[Idea] Orienteering

[celticguy08 1]

I noticed that using the in game map, there are either 2 options that the server can have in regards to player positioning. Either the server can be on easy mode where it automatically shows the player where they are and what direction they are facing, and even the location of survivors near them. I think this is way way too easy for any server to have because it allows players to never get lost as long as they have a map. On the other side there is the hard mode where maps don't show player position at all and are almost useless just because there are far better options for maps that one can find online.

I think there should be a middle point where it makes it challenging to receive the players exact location, however it is still possible in all servers. This would involve orienteering using a compass and a map. Basically how it would go is that the player needs to find a compass and a map, they right click the compass in their tool belt and choose "Orienteer map". This causes the player to sit in the same spot for either 10-15 seconds (which ever is better) as the player orienteers the map, possibly with a custom animation if that is possible. After the time is done, it opens the map and they can see it with their current location and the direction they are facing.

I think this is a good solution because it adds a harder element to the game in regards to finding a compass and a map, however it doesn't just make it easy mode after that and allow anyone to find their way on the run, yet it forces them to go out of combat with zombies and survivors alike for a considerable amount of time in order to navigate.

[Sumdum 29]

http://dayzwiki.com/...x.php?title=GPS

On a sidenote I actually like this idea, it's just a little complicated to implement given the current obvious solution ;)

Edited July 17, 2012 by Sumdum

[Lady Kyrah 1110]

I noticed that using the in game map, there are either 2 options that the server can have in regards to player positioning. Either the server can be on easy mode where it automatically shows the player where they are and what direction they are facing, and even the location of survivors near them. I think this is way way too easy for any server to have because it allows players to never get lost as long as they have a map. On the other side there is the hard mode where maps don't show player position at all and are almost useless just because there are far better options for maps that one can find online.

I think there should be a middle point where it makes it challenging to receive the players exact location, however it is still possible in all servers. This would involve orienteering using a compass and a map. Basically how it would go is that the player needs to find a compass and a map, they right click the compass in their tool belt and choose "Orienteer map". This causes the player to sit in the same spot for either 10-15 seconds (which ever is better) as the player orienteers the map, possibly with a custom animation if that is possible. After the time is done, it opens the map and they can see it with their current location and the direction they are facing.

I think this is a good solution because it adds a harder element to the game in regards to finding a compass and a map, however it doesn't just make it easy mode after that and allow anyone to find their way on the run, yet it forces them to go out of combat with zombies and survivors alike for a considerable amount of time in order to navigate.

Personally i think players should simply learn to orient themselve, with or without a map.

[void.false@gmail.com 300]

it's just a little complicated to implement

Please stop talking bullshit if you dont know what you are talking about. This is implemented with 3 lines of code.

[Strategos (DayZ) 190]

You know how orienteering works right ?

You have a map and a compass, you look around , find landmarks, work out your position, then ... you know where you are.

You know what, that's already in the game! On every server!

One of the great things about Dayz is that you occasionally actually have to use your brain.

[Sumdum 29]

Please stop talking bullshit if you dont know what you are talking about. This is implemented with 3 lines of code.

Yes, its much simpler adding a context menu, an animation, a trigger for a map marker based on a delayed character action, and fixing the million bugs that can happen when this is interupted by god-knows-what than using the obvious, already in-game solution of finding and using a damn gps. Hey, or you can learn to read a map. I guess that's more complicated too.

[beavaroo 90]

It would be a good compromise over a having a GPS receiver; as you mentioned, it would leave you vulnerable for those 10-15 seconds which is a "realistic" touch, but would be just as accurate in establishing your current position. The GPS receiver would still be a desirable item for the gear addicts to search for given that they have the realtime positional tracking feature via the minimap.

Seeing as how you would need both a compass and map for it to be an available option, you could of course use those tools to find your location using resection and/or terrain association. If you are not already, I would encourage you to become familiiar with the basic land navigation techniques (reading contours, intersection and resection, terrain association) and utilise them in game. You may find it enjoyable and that it adds greatly to the sense of immersion. They are also skills that can be applied irl, of couse.

sargefaria has a decent introductory series on youtube. Search "land nav" .

[celticguy08 1]

By the way, I thought of this mechanic not as something to replace GPS, or something that would be completely useless because of GPS, it would be something that you can do to find where you are if you don't have a GPS, something that is an in-between of knowing exactly where you are always, and having to guess where you are. Additionally I was hoping if this mechanic was added, all of the servers that you only need a map to find out exactly where you are by standing still for like 3 seconds would have to use this function, preventing it from being way way too easy as it currently is.

[rickyspanish 158]

Rocket has stated in interviews that he likes the fact that if you can read the stars in RL, you can read the stars ingame. I guess this goes the same for reading maps, and its alot more rewarding when you figure out where you are the REAL way.

[G0V3RNM3NT4L 132]

You know how orienteering works right ?

You have a map and a compass, you look around , find landmarks, work out your position, then ... you know where you are.

You know what, that's already in the game! On every server!

One of the great things about Dayz is that you occasionally actually have to use your brain.

Not necessarily. I can just run around randomly if I want too XP.

I agree with the general consensus. Finding where you are weeds out a good majority of the noobs.

[terrvik 2409]

There are servers that show your position on the map? Wow. I hope that will be removed.

