[Update - Possible fix] You really can't delete characters from your list?

[0x41414141]

I've tried searching for an answer and the best I found is that you need to corrupt whatever file saves the characters and then the game will just throw that away and generate a new one; but doing so makes you loose ALL characters.

Is this really the only way?

The game doesn't give players a way to clean up their list by themselves? Is there any logical explanation for this feature to be missing? I'm returning to the game after many years but seems kind of an obviously missing feature.

UPDATE: Managed (for now at least) to delete all characters. I'm going to be detailed in the steps I took because I'm not 100% sure what is relevant and what isn't. What I did was:
1. Nulled the file `chars.DayZProfile` that's in the DayZ folder in Documents. I opened it in a hexeditor and deleted everything, but I imagine using a normal text editor should also probably work; unless it doesn't display and allow you to delete nullbytes. In that case maybe creating a new textfile with the same name/extension will work.
2. I started the game WITH `chars.DayZProfile` STILL OPEN (I don't know if it is relevant or not.. maybe it is important because the file should be blocked to edits since it is opened by another application)
3. When starting the game I had only the default character available. I edited that character, gave it a name and entered a server to play a bit.
4. Exited game (game and launcher); Steam supposedly synced everything.
5. Closed the file on the hexeditor AFTER closing the game.
6. Opened the game and saw that my recently created character was not there.
7. Closed game (and launcher).
8. Deleted `chars.DayZProfile` (that was still zeroed out despite me creating a new character in that server I played on)
9. Opened game again and joined the same server I was previously playing on.
10. My character was restored by the server.
11. Exited the game.
12. Now everything is good. `chars.DayZProfile` only has data on my new character and all those other unplayable ones from dead servers are gone.

I hope this works for other people who also want to clean up their character list.

[mud]

maybe go to BI dayz forum and make a suggestion? would get better results than here

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by Ogilthorpe:

maybe go to BI dayz forum and make a suggestion? would get better results than here

I dont expect a feature like this to be implemented in a game this old. Thats why I asked. Either there's some feature/option I missed or some working bypass.

[Wayward Goat]

Im relatively new to the game, about 50 hours in. But if I'm understanding you correctly, can't you just F11 your characters in-game if you want to wipe them? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you.

[_KC76_]

Your Characters are saved Server-side .. Even if you corrupt your own files, you will get what-ever Character you last played on what-ever server you re-join .. If you just want a new character on a new server, make the new character in the Game Lobby, then join an Official server and kill your character, when asked to Spawn Random or Spawn Custom, select Custom, then select the new character.

You can then log off the official server, and that character should be your new "default" for the next Community server that you have NOT already played on.

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by _KC76_:

Your Characters are saved Server-side .. Even if you corrupt your own files, you will get what-ever Character you last played on what-ever server you re-join .. If you just want a new character on a new server, make the new character in the Game Lobby, then join an Official server and kill your character, when asked to Spawn Random or Spawn Custom, select Custom, then select the new character.

You can then log off the official server, and that character should be your new "default" for the next Community server that you have NOT already played on.

What I want is to clean my player list from characters that I don´t want to play; some are from servers that don't even exist anymore.

I really can't see a logical explanation for this particular game design choice of not letting the player delete this characters.

Maybe the idea is that if a player deletes a character client side the server is left with possible duplicates of that player server side? Which is just dumb. The server just needs to be informed that a player with a particular SteamID is joining and that he is using a new character. The server can than delete their old character from their DB. On the flipside, if the player deletes a character from a server that doesn't exist anymore; no harm is done.

The way it is right now it's the players who are left carrying data they can´t get rid off.

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by Wayward Goat:

Im relatively new to the game, about 50 hours in. But if I'm understanding you correctly, can't you just F11 your characters in-game if you want to wipe them? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you.

If your character dies in a server it remains in your character list; always available for all eternity for you to spawn them again. Even if you don´t want to ever use them (or the server you played them on doesnt exist anymore).

[_KC76_]

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by Wayward Goat:

Im relatively new to the game, about 50 hours in. But if I'm understanding you correctly, can't you just F11 your characters in-game if you want to wipe them? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding you.

If your character dies in a server it remains in your character list; always available for all eternity for you to spawn them again. Even if you don´t want to ever use them (or the server you played them on doesnt exist anymore).

You don't seem to want to accept the answers .. but you do already have them, and this really is a non-issue ..

You can either corrupt your local files, or you can uninstall the game thru Steam, and then manually clean the left-over files, and reinstall clean .. Just don't ever join one of those old servers, or you will get those characters back.

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by _KC76_:

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

If your character dies in a server it remains in your character list; always available for all eternity for you to spawn them again. Even if you don´t want to ever use them (or the server you played them on doesnt exist anymore).

You don't seem to want to accept the answers .. but you do already have them, and this really is a non-issue ..

You don't seem to understand what I was asking'; on top of that you are giving bad information.

Originally posted by _KC76_:

You can either corrupt your local files,

"Corrupting" the saved character profiles works - if done correctly - but what I asked in my original answer was if there was a way to do it without losing all characters.

