to not start with the magnum or the makarov. However I think everyone has a descent knife in their kitchen, and if the character you play had the time to go to the bathroom and get medical stuff, he should have had time to grab a knife.

I'm not sure what the logic is to having no weapon at all at start. I can see guns, newly spawned people could easily kill long time players or new spawns themselves. but if you start them with a melee weapon, they pose no threat to players since other new players could just run and long time players can shoot them at a distance. Having a melee weapon at start would just help a ton with dealing with what seem to be entirely un-avoidable walkers.

[cr8ondude42 0]

I really think you should spawn with a hatchet at least.

Honestly, when we all think about surviving in the real world in a zombie apocalypse we look to the stuff we may find in our house. I think everyone has been in there kitchen at least once, found their largest/sharpest knife and told themselves "I'd take this with me if it came down to it."

I don't know what the background idea is for your character, but I imagine he grabbed a backpack, threw some stuff in that looked useful in his own home and bolted. I think he(or she) would take the time to grab a kitchen knife, or screwdriver even. The character had time to get to the medecine cabinent(painkillers and bandages), he should have had time to grab some sort of weapon.

But that's my suggestion. Add an item like a kitchen knife or screwdriver. Not being meant to be weapons they would have a lot less shots than a hatchet and perhaps even shorter range.

Because honestly when I saw the videos and blogs about the game that got me really pumped for it was more for the PvP aspect. There's that old saying "It's not the zombies you need to worry about, it's the people." Well I've only died once directly by a player, once indirectly(got shot at till my bones broke, glitched out of the building, fell on zombies, zombies killed me), but I've died... I don't know, more than ten times to zombies. Usually it's while I'm prone-crawling and somehow get spotted by a zombie a kilometer away.

I will say starting with no gun is just fine. Not a huge cross section of society has firearms in their home, so it's totally understandable to not start with the magnum or the makarov. However I think everyone has a descent knife in their kitchen, and if the character you play had the time to go to the bathroom and get medical stuff, he should have had time to grab a knife.

I'm not sure what the logic is to having no weapon at all at start. I can see guns, newly spawned people could easily kill long time players or new spawns themselves. but if you start them with a melee weapon, they pose no threat to players since other new players could just run and long time players can shoot them at a distance. Having a melee weapon at start would just help a ton with dealing with what seem to be entirely un-avoidable walkers.

i think this is the best idea ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cruc1al 0]

You guys are missing the point. This isn't a realism mod, not even a simulation. Its a Game, games are meant to be fun. Want proof, the Zombos accelerate to around 30-35 mph to catch you sprinting away.... Le Sigh!! Tone down these Zombie bastards, rigor mortis and dead tissue shouldn't be able to beat a track star like our sprinting avatars that cruise at 15 mph for hours on end. But wait, it's a game. We should have overweight characters, because everyone knows their the first to go... *(horrible cardio)* :-D

EDIT: We eat and drink all day, where does all the poop go?????? Weird right? We have outhouses, why not use?

Edited July 13, 2012 by Cruc1al

[UncleJam 5]

I think, 'Start Weapon' should be UNABLE KILLING, but help for survive.

Most starter's dead cuz by zombies. NOT Bandit.

If you use Starter's weapon, it draw zombies's attention(In keeping chase survivor).

Like a 'Hera's Gold apple'.

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

Removing the starting weapon was a good move.

• Peoples would kill you for your clips of makarov before you had time to find your bearings. Now reshly spawned players are not worth the bullet.
  
• Some would rush to the hot zones, doing suicide rushes with their makarov, nothing to lose, everything to gain.
  
• Others would rush back to where they died to pick their corpse or to find back their assassin, now they have to look for a weapon for 30-60 minutes before even considering this, proper penality for death.
  

You guys are missing the point. This isn't a realism mod, not even a simulation. Its a Game, games are meant to be fun. Want proof, the Zombos accelerate to around 30-35 mph to catch you sprinting away.... Le Sigh!! Tone down these Zombie bastards, rigor mortis and dead tissue shouldn't be able to beat a track star like our sprinting avatars that cruise at 15 mph for hours on end. But wait, it's a game. We should have overweight characters, because everyone knows their the first to go... *(horrible cardio)* :-D

EDIT: We eat and drink all day, where does all the poop go?????? Weird right? We have outhouses, why not use?

Rocket has his own opinion about fun in video games, to him designers these days are trying too hard to inject "fun" in their design.

This is a sandbox survival game where you compete with other players for your fun, you don't deserve to have it unless you fight for it, you have to tear it from the game's entrails with your bare hands.

