Hostile Survivors

[Wuulfe]

Ok so I'm in a house, in a room, with a hostile survivor with a shotgun pointed at me. How exactly do you communicate with them? I can't find any icon for "parley" or anything like that?

[jpcerutti]

You can't. He's a crabby old man, like myself. They game calls anyone who doesn't immediately try to kill you "neutral".

You just have to get out of his house/off his lawn... or kill him.

[Femme Fatale]

Normally most houses with neutrals will have something posted to indicate they are such, like a do not tresspass etc painted on the house or something similar?

[sarah]

Calling anyone that's aiming a weapon threatningly at people "neutral", and penalizing you for killing them, is just dumb.

[jpcerutti]

Originally posted by sarah:

Calling anyone that's aiming a weapon threatningly at people "neutral", and penalizing you for killing them, is just dumb.

No, I disagree.

NOT pointing a weapon, if I had one, at someone who just broke into my house would be dumb. I *am* being neutral by not immediately shooting you my looting friend.

[behemoth227]

Originally posted by jpcerutti:

Originally posted by sarah:

Calling anyone that's aiming a weapon threatningly at people "neutral", and penalizing you for killing them, is just dumb.

No, I disagree.

NOT pointing a weapon, if I had one, at someone who just broke into my house would be dumb. I *am* being neutral by not immediately shooting you my looting friend.

This, very much so this. The world has gone ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, people are eating each other, you have a group of violent raiders living literally right across the street, and random guy and his three friends smash your door down with a sledge hammer and stroll into your kitchen. The fact that he didnt immediately ventilate your face with buck shot shows a nigh saintly level of restraint on the part of that fellow.

[sarah]

It's the apocalypse and people are going nuts just trying to survive. How are you supposed to know he actually owns the property that's he's squatting on? It's not like he shows you a deed of ownership. He just points a weapon at you and threatens you. The "neutrals" were just poorly handled. There should be some conversation options, and maybe the opportunity for trading. As it is, you often get attacked by them and then are given an insulting penalty when you neutralize them in self defense.

The first time I stumbled into that house, I was locked into combat and the supposed "neutral" nearly shotgunned Joel to death. There wasn't any option but to defend myself, then you get the dumb lecture from Davis and a pentaly for protecting yourself. I guess they were not too concerned that one our people was almost murdered by the person we had to kill.

[jpcerutti]

Honestly? You don't even have to do very much detective work.

He has zombies and bulletholes in front and a big spraypainted warning in back. You have to not only break in but cross two distance "thresholds" for him to start shooting (or steal something from him).

No. You cannot not pay attention to your situation, break into his house, and then run up to him to "talk".

If I come over to your house and do that are you going to just talk to me? I bet you put an extra hole or two in me.

You are the one who isn't being neutral... some of your NPC's will think so too.

[Drunetovich]

Well don't kill him, just do k.o. take his weapons and heal him back up.
Or lure some zombies in his house and let them do the dirty work, you will technically be innocent.

[jpcerutti]

Originally posted by Not again!:

Well don't kill him, just do k.o. take his weapons and heal him back up.
Or lure some zombies in his house and let them do the dirty work, you will technically be innocent.

You are correct. Both ways have been tested and are workable ways to avoid the morale malus. (And you don't even have to heal him if you don't want to - just don't deal him the killing blow while he lays unconscious on the floor is enough to avoid the penalty)

[sarah]

I don't think that works anymore. I beat the guy unconcious after he attacked me and just left him there. Still got the stupid penalty anyways.

[jpcerutti]

Originally posted by sarah:

I don't think that works anymore. I beat the guy unconcious after he attacked me and just left him there. Still got the stupid penalty anyways.

Checked and you're right - letting them bleed out now makes no difference. Is only a 20 point penalty. Either leave them be or take people who don't care to avoid it.

[Femme Fatale]

Then find less scrupulous companions that will not care who you kill?

Personally I just avoid anything with warnings including npcs that yell at me to keep away or they will shoot!

[Drunetovich]

So far(day 45) i had only 2 cases where penalty was applied, abovementioned guy with shotgun and some dudes camping near lake. All other cases with warnings were fair game.