Meta-Events; Players Unable to Avoid Helicopters or Guns

[No Nōryoku]

It would be nice if you were to give use the ability to change the amount of meta-events in-game, as they can be frustrating for some players or even game-breaking. Also, as this is a sandbox game: give us the ability to change it in SP and MP, please.

[Axelord1942]

Except you can avoid them, so to speak. The helicopter meta-event, while inconvenient, is not "out to get you" like a lot of players say. The direction that it moves the zombies is random; sometimes one way, sometimes the other. If your house/base/pillow fort is in the path of a herd that's not necessarily anyone's fault. Same applies to the gunshots. Either way, as I understand it these events are temporary and to be replaced with another system; don't quote me on that...I think I read that somewhere but it would take far too long for me to find the Mondoid in question.

I'm not against your idea; some level of influence on these events couldn't hurt. I do, however, hesitate to consider a core game mechanic as "game-breaking",

[No Nōryoku]

Originally posted by axelord1942:

I'm not against your idea; some level of influence on these events couldn't hurt. I do, however, hesitate to consider a core game mechanic as "game-breaking",

I am not entirely used to the game yet. Whilst playing with friends it can be disturbing trying to build a simple fortress when hundreds of gunshots and helicopters cross our path and huge hordes of zombies arrive at your location after a couple of in-game minutes; that, for a beginner can be "game-breaking". We had roughly four Meta-Events in one and a half days.

That is also the reason for my friends not willing to play the game anymore. They and I would like to shape the experience to our desires -- if that means reducing a core element or turning it off (the Meta-Events), so be it; I consider this game breaking when players stop playing due to a feature of a game.

[Axelord1942]

Four? So the helicopters and a couple of gunshots, maybe someone screaming? That's a pretty low number, you're lucky.

"I consider this game breaking when players stop playing due to a feature of a game."

Character death is LITERALLY one of the defining features of this game (and, I suspect, a slew of others). Adding a level of challenge beyond player control is a natural extension of that.

"can be disturbing trying to build a simple fortress when hundreds of gunshots and helicopters cross our paths and huge hordes of zombies arrive at your location after a couple of in-game minutes"

You don't need to exaggerate. There is no way that "hundreds" of gunshots and helicopters occurred in "just a couple of in-game minutes." And unless you have the game set to real time, a few in-game minutes is anywhere from 15 to 30 or even 45 minutes. A very reasonable timeframe for some of these things to occur in. Additionally, the helicopter event probability seems to drop off as more time passes. I've only heard it within the first two weeks, myself.

"Simple fortress" might be your problem altogether. It's generally not advisable to build anything substantial in urban areas (this obviously depends on a few factors, like if that's what you were even trying to do) and furthermore, there is nothing simple about building anything in PZ. Expecting it to be is not going to help you....as for the hordes...you CAN change literally almost every aspect of the zombies and their spawning/clustering system. IMHO that is more directly beneficial than adjusting meta-events. If you're getting overrun too early for your liking maybe you should exercise the options they give you before you ask for more.


Or, alternatively, you can wait for the feature to be fully implemented. The choppers will eventually be shooting zombies as they pass through while still dragging them around the map. So if you can't get along with it now then idk what else to tell you.

For the record I still mostly agree with you.

[Freedom]

Big fan of options for sure. Will strongly disagree that these events are game breaking. At 1st they are a pain, after a few games you know what to do.

[Foolish Bastion]

Originally posted by axelord1942:

Four? So the helicopters and a couple of gunshots, maybe someone screaming? That's a pretty low number, you're lucky.

"I consider this game breaking when players stop playing due to a feature of a game."

Character death is LITERALLY one of the defining features of this game (and, I suspect, a slew of others). Adding a level of challenge beyond player control is a natural extension of that.

