Communication/identification between/of survivors

[randomizer 3]

I was thinking about the actual way of communication and identification of other survivors in the alpha and I really think it has to be more accurate.

I always play DayZ with at least one of my buddies, so we are always in direct communication via Mumble. That's a serious advantage against survivors ingame, due to the fact that you only can hear voice chat a few meters apart. But in the other direction both ways lack of the possibility to clearly identify a survivor ingame by view if there are more than two. If I am playing with 4 buddies and all stick together in one place, I really don't know who is who. I have to ask via voice where everybody is standing,even though they are standing right in front of me. This is not authentic. I really would know someones face if I met him before and I would know where he is standing in a group of people.

My idea for this is the following (and it's not about player skins):

If you meet another survivor, you have the possibility to "introduce yourself" to this survivor via shortcut on the keyboard or whatever. the survivor on the other side has the possibility to confirm this introduction or to deny it. if he confirms, the game will instantly display their player name plates above their heads, but only viewable for THOSE TWO survivors who became acquainted. but i don't want that you can see the name plates always or on huge distances, it should stick with a specific range like the voice chat and fade out on higher distances. this would make player identification more authentic. if you die, you will also loose your "memory of names".

I don't know if this is technically possible particularly with regard to the amount of data this would generate, but I think this would improve the way of authentic communication in this game and maybe it will start a little discussion about this part of the game. ;)

[crimsom 2]

cuts out realism im not for it! i am completly for being able to distinguish your self visually though.

[mesmichael 6]

i like the idea. but maybe as your buddy gets farther from they the nameplate fades out as its harder to distinguish between people .

[DZR_Mikhail 2424]

Good idea to some extend. This will sure compensate the lack of visual identification. As for realism... In RL in a group you can distinguish everyone by their walk, their dirt on their boots, by a turned backwards cap, by haircut, by skin colour, by gear hanging at unique side, faces of course and many other unique features. There are thousnads of subtle detail in real life which you register to yourself, remember for one single person in your group. You never gonna misidentify him at close range. In DayZ? In DayZ we almost always have the same height, complexity, skin tone, clothes, walking animations etc. Clone farm. Even guns and faces are not enough, they can be the same for two players. So, compared to that, I'd sacrifice some realism and have something to compensate this pure unrealizm. Name plates, buddy marks, side arm bandages for accepted teammate... anything. Just need to make firefights in groups more possible, instead of looking at a pack of gunmen alike shouting at eachother "Is that you? Lean" then he gets shot, because it "wasn't him, but an enemy"... You know what I mean :)

Edited July 17, 2012 by -=PA=-Mikhail

[crimsom 2]

i just think thats alot of engine programming/codeing when the problem could be solved by a simple outfit/charcter visual identity system.

the community could even design clothing and models to help them get some assets right up front im sure they would get at least 100+ skins form dedicated players to be quality checked into the game.

Edited July 17, 2012 by crimsom

[randomizer 3]

cuts out realism im not for it! i am completly for being able to distinguish your self visually though.

why does this cut out realism? is it realistic not to be able to identify a person you just met 5 minuts ago only because he is standing in a group of people with the same player model?

I agree with you that a variety of skins and player models would solve this also. If the community will design a huge set of player skins and models this could be a good alternative. But I like the idea of communication which will happen when you try to get acquainted with someone.

[ZedsDeadBaby 2287]

If you meet another survivor, you have the possibility to "introduce yourself" to this survivor via shortcut on the keyboard or whatever. the survivor on the other side has the possibility to confirm this introduction or to deny it. if he confirms, the game will instantly display their player name plates above their heads, but only viewable for THOSE TWO survivors who became acquainted.

Not to self-promote too much, but I think my system works a little better. You shouldn't have to "agree" to be seen by me. If I look at your face I should be able to remember it (in game terms, label you) without necessarily having your consent.

In fact, you shouldn't even necessarily know that I saw you.

This would allow you to identify both friends AND foes - a much more robust system and one that goes a long way toward solving people's complaints about not knowing who is who or what peoples' intentions are.

[randomizer 3]

I like your idea very much!

[umandez 139]

Im +1 for this idea. It's already possible to have name plate enabled servers. I'd rather play with nameplates off but i would like to enable nameplates of members of my clan that are lets say 40-80m around me.

[ZedsDeadBaby 2287]

I like your idea very much!

Thanks. I've added a link to this thread in mine (assume you don't mind)!

[enforcer1975 1111]

Good idea. i only hope it can't be hacked so the person hacking sees every name everywhere.

It's already possible to have a word hovering abov your head, maybe domi players remember "teamkiller" hovering above your head until you die.

[ZedsDeadBaby 2287]

Good idea. i only hope it can't be hacked so the person hacking sees every name everywhere.

There are already hacks to do that. :(