I have to say, this is really a perfect map in terms of tone for DayZ 2017. It's spooky as hell. The bleak landsape works so well with the 2017 models. The sheer number of zeds is frightening! I don't think I made it more than 50 feet in any given direction without seeing another zed walking around - awesome!
One issue is with the amount of ammo available at the moment - 15rd Stanag taped mags everywhere. When I got up to the military installation above Norinsk, I came across 3 Mosins and 2 m16s in one barracks building - not such a big deal in and of itself, but with the glut of ammo around and given the size of the map, PvP matches may win out over survival. So, after a few hours play, I'm totally geared up - King Hobo pack, M16, Mosin and M1911... and I've only played on Namalsk once before and don't know the map at all.
Another issue is an area where the survival aspect of 2017 could really shine if implemented well - especially with a map like this (what a great opportunity!)... the weather. I realize the temperature is not working yet, but I think when it does, if you really want to add a harsh survival element, get rid of heatpacks and warm clothes... force people to build fires or use the barrels in the towns. The need to keep warm, I feel should, be a real issue and not one that can be easily escaped through the use of heatpacks and warm clothes. And, if people can't make a fire, they can hang out in a building for a time to get warm. Food and water shouldn't be the only element of survival that's difficult. You want to see a level of paranoia? Be forced to build a fire and have to protect yourself from zeds and other players while trying to get warm. Be forced to hang out in a building, but not wanting to really stick around because at any moment a player could come in. Two things can come out of this, either people will team up and share a fire or there will be a fight for it... either one is part of the story of 2017. Not senseless PvP slaughter, but a fight for survival. Imagine climbing up one of those towers and seeing a fire in the distance... or worse... very close. And, if the ammo is less available, making the choice to fight could have serious ramifications for longer term survival, so people would have to make choices. So much potential for upping the heart racing ante can be found by simply removing the crutch of heatpacks and warm clothes and making people work to survive the weather.
Thankfully, bandages are easier to find than in the current release of DayZ 2017, seeing as how the insta-hitting is an issue. In chats with some DayZ devs, it seems this has likely always been the case and is really hard to fix, but the added strength of the zeds makes this glitch all the more apparent and a clear issue... having bandages around helps to compensate for that glitch - so, thank you.
The only other issue I have is something that I hope can be changed - the sound level. The added noises and drones in the background are fantastic for making one uneasy, but it's really too loud - especially on the low end. It gives me a headache. I don't think it needs to go entirely, because I think it does actually make one uneasy... but it shouldn't be painful. This happened to me playing DayZ Namalsk as well, but I'd imagine it's something that can be altered even so.
DayZ 2017 Namalsk has a lot of potential. The map is almost perfect for the harsh natured theme of 2017. I look forward to seeing how it develops.
One issue is with the amount of ammo available at the moment - 15rd Stanag taped mags everywhere. When I got up to the military installation above Norinsk, I came across 3 Mosins and 2 m16s in one barracks building - not such a big deal in and of itself, but with the glut of ammo around and given the size of the map, PvP matches may win out over survival. So, after a few hours play, I'm totally geared up - King Hobo pack, M16, Mosin and M1911... and I've only played on Namalsk once before and don't know the map at all.
Another issue is an area where the survival aspect of 2017 could really shine if implemented well - especially with a map like this (what a great opportunity!)... the weather. I realize the temperature is not working yet, but I think when it does, if you really want to add a harsh survival element, get rid of heatpacks and warm clothes... force people to build fires or use the barrels in the towns. The need to keep warm, I feel should, be a real issue and not one that can be easily escaped through the use of heatpacks and warm clothes. And, if people can't make a fire, they can hang out in a building for a time to get warm. Food and water shouldn't be the only element of survival that's difficult. You want to see a level of paranoia? Be forced to build a fire and have to protect yourself from zeds and other players while trying to get warm. Be forced to hang out in a building, but not wanting to really stick around because at any moment a player could come in. Two things can come out of this, either people will team up and share a fire or there will be a fight for it... either one is part of the story of 2017. Not senseless PvP slaughter, but a fight for survival. Imagine climbing up one of those towers and seeing a fire in the distance... or worse... very close. And, if the ammo is less available, making the choice to fight could have serious ramifications for longer term survival, so people would have to make choices. So much potential for upping the heart racing ante can be found by simply removing the crutch of heatpacks and warm clothes and making people work to survive the weather.
Thankfully, bandages are easier to find than in the current release of DayZ 2017, seeing as how the insta-hitting is an issue. In chats with some DayZ devs, it seems this has likely always been the case and is really hard to fix, but the added strength of the zeds makes this glitch all the more apparent and a clear issue... having bandages around helps to compensate for that glitch - so, thank you.
The only other issue I have is something that I hope can be changed - the sound level. The added noises and drones in the background are fantastic for making one uneasy, but it's really too loud - especially on the low end. It gives me a headache. I don't think it needs to go entirely, because I think it does actually make one uneasy... but it shouldn't be painful. This happened to me playing DayZ Namalsk as well, but I'd imagine it's something that can be altered even so.
DayZ 2017 Namalsk has a lot of potential. The map is almost perfect for the harsh natured theme of 2017. I look forward to seeing how it develops.