I'm back!
DayZ is still in the alpha stage, is still really buggy, and is still lacking optimization. It's a system hog above and beyond what it should be for its graphical level. I did some tweaking, though, and edited a .cfg file or two, and was able to smooth things out and improve my framerate noticeably.
Anyway, the last time I stopped playing, I was in a tall building in one of the more recently-added cities. I'd found a lever-action .357 Magnum rifle, a single-shot, scoped .308 pistol, a pick, and a bunch of other goodies.
My first zombie encounter happened right away; this guy was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. A single shot from my lever rifle dropped him.
Out on the street, I surveyed the empty town square in which I found myself.
It's no good standing around. I had to move. My leg had been injured and I needed some materials to make a splint, I think. I also had all of 19 rounds of .357 Magnum, so I needed to find more ammo.
I encountered multiple zombies in the streets.
The levergun put them down reliably.
When there's only one zombie, I'll let the pickaxe do the work. It's quiet and doesn't attract more zombies.
I was heartened to find a police station...
But there was nothing good inside. I moved on, finding a hospital, but it was also pretty sparse. I took the quick way down from the roof, once I was reasonably sure I wouldn't be shot off the ladder by some random a______.
Getting spotted by multiple zombies can be dangerous, if you're armed with a melee weapon...
...so I pulled out the trusty lever rifle and handled it, cowboy style.
I tested out the single shot hunting pistol as well. It drops zombies easily, but is super loud, and attracts more.
I left the town...
...and ended up in a scrap yard. It provided as much useful loot as you'd expect to find in cars that have been rusting away for years. Not helpful.
At that point, I had to answer the call of nature, so I found the appropriate receptacle and logged off*.
*logged off is not intended as a euphemism for pooping, but I can see how you thought it was.