Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into Gray Zone Warfare, and let me tell you, the map – Lamang – is HUGE. I wanted to get a good handle on it, you know, really know the ins and outs, so I decided to create my own LZ (landing zone) map. Here’s how I did it.
Getting Started: Finding a Base
First things first, I needed a decent map to work from. Forget the in-game one; it’s okay for general navigation but doesn’t show the detail I craved. So I went hunting online. Found some pretty good fan-made maps with varying degrees of detail.I grabbed a few of, just in case, and comparing them to each other
Booting Up the Game (and Getting Shot… A Lot)
Next, I started exploring. I mean, really exploring. I picked a faction, figured out their starting area, and just started walking. It was brutal. Died more times than I care to admit, mostly to other players who were clearly better geared than my fresh-out-the-gate character. But hey, gotta learn somehow, right?
Every time I found a potential LZ – a relatively flat, open area where a chopper could realistically land – I’d mark it on my map. I used simple marks at First.
Trial and Error (and More Getting Shot)
- I’d mark a spot.
- Try to call in an extraction there.
- See if it worked.
It wasn’t exactly rocket science. If the extraction worked, awesome! The LZ was good. If not, well, back to the drawing board (or, you know, back to respawning and getting shot again).Sometimes the chopper would land, but in a super awkward spot, like half-buried in a tree. Those I marked as “usable, but not ideal”.
Refining the Marks
After a few (dozen) runs, I started getting a good feel for the terrain. I started refining my markings.
Instead of just I started using colors:
- Green for perfect LZs.
- Yellow for “okay” LZs.
- Red for “nope, never again” LZs.
I also started adding little notes, like “good cover from the north” or “watch out for snipers on that ridge”. Anything that might be useful later.
Still a Work in Progress
Honestly, it’s still a work in progress. Lamang is massive, and there are probably tons of LZs I haven’t found yet. But it’s already super helpful. I’m getting to extractions way faster, and I’m dying a little less. Plus, it’s kind of fun to have this project going on in the background while I play.
My next step is to try and get some buddies involved. More eyes on the map, more LZs discovered, and hopefully, a few more successful extractions. We’ll see how it goes!
