Loot questions

[fearz0r 128]

Does anyone have any definitive answers or explanation as to how loot works in Day Z? I've read many, many conflicting explanations and it's just getting confusing.

Things I'm sure and unsure of;

I'm fairly sure that loot spawns as a player passes a certain radius around the loot spot. Whether this is a standard distance or variable based on the building type or loot type is unknown to me.

Loot spawns around a certain period of time (based on server loot refresh or something). Not sure what the time is exactly, I thought it was ten minutes but I've waited nearly 15 minutes in the past for junk to suddenly spawn.

You need to move loot away from its spawn site for the site to spawn new loot. But doesn't this damage server performance over time if players keep farming areas like NWAF and other big sites? Will the stuff players move from the loot spot despawn ever?

Despawn, does it happen? If I were to search elektro and found it just had crap, and then ran to cherno, searched there and then returned back to elektro, would the same crap from earlier be there or would it despawn while i was away (like with zombies) and respawn when i approached?

Lastly; on a fresh boot of a server, are there a certainly number of loot spawn cycles before decent loot appears? I've been playing on the same server for the last 24 hours and I find after a server restart (midday) there's an abundance of 'empty tin cans' in most spawn sites i go to.

Thanks in advanced.

[insitv 305]

I answered that in another post but can't find it, damn it. Well the loot system works as follows:

There are a few rules i would like to explain first:

- If you are less than 200 meters away from a building, zombies will spawn.

- If you are less than 120 meters away from a building, LOOT WILL SPAWN.

- If you are 30 meters or less away from a building, NO LOOT WILL SPAWN.

If your distance to the building is between 31 and 120 meters, loot will spawn.

So, when exaclty will it spawn? Every 10 minutes. If you clear a building completely (take ALL loot from it, even tin cans) you have to wait for 10 minutes and voila, there is fresh loot. The 10 minute timer starts when you get in range of the building. (When there is no player around before you, otherwise he will have started the timer).

For maximum effect, look for a building without zombies (scout with binocs), get in and check loot. After that you take all the loot, run more than 30 meters away and wait for 10 minutes. DO NOT go more than 120 meters away tough. Go back and check loot. Repeat until you find the desired items.

//Edit

Forgot to say, we have tested this hundreds of time AND i checked the source code. Think i will make an own thread with pictures and a source code analysis to clear things up once and for all.

Edited September 4, 2012 by insitv

[fearz0r 128]

I answered that in another post but can't find it, damn it. Well the loot system works as follows:

There are a few rules i would like to explain first:

- If you are less than 200 meters away from a building, zombies will spawn.

- If you are less than 120 meters away from a building, LOOT WILL SPAWN.

- If you are 30 meters or less away from a building, NO LOOT WILL SPAWN.

If your distance to the building is between 31 and 120 meters, loot will spawn.

So, when exaclty will it spawn? Every 10 minutes. If you clear a building completely (take ALL loot from it, even tin cans) you have to wait for 10 minutes and voila, there is fresh loot. The 10 minute timer starts when you get in range of the building. (When there is no player around before you, otherwise he will have started the timer).

For maximum effect, look for a building without zombies (scout with binocs), get in and check loot. After that you take all the loot, run more than 30 meters away and wait for 10 minutes. DO NOT go more than 120 meters away tough. Go back and check loot. Repeat until you find the desired items.

//Edit

Forgot to say, we have tested this hundreds of time AND i checked the source code. Think i will make an own thread with pictures and a source code analysis to clear things up once and for all.

Thanks insitv, does that also mean items that spawned earlier are always going to be there (i.e. don't de-spawn)?

[insitv 305]

They DO respawn but i haven't figured out yet when they respawn or which conditions have to be met.

Follow the link in my signature to get a better understanding of loot mechanics.

Edited September 4, 2012 by insitv

[HMS 115]

Adding this: If you are in a tractor running around the deer stands in alt-view so you can have a peek and see what's up there without having to get out...

You can't do that. You have to get out of the vehicle or nothing will spawn.

[insitv 305]

I can confirm that, as long as you are in a vehicle (any vehicle) no loot will spawn. Ever.