Loot

[kebman 213]

In DayZ the Mod, loot spawns in piles on the floor. Also, you can find cans of beans in the barn, weapons, and so on.

How would you find stuff like that in real life?

The cans of beans would be found in places people store food. In cubboards, sure, in the food storage in barns, in shelters, etc.

Where would weapons be found? In a barn? Not likely. But they could be found in weapons lockers in bedrooms, cellars, etc. And of course in barracks, or military storage points, like caves, custom buildings for explosives, etc.

Also, don't discount the availability in city stores, unless you're too far from civilization, or they've been looted to hell. And sure, after an apocalypse, somebody might scrounge stuff into a barn and leave it in a mess (like you find it in DayZ), mabye drop a poor gun somewhere, or leave stuff in odd places, but it woulnd't be the norm. Most people would simply be dead, and thus houses and shops would be left like they were, untouched.

I would love to see such a scenario in the standalone.

[Jon Snow (DayZ) 51]

I get what you're saying, but I think there will come to a point where realism just stops being fun. I'm not saying that you're suggestion will take DayZ to this point or anything, but I dont think every little thing should be tweaked to be as real as possible. It should always try to walk that very slim line of being real/fun.

[Tiercel 63]

I see your point, but the ArmA engine doesnt allow for stuff like that. Youd have to rewrite the entire engine or something to make cupboards etc work.

[kebman 213]

Move to locker. Roll mouse. Check contents. Doesn't seem like much programming to me. They already have those mechanics in place for weapons chests, and so on.

What I forgot, was of course how soliders tend have weapons on their body when they die... Or anybody fighting. There is not much of that in DayZ, for some reason. A dead soldier or fighter would and should be the most logical place to find both ammo and weapons IRL, unless it was already scavenged.

I know a saying: What isn't burned or buried, is still not lost.

The saying is used when you can't find your key, or some other small thing, but it also goes for stuff like weapons and, ahem, cars. The meaning is that if still exists, it has to be somewhere close, even though you cannot find it right now.