There probably is a way by editing the character file; but I'm not going to waste my time reversing it. I just deleted all of the characters.

Originally posted by _KC76_:

or you can uninstall the game thru Steam, and then manually clean the left-over files, and reinstall clean ..

Uninstall/Reinstall thru steam does not work since DayZ uses cloud sync.

Originally posted by _KC76_:

Just don't ever join one of those old servers, or you will get those characters back.

How does this solve the issue I raised? Doesn't help anything and I still have a list of characters from dead servers which are useless UI elements poluting my game.

It's a weird game design decision and no one has given a sensible justification for it. It's just bad design.

[etwas]

i dunno why this thing even matters.
u pick a server, not a char. maybe im missing sth here, but why would i scroll thru my chars in the main menu?

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by etwas:

i dunno why this thing even matters.
u pick a server, not a char. maybe im missing sth here, but why would i scroll thru my chars in the main menu?

I play on multiple servers at the same time; half my list is useless characters I don't want (dead servers; stupid names; etc). When I want to play a particular character I have to sift thru the garbage to find what I want.

[_KC76_]

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by _KC76_:

You don't seem to want to accept the answers .. but you do already have them, and this really is a non-issue ..

You don't seem to understand what I was asking'; on top of that you are giving bad information.

Just because you don't like the answer, does not make the answer "bad information".

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by _KC76_:

You can either corrupt your local files,

"Corrupting" the saved character profiles works - if done correctly - but what I asked in my original answer was if there was a way to do it without losing all characters.

There probably is a way by editing the character file; but I'm not going to waste my time reversing it. I just deleted all of the characters.

There is not. The file is encrypted.

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by _KC76_:

or you can uninstall the game thru Steam, and then manually clean the left-over files, and reinstall clean ..

Uninstall/Reinstall thru steam does not work since DayZ uses cloud sync.

"Cloud Sync" is a Steam option, or a System option on YOUR end .. DayZ does not use any form of "Cloud Sync" without YOU opting in to use Steam Cloud, or Microdoft OneDrive on your own system.

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

It's a weird game design decision and no one has given a sensible justification for it. It's just bad design.

.. in YOUR opinion.

You are asking all these things on a PLAYERS forum .. if you want "sensible justification" from the DayZ Devs, then go over to the DayZ Forums, or the DayZ X (Twitter) account, and ASK THEM DIRECTLY.

[_KC76_]

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by etwas:

i dunno why this thing even matters.
u pick a server, not a char. maybe im missing sth here, but why would i scroll thru my chars in the main menu?

I play on multiple servers at the same time; half my list is useless characters I don't want (dead servers; stupid names; etc). When I want to play a particular character I have to sift thru the garbage to find what I want.

So you blame the Developers and complain to other Players, about your own bad decisions to make characters with "stupid names", as you put it.

Also, you do realize, that those names of those characters are ONLY on your system, right? Those are NOT the name of you as a Player that others see in the game. You have to set your user name in the Parameters of the Launcher, and THAT is the name people see in the game, not the "stupid names" you gave your Characters in the game lobby.

[0x41414141]

Originally posted by _KC76_:

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

I play on multiple servers at the same time; half my list is useless characters I don't want (dead servers; stupid names; etc). When I want to play a particular character I have to sift thru the garbage to find what I want.

So you blame the Developers and complain to other Players, about your own bad decisions to make characters with "stupid names", as you put it.

Also, you do realize, that those names of those characters are ONLY on your system, right? Those are NOT the name of you as a Player that others see in the game. You have to set your user name in the Parameters of the Launcher, and THAT is the name people see in the game, not the "stupid names" you gave your Characters in the game lobby.

I see; you either are intent on whiteknighting developers for bad decisions or simply want to antagonize as much as possible. I'll stop interacting now.

[Wayward Goat]

Originally posted by 0x41414141:

Originally posted by _KC76_:

So you blame the Developers and complain to other Players, about your own bad decisions to make characters with "stupid names", as you put it.

Also, you do realize, that those names of those characters are ONLY on your system, right? Those are NOT the name of you as a Player that others see in the game. You have to set your user name in the Parameters of the Launcher, and THAT is the name people see in the game, not the "stupid names" you gave your Characters in the game lobby.

I see; you either are intent on whiteknighting developers for bad decisions or simply want to antagonize as much as possible. I'll stop interacting now.

Man I've seen this guy on multiple other posts just taking dumps on other players whilst providing very little actual help or suggestions. He just simps for the devs and puts all blame onto the OP's, ignore him and just pay attention to actually useful responses. Most importantly, dont reply to him. Clearly thrives off frustration and angry responses. Dudes just looking for arguments and clown awards.

[_KC76_]

Ah yes, deflect all personal responsibility for your own actions, then accuse those who tell you to take responsibility, of "Whiteknighting" for the Devs .. This is a PLAYERS forum, there are no Devs here, to "Whiteknight" for .. but sure, keep blaming everyone but yourself, for what YOU did.

I must be a really bad clown farmer, because I haven't gotten any in a long time.