Day /// - Sergio (Aldrinor) - Ringing the dinner bell in Mogilevka ( Могилевка )

Started the day early in the morning. The sun barely showing itself above the horizon. I woke up hungry, thirsty, low on blood and disoriented. My friend contacted me, he was over at Lopatino ( Лопатино ) and we agreed on meeting over at Zug Castle.

I had a weird feeling about today. It's the feeling I get whenever I am too deep into the city with no ammo, food or drink. It's happened more than once, so it's nothing to be too concerned about. I take out my compass, watch, and map. Within a few seconds, I get my bearings, and head towards the mountains.

I make my way south-east at first, towards Pusta. It's a bit of a detour for me, but something good should be there. Unfortunetly as I make my way over the peak of the mountain I spot zombies dotting along the buildings. Someone else is there. Despite this, I go in anyway. I find some Makarov PM ammo, some food, and a crossbow. I drop my current gun with a single magazine left and pick up the crossbow and bolts.

While leaving Pusta, the sound of gunshots ring from within the center of the city. The other survivor seems to have panicked. I make my way forwards towards Mogilevka ( Могилевка ) so I can get to Zug Castle. 

I decide to circle around Mogilevka (Могилевка) and go straight for Zug Castle. It's just as impressive as Rog Castle

Stumbling upon a few goats, I find myself  a nice, healthy lunch. Cooked Meat are pretty much health potions. They fill your hunger meter and they restore 700 blood per piece. 

The picture to the left is before I have my mini feast.

As I eat, colors return to the world. Huzzah! The world has become happy again, for a time.

I find a revolver to replace my Makarov and a more than enough bandages for myself inside the castle perimeter. Just before 930am my friend pops his head into Zug castle as well. After quickly consolidating supplies we decided to go northwards towards Berezino. But first, a quick stop at Mogilevka (Могилевка). I would be lying if I said it wasn't nerve-racking. It was mid-day and zombies were shambling around us as we split up to get supplies.

There's a rumor in where one should never say, "I'll be right back." in a horror movie or game, else death and gruesome violence happens. Nevertheless, that's exactly what we say, "I'll be right back."

We each search a few houses. Ammo, an Alice pack, some morphine, more revolver ammo. Binoculars, non an essential item, but useful. My friend stumbles upon a Lee Enfield rifle and a ghillie suit.

As we exit town, it seems we are in the clear. A good day of rummaging through abandoned houses in  Chernarus. As we pass the last fence, a hopping zombie spots my friend. The undead mongrel pauses for a second before propelling itself to attack my buddy. Despite my friend telling me to never, ever, for the sake of staying alive, fire the Lee Enfield rifle near a town, he rings the dinner bell. 

The sun appears on the ground for a second, and a blast from his rifle echos throughout the streets. The rumors are true, despite nearly getting away, they're true. Zombies from Zug Castle and Mogilevka (Могилевка) swarm out into the open field. Armed with my revolver, I begin taking shots at them.

My friend continues to ring the dinner bell as we run along side one another. We run past brushes, a few trees, we try to lose them by going around some more fencing. It just doesn't work. I turn around and begin letting off shots into the 7 zombies chasing me. I take down 4 before I need to reload. Before I could finish, a zombie hits me in the back, -HARD-. I go down, knocked out at 7500 blood. I'm at 3200 by the time I get back up. 

In my panic and bleeding state, I let out my last magazine. I miss every shot. I catch a glimpse of my friend shouting in despair as I collapse.

RIP Sergio, enjoyed touring Rog and Zug castle, an honest survivor within Chernarus 

Day Zero - Sergio (Aldrinor) - Surviving Elektrozavodsk (Электрозаводск)

I spawn at the foot of Elektrozavodsk this time. The waves hitting the beach are quite loud, which alarms me as it is easily drowning out footsteps and zombie noises - which limits my awareness. I remembered where Private Alex Artamonov's corpse was, and I make my way there.

This was the building where I was shot in. I make my way over across the street, it's night-time now, which is my favorite time, as sneaking is much easier.

I pass by the supermarket, 5 rotting corpses dot the inside of the now empty grocery aisle. A woman has her face buried into the concrete just outside an apartment building, the barracks/shelter has a guy dead on the staircase, another rotting person on the roof, and Private Alex Artamonov's body on the balcony. Everything on the bodies is gone or nothing of use if left. I do find an empty Alice pack nearby, a map, watch, hunting knife, matchbox and hatchet. The basics of self-sustaining survival in DayZ.

