While in-game, stay in character (IC) at all times. Only go out of character (OOC) if you have to. When you do, do not use in game voice and instead use the in game channel /ooc or similar OOC channel in discord.
The game is loosely based on the real-world but should never be considered an exact representation. When in doubt, ask for clarification in OOC. If no one answers follow best judgement and remember the focus is to try to divide the fun as equally as possible for ALL involved.
DO NOT CHEAT – either using an exploit, application, modifications, or any other means that circumnavigates or changes any outcome that intended by the developers or players
No vehicle deathmatch (VDM) – hurting or killing others with your vehicle intentionally.
No random deathmatch (RDM) or kill on sight (KOS) – do not attack or kill someone without provocation unless it makes sense from a roleplaying perspective.
No erotic role play (ERP). This is replicating any overtly sexual acts within the game.
No forced death, mutilation, or otherwise permeant altering of another’s character. Deciding your character has died is your sole decision alone. Read the situation and if necessary confirm via OOC if the activity is mutually accepted. See Perma-death.
No meta-gaming – using out of character information to benefit your in-game character. Your character only knows what they know in-game.
No Powergaming – this includes using roleplay or any game mechanic to gain an unfair advantage that restricts another character from being able to react, defend, or otherwise influence the outcome of the situation. Examples being:
Speaking over another individual not allowing them to respond or speak. Any form will not be tolerated. Allow the conversation to be a “tennis match”.
“I poisoned you”, “That doesn’t affect me because I trained for years building up my resistance”… Unlike children playing with toys, we are not going to suddenly grow wings or overly specific force shields. Those are extreme examples but should help give an idea of the “one-up” powergaming.
Character must value life – Your character must value their life and the lives of others. Examples of No Value of Life (NVL) being a character drawing their weapon when they are already being held at gunpoint. Or a character intentionally jumping from a tall building to land incapacitated.
Do not unnecessarily take a life unless RP leads to it. Always first attempt to roleplay out of a situation and allow others the same.
No camping – this includes camping an entrance or exit of an in-game resource, robbery, or hospital in the hopes of ‘reserving’ your spot in line for such a mechanic.
Handle disputes individually if possible and use roleplay. Take it to OOC only as a last resort. Remember, a good compromise will leave both parties slightly dissatisfied.
Take only what is fair. Do not steal, damage, or otherwise make unavailable another character’s property or freedoms beyond reason.
In-game VoIP with push to talk is required and thus a microphone, no voice detection. This avoids immersion interruptions from noises near your person. We use FiveM’s integrated Mumble client (you do not need to install it) which allows for proximity speech, phone calls, and radio like communication.
Do not use a server restart or client crash to your advantage. If you were in a situation with others, such as a robbery, after reconnecting try to coordinate with others to re-engage if appropriate. Allow others to do as well.
Combat logging for any advantage by menu, forced crashed, alt-f4, ‘F8 quit’, etc is not permitted.
Changes to a character’s behavior, appearance, or demeanor will be made or requested if inappropriate or otherwise not in the best interest for the community.
There will be unintentional bugs or mechanics that could be used to exploit within the game – the development and testing team are volunteer and small. As a member of the community you are expected to report all exploits and bugs to the administrator immediately using the in-game /suggest command and/or within Discord. Continued use of any exploit that grants any advantage or disadvantage will result in penalties to the individual or individuals involved, which may include a complete ban or deletion of character(s).
Criminal Standard Operating Procedures
Only 4 criminal characters (criminal party) may be acting in a specific situation at any time.
Do not coordinate with another criminal party to conduct multiple heists/robberies intentionally at the same time.
Until a specific incident is complete, do not change your appearance. See Incidents.
In any situation verbal communication must first be attempted. Exception to this rule is a feud explained later.
Robberies are timed and limited in a way to provide police an opportunity to respond. For any successful robbery above a grocery store, such as a bank, jewelry store, vault, the criminal must wait for the entire length of any timer plus an additional 5 minutes for police to arrive. If there is no timer, such as the case of the jewelry store, you must wait until the store resets plus the standard 5 minutes.
If the robbery was unsuccessful, such as a lock out, or failure to hack, the criminal does not have to wait for police to arrive and may leave.
Partial robberies are not allowed. Example, starting the jewelry store robbery but only breaking a few cases before leaving.
Robbing an individual is allowed within reason. Rob with intent. DO NOT: force bank withdrawal, property/vehicle ownership transfer, or strip of all items.
If you do not want your character to be identified, you must be wearing a mask or clothing that covers your mouth, eyes, and hair. Have fun with it! Changing your voice naturally or with software/hardware is encouraged for fun but NOT required to hide your identity.
Police Standard Operating Procedures
Immediately identify yourself when responding to a situation.
Except in the case of an active shootout or violence against a citizen, verbal communication should first be attempted.
Criminal’s actions will dictate which weapons can be used and the escalation of the situation. Stunguns should be used by default and only if the criminal is resisting. If a criminal intentionally brandishes a weapon, officers may respond immediately in kind and shoot if they feel threatened. Keep it reasonable and try to keep the playing field fair. Example, a police rifle should not be your response to a criminal brandishing an SNS pistol.
Police should always carry with them:
Stungun
Handcuffs
Baton
Pistol
Pit maneuvers should be used sparingly. A chase is preferred, however if the chase is prolonged and it can be safely done for the criminals, police, and bystanders the most senior officer on-duty at the time may authorize it.
Intentional ramming of vehicles is frowned upon. Accidents will happen but excessiveramming is considered NVL.
If you do not perform your duties appropriately warnings will be made. Multiple warnings may result in your character’s loss of employment temporarily or permanently depending on the active Chief of Police’s desire.
If you do not want your character to be identified, you must be wearing a mask or clothing that covers your mouth, eyes, and hair. Have fun with it! Changing your voice naturally or with software/hardware is encouraged for fun but NOT required to hide your identity.
Corruption is not permitted.
First Responders Standard Operating Procedures
Do not enter a scene unless a police officer states it is clear.
Triage situations the best you can. Treat those first that are most likely to benefit from your treatment. Keep in mind individuals that may have been incapacitated longer than others.
First Responders should always carry on their person:
First aid kit
Bandages/Gauze
Pain inhibitors
Water/Food
If you do not perform your duties appropriately warnings will be made. Multiple warnings may result in your character’s loss of employment temporarily or permanently.
Corruption to the point where it prevents your ability to perform your expected duties is not permitted.
Upon finding a downed character, they should be considered incapacitated but you must confirm with them first. They may have decided to perma-death the character.
If they are not responding after multiple attempts, or they emote something similar to ‘/me no pulse’, they have decided their character will suffer a permanent death. No further attempts to resuscitate should be made. Keep in mind how long their character may have been resting in their spot, the player may have gone to the restroom.
If the character is responding, you should take them back to Pillbox Hospital for treatment by a doctor. You may roleplay treatment and stabilization on scene or during transport but do not revive them. When at the hospital the on-duty doctor will revive them or if no doctor is present ask them to check in with Judy at the front desk, which will allow them to be revived automatically.
Dynamic Events
A dynamic event is any multi-partied development inside the world. This could be events like a bank vault heist, hostage taking, or store robbery. The purpose of this procedure is to document the regularly occurring events in the game. This is not intended for major city wide events which are coordinated by staff.
Each event should be considered multi-phased and at least involves two parties (parties being individuals or groups of individuals). All participating should understand the expected cadence for multi party events:
Preparation – individuals are preparing themselves and vehicles. This phase can be interrupted if the individual’s activities are found out but may also be optionally overlooked for the greater outcome.
Initiation – individuals have begun the event by triggering a robbery, taking a hostage, infiltrating an area they otherwise would not be allowed, etc.
First Contact – contact has been made, verbal communication is required to allow banter, demands, and setting expectations for the next phase.
Conflict – depending on results of the First Contact phase, different results will occur:
Conflict resolved: One or more parties surrender to the demands of another, not from force.
Escalation: situation worsens resulting typically in violence and further communication is optional at this point but always encouraged
Chase: a vehicle chase ensues
Conclusion – the event is considered concluded if the following situations are true or any other reasonable
One party loses complete track of the other and decides to no longer actively seek them.
One or more party is incapacitated.
One party surrenders to the demands of the other either willingly or through force.
Incapacitation, Perma-death, Amnesia
Characters do not immediately die when their health reaches 0 (zero), it is up to the player if this character will be incapacitated or suffer a permanent death (“perma-death”). They are incapacitated and will remain as such until a medical professional revives them, or in rare cases an Administrator does.
Perma-death – deciding that your character will die permanently.
Only you can decide if your character is perma’d, but once your character is taken to the morgue you cannot reverse the perma-death.
No one likes to be left incapacitated in the middle of nowhere or where it will be overly difficult for first responders to find them. Try to assist within reason to insure they will be found. If necessary, relocate the person only as far as necessary to be found. Call 911 on their behalf and if dispatch is unavailable take them to the Pillbox hospital, roleplay friends or foe alike.
While incapacitated, you need to indicate to EMS/Police if you want to be revived. If you do not wish to be revived and thus have your character suffer a perma-death you can emote “/me no pulse”. Alternatively, if you want to be revived you can emote “/me weak pulse”.
Incapacitation and amnesia
REVIVED – if your character is downed but is revived, they remember as much as you like regarding the events leading up to the incapacitation, but do not retain any knowledge of conversations or events between being incapacitated and getting revived.
RESPAWNED – New Life Rule (NLR) – if you respawn yourself or “take the light”, without getting revived by someone else, your character must forget everything that happened leading up to their incapacitation. They must find out from their own questioning and conversations with others that may have witnessed or been involved in the events leading up to your incapacitation.
If you are incapacitated and then revived or respawned, you may not re-engage in any previous ongoing event you were involved with such as a shootout, robbery, etc.
