Game rules, so what's it all about | Introduction DayZ - ArmA 2 mod Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

In the world of DayZ, you have only one goal - survive. Spiritually, the game has something from Minecraft, where only your resourcefulness and imagination limit the length and quality of the fun you get. The game is however much more demanding and just like in the Minecraft hardcore more, death means starting everything from the beginning. The game can be played only online through the Internet. All DayZ servers use a common, permanent database, so you don't lose any equipment after quitting the game and begin in the same spot after logging back in.

The game takes place in a fictional Eastern Europe country of Chernarus. It's the epicentre of an apocalypse which has decimated the population, leaving behind legions of zombies (here known as Zeds) and only a handful of survivors. Chernarus consist of 225 square metres of open terrain, full of buildings, forests, ruins and of course threats. As you have probably guessed, you are one of the very few who haven't been infected and it's only up to you how long it will last this way. Death is unavoidable in DayZ, so I'd suggest not taking it too seriously. With time, you will die less and the starting phase after each "resurrection" will become easier and shorter.

DayZ throws you onto deep water, into a world in which threat comes under many forms. Zeds aren't the only thing that can hurt you - the game is very realistic, so even the surrounding and human biology can cause your death. Additionally there are other players, which mostly won't be friendly towards you. Fighting for survival pushes people to the limit, so if someone will feel threatened by your presence (or just like your gear), he can send you a bullet between the eyes. Keep that in mind when starting the game. Life in DayZ doesn't have any larger value than in a Deathmatch game, so don't get attached to it too much to save yourself some unnecessary disappointments.