A Hatchet can fetch you wood piles. Wood piles, when used in conjunction with a match box can make a fireplace. If you kill an animal, such as a cow, goat, chicken or rabbit, they give you raw meat. A hunting knife is required to gut the animal in order to obtain raw meat from the animals. Once this is all done, you can use the matchbox again to light a fire and cook the meat. Cooked meat will replenish hunger, and replenish 800 units of blood. 

Not that much loot inside here.

A map helps you get around, if the server you play on allows way-points.  An Alice pack helps you carry loot, supplies, salvage and survival gear that you can hoard, use against others, or share generously with those in need. I use it for the latter reason.

I hear gunshots nearby as I look around apartment buildings for survival gear. It sounded close, very, very close. My assumption was proven correct as a mass of zombies ran down the street away from me. More shots ensued. Then silence. 

I pass by this traktor on the way through. It's drivable, but in bad shape. No gas, no engine, and it's falling apart. While I would normally jump for joy, it's not my priority at the moment.

A little worried that whoever shot that gun is still nearby, I made my way over to the local fire station. It's been looted empty. However, another firestation is within sight. The one adjacent to the power-plant. Inside I find an Mp5a5, food and water, and a few surprises on the roof.

The Mp5a5

This is the surprise I found - Looks like these survivors weren't so lucky during the day.

At this point I open my map and search for a place to go to before I end for the night. I look north of Elektrozavodsk, following the dirt road and eventually come across 'Rog Castle'. I packed up my things and ventured forward.

After some running, eating drinking and squinting, I make it into the castle itself. It's quite a sight. I find a pair of binoculars inside, a Makarov PM, and an empty castle.

I still have some time left. I head out of the castle complex and continue on northwards along the dirt path. The town of Msta (Мста) comes into view. I have more than enough close calls with zombies as I navigate the narrow streets, and I find nothing useful. I spot a barn in the distance and weave my way through zombies to get to it.

Inside I find a CZ550. I'm not sure how I will help out other survivors with this gun. Honestly, I think other survivors would see me as a potential threat, since I am carrying a sniper rifle. Maybe they'll even mistake me to be one of those sniper pussies that watch over Elektrozavodsk, which by the way were probably the reasons for all the dead bodies in town.

Welp, I'll take it anyway. I'll probably use it to take out sniper pussies. 

As I find a safe place to stay the night in the forest, I spot something moving in the bushes. It's dinner, and target practice. I take aim at the small bunny from a distance, and pull the trigger. It's dinner time! 

Still coming to terms with the death of Private Alex Artamonov. But Sergio is off to a good start. 

Day /// - Private Alex Artamonov (Aldrinor) - The Veil in Elektrozavodsk

Gunshots, Zombies, and people screaming for help don't mix well. It's the type of situation I am attracted to, not because of the loot I will find, or the chance to kill other players. Rather, it gives me a chance to help players escape or patch themselves up so they can continue surviving.

I started off at the house I was in before I disconnected. The one where the person I tried to help died at the door-steps due to zombies. It was day-time. Day-time in Elektrozavodsk meant one thing, there's going to be a killing in town.

I wasn't wrong at all. I make my way to the center of town avoiding zombies, and low and behold within the supermarket - 5 bodies lay dead. I work my way into one of the barrack's nearby and I find another body.

That, and someone in a ghillie suit! I tried to calm him down, but he persisted on running away. I looked around the building I was in and found another guy dying on the balcony. I run over, give him a bandage and heal him for some blood, as well as sticking a morphine injector into him. He lives! I have saved a man!

Not soon after, as we begin to exit the balcony, a bullet hits his head. Just as I realize what happened, the same happens to me.

RIP Alex Artamonov, saved 2 people, did not turn to banditry and showed chivalry and compassion within Chernarus. 

Day One - Private Alex Artamonov (Aldrinor) - Follow the road to Elektrozavodsk (Электрозаводск)

I'm starting from where I left off last time. I'm on the outskirts of Chernogorsk ( Черногорск ) towards the eastward farms. These farms have high value items, and are notorious for having zombies spawn inside of them, waiting to ambush unsuspecting players. Especially at night time.

Farms east of Chernogorsk.

Seeing as I have just entered the map in the first time in over a day, it'll be my first supply run. The one on the left is my first target. Sneaking in is no problem, neither is sneaking to the farm over to the right. Inside I found myself a compound crossbow, great since it doesn't make a lot of noise and is certainly better at staying stealthy than my current double-barreled shotgun. Nothing else of value between the two farms. The hard part is getting out without attracting the zombies. 

From there I head eastwards, following the road, but staying within the forest. Eventually I come across a small town between Chernogorsk and Elektrozavodsk. Inside, I find a map, it makes getting around a -lot- easier as you can place waypoints on the map (If the server you are on allows you) by 'shift+click'ing a point on the map.

My location is centered on the map above.

