Buddy System - Web Devs GOGO!

[Austex (DayZ) 5]

I thoroughly enjoy playing DayZ. I am also fortunate enough to have numerous RL/e-friends to game with in groups. However, I know MANY people do not. They struggle playing solo, trying to find a "friendly in Cherno?" to meet up with...often resulting in their very demise. So, I've had this idea and the knowledge to do what I am about to explain, but I simply do not have the time to dedicate to the project at this time. I figured I would pass the general idea out here for someone who has the skills and can possibly see the vision.

THE CONCEPT:

Create an interactive website where people can register their player accounts (secure, yet identifiable - more on this below). The general database will store not only individual player names, but also have a "groups" function. Players "A through Z" register on the site. Player "A" forms a new group called "The Cherno Survivors". Player "B" sees that player "A" is online, and strikes up a chat on the website. They chat for a few minutes, and player "B" decides he wants to join "The Cherno Survivors" group. Player "C" is online and also decides to join the group. They exchange comms info/etc, and all three meet up to find a server together.

Player "D" doesn't want to join a group just yet, but he would like to meet up with some fellow survivors. He posts a real-time "temporary party" request. Player "E" logs on to the website, he also does not want to join a specific group just yet. He sees the active party request, and accepts to join. Players "D" and "E" chat/exchange comms info through the party chat system, and they both go on their merry way to find a server together. Ten minutes go by, and player "F" logs on to the website. He wants to join a temporary party with some fellow survivors. He contemplates putting his own "temporary party" request up, but instead accepts the open temporary party posted by player "D". Player "D" gets a subtle audible ping through the website. After finding a safe place to tab out, player "D" allows player "F" into the party, gives him comms info, and player "F" now joins their party. Player "D" decides that 3 is enough, so he removes his active party request.

GENERAL:

For those familiar with competitive gaming and the likes, this is in ways a sort of "scrim/war/ladder" style system. Players can log on to the site, find a party for the night or join a group and play with the same group night after night. The groups can have info pages detailing the location/hours in which they typically play/etc.

SECURITY:

The player database system would have a secure identifiable feature to each player, as well as a ranking system. Most likely the players IN GAME GUID would be securely stored in the database to prevent ghosting/smurfing. If you are involved in a party/group, and one of the players goes rouge and shoots all of you, you come back to the website and report the player. Each report will count as 1 strike. This way, when you attempt to join a party or prior to accepting a party request, you can see that player "T" has 0 strikes...or player "R" has 3 strikes. In this sense, you can simply choose not to party with that person.

I honestly see this taking off and being a very successful addition to DayZ. If someone feels like taking off with the idea, you are free to do so. I have many other ideas to go along with this system, but wanted to put the general concept out there for others to see.

I can be reached through PM here, or add me on steam "Austex" if you want to chat about it. (Steam profile pic is Papa Smurf!)

[dale0404 16]

Sorry to burst your bubble and all mate, nice idea etc but...

How would the players join the same server? It is hard enough now to even get on the server you want.

And I aint gonna give out my GUID to anyone...

Finally, alot of people wont be arsed.

[Austex (DayZ) 5]

How would the players join the same server? It is hard enough now to even get on the server you want.

Once your party/group is on comms' date=' you can search for a server with enough free slots, and everyone in the party joins that server. It's the same way clan mates/other groups join the same server currently.

And I aint gonna give out my GUID to anyone...

BattlEye uses your full GUID for anti-cheat measures. Providing GUIDs for anti-cheat measures has been around for 10+ years, and by MANY heavily-populated competitive gaming websites. A "safe" measure, while still being able to identify a persons character, is to provide for ex. the last 8 digits from the GUID. This way, you are still identifiable, but your FULL GUID is not stored on any database.

Finally' date=' alot of people wont be arsed.

[/quote']

This is true, but alot of people will still be complaining about bandits/not knowing if someone can be trusted. This system solves that, by not having to rely on any current/future bandit/survivor game mechanics.

[dale0404 16]

How would the group get on comms, would you be providing Teamspeak or Ventrilo etc? Also what if the group members cant get on comms? Finding a decent server with 3 slots available is near on impossible unless the server has just been restarted.

Oh and why not just use something like xfire or a Steam group for this.

Still aint giving you my GUID.

And the system that solves not trusting people is the system where you join a clan / group / RL friends etc. Not some random people you have never played with.

[Austex (DayZ) 5]

How would the group get on comms' date=' would you be providing Teamspeak or Ventrilo etc? Also what if the group members cant get on comms? Finding a decent server with 3 slots available is near on impossible unless the server has just been restarted.

[/quote']

The initial concept does not include the hosting of comms, however, with no ad-revenue being generated and no cost to the users, the site owner would be entitled to a non-profit registered TeamSpeak 3 server license (10 viritual, 512 slots). It would, however, still need to be hosted. If people who want to party/join a group enjoy the team atmosphere, comms can also be rented month-to-month from various server providers for minimal cost. A unregistered NP Teamspeak 3 license (accessible to all) allows for 32 slots, and could even be hosted by one of the users locally. I'm simply listing various options people have.

Also, not sure if you've been in game recently, but there a load of servers. Our groups rarely, if ever, have a problem connecting at times 8 of us on a single server.

Oh and why not just use something like xfire or a Steam group for this.

This might be viable in the short-term. But imagine if/when the group got to 1' date='000 or even 10,000 people. Your steam group chat window would never stop blinking/popping up. It would just be a mess, and you never know who is currently looking to join a game of Dayz NOW.

Still aint giving you my GUID.

That is completely your decision. I can refer you to at least 5 websites that require GUID's to participate. Perhaps there is another viable alternative. The reasoning behind this is to prevent player "A" from killing everyone in his party, then changing his name to player "DF" to avoid being known.

And the system that solves not trusting people is the system where you join a clan / group / RL friends etc. Not some random people you have never played with.

That is all part of the immersion. Maybe you don't know ANYONE in RL or online that plays DayZ. Maybe you don't want to join a group, but you also don't want to play alone. Perhaps you enjoy playing with random survivors every night! If one of them betrays you, you report them on the website. Does this completely circumvent back-stabbing? Of course not! You could play with someone for 2 weeks every night, getting all of the best gear in the game. Then, on the 15th day, you backstab the group and take everything. Or one of the other members does the same to you. This person/you get your marks on the website...makes it harder for you to find another group. The marks could possibly even fade away after some amount of time (2 weeks, no bad reports, you lose a strike). You can never fully trust someone, yet you don't have to run around looking for someone who doesn't shoot you to enjoy a team/group atmosphere.