Dogs as Detectors of Humanity

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

Of course as we all know, Rocket plans to bring back humanity indicators via the use of skins, and also wants to implement dogs as companions sometime soon.

My suggestion is simple. Dogs have an innate sense of situations and of people, so instead of just skinning a player to show what they are, why not give dogs an extra functionality that would make detecting another person's humanity more subtle and naturalistic?

Basically, if a player approaches you (assuming you have a dog as a companion) it will start with a low growl. This should apply to every player, regardless of their humanity level. However, if a player does have a low humanity level, the growl should become more aggressive. Let's say they have a very low humanity level, the dog might start snarling and start a low, growling bark. Nothing too loud, just enough to warn you that the person you are encountering may be a threat.

On the other hand, if the person has a high humanity level, the dog would start at the low growl but eventually taper off and become more docile.

[TalkingGoats 10]

Fucking brilliant.

[sgtcuddles 24]

as long as I dont get attacked by some random dudes jumpy A.I. dog I like the idea!

[ShinySnack 10]

I personally don't like any humanity detectors at all. If they way I assume they work is correct, murders = less humanity. But what if almost every murder you have on you is from someone who shot first, but didn't have the 5 kills necessary to become a bandit? If you don't want to become a bandit, would it be necessary to simply not kill anyone, regardless of whether or not they shot first?

I just think the humanity meter doesn't take into account a lot of variables besides killing. It might encourage someone to kill another person who might have been friendly.

[CookieJar 19]

Nice idea, but how about using search function? ^^

[federik21 42]

yea it's a great idea.

I'm waiting for the

NO

post.

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

I just think the humanity meter doesn't take into account a lot of variables besides killing. It might encourage someone to kill another person who might have been friendly.

No I definitely think dogs should not attack until the player gives it a command. Just a way to give you an idea about people. And of course sometimes it may turn out that the person your dog was growling at is friendly, there should be some sort of time limit for the growl, say ~5 minutes. If you are near a person for longer than that period of time, the dog should stop growling at them.

I also could have sworn that Rocket said on the livestream that blood transfusions affect humanity. Not sure, but if they don't, it should.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Metal_Mavrik

[indominator 95]

if blood transfusions and other medical stuff affect humanity, it means a bandit like me would get a decent humanity, for being the doctor, meanwhile with low KOS but still doing it could be a threat, the humanity counter must not be zeroed upon death

[Shag 90]

YES

[xximrtwoixx 104]

Like the dog mechanic over a skin, you have my beans.

I still think humanity/counter system is broken because there can be to many justifications for shooting someone in my view, doesn't matter if it resets or not it a counter will always be broken for humanity. The just needs to be more content that inspires groups to be larger and accept help from outsiders, ie if your building a town/clearing a forest you need extra hands.

[lttankor7 18]

DO WANT.

[ESDeadmond 7]

I'm only seeing one problem with this. Would other players be able to hear your dog? For realism purposes, I would hope yes, but for fun I would hope no. The reason being is that the dog would work well if someone was trying to sneak up on you, but in the opposite situation where you are trying to get the jump on someone else wouldn't the dog growling just be likely to give away your position?

[Warped_Jack 16]

I'm only seeing one problem with this. Would other players be able to hear your dog? For realism purposes, I would hope yes, but for fun I would hope no. The reason being is that the dog would work well if someone was trying to sneak up on you, but in the opposite situation where you are trying to get the jump on someone else wouldn't the dog growling just be likely to give away your position?

Perhaps, but I imagine the growling should happen at fairly close range. If you're already that close to someone, and they get startled by the dog, I think you still have the upper hand of both surprise, and you have an attack dog the moment you open fire (if you choose to). I think it'd be definitely enough to encourage someone to drop their shit and run at the very least.

Also to OP, great idea

[Womb Raider 92]

Good idea OP, I'd like to see it implemented. It would also promote interesting gameplay.

