And what is important to you on the PVE server?

[Vrotnepovorot]

What ideas can there be for people to play for longer than a week

[RoY]

Be as close to Vanilla as possible. Limited mods.

[_KC76_]

The inherent problem with PvE servers is that they are either too easy, or too hard, and both types are Predictable, which leads to boredom.

Too easy, and you just get people building huge bases and hording loot until they have everything and get bored. Too hard, and most people will just leave after dying a few times. The few that like the "hard" PvE will also get bored though, because it is the same 6 animals/Infected at the same "hard" level, in the same areas of the map .. Once they kill all the things, they get bored and also leave.

Without some level of PvP, everything is Predictable, and Repetitive .. It gets boring without randomness .. As a Server owner, to provide that Randomness on a PvE server, you will be constantly changing mods or settings, editing the Map/mapgroups to change threat-spawns .. Your life gets very difficult very quickly.

[Pike1263]

Doing vanilla PvE, DayZ is the poster child for underdeveloped games. You can only do the loop so much before it becomes intolerably boring because it lacks enough engaging content. After a week of that, it's common to find yourself with nothing left to do other than stand around and look at the pretty map. So what's important to me is more engaging content.

I can't speak to modded DayZ servers because I don't usually do mods. I feel it's up to the devs to develop a game, not the community. Mods should enhance a game, not define it.

In any case, on other games, I've found mods to be problematic and when I did try loading a couple in DayZ out of boredom with the game, I couldn't get them to work on a dedicated server despite following a YouTuber's tutorial to the letter.

Ergo, I don't play DayZ much anymore.

[Idaho]

I got burned out on PVP in EVE Online. To me, pvp in any other game is pointless... Especially in dayz.

pvp in dayz is basically just pve with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ending... then you have to start over doing the pve part until the next ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ending... rinse repeat. 'oh it doesn't always end in kos... sometimes you MaKe FrIeNdS...' blah, blah, blah... yes it does. you either die fast, or die when the people you're running with get bored and kill you. then you get to start the pve over.

My pve server has far less predictable infected AI, a fairly difficult climb toward comfort, and then 'unlimited' base building when boredom creeps in. plus a few other nice things missing from vanilla. And no... not ridiculous traders, or helis, or currency to grind for... Some people just like to chill out and play a game; without running around like a psychopathic kid trying to ruin other peoples' day...

[Sebi1106]

enabling PvP is what would make me want to play on a PvE server. :P

Nothing beats the rush you get when you spot a player in the distance.
On PvE servers, its all to bright and frenly for me :D (even in a hardcore environment)
i am simply addicted to the adrenalin rush you get in a firefight.
Fighting NPC´s just doesnt itch that spot for me.

No matter how hard the NPC´s... they are predictable and you learn the movementpatterns and when and how they aggro/shoot rather fast and can cheese the system.

If you played BI games, especially during the Coop and single player campaign days.... you kind of realize that all those bots work VERY similar.

i have had 3k hours in operation flashpoint ; 2k hours in Arma Armed operations; and 7k Hours in Operation arrowhead, of which i spend 3k in a Milsimcoop campaign guild, beating custommission in a 20 man squad every single day.... i am done with PvE in Bohemia Games.

If i want PvE, i play a Massive online Campaign in A3.... no need to spend 3 hours lurking thru cherno to find plums. Thats not fun for me.
Hardcore server? YES! but a server that is hardcore, because you just turned the zombies into juggernauts that throw rocksc made food more sparce than gold, and made the temperature Decembre? HARD PASS.

I am 100% certain, that most PvE players would have more fun in a RP server, or in A3 Online Campaigns, but they dont know that yet.



The real fun in DayZ is the playerinteractions and PvP. Granted you play on a server where not everyone just Deathmatches, and you actually have fun and interesting interactions, while still having to fear that the other one might just turn and shoot you at any time.

THATS the thrill.
Just my 2cts tho! play the game however you want.

[baddoggs]

Thing is, Vanilla DayZ requires A lost artefact called an Imagination.
While it is very rare these days it can extend sandbox game playtime
by THOUSANDS of hours.

