DayZ
Coast vs Inland
DayZ coastal towns are tutorials with extra bullets. Inland is where the wipe actually starts. Leave the beach when you have food, a melee, and a direction.
The coast is loud
Fresh spawns, griefers, and easy police spawns live on the water. If you want PvP, stay. If you want a character, walk north with canned food.
Wells are waypoints. Learn two wells so you are not dying of thirst in a forest with a full mag.
Cities are high variance
Elektro and the big inland cities have military-adjacent loot and people who live there. Enter with a plan to leave, not a plan to AFK in a supermarket.
Military bases are not a first-day trip unless you enjoy respawning.
Stashes beat backpack fashion
A buried crate with a spare kit is worth more than a full ghillie you will drop on the next death. Split loot.
Players who like short recaps can find more in this collection.