For instance, I'd be walking along with a buddy of mine and my dog and we'd be heading through the forest and all of a sudden a bullet would slam into my dog and kill it and me and my buddy would hit the deck and come under sniper fire, I'd love that.

[4L4N 276]

THIS ! , is one of the better suggestions. Sounds awesome OP. - My beans for you.

Can add an option to Hush the dog for when it looks at certain players. ( scroll wheeel option when mouse over characters ) It remembers the player and knows not to growl at that certain player anymore. Useful for when you have a dog and all your mates are bandits.

[dillonblunts 25]

If you don't want to become a bandit, would it be necessary to simply not kill anyone, regardless of whether or not they shot first?

ive been shot and just stood there saying "friendly, friendly, why?" and the guy actually stopped and said "oh man, im sorry ill get you morphine and blood" i had a gun and could have blasted him.

came back with morphine and blood, guy in a ghillie ran in and killed us both.

Edited August 10, 2012 by dillonblunts

[wtfosaurus 30]

This is a great idea! the dogs would be able to smell it on other players maybe within a certain radius and have a way to warn you, maybe bark or point or something. This fits within the authenticity of what DayZ is trying to accomplish as well!

[SalamanderAnder (DayZ) 1747]

I'm only seeing one problem with this. Would other players be able to hear your dog? For realism purposes, I would hope yes, but for fun I would hope no. The reason being is that the dog would work well if someone was trying to sneak up on you, but in the opposite situation where you are trying to get the jump on someone else wouldn't the dog growling just be likely to give away your position?

Yes but that is the issue with a lot of things. Double edged swords are what make this game great. For example, vehicles great, but they have authentic downsides; noise, maintenance concerns, ect. This would be the perfect downside to having a dog. And rocket did say you would have to "train" your dog somehow. Like 4L4N said, you could have a trainable hush behavior that would keep the dog quiet if you decide to do so. Dogs should have benefits and downsides, not just be standard kit. I once killed a guy in a grocery store because I could hear him eating beans through the wall. But that's quite an authentic situation, which is why it impressed me so much.

[Zeromentor 169]

Actually makes sense, and comes with a Risk-VS-Reward system.

The dog can protect the owner, and fight alongside them. But that is a good thing.

Dog senses nearby Bandit with low humanity, the growling or barking will alert the survivor to a nearby threat AND alert the Bandit that a dog is nearby (and possible a survivor, if the dog is not feral).

This means that both they and YOU would have an early warning system. That means both of you will be ready for a fight. Campers and bandit snipers have less of a chance to ambush you correctly, and you have less of a chance to sneak up on them. You lose stealth, but so do they.

Works well. No dog and you lose out on potential help, as well as an early warning system, but also have the disadvantage of walking in on a trap.

[xximrtwoixx 104]

So long as detection range isn't crazy, If your hidden with a sniper dog shouldn't know your there 500M out.

[Rek Seven 37]

+ 1 a very good idea. Better that the bandit skin anyway

[ESDeadmond 7]

Okay, I'm seeing what you guys are saying and you've changed my mind. As far as detection goes, instead of the dog being quieter around players with high humanity, what if the dog was alerted to players with low humanity from farther away. This helps the player detect bandits from farther away, and helps to add incentive to not kill on sight since it makes you easier to detect for players with dogs.

[Gogster (DayZ) 626]

Love it, like the dogs in Terminator.

Brilliant idea.

[Rek Seven 37]

Yeah, dogs could use the peripheral vision code with a few tweaks.

If dog detects an animal it faces the animals direction and alerts you (e.g. wags tale or makes a noise)

If dog detects a survivor it faces the players direction and makes a low growl

If dog detects a bandit it faces the player and makes a more aggressive growl

The owner of the dog should be able to tell give the dog some commands: Track player/animal, attack player/animal, be quiet.

[Tarkastio 38]

I like the idea, though I`m not sure what other uses Rocket has planned. We can`t give dogs too many abilities.