ALT+F4

[MisterNine 7]

I'm certain there have been countless other threads with suggestions concerning this, but I wanted to voice a suggestion in favor of a specific way of dealing with this. I think the best way to handle players using ALT+F4 to escape the consequences of their actions against other players is to add a certain about of minutes before a player can join any server connected to the official hive. This amount of time would increase by a specific number of minutes with each subsequent use of ALT+F4 until eventually resetting after X amount of hours from the initial use.

For Example:

1. A bandit encounters two survivors, shoots the first then ALT+F4's immediately to escape the wrath of the second survivor.
   
2. Upon attempting to join a different server, the bandit sees a message indicating that there will be a 5 minute delay before they can join a server.
   
3. The bandit joins another server 5 minutes later, then takes another survivor out before immediately using ALT+F4 to escape.
   
4. This time the delay increases to 10 minutes. Five more minutes are added each time.
   
5. 24 hours after the first use of the command, the timer is reset.
   

I favor this approach as opposed to leaving them logged in for however long after pressing ALT+F4 because there are moments when using this method to escape can save you from situations not of your own making that are legitimately out of your control (such as admin abuse, hackers, etc.). For example, I was one of an entire group of players mass teleported. As soon as I saw I was suddenly surrounded by other players and heard a helicopter nearby, I used the command to escape from that situation just as someone started shooting the other confused survivors which allowed me to flee the scene with my gear in tact. Others were not so lucky...

I've sincerely been enjoying DayZ more than any other game in recent memory and hope to see the developer continue to iron out wrinkles like this as the project matures. Thanks for making the game that no one else would Rocket. Over 836k people have now supported your creativity! :)

[CharlieTheGamerr 2]

What if your game had a crash you will be getting delayed for no reason?

[Gogster (DayZ) 626]

You make a well argued point, but there is no escaping the fact that, as CharlieTheGamerr says, you run the risk of punishing innocent players.

[MisterNine 7]

You make a well argued point, but there is no escaping the fact that, as CharlieTheGamerr says, you run the risk of punishing innocent players.

Rocket has already planned an update that gives the game the ability to log use of the ALT+F4 key combination specifically. This delay would only go into effect when that event is detected, sparing those who encounter crashes or legitimate disconnection issues.

[doom4mr 135]

well I can handle delay of 5 minutes in case of game crush

if it will solve the Alt+F4 problem...

but I think that the 5 minutes delay is not the right solution for this problem.

[CharlieTheGamerr 2]

Rocket has already planned an update that gives the game the ability to log use of the ALT+F4 key combination specifically. This delay would only go into effect when that event is detected, sparing those who encounter crashes or legitimate disconnection issues.

Its not hard to change the shortcut keys to exit a program. that wont work.

[MisterNine 7]

Its not hard to change the shortcut keys to exit a program. that wont work.

You have a good point. The delay would need to go into effect after whatever event those keys initiate is detected instead of that specific key combination. For example when I used to host TF2 servers there were events for each type of disconnection that would appear in the logs. (lost connection, player disconnect, kicked by admin, etc.)

Edited July 24, 2012 by MisterNine

[DryGulch 32]

I'm certain there have been countless other threads with suggestions concerning this, but I wanted to voice a suggestion in favor of a specific way of dealing with this.

Well yes, there are countless other threads about this but no, your proposal is not new or original.

[Masumi 0]

I like the delay idea... but i would implement it this way...

When a player (bandit or not, fighting or not) logs from a server his character stays active (interactable, kilable, lootable) in the server for 30 to 60 seconds after the log off.

Could this end up innocent logging players logging back in and being dead? Yes.... but that easily fixable by finding a good hiding spot.

So player A shoots at player B... then player A alt-f4's, player B then has 30 - 60 seconds to find, locate, or kill the body of player A.

Or player A is in the woods and wants to go eat dinner so he logs. Option A: He logged in a hiding spot newar a tree and is "safe". Option B: He logged in the middle of a city surrounded by zombies/players... he dies. Option C: He logged in a hiding spot newar a tree and is "safe" but a player found happened to find him at just the right moment and either kills the player or loots his pack.

[fredaaay 3]

Still, you dont have to alt+f4. You can simply press ESC - > Abort. Will the new ANTI-ALT+F4 log that aswell?

[Masumi 0]

If your responding to the 30-60 second time your character would stay in game... then it shouldn't discern how you logged.... whether you alt-f4'd or arborted and left the server it would leave your character in-game for 30-60 seconds.

While helping create a disadvantage for alt-f4'ing during a firefight it will also add an element of "unknowing" or tension with logging off in a dangerouse area (a city, building... and so on).

[Noobster (DayZ) 3]

Still, you dont have to alt+f4. You can simply press ESC - > Abort. Will the new ANTI-ALT+F4 log that aswell?

Well they could easily do that, say if you shoot or have been shot you have to wait 5-10mins to abort, if the ALT-F4 is reliable then the only way you can disconnect while attacking someone would be disconnecting you internet.

[MisterNine 7]

A delay system like this applied to all user-initiated disconnections in small increments that build up over a window of time would discourage combat disconnects and a lot of the server hopping for items that we see going on as well. Again, this would need to be tied specifically to user-initiated disconnections. Not crashes, network timeouts, or otherwise. The amount of time to be added for each disconnect and the window of time before that count resets would require a bit of trail and error though.

Just off the top of my head, for example: Three minutes added each time a user disconnects and reconnects within a 30 minute period. If the user stays connected to any one server for longer than half an hour, all accumulated delays reset and their next join is instant. That would prevent both server hopping for items as well as repeatedly disconnecting to escape the consequences of griefing.

If a hacker or admin is about to kill a player off just for their own amusement and they need to escape they need the option to disconnect instantly. What they don't need is the ability to do it repeatedly. Leaving a character in the game without a player connected to it, ripe for the killing, will punish those who disconnect for any reason, including crashes or network issues.

Edited July 24, 2012 by MisterNine

[Igor (DayZ) 96]

Make alt+f4 to suicide. Simple.

[MisterNine 7]

Make alt+f4 to suicide. Simple.

I love it. Make it a percentage of a chance though. Like 50% chance that ALT+F4 will kill you instantly. lol!

[Womb Raider 92]

Make alt+f4 to suicide. Simple.

Not a bad idea, certainly one I've seen that makes sense.

What negatives would there be?

You shouldn't be alt f4ing anyway.