Tighter control on what weapons are in the game, more emphasis on survival rather than PvP without removing PvP.

[charlietomato 3]

Limit what weapons the players will be able to obtain in DayZ.

I feel as if weapons like high powered, military grade guns really push away something that makes DayZ feel so special. You're just an Average Joe trying to survive the odds that are against you, and so is everyone else who is playing. That's sort of ruined when there are players who obtain high powered sniper rifles (more specifically, any type of military grade weapon) can be found.

Now, this subject is really touchy. There's too much emphasis on everything but survival. This is exactly why people go about Player versus Player instead of, well, actually surviving. They are only threats to other players because they want to be, and are doing it intentionally, or have nothing else to do. They essentially beat the game once that threat is gone.

I feel like some, if not most of it (but not all of it) could be avoided if there is far more survival aspects to the game with less emphasis on Player versus Player engagement, even though the threat would still exist.

Make it feel like it's really something to survive. Yes, you currently have to scavenge for food and drinks, but most of the survival aspects and non player danger goes away when you get a good gun. At that point, you've stepped above what it was to be a survivor, and have a focus on better interests, like finding better loot to either protect yourself from players who want to kill you because they too have nothing else to do, or you yourself want to go and kill other players because you also have nothing else to do.

See how this comes full circle?

This is why Player versus Player engagement is so common. Once you put less emphasis on it, and more emphasis on actually surviving, and perhaps even make zombies the primary threat instead of other players (though it isn't necessary), then it would most likely be a far more interesting survival experience. Adding in Player versus Player items, like helmets and body armor, would only encourage more Player versus Player engagement.

Player versus Player should not be the main survival aspect of this modification, and soon to be standalone game. At that point, it moves from a survival horror game, to a Player versus Player game with survival horror elements that are not the primary focus of the player. The threat will always still be there, no matter what, but I'm only saying it shouldn't be the main focus or main power behind the survival horror aspect.

So, how should this be fixed? All weapons should be equal, or near equal. Does anyone even use crossbows? If they do, why would they if there's just a better weapon out there they can use?

And that's the problem I'm trying to point out. Why not add more weapons similar to that of the crossbow, get rid of all the military weapons besides most of the pistols, and make rifles like the Lee Einfeld or Hunting Shotgun as rare as Light Machine Guns are to find now?

Not only that, but limit the ammo spawns for pistols and rifles. Give people the reason to think about getting rid of their crossbow for a weapon they might only have a few shots for.

[rickhunter5301 11]

That would be highly unrealistic. Military Intervention -> military gets overwhelmed -> military guns can be found. By "making weapons nearly equal" do you mean damage wise? That would dumb too; a rifle is going to do more damage then a 9mm. Also this idea would make it to whoever finds that rare ass weapon would be able to destroy 99% of the server like nothing because no one else will have weapons to defend themselves with.

[charlietomato 3]

That would be highly unrealistic. Military Intervention -> military gets overwhelmed -> military guns can be found. By "making weapons nearly equal" do you mean damage wise? That would dumb too; a rifle is going to do more damage then a 9mm. Also this idea would make it to whoever finds that rare ass weapon would be able to destroy 99% of the server like nothing because no one else will have weapons to defend themselves with.

I see, but don't you think it's a little too safe and easy for people with good weapons, especially during engagements?

What if the map was focused on non military intervention?

And no, I don't mean damage models for the weapons, but rather how hard it is to find depending how powerful it is, on top of the ammo being harder to find.

Edited August 8, 2012 by charlietomato

[pyroxfire 10]

well considering roleplaying wise.. theres dead miltary and there transports almost everywhere.. but i do agree but i think the solution will naturally happen in devlopment of the standalone. but i belive as more content is added and more survival needs and maybe some friendly features itll really change things bandits might start just robbing people instead of flat out killing them surviors would have more of a chance to team up. i mean youd still probly have tons a murders but honestly i think it adds to the realism abit i think in a real life situation there would be people who would kill others just for thrills espiecly when theres no justice system anymore ^_^

also once tent/duping is fixed i think the sheer amount of powerful weapons will drop

[Theplanbpill 12]

Although I don't agree with you completely as far as equally out the weapons goes, I do believe you're right in saying the rarity should be much more of a factor with ammo and weapons. Reusable ammunition on the crossbow should be invaluable and if the bolts stacked in like 5s maybe it'd be more used. Other than that I think survival should be focused on much more too. When you have focus on survival I think people may need to kill out of the need to survive more rather than the pure fun of it. That right there would make murdering much more immersive.

[Theplanbpill 12]

also once tent/duping is fixed i think the sheer amount of powerful weapons will drop

yuup this^^^

[gorillahands4 0]

I definitely agree that the only survival aspect of this game right now is found in PvP (which is certainly fun but can get stale). I think an Enfield or some other semi auto rifle should be considered a huge find and automatics are an extreme rarity. In addition I think ammo should be extremely scarce as well (once duping is fixed we'll see what happens here). Of course this might provoke more PKing to gather supplies but it could force people to put a little more thought into using their gun. At the same time find a way to ramp up the difficulty of the zombies and you'll have more emphasis on surviving this scenario and not just PvP.

Edited August 8, 2012 by gorillahands4