[Miles]

Fully PVE servers are honestly the most boring thing ever.

[baddoggs]

Originally posted by Miles✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ:

Fully PVE servers are honestly the most boring thing ever.

I am inclined to agree that they don't really deliver what i want from DayZ.
I do go on some of the more brutal ones to chill sometimes.

[Nathan]

Originally posted by uvd4op:

What ideas can there be for people to play for longer than a week

This is a open ended question so ill address the game loop and then challenges and mechanics.

I see complaints of too hard or too easy so finding middle ground will be hard if you take out the element of player violence. The threats that face you are food , hunger , sickness and then AI in terms of predators and infected.

my immediate thought would be to limit the amount of guns or ammo you can find. Restricting items can force players into a certain way of playing ie , more tactical instead of just meta car killing z's and risk of pvp from third partying from shooting a gun.

Risk vs Reward. Firstly what is the reward? , surviving ? accumulating resources ? you have to determine what the goal is and narrowing the goal or giving challenges might be a good way to focus a players intent to drive the gameplay loop of essentially surviving.

I play vanilla but mods in moderation can add a good balance/mechanic that adds to the gameplay loop instead of distracting the gameplay.

ideas: a nightime only server so reprioritizing of use of flares or light sources so that adds a extra dynamic to the game.

: adding more animals , since the threat of players isn't there , there needs to be a natural enemy besides the lackluster zombies.

these are just some ideas.

[Alexander The Great]

Here's the truth, from a player that ACTUALLY plays PVE.
I see most comments here didn't even taste of PVE concept fully.

PVE is like a single player Campaign experience on a good Custom Modded Hardcore Survival server.


The hottest thing for me personally PVE wise, is the aspect of Hardcore Survival + GOOD CUSTOM CONTENT.
Hardcore survival, that makes progression slow af and difficult, is what lets you truly experience DayZ.
When loot is scarce and rare, you start utilizing crafting mechanics, and tearing clothes into rags.
You start to think and be tactical.
You plan your routes, or its game over.

The infected also are best changed in PVE, to be difficult, as to avoid combat with them UNLESS you got a weapon, or you risk infection.
Or you go stealth killing them if no other chance is left...
Thus it makes you think how to approach infected too.

The whole economy changes, lootwise, and item wise.
Custom CONTENT like items, gear, food that also adds to the diversity makes it more appealing over other PVE servers.

Many PVE servers create their own items and mechanics or buy them from mod makers, making the experience unique.
Check RU APOCALYPSE for example, they are the example of perfect PVE mindset.
Hardcore progression gameplay, survival, custom content whether bought or self made, and UPDATES UPDATES UPDATES almost every week with new content or tiny event tweaks.

The mindset of PVE has to be on filler fun content to aim for, as compensation for no PVP.
So the AI start to be the biggest threat, the environment (if you decide to do a Winter Hardcore PVE with scarce items. that really tests your dayz skill).
And with mods you can add so much good stuff, if you pick right, that it wont bloat and turn it into dayz 2.0.

but it all depends on the man's vision and imagination.

[Jethro]

Originally posted by baddoggs:

Originally posted by Miles✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ:

Fully PVE servers are honestly the most boring thing ever.

I am inclined to agree that they don't really deliver what i want from DayZ.
I do go on some of the more brutal ones to chill sometimes.

Ayyyy he’s been back from being banned!

The only PVE I’ve done was on servers with traders and currency etc so it was fun for a day or 2 then I’d just get sick of the grind. Going full PVP made the game 100x more exciting for me. Sometimes I won’t run into anyone for 2-3 IRL gaming sessions and other times (usually near the coast) I’ll run into multiple players right off the bat.

What really irks me are the players who act oh-so friendly then shoot you in the back of the head the minute you turn around to do something. Just shoot me on sight at that point. It’s really beginning to make me never trust anyone and to just kill without any small talk. Which sucks.

[Envy The Dead]

Originally posted by uvd4op:

What ideas can there be for people to play for longer than a week

Pve gets boring fast so most don’t stay long

If you want players make it pvp or at least with pvp zones