Suggestion: Reform

[Dug]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R Roleplay
Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers, and Robbers.

Seeing how I've been here since late 2009 and still am. I feel how I have seen SRP go trough it's good and bad times. I think I know how, why and what should be changed to improve the quality of roleplay, gameplay and to keep people coming back. There's not many of us interested in stalker roleplay at the moment. But if it's done right, it can and will be entertaining and might even go over the top with the number of players joining the server. We have two servers and both of them are most of the time, empty.This is sad but true. In this suggestion I will cover everything. From rules to gameplay, from roleplay to character backstories and so on. To have a working stalker roleplay server, people need to know how stalker works. What players(admins too) need to understand is, this is a game, full stop. Getting pissed off about losing in a game will make you look twelve and retarded. Arguing about items and who's character is stronger is also stupid as it gets. You can't dodge bullets, you can't single handedly beat bloodsuckers, snorks and other dangerous mutants. You'll get killed and eaten. No matter who you are. You don't magically recover from wounds and you do bleed out after a couple of minutes. No bandage, no life. Too many times I've seen players being carried for god knows how much time to heal them, while the person would, realistically, die.

- How stalker works and plays & how our server works and plays -

The main focus in stalker is on wealth of one. You can't go anywhere without a gun. All stalkers strive to having a good and better gun, suit, gas mask, artifact and a cool bunch of bros. The stalker theme is a dangerous one but the people in it are mostly laid back and relaxed fellows. But many players forget to why they came to the zone and how. 90 % of the stalkers are in the zone because they want and have to feed their family or have been thrown into prison and given option to "lay it off" in the zone. While on our server 90% of players had their families killed in god knows which way. Most people in the zone want to leave it. Not stay in it.

The heart of stalker are mutants and anomalies who produce artifacts. Mutants should be everywhere. On our server they are hardly that present, they are actually rare and the whole dangerous and random feeling of the zone is lost. NPCs should be used along with players who donate to be mutants. They need to be stronger, more agile and need to be given more power. As to where most would run in stalker, on our server most would go after aka going after a bloodsucker.

Anomalies are also rare. In stalker you would run into them all the time, and I often have players asking me to why there is no anomalies or mutants. It's hard to answer that question and often the player disconnects , seeing as he has nothing to do. The "nothing to do" part is which we have to change. Scripting is what the server needs. And the only scripter for HGN is Exile. Hence he doesn't trust anyone else to do the job and I can't say I blame him.

For starters, NPCs and anomalies should be scripted to spawn after every blowout in random places. First spawned anomalies, either move or dissapier. While other take their place or add up with them into a cluster. It is very important they do not spawn in same places. If mutant numbers are running low on the map, it should be scripted so that they spawn in a random area. However this shouldn't be a major factions base or a largely populated area. They should always spawn away from the player or cluster of players. Anomalies would work , as I've stated many times before, guardian and spawner anomalies. Which gives us two types. Guardian guards the spawner anomaly which produces artifacts. Each blowout, makes the spawner anomaly spawn maximum of two artifacts which should be very rare. Most of the time it should be just one or none at all.

This is where detectors come in and suits. Currently, suits do not give you stats aka protection from certain things. This part was simply cut out , as to where in stalker games this plays a vital role. We have the models for detectors but we have no swep to detect anomalies(only one detector can detect these) or artifacts. This is why we have no stalkers who hunt mutants for cash and work for ecos or simply go and search for artifacts. They can't do any of this, hence why they decide to either join a major faction or become a bandit or a merc to earn their money.

In the games, ecologists have a very large budget and different suits from what we see on our server. However their suits are not that much of an issue as is the budget and the circle of people leading it. It failed too many times and I haven't even lived to see it win. Give cash to ecos! Relaying on a small paycheck ,as to where in games they have a large budget to back up their studies, is rediciolus and renders ecologist and stalker cooperation next to impossible. Due to things mentioned above, mercenary teams "steal" the jobs of stalkers, minimizing stalker population.

- Our own canon, issues & sollutions -

Often I have heard of this idea and I'll tell ya, it sounds brilliant. Narrow and closed mind in roleplay is a broken one and isn't really the best one for it. We need more possibilities, more OUR stuff. That WE have come up with. Removal of helicopters and clear sky faction in my opinion is removal of a bit of roleplay. Every bit of roleplay we remove, we make it worse. I do realize people abused helicopters in the past. But this can be changed to work. Removing it completely and sending it into oblivion isn't the way to solve it. There's plenty of cool vehicles out there that can be used to bolster roleplay. Helicopter wise. In the games from time to time you'd see helicopters, at the end, more than anywhere. Helicopters were owned by the military, due to abuse they were removed. However if we do the "helicoptering" right, then we can have them back.

Helicopters are driven by pilots of course. Pilots would be carefully picked people , no applying, preferably an admin who would take role of an attack helicopter pilot. However it doesn't have to be all, attack helicopters. There are fully working transport helicopters out there which can take up to ten people.

Currently, mercenaries are the most of stalker population. Almost everyone is hostile to mercenaries, unfriendly or simply hates them beyond belief because they are considered cut throats, in the games. On our server they are loved, cared for and given special treatment. My suggestion is to keep the original behavior towards mercenaries as in the games. However it's all dependant on the team of mercenaries we are talking about. In the games there is talk about mercenary camps. Such places should be made. Further more something new should come on the stage. Mercenary bounty & mission board. Anyone can put up bounties or missions on the board, however to keep it alive, admins will set up missions or bounties for mercenary to do/collect. The bounty board will always have contracts on it.

How do we stop one mercenary group from taking all contracts?! They will abuse! That's where we make up mercenary code of conduct. Only one bounty, contract or mission can be accepted by one mercenary group. Upon finishing the mission, bounty or contract, the said group or person can accept another or take.

Mercenary groups or lone mercs can improve their standing with certain factions or other people. Stalkers need to be more hostile to mercs, in the games they would shoot each other on sight, or they would warn each other. Going too close meant a fight.

Concerning Clear Sky, it could be a minor faction just like the ecologist, hidden from the world and doing what they are meant to do. I see them as a worthy of being in SRP faction. They aren't after turf, they are researchers. They don't care about ideals. So they don't impact ideology. If handled properly they can be roleplay generators.

From time to time, people get all sorts of ideas. But are afraid to put them out there. Well, don't be afraid. Your idea might just be a good one and in due time, might be a part of SRP. We need to bend the canon to our own liking or better said, to bend it so it entertains the player and gives him ALWAYS something to do.

While writing this, I've noticed that grenades and RPGs are completely out of the picture on our server.
I say put them back, there are some decent sweps out there.
RPG: http://www.garrysmod.org/downloads/?a=view&id=112717
Grenade: http://www.garrysmod.org/downloads/?a=view&id=32065

Another issue I've noticed is that some things are over priced and others under priced. Sunrise for example, I think it's too much. 20.000 RU, seriously is too much for a sunrise, in the games it ranged from 5600-18800. And the upgraded version could be given to a technician to make after gathering all requiered items. We should make a lot of different suits or give the technician the ability to make them different. In the games almost everyone was wearing a sunrise, on the server people can hardly scrap enough cash to buy one.

Food prices are too high. They need lowering. Needs should be given to the players. For example if you don't eat, you lose on stats. You would have to eat and drink every six hours. It would add to roleplay in my opinion. Instead of having the items pointlessly stand there.

Radiation doesn't exist. And the anti radiation drugs are missing while we have the models for it. This can also improve roleplay and would be a nice addition.

Arenas, someone should be given charge of the arena. The person should have a lot of cash and should be only allowed to spend on the arena and setting up fights. I'm a very bad person to go to concerning arenas. I'm sure something can be worked out concerning it. It would be a good way to earn money.

- Factions -

Major factions often have issues. It's either because their leaders are ignorant or the members simply fail to assume the role of what they are meant to be. Known issues on SRP are that Duty & Military tend to be the cold hearted bastards who don't say anything at all or have no character, and squads don't function as they should. In Duty I have taken time to enforce passive and develop character. It's simple. No passive, character and squad, no promotion. But this leaves us with squad leaders, only capable people should be given this position who know how to work with a squad. They should be given enough power to use their squad too. However don't go on me "DUUUR HE'S TOO RETARDED", well don't give him squad leader option, take away his position if he's not capable of using it.

I've also noticed that in Military, there's a large number of officers. Too many infact. And only a couple of soldiers. That needs to change. Officer positions should only be given to players who are capable of leading and using that position to win in fights using tactics. You can't have an officer who can't use common sense or any sort of tactics. Another issue concerning them is that they have become a money dispenser machine. They hire anyone and give money to anyone. I strong disagree with that and I think it should stop.

Concerning Freedom, last time I was in it, it was high school RP and everyone was competing to be the biggest badass or asshole. I don't know how it is now, but I hope it changed. They need the whole freedomer attitude. Relaxed and welcoming but dangerous.

Admins leading factions need to remember that they must remain neutral. Your powers are given to you to help the playerbase and solve issues. Not use your powers to help your faction and hate the other admin leading the other faction beyond belief.

Everyone needs to begin grabbing territory. It's out there, fight for it and it's also allowed.

I've already explain what the ecos need above somewhere. Concerning traders, we need more stalker/bandit/merc only traders, at least the ones dedicated to selling only to them and making stalker/bandit/merc camps.

Playerbased factions are formed all the time. They always eat away 10.000 RU. I'm fine with that it actually stabilizes the economy somewhat. But the economy will be covered in the next section. Forum wise, donating 10$ to have your own forum simply isn't worth it and should be changed. Because it's been a while there and no one cared to donate for the forums.

- Economy -

The only reason we keep going in circles, wipe after wipe is because of bad economy. Give the player means to lose and earn cash and you have your self a stable and working economy. This is mainly because players never lose any of their gear. Except when they are being robbed or killed by an anomaly.

How it is...

Earning money:

- Banditing
- Looking for stashes that are very rare
- Working for military
- Collecting bounties or doing contracts
- Events
- Fighting in the arena

Losing money & gear:

- Being robbed
- Anomaly eating your shit(no anomalies around so it doesn't happen)
- STK fights with no GR




How it should be...

Earning money & gear:

- Hunting for artifacts
- Doing jobs for traders, ecologists or collecting bounties
- Hunting for mutants then selling their body parts
- Paycheck
- Exploring and stash finding
- Events
- Raiding camps of your enemies
- Fighting in the arena
- Banditing

Losing money & gear:

- Being killed by mutants (the body can be draged away making a stash)
- Being killed by anomalies (no one gets the gear all eaten by anom)
- Being robbed
- Killed by a hostile faction
- STK fights with no GR
- Being killed in arena then thrown to the dogs (items go to the arena master)

My point is, there should be some balance on how you lose and gain items. Getting used to being killed or losing items, means less whining overall. In late 2009 we would lose stuff all the time and no one complained. People should be able to lose everything including suits. So they would be more careful to what they do and we would have less 1337 ninjas attempting to do the impossible or what a normal human wouldn't.

- Rules -

STK fights only is somewhat a stupid rule and completely destroys the enjoyable STM or STRP. I suggest that fights be decided by both parties to what they are. Before any engagement it should be announced and the other group has to accept. You can't say "lol no". Some rules are also missing from the rule list, and should be added to prevent any mistakes on behalf admins and players.

- Admins -

Some admins claim that they will come on where there is people. However, our job as admins is to populate the server. So taking initiative and calling people to get on is a part of our daily duties. If you are a SRP admin, then act like one. If you can't be bothered with it and like some other RP server of HGNs, then switch.

Just observing and doing nothing is not our job. We have to actually roleplay too and lead by example.
There has been a shortage of global wide events for a long time. I suggest that you take the initiative and do them. I remember when we had the reavers and all sorts of illness you could get.

That's it.
You have to understand this is a WIP and that it was done in a short time.
Anything I have missed or haven't covered please add below.
I hope most of you see it this way and will support this.
This is just a brief suggestion on how I want things to be and there for am suggesting it.

This is our server, we play on it, together, we should make it a better place, together.

|HGN-STSA| Dug

EDIT: I apologize for any spelling mistakes.

[KingArthur]

/agree looks good on paper.. but is it going to be brought out?

[Dug]

It can't get any worse than it is. It should be given a try, we have nothing to lose.

[Gokiller]

Right, Dug everything you have put on this (Word i Forgot) IS Right.......

[Commissar Nitro]

Most of these sugestions are allready included in my rule reforms im working on.

[Wolfinton]

Well, I didn't agree with everyone on the list but you made me change my mind about those things in chat.

I agree with everything.

[Knife_cz]

Sounds nice,but how do you want to get this all on server?

[Dug]

Simple. Hard work.

[nKe]

We need traders who are there to just give away jobs to stalkers etc, same goes to ecos,
new players need to have something to do around,
example: If someone whos used to DarkRP joins SRP, you cant ask him to passiveRP straight away, they just get bored and quit, if there could be traders like that, they wouldn't get bored in first 5 mins.

"wouldnt it be boring to be a trader like that?"
-Yes, but there could be a reward for being one... Get some rubles/items on your other chr as reward?

"Theres not enough cash to give away jobs all the time"
-Give/spawn those "special traders" shitloads of rubles so their able to.

sry bout my epicly crappy english, i hope u guys understand what i mean

[Killabreu]

"wouldnt it be boring to be a trader like that?"
-Yes, but there could be a reward for being one... Get some rubles/items on your other chr as reward?

No. That'd be stupid, I'm sorry. If being a trader that does what they are supposed to do is supposed to merit some sort of "special" reward, then that's just dumb. That's like saying, "Okay, you've worked for a week, time for your paycheck. But since you ACTUALLY did your job, we're giving you a bonus." That doesn't happen. Ever. You get a bonus if you do something outstanding. Doing what you're paid to do isn't categorized as "outstanding."

"Theres not enough cash to give away jobs all the time"
-Give/spawn those "special traders" shitloads of rubles so their able to.

No. It's called managing your inventory to maximize profits. I'm  not talking about selling for a 1000000000000 ruble markup. I'm talking about buying low, selling (in comparison to the buy price) high.

[nKe]

I didnt mean any special epic million ruble paycheck if you give away one job, just randomly something nice if you've been active and giving away many jobs.

Also im talking about giving away jobs. OFC those traders would buy and sell for same amounts as other traders do. "Special trader" Would be supposed to just give away jobs instead of farming money and buying epic 1337 special million ruble edition exos.

[Agera]

You can't dodge bullets, you can single handedly beat bloodsuckers, snorks and other dangerous mutants. You'll get killed and eaten. No matter who you are. You don't magically recover from wounds and you do bleed out after a couple of minutes.

What.

Good read, I agree with many points here and I'd love to see it done. I'm gonna' go join the Server now, as it has people.

[Bielecki]

I agree with most of whats on there. Just need to convice Exile to read it, then act on it.

But then I can just see him going "no lol this is a shit idea. I know how srp works, my ideas work better then yours". Then he ends up making makarovs 20,000 rubles, artifacts only spawn once a year and then he puts some arrogant moron incharge of the whole server who has been away from HGN for years.

[Dug]

You can't dodge bullets, you can single handedly beat bloodsuckers, snorks and other dangerous mutants. You'll get killed and eaten. No matter who you are. You don't magically recover from wounds and you do bleed out after a couple of minutes.

What.

Good read, I agree with many points here and I'd love to see it done. I'm gonna' go join the Server now, as it has people.

