The virus and the cure (mechanics)

[uptime 47]

Sorry if I have some errors, I use the Google translator.

_____________________________________________

If we have a viral apocalypse, so we should have the virus. I would like to suggest three options:

1. All players are already infected when they appear on the beach. The virus went through the world and did not spare anyone. When you start, you get a message: “You are infected, you have 5 days to find a cure”.
   
2. You have a chance to get infected when you are attacked by zombies (it will make them much more dangerous).
   
3. First and second together: you are already infected when you start to play, but even after you've cured you can become infected by zombies. The virus mutates and you can catch it again and again (like the flu virus).
   

I think the second option is best.

If after this period (5-7 days) you have not found cure, you will have a fever and your health will start to decline (after that, you will die or become zombies). If you do not have an antidote, you can use antibiotics to prolong your life. This will give you a few more days. But every time you take antibiotics, you get fewer days than last time (5,4,3,…).

Cure

Sometimes (not often) some players (random) get the ability "immunity". If you have an immunity to the virus, you will not know about it immediately, only after 1-2 days (to prevent suicide in the early game). You will see the message "You are cured". After that, you can create an antidote from your blood. I am not a doctor, but I think it would be better if the creation of an antidote will be simple: you just need to take the empty syringe and fill it with your blood. Another player also can come to you with an empty syringe and take your blood. Even if you are already dead (before your blood clotted). Of course, your blood will spoil quickly without refrigerator. You cannot carry with it this cure.

If you have a team, you need to find a person with immunity. Antibiotics are rare and hard to find for a big team. Players who have immunity is very valuable. Their death highly undesirable.

_____________________________________________

Other suggestions:

Radio stations in cities

Sleep system

Simple schemes for crafting

Edited August 10, 2012 by uptime

[boxman80 964]

Rocket mentioned that future releases may have side missions or objectives that better feature the cause, effect and background of the virus. I wouldn't be too suprised if this is expanded upon and something simila to your suggestion is implemented maybe.

For the record too, why is morphine more common than anti-biotics? :S

[tsandrey 379]

Morphine and Antibiotics should be far more common. Atleast until the broken leg system is fixed

[PK Richie 507]

Morphine is easy to get hold of :) Every hospital has at least 20 auto injectors.

Anti-biotics though are very rare and when you need them you're generally screwed :( The nasty cough every minute also gives your position away.

[daniel984 1]

This was at least for my part, a very very nice and thoughtout suggestion.

If however you could be able to "syringe dead bodies", to see if they have an antidote, it would even out the "cured players are more valuable"-theme..

This would also make the zeds ___waaaayyyyyyy___ more deadly, and wouldnt just invite to rushing into a town. Ultimately it would make each trip to some zed-area/town, to be carefully planned and executed, instead of what it is today, where you go and find a cow or some shit if everything screws up..

***THUMBS UP***