And I totally agree with what most people above are saying. There already is an orienteering system in the game using a map and a compass. No need for a mechanic beyond pressing K and M.

[celticguy08 1]

Rocket has stated in interviews that he likes the fact that if you can read the stars in RL, you can read the stars ingame. I guess this goes the same for reading maps, and its alot more rewarding when you figure out where you are the REAL way.

I completely agree with this, it is just I hate going into servers (and most servers that I have entered seem to have this) where maps show you exactly where you are with a blue dot, show you your direction, and even show your friend and any vehicles you have found. I was just hoping that this mechanic would replace that with making it much harder to navigate that way unless you have found both a map and a compass, and have 10-15 seconds to spare.

Honestly if servers weren't allowed to have the option to show where the survivor is, then I would be happy, but the only thing is, is that if that happens, then in-game maps will become virtually useless, because the many out-of-game maps have much more information and are much easier to read.

This feature would give maps a use that out-of-game maps couldn't, yet without making it extremely easy to find exactly where you are.

[rickyspanish 158]

I normally play veteran servers to avoid the map telling me where I am, and then just do as stated in strategos post. I dont think it needs to be simplified. I kinda dislike waypoints too, take the challenge out of traveling.

[thorgold 91]

...what?

Are you saying you want to take orienteering and make it an automatic mechanic? Dude, you have a map, you have a compass. See that building or bend in the road? Take compass heading and distance, you have your location. There's the sun, here's a watch, figure out way is north. Here's a COMPASS, figure out which way you're facing. Don't take a decent mechanic that was put in the basic game engine itself and dumb it down.

And, by the way, map location is only enabled for yourself on TAG-ENABLED servers. It will ONLY display your location and the location of anyone you've spotted in your LoS - as in, you can't just look at the map of Cherno from miles away and see "Oh, sniper on the hill at GR#."

Edited July 18, 2012 by thorgold

[celticguy08 1]

...what?

Are you saying you want to take orienteering and make it an automatic mechanic? Dude, you have a map, you have a compass. See that building or bend in the road? Take compass heading and distance, you have your location. There's the sun, here's a watch, figure out way is north. Here's a COMPASS, figure out which way you're facing. Don't take a decent mechanic that was put in the basic game engine itself and dumb it down.

With current veteran servers, what use is the in game map at all? Out of game maps show locations of looting points, vehicle spawns, and even some have the percent chance of finding certain items in looting points. In game maps are currently useless in veteran servers.

And, by the way, map location is only enabled for yourself on TAG-ENABLED servers. It will ONLY display your location and the location of anyone you've spotted in your LoS - as in, you can't just look at the map of Cherno from miles away and see "Oh, sniper on the hill at GR#."

And on the opposite end: Yes, I do know how tag-enabled servers work with their maps, showing where players are which you have spotted and yourself and the direction you are facing. What I am saying is that tag enabled servers are way way way too easy to provide you your exact location with just a map.

You know I bet many people use tag-enabled servers in order to travel across the map just for this reason, they can never get lost. And when they reach NWAF they switch back over to a veteran server so they can use their night vision or rangefinder (both of which are useless in tag-enabled servers) so they can get the drop on those without those items during the dark or at far distances.

I feel like this mechanic will be a step towards preventing people from abusing the differences between veteran servers and regular servers and provide incentives on both types of servers to get a compass and a map. Because as I have said before, all you need on a regular server is a map, and on a veteran server there is literally no reason to have a map.

[wormholes556 34]

orienteering is something which is done manually, with not much difficulty unless you are retarded. if you get lost...boohoo, its your own fault.

[rickyspanish 158]

With current veteran servers, what use is the in game map at all? Out of game maps show locations of looting points, vehicle spawns, and even some have the percent chance of finding certain items in looting points. In game maps are currently useless in veteran servers.

And on the opposite end: Yes, I do know how tag-enabled servers work with their maps, showing where players are which you have spotted and yourself and the direction you are facing. What I am saying is that tag enabled servers are way way way too easy to provide you your exact location with just a map.

You know I bet many people use tag-enabled servers in order to travel across the map just for this reason, they can never get lost. And when they reach NWAF they switch back over to a veteran server so they can use their night vision or rangefinder (both of which are useless in tag-enabled servers) so they can get the drop on those without those items during the dark or at far distances.

I feel like this mechanic will be a step towards preventing people from abusing the differences between veteran servers and regular servers and provide incentives on both types of servers to get a compass and a map. Because as I have said before, all you need on a regular server is a map, and on a veteran server there is literally no reason to have a map.

Sorry dude but I don't agree, I don't think you would find a real world map that told you the information you can get from an out of game loot map and they are kinda cheat maps in a way. This mod is going for realism not hand holding. Are you suggesting the in game map shows you loot spawns? I hope not.

As has already been stated its very possible and easy (with time) to find your location on an in game map with a compass and your eyes, and is much more fun and rewarding then pressing a key which tells you your location.

Oh and yea..GPS. And imo all servers should be Veteran or Hardcore. Theres nothing I hate more than joining a regular server by mistake and seeing my friends names, distance and locations on the map. Shit disgusts me.

[xDIx Revenge 51]

Already in the game. GPS tells you your exact grid reference. For players on Veteran servers, using that, alongside a compass allows you to easily locate yourself on a map using common geography knowledge.