"can be disturbing trying to build a simple fortress when hundreds of gunshots and helicopters cross our paths and huge hordes of zombies arrive at your location after a couple of in-game minutes"

You don't need to exaggerate. There is no way that "hundreds" of gunshots and helicopters occurred in "just a couple of in-game minutes." And unless you have the game set to real time, a few in-game minutes is anywhere from 15 to 30 or even 45 minutes. A very reasonable timeframe for some of these things to occur in. Additionally, the helicopter event probability seems to drop off as more time passes. I've only heard it within the first two weeks, myself.

"Simple fortress" might be your problem altogether. It's generally not advisable to build anything substantial in urban areas (this obviously depends on a few factors, like if that's what you were even trying to do) and furthermore, there is nothing simple about building anything in PZ. Expecting it to be is not going to help you....as for the hordes...you CAN change literally almost every aspect of the zombies and their spawning/clustering system. IMHO that is more directly beneficial than adjusting meta-events. If you're getting overrun too early for your liking maybe you should exercise the options they give you before you ask for more.


Or, alternatively, you can wait for the feature to be fully implemented. The choppers will eventually be shooting zombies as they pass through while still dragging them around the map. So if you can't get along with it now then idk what else to tell you.

For the record I still mostly agree with you.

I didn't know that bit, that is awesome about them shooting the zeds.

[Freedom]

Originally posted by MutatedNoob:

Originally posted by axelord1942:

Four? So the helicopters and a couple of gunshots, maybe someone screaming? That's a pretty low number, you're lucky.

"I consider this game breaking when players stop playing due to a feature of a game."

Character death is LITERALLY one of the defining features of this game (and, I suspect, a slew of others). Adding a level of challenge beyond player control is a natural extension of that.

"can be disturbing trying to build a simple fortress when hundreds of gunshots and helicopters cross our paths and huge hordes of zombies arrive at your location after a couple of in-game minutes"

You don't need to exaggerate. There is no way that "hundreds" of gunshots and helicopters occurred in "just a couple of in-game minutes." And unless you have the game set to real time, a few in-game minutes is anywhere from 15 to 30 or even 45 minutes. A very reasonable timeframe for some of these things to occur in. Additionally, the helicopter event probability seems to drop off as more time passes. I've only heard it within the first two weeks, myself.

"Simple fortress" might be your problem altogether. It's generally not advisable to build anything substantial in urban areas (this obviously depends on a few factors, like if that's what you were even trying to do) and furthermore, there is nothing simple about building anything in PZ. Expecting it to be is not going to help you....as for the hordes...you CAN change literally almost every aspect of the zombies and their spawning/clustering system. IMHO that is more directly beneficial than adjusting meta-events. If you're getting overrun too early for your liking maybe you should exercise the options they give you before you ask for more.


Or, alternatively, you can wait for the feature to be fully implemented. The choppers will eventually be shooting zombies as they pass through while still dragging them around the map. So if you can't get along with it now then idk what else to tell you.

For the record I still mostly agree with you.

I didn't know that bit, that is awesome about them shooting the zeds.

Knowing these devs, there will be chance they miss the zeds and shoot you!! :)

[No Nōryoku]

All I want to say is, that it is game-breaking for me when I cannot progress whilst these Meta-Events have been so frequent in my occasion...

I am not trying to bash this game or anything -- Figuratively I am trying the contrary; pointing out the lack of an option for it to be reduced or turned off. You can even turn off the zombies in the server options, which is also a core element: so why not the Meta-Events?

Do you really have to argue about the two mentioned words: "game-breaking"? No, you surely don't have to. Just ignore my request if it is somehow offending you into furiosity.

[Axelord1942]

Originally posted by Joshua Benson:

All I want to say is, that it is game-breaking for me when I cannot progress whilst these Meta-Events have been so frequent in my occasion...

I am not trying to bash this game or anything -- Figuratively I am trying the contrary; pointing out the lack of an option for it to be reduced or turned off. You can even turn off the zombies in the server options, which is also a core element: so why not the Meta-Events?

