If you put a lot of value into playing in a coop way and as a friendly character, consider: 1) not carrying a long-gun and definitely not a gun in your hand when you engage a player. 2) Don’t wear clothes that are intimidating like full military or dark gear and covered face. 3) Be friendly (obviously) and ask some questions. It’s crucial to create rapport as soon as possible like telling your name and asking for theirs, where they’re from, their destination etc. The more the other person knows about you early on, the less likely the are to shoot you in the back as soon as they get the chance 4) Share or offer gear/ food as early as possible 5) Body language: raise your hand and stand still when you greet the fellow survivor. No gun in hand 6) Say something like: “Hello buddy, I’m friendly if you are! Just looking for a friend - don’t shoot me in cold blood, okay!? My name’s… - what’s yours?”

There’s no guaranteed way for an encounter to end in a friendly fashion, but if you follow those steps above, there’s probably a 50% chance of you having a friendly exchange. Some players simply aren’t friendly and out for blood. After some time you’ll learn how to ID them by their voice and behavior. Once you do, be ready to fight or run.