As I make my way out of the small town I need to cross a set of rail-road tracks to get to my next targeted supply spot. 

Scavenging for supplies at night can be both rewarding and perilous. Zombies cannot see or hear you as well at night, however, neither can you. One of the hazards at night are roads, buildings with single exits, and rail roads. Roads and rail roads are hazardous as if you are running along the ground adjacent  

which gives off 1 to 2 bars of sound, when you pass over a road or rail-road it'll jump up to 4. You'll attract zombies rather quickly if there are any around.

If you are intent on avoiding zombies, walk over these crossings.

The outskirts of Elektrozavodsk 

Electro is now in front of me. I have a few houses that I've marked and intend to search. But first, there's a farm with some goodies nearby. Inside, I find another crossbow, great for me as I collect the steel bolts. Ammunition for my crossbow. While I am able to recollect my bolts after I shoot them, it doesn't always work, especially with zombies in close quarters, such as a house. I also find this fellow, not sure what happened to him. Whatever it is, I put him out of his misery.


I also lose a bolt in the process. As you can see, it looks like he spawned at ground level, but the game did not account for the farm being there, so he clipped the model for the farm. Which also means my bolt went with him as he went down.

This house looks promising! 

I find this house, my first intended target for Elektrozavodsk.

Score! Inside I find more food and soda, a water bottle, another watch, and the best thing I've found tonight: An Alice backpack!

Hard to see, but it is an Alice backpack. It carries 20 item slots.
The second biggest backpack in the game.

I exchange it for my Czech backpack and transfer things over.

Next up are some houses to the south and some industrial buildings too.

 Halfway there I encounter a zombie that is getting a little too close to me. Hard to see in the picture, but he's hopping along.

Well, not a problem anymore (Right picture)

Aghast though! Before I could collect my cross bow bolt (my last one too) 3 zombies converge upon the now dead zombie. They are searching for the source of the sound.

I ain't risking my life for a bolt, so I crouch walk out of there. I pass by a gasoline station and crawl underneath a broken wall section to avoid being seen by zombies - a close call that one. They would've seen me if I did not crawl.

This is where I end up for the night.  Stuck inside a house, zombies swarming the outside of it. I heard a player running past the house, I tried calling out to him to seek shelter with me inside, but he ignored me. He had gotten eaten by zombies, which is why there are so many now around the house. 

I found another crossbow bolt and a water bottle. This wraps it up for tonight. Not much I can do if I can't leave the house

Next, surviving Elektrozavodsk (Электрозаводск)

Day Zero - Private Alex Artamonov (Aldrinor) - Welcome Kamenka

The town of Kamenka is the one of the only towns at the south-west tip of Chernarus. I began running east along the coast-line, pitch black, well in the night. Within minutes of sprinting, I pass Komorovo, where I meet up with a fellow survivor. I call out friendly, and he eventually acknowledges. Unfortunetly, the place where we are is empty and we both go are separate ways.

I continue running past Balota, Balota Airfrield, and eventually Chernogorsk  ( Черного́рск  ).The biggest city in Chernarus, the most zombie infested and well contested areas.

I head straight for the supermarket, I find myself a Czech backpack, more than enough drinks and food for my entire journey north. I find flares, chem-lights and medical supplies. Next up, the church, where I find more bandages. As I make my way through the zombie infested streets of Chernogrosk in order to get to the firestation, I see someone lighting and throwing flares throughout the streets. I call out, since I have excess supplies, but he misses me.

I make my way northward, through several industrial areas with supplies, all car-parts and gasoline. Whilst useful, the parts are not my priority. I head out towards two barns on the out-skirts of Chernogorsk, and find myself a box of matches, a hatchet, a watch, water, and a double-barreled shotgun. I think I'm pretty much set to head north.

Thanks go out to Stalker and Cannabeast for teaching me how to look for supplies, stealth past zombies, and most importantly, how to survive.

Entering Chernarus

Chernarus is the most used map for the Arma 2 Combined Operations mod DayZ. Chernarus is a fictional post-soviet country that has realistic and well detailed geography. Small hamlets can be found hidden deep within the forests without any connecting roads, villages that dot the coast-line and flat-lands further inland, towns can be found throughout the area, and the bigger cities are located to the southern coast.

Spawing in DayZ will bring the player near the coast-line, armed with nothing but a flash-light, some painkillers and if lucky, food.

While the Mod itself is in its Alpha, it's playable. It has an open sand-box style gameplay, mixed with the realistic features of Arma 2, throw in zombies, the need to survive and possibly hostiles players - It makes for a surreal experience. 

I will be posting regularly, once every week is my goal, once every 3 weeks at the very least. I will journal my experiences of DayZ.