Do you really have to argue about the two mentioned words: "game-breaking"? No, you surely don't have to. Just ignore my request if it is somehow offending you into furiosity.

Except nobody is mad. I'm sorry we aren't agreeing with you in a manner that makes you comfortable; apparently us agreeing with you isn't enough, despite your best efforts.

And also, you can't turn off the meta-events because it is a TEMPORARY feature. Sooo. Enjoy yourself and those helicopters.

[No Nōryoku]

Originally posted by axelord1942:

Except nobody is mad. I'm sorry we aren't agreeing with you in a manner that makes you comfortable

It is very nice of you being sorry, but you don't have to be. Also, I am not mad as well, suprisingly.

Originally posted by axelord1942:

And also, you can't turn off the meta-events because it is a TEMPORARY feature. Sooo. Enjoy yourself and those helicopters.

Are there any news on when this is replaced?

The devs are usually stretching time to attain goals/milestones for PZ (which I do not mean negitavely). To compromise for their speed of completing, they could take our suggestion into consideration. Perhaps that will infuriate a few PZ fans because the devs are delaying a promised feature... But hey, the promise is still there.

[Axelord1942]

From what I understand. they are working on some kind of "Director" AI that is going to run all this stuff behind the scenes. I imagine this is going to be closely tied into the NPC AI overhaul that they have been working on. The helicopters shooting the zombies as they fly past is going to be one of the end results.

Realistically? I expect to start seeing the beginning NPC's/advanced AI in three to five more builds. Here's to you, Build 38! *crosses fingers*

If I'm wrong, I'll sacrifice my best character to the largest horde on my map.

[No Nōryoku]

Originally posted by axelord1942:

If I'm wrong, I'll sacrifice my best character to the largest horde on my map.

I'll be there with you -- promise.

[Axelord1942]

That's what co-op is all about, baby!

[MM]

I empathize with the random choppers/gunshots causing you to either die or abandon your hard-won safehouse, it's happened to all of us from time to time. The thing to remember is that the hardship is completely intended, and the game isn't supposed to be one about progression or fairness.

Sometimes the game is just literally going to screw you and that's the point. The accomplishment will be to survive and live on after the game bends you over and gives it to you raw.

I can give a tip about recovering your overrun safehouse if you like -I've done it before. You need to go about a block away from wherever your nest is and find a way to make a lot of noise. A gun (if you have it) works wonders here, but in a pinch breaking into houses will work if you can set off a house alarm. You create a racket and draw the zombies away from your safehouse. This will create a new problem for you (horde of zombies alert to your location), but if you can manage to lose them (which will become much easier as you get used to how they think/move), you'll have drawn away or thinned out most of the big clumps of them. You can then grab a few bats/crowbars/axes (you'll need a few cause they'll break) and create a kill room somewhere nearby, then lead the remaining offending zombies a few at a time into it and bash their brains in.

It's a big project to clear a big infestation like that, but it's manageable.

[No Nōryoku]

Originally posted by Smegmata:

I can give a tip about recovering your overrun safehouse if you like -I've done it before. You need to go about a block away from wherever your nest is and find a way to make a lot of noise. A gun (if you have it) works wonders here, but in a pinch breaking into houses will work if you can set off a house alarm. You create a racket and draw the zombies away from your safehouse. This will create a new problem for you (horde of zombies alert to your location), but if you can manage to lose them (which will become much easier as you get used to how they think/move), you'll have drawn away or thinned out most of the big clumps of them. You can then grab a few bats/crowbars/axes (you'll need a few cause they'll break) and create a kill room somewhere nearby, then lead the remaining offending zombies a few at a time into it and bash their brains in.

I've done that before as well, did not turn out well for my mates (lastly not playing with me anymore). That's why they long for that option. Without, they start calling Meta-Events game-breaking as we haven't stood a chance (that's why I refer to it as "game-breaking";for they stopped playing).

[Pandor]

Well anyway i guess next thing you will request is a cure for zombification. :/ Maybe that game not for you. :/