[BoomBoom (DayZ) 4]

I think spawning unarmed is currently the best solution. The game style encourages you to play stealthy and defensive, which I like. But you are not forced to do so. You can always run into the next house and hope for a weapon. Zombies won't chase you down completely. And if you don't find anything... try again in the next place. Repeat. Profit.

And then you get spawnkilled.

[mad_enis 15]

I think a starting weapon must be your fists...

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

And then you get spawnkilled.

You have less risks of being spawn killed if you spawn with nothing, than if you have something on you that is powerful enough to retaliate, because then, on top of the random noob killer you will also have the ones who want your stuffs.

To put it simple, whenever i respawned with the old mechanic, i would look for another freshly spawned guy to kill him and take his stuffs (double the starting resources for me yay). If i failed i only lost a few minutes, and by killing him he probably didn't lose much either.

[Lanceo90 5]

Removing the starting weapon was a good move.

• Peoples would kill you for your clips of makarov before you had time to find your bearings. Now reshly spawned players are not worth the bullet.
  
• Some would rush to the hot zones, doing suicide rushes with their makarov, nothing to lose, everything to gain.
  
• Others would rush back to where they died to pick their corpse or to find back their assassin, now they have to look for a weapon for 30-60 minutes before even considering this, proper penality for death.
  

Rocket has his own opinion about fun in video games, to him designers these days are trying too hard to inject "fun" in their design.

This is a sandbox survival game where you compete with other players for your fun, you don't deserve to have it unless you fight for it, you have to tear it from the game's entrails with your bare hands.

I don't think anyone wants people to spawn with guns. They just want a melee weapon. Perhaps a "kichen knife" with stats similar to the crowbar.

If you add that, and nothing else at start, there's still no reason to spawn kill. At least no more than their is now. All you cna really take right now is the bandage and painkillers. Adding a knife to a body(a knife that everyone will have mind you) there's still no more reason than before to kill someone.

[Barronism 88]

I think there needs to be something, or even fists. If we're going for realism here, then why would someone not use tooth and nail to survive? Why just stand there and let the zombie eat them alive?

Starting with a crowbar and reducing the knockout from >9k to >4-5k would be good. At like 5k your screen blurs anyways, so make that the same point. Having almost full blood and getting knocked out by a lucky zombie hit and then bleeding out to >1k is pretty outragous. Or having your leg break from one hit and then you have to spend two hours crawling to the nearest city.. is just silly. Bones should heal over time, or pain killers should let you walk on them for like 10mins. Then you could run to a medical center and get morphine to fix it.. If you used your painkillers for something else, or dropped them for room. enjoy the crawl.

[YourStepDad 6]

No. Starting without anything adds a sense of helplessness that sadly goes away too quicky as it is.

There is a lot of debris in the village streets, many junk piles, we should easily be able to loot a plank from there, that does lower damage than a crowbar and breaks after killing 1 - 2 zombies.

I'd definitely add that, but no starting weapons PLEASE

[Lanceo90 5]

I just honestly don't get the point of starting with nothing. I don't know where our character was previous to spawning, but he managed to get to bandages, painkillers and a flashlight. To me that means he went to the medicine cabinet before anything else. If he could get to the bathroom, he could get to the kitchen (for me, in order to get to the bathroom I'd HAVE to go through the kitchen). And in an apocalypse, I think he would grab one of the knives.

I won't go into detail that he maybe went into the basement even to get a backpack and flashlight.

A weapon doesn't need to "break" that just would add all sorts of work for the designers. Instead you can program "breaking" by just making it have low ammo.

In fact, I'm going to go over the weapon list, and give a full stat example of what could be added:

Name: Kitchen Knife

Damage: 1389

Audible Range: 2.2

Effective Range: Melee

Ammunition: N/A

Mag Size: 30 (Not sure why this table I'm looking at lists N/A, when you play this is 100,000 on the hatchet)

Mode: N/A

Extra: N/A

Rarity: Common

[Designed this weapon by taking the lowest current damage weapons do, keeping all the other melee weapon stats, and giving it a moderate mag(keep in mind with the mag, although 30 is a big mag, there's no new ammo to stick in a melee weapon so after that 30 and it takes (3-4?) shots with that damage to kill a zombie.]

Here's another design, based on another item that shouldn't take to long to grab in your house:

Name: Screw Driver

Damage: 1125

Audible Range: 2.2

Effective Range: Melee

Mag Size: 45

Mode: N/A

Extra: N/A

Rarity: Common

[Another common house hold item that you sometime see used in shows to stab a zombie in the brain. Less damage, larger mag. Damage is because it's a small stabbing weapon, larger clip size because it would take longer for it to get dull compared to the knife. Possibly, allow this to be used for other purposes later in the game (things that require screws to build?)]