The God of War hates those who hesitate.

[DustyMonolith 8]

So I'm snooping about the northwest airfield, getting ready to log for the night, and decide to hit the southern barracks before I head for bed. As I approach through the trees, the first thing that SHOULD have alerted me were the infected... it didn't look like I had spawned them, they were too spread out. But I ignored it, and crept my way to the barracks door... which was closed. That got me suspicious, so I crept in and saw EVERY door in the place was closed. I opened one after the other slowly, expecting to catch a magazine of 7.62 in the chin each time, only to find the place was clear of players.

And loot.

I realized too late that someone had very recently emptied every loot spawn, and was very likely outside very close trying to cycle the spawns. Then I heard him, just outside, crouch running. So I did what I always do in the moment of action. I panicked. Having closed the entrance door on my way in, and went prone at the end of the hallway and put my sights right on the door. If he was coming in to kick me out, I'd hopefully have the jump. Unfortunately, like the dork I am, when I was shifting myself into the perfect firing line, I clicked my mouse and fired two shots at the door. If he didn't actually know I was in there before, well...

SO. He knows someone's posted up in the barracks wrecking his loot cycling. Since he didn't come barreling in guns blazing, I assume he's tucked in the trees to the west covering the door with an M107, AS50 or atomic cannon. I assume I'm dead if I dare leave that door, and I believe he thinks the same if he tries to enter. Epic standoff time.

Now I just wanted to go to bed, but I had to bungle my way into this mess, and now that I'm in a combat (more or less) situation, I can't log off until it's resolved. I had a lot of great gear, I wasn't interested in being killed, so I was determined to play defense. I would wait this guy out. So like the weenie I can be at times, I wait, covering the door like a boss. I mean, I could probably draw that door from memory at this point. Every grain and knot in the wood, every warp and distortion in the glass window. I'm gonna have nightmares about that door after staring at it for thirty minutes. Yeah, thirty minutes. Every couple of minutes I would hear what I took to be infected aggroing someone, so every time I dared hope the coast was clear and I could try to make a break for it, some zed would remind me that I wasn't alone. I didn't mention that it was night, so if my buddy outside did aggro an infected, he could very quickly ditch it and post back up on the door. Also, even though I had night vision goggles, looking out the windows in third person was next to useless as dude could have been buried in any one of the fifty million trees to the west.

OK, I finally give up. Five more minutes then I'm logging. We've given one another more than enough time to aerate the other. Then it happens. My night vision flares. My whole screen is white/green. Did the server reset to daylight?! I turn off my goggles. The hallway is red. Road flare thrown outside. Uh oh, it's finally on. The flare was thrown outside, at my end of the barracks, so only my end was lit. With my goggles off, the doorway was pitch black. I turn the goggles back on, and most everything is washed out BUT I can barely make out the outline of the door. OK I say, he probably thinks he's completely blinded me (the fool!!!), but the instant that vague door outline changes, he's getting a mag of 5.56 burned in his chest. BRING IT O-oh wait, all of a sudden the door flares bright white. I can't make anything out, the door's outline is gone, replaced by... a small star? I'm blind. BANG BANG BANG. Dead. Not only did he wreck my night vision with the flare, but proceeded to shine a Remington's under-barrel flashlight through the door's window to ensure my uselessness.

Well played sir, well played (I mean seriously, if that was you on US 1030, well done). I probably would have had a chance if I simply bolted like a mother out the door, but I fooled myself into thinking being backed up in a dead end with no way out was a sound tactical position. Egg on my face.

Yeah, this was a story about me sitting around like a jerk for thirty minutes not actually doing... anything... but it was really tense and nerve wracking to be involved in. Lost a set of night vision goggles, rangefinder, ghillie suite, AS50, GPS, blah blah. Basically everything you'd hope to find. I know people say not to become attached to your gear, but to heck with that. Adds more to the game when I really don't want to die and yet still push myself into risky situations. Now it's time to get attached to my bandage and box of painkillers once again.

Anyways, really love this game and it's brutal, unforgiving sandbox. Can't wait for the standalone!

"The God of War hates those who hesitate." - Euripides

[Derpy_Hooves (DayZ) 4521]

Unlucky but you were outplayed tactically, you had the patience to hold out i'll give you that, personally i would have been in one of the rooms crouched but leaning out into the hall covering the doorway so if he did burst in like he did to you i would have the advantage of not being in his direct line.

A good experience though for you no doubt, it is truly the best part of this game

[Hetstaine 10852]

Nice. Dude was on his game :).

Had a very similar deal. I was stuck in the middle room when i heard footsteps , i peeked out and he looked in, we saw each other briefly and both retreated. 5 minute stand off then he popped a flare, which was awesome as i had no nightvision :D . Me being me i legged it out and made it nearly around the corner when a grenade went off behind me, bleeding and shocked i ran until about 4000 blood then bandaged in the southern treeline outside. I camped it for about 10 minutes but not having nvgs i was at a distinct disadvantage so legged it for some steaks.

That 'nade scared the fucking shit outta me i can tell ya.

[feeldope 6]

Great story and well played on both of your parts. I applaud your unwillingness to log out because after ten minutes I would have been bored to tears.

[Boof (DayZ) 75]

Cool story bro. No really.

[thegoldenbeard 2]

Great story. I'm impressed that you had the patience to wait it out that long. You both had good tactics as well. I do hate how people say not to get attached to your gear; that's what makes you strive to live each day.

[DubPlate 38]

Epic story man, glad it wasn't in the story thread or I would have missed it. Had some long stand offs myself but not for that long! Only a remington too he was probably more freakn than you haha :)

[Kerwyn 77]

Cool story, beans given, my only 'epic stand off story" involves that little black house on the hill west of Cherno, right on the coast, I had found a revolver with no mags, and was about to leave when I heard footsteps outside, thinking to myself, "All I got is an empty pistol... Maybe I can scare him off." so I yell over Direct, "Hey you out there, I'm inside, and I'm armed, I don't want to fight you, so either lay down your weapon, and we can talk friendly, or bugger off. If you come in here armed I'll fill your face with lead!"

He didn't respond for a long time, and finally I got bored, and careless, thinking he must've run off, I moved over to the window and peeked out, last thing I saw was muzzle flash, sounded like an M16, or maybe an M4, the American rifles all sound the same to me...

[rayk 33]

i would have been in one of the rooms crouched but leaning out into the hall covering the doorway so if he did burst in like he did to you i would have the advantage of not being in his direct line.

I was thinking the same thing when I was reading his story. I do give you props for waiting it out so long before something happened though. I would have grown impatient and ventured out of the building I think(although I don't think that I would have fired shots accidentally in the first place).

[FreshmeatDK 22]

Very good read, thanks for sharing. Well written as well, gives a good feeling of suspense. Moments like these are one way or another what makes DayZ, and the following loss of gear is minor compared to the battle over it. And while you should not get too attached to your gear, it means that you should not quit the game when you eventually loose it.

Reading the story, I suspected a frag ending it, and I always strive to keep one on my person for emergency room clearing. Major kudos for staying around for 30 minutes, I would log after a something like five if it was past bedtime (But that is a matter of priorities, I need to stay awake at my job).

I have been holed up in a supermarket once in a similar situation, but luckily the guy thought I was behind the counter instead of in the back room. So while he tries to sneak up behind me, he actually walks right past me. It ended badly for him.

[omgwtfbbq (DayZ) 1069]

Nice :thumbsup: