The Future of Badlands Roleplay

[speed]

Hey everyone.

In the last couple weeks, we've noticed a lot of chaos picking up stemming from new players, to gangs, to old players just pushing the line of what we consider "acceptable" RP. This has resulted in a bit of unhappiness, especially with our veteran players. Rather than keep discussion between the staff, I'd like to make this a community dialog. The ultimate goal is to revise our rules to provide a better RP experience for everyone, and we need your feedback to accomplish this goal.

When we originally founded the community, we wanted to create a light-RP community where players could come and relax, even if they weren't the best of roleplayers. We intend to stay true to that vision, but I think there's a lot that can be done to improve the quality of roleplay without scaring off new players.

This will be an open dialog. We'd like to get as much feedback as possible, and see the pros and cons of any changes we might consider implementing.

To be clear, this is ONLY regarding server rules, not in-game mechanics that could help facilitate RP. Mechanics are being changed constantly, but we'd like our rules to remain stable.

 

Thanks,

The Badlands Team

[speed]

I've noticed a lot of people requesting that we adopt a more "hardcore" ruleset. We don't currently have specific rules regarding "FailRP". This includes things like minimum value of life, a new life rule, etc.

Are these rules that you would like to see implemented? If so, in what way?

[bada_mama]

I don’t want to see the server become hardcore, I want people new to role playing to feel welcomed. But we do need a plan in place for fail RP. The ooc talk is out of control, I’d like to see the new life rule in action along with the value your life. I feel any gangs or clubs should be done in a more realistic way. Some of the current ones are so far fetched it’s embarrassing. I’m sure other have more ideas... but something needs to change. 

 

[Anton]

without any kind of value of life rule every time someone tries to rob me all i'm thinking is "shoot me, that costs me nothing, but time to wait for a medic"

[CHGP]

I think FearRP is something that should be added and followed, I mean, when a player for example robs another player, has him on gunpoint, the player which is the victim either pulls out a gun or starts punching the attacker, which makes crime which is not NPC or scriptbased almost impossible due to it being really boring. I've met around 2 players that actually plays by FearRP, and I belive it would be a great feature to the server to get a more realistic feel. 

Other things i've thought about is more jobs? Maybe a store clerk. Where you'll recive a higher paycheck if you stand inside the store, which would make robbing a more realistic thing to do. 

Speed cameras? Where you'll be debited for actually speeding in a specific zone and the money will be taking from your account.

 

-CHP

[Kota]

Value of life imo is the most important thing to address here. 

[CHGP]

Just now, CHGP said:

I think FearRP is something that should be added and followed, I mean, when a player for example robs another player, has him on gunpoint, the player which is the victim either pulls out a gun or starts punching the attacker, which makes crime which is not NPC or scriptbased almost impossible due to it being really boring. I've met around 2 players that actually plays by FearRP, and I belive it would be a great feature to the server to get a more realistic feel. 

Other things i've thought about is more jobs? Maybe a store clerk. Where you'll recive a higher paycheck if you stand inside the store, which would make robbing a more realistic thing to do. 

Speed cameras? Where you'll be debited for actually speeding in a specific zone and the money will be taking from your account.

 

-CHP

oh, NLR would be great to have too, way to many players return to their killer and kills him, maybe even that NLR will be active when you're revived? that a textbox would pop up and say something like "You've forgotten the past due to the injuries, NLR is active." 

[bada_mama]

I have seen the speed cameras on other servers,  they werent on the highways just on the roads and when you went through it was a $100 fine. 

I think it’s a great idea!

Edited October 20, 2017 by MamaBear

[Johan]

13 minutes ago, speed said:

This includes things like minimum value of life, a new life rule, etc.

Well, in my opinion there should be more strict rule about value of life and a new life rule. That would probably lower the amount of unnecessary gunshots. And about that new life rule, if you get shot to "death", you should forget everything that happened at least in last 30mins, even if you get revived by EMT. That way you can't just get back up after getting shot in your face and run to that guy who shot you and give him a sweet little revenge. I've seen people just getting shot, then they get helped up and run to the guy who shot them and then they just shoot them without saying anything or something similar.

[XZiggsX]

Value of life is an important component of a fun RP server, but new life rule? Forgetting the last 30 minutes of RP when you are downed does not help RP in any way. You basically have a story that is cut from the moment you are downed, instead of it continuing when you are revived. While for most people it won't really matter if you remember some careers suffer great RP loss, what if your partner in crime shoots you in the back during a heist and steals the cash? Could be a fun to RP further with that, gather some intel on ur ex-partner and see about getting revenge.

+new life rule requires more effort to admin, imagine how often people are going to post "but I killed you earlier you cant remember this, FAILRP FAILRP OOC, FAILRP. I'm reporting you on the forums"

I mean, I'm not against the new life rule, but I think its an easy (incomplete) fix for a complex problem.

[speed]

2 minutes ago, XZiggsX said:

I mean, I'm not against the new life rule, but I think its an easy (incomplete) fix for a complex problem.

Which is why we're here. To figure out what rules to add, and exactly how to make them work

[XZiggsX]

Just now, speed said:

Which is why we're here. To figure out what rules to add, and exactly how to make them work

haha yes of course, but I got the feeling that a lot of people were PRO new life rule, I think its better to find an alternative.

[Anton]

Can we also talk about removing some rules? I think we can all agree that traffic lights could be disregarded. Like we could just take it easy and roll on if nobody is coming. Obviously i don't mean to drive trough with 170mph, but waiting on red lights is killing my taxi business. Its long enough to drive up to Sandy Shores without waiting on red lights. Also speed limits should be stated in the rules too, since we never took a driving test. 

[bada_mama]

The new life rule needs to be the things forgotten are what led up to your death. 30 mins is a little excessive. If it was a five min arguement and you died... well that 5 mins is forgotten!

[D. Torretto]

I find it annoying that I have to actually get a couple friends together to actually rp, because everyone hangs out at 1 place, Legion Square, and its constant just like the town hall used to be. It would be nice if players were required to actively roleplay in different areas so that the players, civ, police, ems could go to these areas to roleplay with those doing creative and interesting scenarios.

[speed]

5 minutes ago, Muroko said:

Can we also talk about removing some rules? I think we can all agree that traffic lights could be disregarded. Like we could just take it easy and roll on if nobody is coming. Obviously i don't mean to drive trough with 170mph, but waiting on red lights is killing my taxi business. Its long enough to drive up to Sandy Shores without waiting on red lights. Also speed limits should be stated in the rules too, since we never took a driving test. 

There are no rules regarding traffic laws. You can choose to speed and run all the red lights you want, if you're willing to pay the fine when an officer catches you!

[Epidemic_91]

2 minutes ago, Marshall Mathers said:

I find it annoying that I have to actually get a couple friends together to actually rp, because everyone hangs out at 1 place, Legion Square, and its constant just like the town hall used to be. It would be nice if players were required to actively roleplay in different areas so that the players, civ, police, ems could go to these areas to roleplay with those doing creative and interesting scenarios.

True ie they have to do a job or they dont get paid off the City 

[BrandonM]

I feel like there are a lot larger disconnects in this than just a "value of life" problem.

The RDM and VDM shit lords are going to be an issue no matter how strict the rules are in the server. Nothing except white-listing is going to reduce that, ever.  That's just the way it is.

Access to weapons is far too simple. One load of peaches and suddenly someone has enough money to buy a gun and a hundred bullets, and then wander over to legion square where 90% of the server population is at any time and open fire.

Reporting RDM and VDM shouldn't require us (longtime members with credible reputations) to jump through hoops. Basically, if someone wants to VDM, all they have to do is buy a panto and do it. If I want to report them, I have to have three minutes of footage before it happens, their ID, their name, I have to upload that footage to a hosting site, then I have to fill out a form with all of the information and then wait, hoping that the admins will do something about it. I put in time and effort to develop a character and role play and test the server and help out and offer my suggestions, but when it comes to me saying someone did something, I have the same credibility as someone who joined the server 3 and a half minutes ago and hit me with a car? C'mon guys.

This server will never have serious RP if its not enforced. There are several "veteran" players who just don't role play, and that's fine, but enforcing a more serious RP rule after the server has been a casual server for so long will just result in those players leaving.

Lastly, there needs to be better organization in the LSPD and LSFD. I can honestly say, I don't care if this ruffles any feathers, but in my personal opinion, a person who has played twice in the last two months shouldn't be the person in charge of recruiting, interviewing, or running either of those departments. I like 0sk a lot as a person, but I've literally never seen him in game. I like Sneaky even though he apparently has an issue with me because of how I handled a situation without fully seeing my side of it, but he has played once or twice in the last two months from what I've seen. Before last weeks incidents, I was one of the guys who was on all the time. After last week, where I got RDM'd and VDM'd multiple times in four days, made reports and was denied because my videos weren't three minutes, I kind of had enough.  Here's the video I reported:
 

[REMOVED - speed]

 

After watching that video and reviewing the rest of my report, somehow this is not sufficient evidence to ban these players from the server.  These guys stomped me for a full minute after hitting me with a car, then poured gasoline and set themselves on fire while telling me I was "cancer." This apparently was not enough evidence to remove these fucking complete cock holsters from the server. They came back the very next day and mass RDM'd and mass VDM'd everyone in legion square, and it was only until it affected an admin's game play directly that anything was done to these guys.

To me, it feels like the admins who dont play the game at all, don't value the player's opinions as highly as they value their own standards.

And that, my friend, is why you haven't seen me in a week.

These are just my personal opinions, but just know that I've added quite a bit of dynamic story line for people who actually RP on the server. I don't want to have to leave Badlands, but with all things considered, it's looking like a really good option at this point.

This is the end of my rambling rant, but just know that I'm very frustrated with the current status quo.

[Anton]

7 minutes ago, Marshall Mathers said:

I find it annoying that I have to actually get a couple friends together to actually rp, because everyone hangs out at 1 place, Legion Square, and its constant just like the town hall used to be. It would be nice if players were required to actively roleplay in different areas so that the players, civ, police, ems could go to these areas to roleplay with those doing creative and interesting scenarios.