Thanks, I didn't see that.

[nKe]

I agree with most of whats on there. Just need to convice Exile to read it, then act on it.

But then I can just see him going "no lol this is a shit idea. I know how srp works, my ideas work better then yours". Then he ends up making makarovs 20,000 rubles, artifacts only spawn once a year and then he puts some arrogant moron incharge of the whole server who has been away from HGN for years.

^this

[Tom]

I agree with most of whats on there. Just need to convice Exile to read it, then act on it.

But then I can just see him going "no lol this is a shit idea. I know how srp works, my ideas work better then yours". Then he ends up making makarovs 20,000 rubles, artifacts only spawn once a year and then he puts some arrogant moron incharge of the whole server who has been away from HGN for years.

Exscuse me? I have not been away from HGN for "Years" I've only been in HGN for a year, also I have only been "Away" for a few weeks due to RL shit. Furthermore If you are refering to Commisar re-writing the rules, I trust him in doing so, as he seems to be experienced in it, and every other attaempt to fix the server via Rule reform has failed to a degree (Welshy/Paints rules, My light reforms that arn't even reforms), I have not done a reform myself BUT, I'm really bad at writing rules up, I AM however at least slightly decent at admining.

/endrant

/Back on topic

I think it looks great but you'd have to change the attitude and behavior of the playerbase, and some admins.

[Bielecki]

Wasn't talking about you Tom, neither Commisar.

[Tom]

Oh then sorry, Who where you talking about then?

[Bielecki]

I'll keep that to myself.

[Dug]

I think it looks great but you'd have to change the attitude and behavior of the playerbase, and some admins.

That's easy. You just tell them they can't keep the attitude anymore and adjust the rules so they MUST change it. Break it, player strike / demerit point = win.

[Duranblackraven]

K on the topic of traders, there's ALREADY merits for doing your job better then others. It's called 'ranking up'. If Rebel or I see you're going above and beyond what we expect you'll be promoted on the roster and given extra tiers, opening up new stock. Yes, you can apply, but we like to reward those that don't just scrap by with the minimum and expect good things. Ask Dug, I believe I've rewarded him for good performance in the form of easy rank and tiers. Anyway, I'm up for this, but there's no much I can do with SO privs when I've been promoted to an SA. And NO ONE give me that shit that SO's are just as capable. Go to hell. I've spent way more then 200K of MY OWN money to buy stuff for stashes, and I've run out of funds.

[Ragolution]

This idea is good in elements.
I don't have the vital time I need to dissect what I like, but I'll say that I really like the arena idea, at the very least. I want to run it. Hahah.
I might just take the initiative and work from the ground up.

[darkzerxx]

K on the topic of traders, there's ALREADY merits for doing your job better then others. It's called 'ranking up'. If Rebel or I see you're going above and beyond what we expect you'll be promoted on the roster and given extra tiers, opening up new stock. Yes, you can apply, but we like to reward those that don't just scrap by with the minimum and expect good things. Ask Dug, I believe I've rewarded him for good performance in the form of easy rank and tiers. Anyway, I'm up for this, but there's no much I can do with SO privs when I've been promoted to an SA. And NO ONE give me that shit that SO's are just as capable. Go to hell. I've spent way more then 200K of MY OWN money to buy stuff for stashes, and I've run out of funds.

I been one of few only traders still on any of  the SRP servers and yes I have made money and lost it but that's what you sign up for as Duran stated, I lost more than 20k making jobs and what not since no other traders have been around to help with the slack these past few weeks, I may be poor but hell I actually doing something to help like others should be to.

[lolKieck]

Why do Ecologists need more money anyway, I heard from Yuri Sergig he has/had 200k or 20k, dunno tbh.

[Dug]

Why do Ecologists need more money anyway, I heard from Yuri Sergig he has/had 200k or 20k, dunno tbh.

Because, they can't fund missions or pay stalkers for items and other shit they bring in.