A Story of Selflessness and Selfishness

[Gammy (DayZ) 15]

Let me share a recent, intense experience with you guys.

It was pretty dark, heading into night, with light rain coming down. I liked to play at night, considering the lack of bandits and murderers, as well as a feeling of slight safety from lurking in the shadows. I had only just started a new character, and on me I had an Enfield rifle with seven bullets ready to fire. I had food that would last me a decent amount of time, a handy water bottle, a blood bag and a chemlight - blue, to be thorough. I have only ever played alone, mainly because I find it more engaging and suspenseful, but I rarely feel completely safe - it makes for a very tense playing experience, as I'm sure you all know.

I was on the outskirts of a small, unidentifiable hamlet, the kind you find out in the wilderness home to two of three zeds. However, something perked my curiosity: a light. A red, misty aura had enveloped the neighbouring buildings from what I assumed to be a road flare. I hesitated and zoomed in for a closer look, but the darkness and distance hindered my view. I began to approach the artificial light, my rifle itching to be fired by a nervous finger. I zoomed in once more, and stopped instantly as a sweeping silhouette moved across the naked window of a house. I weighed the possibilities, and decided the movement was too quick for a zed - I was in real danger here.

I decided to close in on the building anyway, a fire-fight only too obvious as a consequence of my curiosity. Going prone, I crossed the road, and pressed myself up against the wall. People were talking on direct chat, quite heatedly from the sound of it. They were talking about how they saw a figure move by the woods, and were debating what to do. There were four of them, which was strange considering the small, baron location they decided to hole up in, but I just assumed they were travelling. Eventually they turned their speech outwards: "Whoever's out there, come inside, we're friendly - there are four of us and we don't want any harm." I was cautious, but I decided to go with my gut and trust the guy - normally groups of four don't even bother to warn the victim they are about to massacre.

I slowly entered the door and all four strangers backed up with their guns pointed in my direction. I announced my friendliness, and the previous speaker simply replied: "Good." I noticed a guy crouching in the corner with blood pouring from his head, and queried the supposed 'leader' of the party. "Yeah, we found this guy in the woods, he's been bleeding for a while." I asked if none of them had bandages, and they said they were low and weren't going to waste it on a stranger. I didn't reply, and silently dropped a bandage by the wounded survivor's feet, and then presented him with a blood bag. The guy took the help without a reply, but I didn't do it for thanks - I play the game as I would in real life, and the fact I had just saved somebody's life was good enough.

Before I could even turn to face the rest of the group, my recent patient jumped to his feet with his Makarov ready, and fired shots over my head. The bullets managed to penetrate all three survivors, and their bodies fell to the floor. I didn't think. I turned and ran out of the door, unable to escape a final bullet. I was hit, and bleeding out, but I just kept running. I turned to look behind me, and saw the armed madman sprinting after me. It was pitch black, and I knew I was heading towards some sort of woodland, but I couldn't tell exactly. I heard another shot, but disregarded the bullet's path and continued to run. Then I heard a screech. And then a growl. And then more footsteps. The zeds had heard the gunfire and had seen my sprinting body. They had now taken chase, the gunman close behind, I was running for my life.

I continued down the dirt road, my wound still untreated, with what I assumed to be five zombies and a mad gunman on my tail. I had no time to equip my chemlight or bandage, and I wasn't going to disconnect - that's not how you play a simulator. I decided I needed to take action if I was going to survive - fast. It all seemed like slow motion. I turned swiftly, looked down my rifle's sight, and aimed for the silhouette with a baseball cap. I held my breath and fired as I back-pedalled. I heard a bullet puncture skin, and the figure went down. I had killed him. But then I heard them in the woodland to my right - the screeches, squeals, moans and growls. I had just alerted another herd with my shot. I was bleeding out, and saw shadows dart from the trees towards me. My blood was dangerously low, and I had no choice: I had to bandage. I turned to the nearest zeds and fired wildly. Bodies went down, but not enough. I managed to peg five before I fell unconscious, and the undead huddled round my body to tear me apart.

The moral of the story, as I'm sure anyone who plays DayZ would know, is not to trust anyone.

(I'm not moaning about PvP aspect, it made for an intense experience, and it's what makes the game what it is.)

[Gogster (DayZ) 626]

Have my beans mate - great story.

[svefngenglar 19]

How the frak did he take out 3 of them? That's crazy! It's weird that someone would play that way after being saved. You'd think you'd reconsider it, even as a bandit. I've had a bit of play experience as both but even as a bandit I had rules. I wouldn't kill unarmed or low geared players I deemed to not be a threat. I did snipe a little bit in elektro once :P. But no unarmed players. Still, as you said it is what makes DayZ so good. These stories that come out of the game.

[Gammy (DayZ) 15]

Have my beans mate - great story.

Thanks, man. Just thought I like hearing stories of peoples' experiences in DayZ so I posted my own. Post any experiences you have, I'd love to read them.

[Gammy (DayZ) 15]

How the frak did he take out 3 of them? That's crazy! It's weird that someone would play that way after being saved. You'd think you'd reconsider it, even as a bandit. I've had a bit of play experience as both but even as a bandit I had rules. I wouldn't kill unarmed or low geared players I deemed to not be a threat. I did snipe a little bit in elektro once :P. But no unarmed players. Still, as you said it is what makes DayZ so good. These stories that come out of the game.

He must have been pretty lucky if he landed three headshots, I didn't really think about it, I got out of there pretty quickly. I think it was just the element of surprise that helped him.

[b00m666 38]

Yup, now you learnt that the hard way.

[Moxyz1 (DayZ) 10]

I was spawned near Balotta airfield after dying at the North west airfield with my 4 buddies and they were looking after my gear till i arrived back to them, Now ive not killed another player in my 4 weeks of playing and don,t intend to either. So i thought i would search the stands in Military compound there sneakily for a weapon before travelling to meet up North. There was a guy also in there unknown to me and decided to shoot me whilst i was laying on the ground crawling. So i typed friendly in direct chat then fell unconscious luckily i never died and got to my feet again and ran away weaving left and right as i ran bleeding heavily . This guy aggroed more Zs onto himself whilst he was shooting me when he could of sneaked away and lived himself but he was so determined to kill me before he died . When i looked back he was getting attacked by several of them and quickly died. I healed myself with my bandage and typed DICK to him in direct chat laughing to myself at him. Hopefully when the next popular game comes out many these type of players move to another game . For some players DayZ is all about how many Murders they can get.

[DZR_Mikhail 2424]

Thank you sir. Thank you for your not disconnecting from the battle! I'm proud you are among us, you play DayZ fair. Thank you again. Sad but very good story.

Take my beans. I would reward you more If I could. Have my respect.

Helping others (which remain anonymous) is a great risk. It's very good of you to take it. I hope you would find more reliable friends and be more cautious with helping others.

Good luck and take care.

[Emmu 18]

Great story bro. My beans are yours.

[Moxyz1 (DayZ) 10]

you have my Beans ,,, stay friendly .

Edited July 23, 2012 by Moxyz1

[Gammy (DayZ) 15]

Thanks for the compliments, beans and stories guys.

[Kerbo 198]

Well played sir, have some beans!

[opticalshadow 27]

my beans, are in your hands now friend, that was a great tale!