KOS – Helping or destroying the game?

[Noobinated]

Before you go, “Oh no, not another guy whining about KOS-ers because he just got killed and lost all his gear.” Please know that I’ve survived for a long time now, and am guilty of KOS-ing myself. I’ve learnt very early from the start not to get attached to my gear/items as I’m probably gonna lose all of it easily to another player with a gun and falling (Falling is my worst enemy lately. But I’ve learnt how to pretty much avoid accidents.) I had very few friendly encounters with other players, and usually when there was friendly encounters there was a pretty big disparity in equipment. (E.g. I’m way better equipped with an M4 while they barely have a melee weapon.) However, I’m sure if they had proper weapons the encounters might have ended differently.

While I don’t personally advocate the KOS mentality, I understand that it is what made the game what it is today. It sets the atmosphere, the creeping paranoia that sets itself into your mind after your first couple of deaths. The way your heart starts pumping and the tension in the air when you hear movement or shots. I won’t lie, it is exhilarating when you come up top in a firefight or kill a gun-toting bandit with a crappy melee weapon. And I believe it has become part of this game, which I have accepted, that will stay.

However, too many of such encounters has left me hardened. I no longer seek social interaction and am content with just looting and keeping myself alive occasionally expending a bullet or two into a zombie’s brain. (Which still makes me smile.) But, that’s not the point of this game, it is an online game for a reason. There is a pretty awesome voice system for a reason. You are supposed to talk to people, not shoot the moment you see a head. If you wanted to shoot human players on sight, go play COD or whatever (Not ripping on COD, I used to play COD quite a lot). I watch videos online about people getting held up and forced to do stupid things, I rather that happen to me then get killed by some unknown guy with a sniper rifle.

Long story short, I believe that the KOS mentality is here to stay. Do you guys think that is keeping this game from its full potential? Is there a way to balance things out?

[Rainbow Demon]

Some people cant come back.

I wish not to KOS, so i think its best to really learn to use your instinct.

If a guy is creeping behind you, even without a gun, kill him.

[Zoinkgoblin]

Day Z is a game with KOS it is a part of the game deal or move on. It is not going to change. This is not Carebearland.