Humanity specific gesture.

[Hobson (DayZ) 1]

This is meant as a simple compromise following the removal of bandit skins, to perhaps combat the 'I may as well shoot on sight' ethic without totally breaking realism (in such an obvious 'magic skin' way).

So: Change the nature of the salute gesture based on humanity value. Ie; survivor's do a lovely wave; bandits do a nazi salute (or y'know, something actually good).

Avoiding direct engagement with other players would still be important (and just good practice as far as I'm concerned), but a quick request over direct comms or chat or whatever would give the survivor you've just stumbled on a chance to prove that he or she isn't a rampant murdering beast of a human or such like.

SCENARIO: 

You see another survivor before they see you. 

You request a gesture over comms. 

If they comply (or refuse to) then you know what you're dealing with and so befriend/ignore/slot as you best see fit.

It's not perfect, but it may cut down on some of the more avoidable player killing, and would definitely puncture that oft mentioned excuse for spiralling into on-sight murder: 'I can't tell so I might as well'.

[prometheus111 1]

Ehh... this is a good idea but not for DayZ. Brilliant mechanic for doing what you want it to do. But you're coming at it the wrong way. There needs to be a better *incentive* not to kill someone on sight. Something that will help you survive by working with other people. This idea is too forced. Maybe it'd be a good thing to have temporarily? But it may be too much work to bother with just for a temporary solution.

[qla 0]

"survivor's do a lovely wave; bandits do a nazi salute" Thanks for the laughs, but seriously? No, just no..

[Hobson (DayZ) 1]

I'm certainly on board with you here, but I think total realism is only possible when players don't act quite so much like it's an instant respawn game. So little video game conceits like this are neccesary for nudging us back to reality.

I was thinking it would be mostly a 'placeholder' though; simpler to implement, a compromise until more complex systems are crafted.