I see whats your problem and i can tell you it won't be fixed with a rule. The problem is that many people are not here to actually RP. They are here, because even with all the shooting they feel safer than in GTA:Online. 

[speed]

5 minutes ago, BrandonM said:

 

Will follow up with a DM on Discord. Know that a lot of these things are being addressed.

[Anton]

Its hard to avoid getting a speeding ticket if I don't even know whats the speed limit?! If this is a casual RP server, it should be casual and i shouldn't have to worry about running a freakin' red light while trying to do my job. You guys made a lot of adjustment so police can do their job, store robberies takes just enough time so Police can arrive to the scene from anywhere. Taxis don't have this privilege, if we take long, there is no business.

It just feels like LSPD is way too hardcore on the casual civilians.

[Tomas García]

42 minutes ago, BrandonM said:

Reporting RDM and VDM shouldn't require us (longtime members with credible reputations) to jump through hoops.

I agree with that 100%. Mostly the hard rules, shouldn't be toward hardcore RP. You still can have a light RP but add hard rules regarding behaviours that are way out of line. I bet most in here will be happy with a setting that allows all levels of RP. There are good hardcore servers out there, so in no way badlands should change into one.

Many players might jump into GTA RP without knowing much about RP. But setting firm rules that state clear that killing just for killing it's a no-no, it's basic. Since that disturbs the concept of RP, even in a light setting. Things like VDM/RDM will still happen, but taking those players out should be quicker. It's silly to have to wait for a player to actually kill someone, when they are driving like maniacs at legion, way beyond what would make sense for RP, even if you get run over in an attempt to kill you, if you are lucky to survive it's not VDM. And sometimes things that are called out, can't be addressed till the player runs over a big bunch of people.

For the rest, I think that 'Value of life' and 'NLR' are a base of a RP. It's like playing poker, you need to have some base rules so everyone understand what game you are playing. Poker without rules, it's just tossing cards around. You don't have to force players to be better RPlayers, because there are no such thing. We all have different levels of RP, and no RP is better than other, just different. The problem is when in a RP server, players disturb others without adding anything in RP.

 

• VDM/RDM should be quite clear that's a no-no. Addressing them should be even faster than it is. And I have to agree, sometimes @admins do a great work and goes quick.
• Revenge should be addressed better with NLR or other rules, so it's not a kill after kill loop.
• Violence in general should need to have some sense in RP. Some rules should be created on that, not just limit it with the VDM/RDM rules.
• OOC should move to forums. Going OOC in voice or too much OOC in-game chat, shouldn't be allowed.
   

16 minutes ago, Muroko said:

Its hard to avoid getting a speeding ticket if I don't even know whats the speed limit?! If this is a casual RP server, it should be casual and i shouldn't have to worry about running a freakin' red light while trying to do my job. You guys made a lot of adjustment so police can do their job, store robberies takes just enough time so Police can arrive to the scene from anywhere. Taxis don't have this privilege, if we take long, there is no business.

It just feels like LSPD is way too hardcore on the casual civilians.

 

I have to agree that PD rules are quite hardcore against PD itself and the citizens compared to the server rules. And that sure makes all be quite confusing and not too balanced. I personally don't mind a certain level of stiffness for police on police, but the amount should be balanced with the level requested for all the citizens.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Tomas García
replying to Muroko + formating

[speed]

38 minutes ago, Muroko said:

Its hard to avoid getting a speeding ticket if I don't even know whats the speed limit?! If this is a casual RP server, it should be casual and i shouldn't have to worry about running a freakin' red light while trying to do my job. You guys made a lot of adjustment so police can do their job, store robberies takes just enough time so Police can arrive to the scene from anywhere. Taxis don't have this privilege, if we take long, there is no business.

It just feels like LSPD is way too hardcore on the casual civilians.

Noted, adjustments will be made.

Also, taxi job will be getting some help soon  

[IzaSekret]

Speed limits would be nice.

Edited October 20, 2017 by IzaSekret
Oops

[Thorgs]

Well I think 3 min of video isn't much to ask on RDM your not put thru hoops reporting it it has to show clear that you didn't initiate with that player prior to reporting them it's only fair to the person being reported credibility means nothing if you your 6 mo  player or day 1 either one has to follow the format you either choose to report or dont. Also agree with @speed you can run all the red lights you want til you get caught then pay the fine simple enough. I'm sure the speed limits can be put into the rules not that many people read them anyway but could be added. I also don't see anything wrong with forgetting what happened if your shot dead, also don't assume everyone is to fear dying if you don't RP your sceniro out right I don't see anything wrong with someone shooting back at you when you try to leave. It's light RP but sounds like some want medium RP places and Hard RP places way too much should be one or other not all 3 and it will be hard to make player go to certain areas to RP it's there game not saying server can't set certain areas to RP different but that should be up to them if they want to attend those areas. 

Edited October 20, 2017 by Thorgs