Do I get ARMA3 or ARMA2 if I want to play the DayZ mod?

Tis 1/1/2015 and I have a question:

So, I want to play DayZ (or something like it) and refuse to buy the early access game. Its a year out from beta and if I buy it now, thats all Id be able to play. If I get one of those ARMA games Ill either be able to play DayZ on the cheap (ARMA2) or be able to play something similar with better graphics and gameplay (ARMA3).

I just dont know which choice is best. With ARMA3 Im going to have to drop $30 without a doubt and there is no guarantee the DayZ mod for ARMA3 is as well developed or stable as the ARMA2 version. If I get it for ARMA2 its a safe $8 purchase (for the complete version) and the only thing Id really play is the DayZ (like Epoch) mod for that game. I feel like theres more flexibility with ARMA3 but more of a guarantee that I get to experience DayZ if I get ARMA2. lol...so which do I get? It would be the Epoch mod for both or Breaking Point for ARMA3.

Opinions?

The DayZ mod for Arma2 is probably the best bet in my opinion. It is more of a finished product than the stand alone. I don't know much about Arma3 mods.

There are a lot more choices if you get Arma 3, but the standalone is best IMO

lol man. One vote for ARMA3, ARMA2 and DayZ SA. Anyone else?

I think the Breaking Point mod for Arma 3 is the best Dayz-thing around right now, but there are more options/variety with Arma 2. Standalone is still dubious at this point but it is getting better, if you wait a couple months it might be the best option.

I'd go with Arma 3 if you want to get something now or Standalone in a couple months, Arma 2's Dayz versions are likely to fade in popularity as time goes on.

To play the mod you need combined operations (Arma2+Operation Arrowhead), I think there is a version of DayZ mod for Arma 3 but I havent tried it. DayZ Standalone is really starting to come along now and will have some neat features when its done. With recent additions and knowing whats coming, I prefer DayZ Standalone to the mod now.

That makes two votes for ARMA3 and two for Standalone. Hmmmmmmmmm.

Who the hell plays DayZ, just buy Arma 3 and play the free Wasteland mod - best time ever had (52 hours so far)

Arma 2 and Day Z mod because it wont cost £20 for a game that's still in Alpha.

I'd just say get ARMA 3. As much as I like ARMA 2, ARMA 3 is just a great improvement. I still dislike how its nearly impossible to run the game on ultra settings on full servers. They really need to put more load on the gpu.

ArmA 3 has some pretty cool stuff it looks like, and is more modern than ArmA 2, but really it's nowhere near on the level of stand-alone

Alright, a few more votes for ARMA3 but what about what Im hearing about the crappy engine that isnt optimized?

all Arma games guzzle CPU like there's no tomorrow.

I went ahead and bought ARMA3. Used all the credit Ive been getting from card sales lol. Figured its easy enough to try out all the mods and there isnt just one. My friends arent have that hard a time running the game so Ill just go with it. Plus it seems like a nice sandbox if I wanted to try out all the vehicles and weapons of which there is a nice assortment.

you need Arma 2 Operation Arrowhead is you want to play DayZ mod, not just the base game.... Arma 3 is really good though, battle royale, altis life mods, epoch and Arma 3 wasteland chernarus are great

When you're looking to play DayZ why didn't you just get DayZ? o.o

@NeoGen85:

I meant really that Im looking to get that sort of experience. Survival, dog eat dog, zombies (if available) and kind of dark in setting and premise. I think Ill be fine with ARMA3's Epoch, Wasteland, Altis Life, and Breaking Point. Its super easy to get into them and I dont mind a hard game if it rewards careful methodical gameplay above fastpaced repetition. Dont get me wrong, I love me some CoD or BF3 but this sort of thing is reminiscent of games like STALKER in terms of survival and tension. Im still waiting on a good sale on STALKER Call of Pripyat so I can experience more.