So, Dayz as a whole is a buggy game, For a new starter like I was back in 2018, The game was very unforgiving.
But as of late, the game as been updated with more content, as-well as the modded community quite piratically carrying the games popularity on their shoulders. If I was going to recommend anyone NEW to this game, in my personal preference with the games stability currently, I wouldn't advise playing vanilla. Vanilla as of right now is riddled with cheaters, Russians/Asians/Chinese/Korean. Countless of them, I wanted to test this theory because I didn't believe it was true at all, But playing around 6-7 servers on Vanilla Chernogorsk/Livonia 1pp/3pp Combined, I can 100% say that Vanilla is untouchable, unless you play on a Low pop server, Otherwise going into a high pop has a bigger chance of Countlessly being shot from absolutely nowhere, Quite literally being Spawn trapped by bots with instant lock. Or roaming 8 man Chinese groups who unload their M4a1's and Other High tier weapons on you, Its impossible to even get into the midland without being topped off, so please. If you're new to Dayz and trying to for the first time, Do not use Vanilla Dayz unless you're willing to be sent to spawn more times than you've had cereal for breakfast.

Alas, I would recommend the modded side of DayZ, understandably. I can see the frustration of buying a game to then later be told that the base game is practically plagued and your only chance to enjoy the game and explore its features is to go onto community modded servers, But the modded side of Dayz opens a new eye to the game, More content, vehicles, aircraft, weapons, Story, Missions, Huge Maps and small, The Content is endless. (Aside from the overly modded servers with flying spiders and rattling guns which isn't my cuppa tea)
There are plenty of YT Tutorials on how to play/Set up the modded launcher, or using the >DZSA Launcher< so you shouldn't struggle that much.

Now that my ranting is finished, the game is wonderful. A masterpiece that has given me friends that I will remember and events that I'll never forget, you meet people in this game that could be a friend one minute and your life time best friend the next. Or hes taking his chances solo and taking your loot. OR you get split up in a gun fight trying to survive, for the random man you met to just sacrifice himself so you could run away (Always remember that Conner wherever you are.)

Game Itself 9/10
Community (Modded) 10/10
Vanilla base game (2/10)
Am I still playing? (100/10)