What is [TC] - What it was and what should it be?

[Tommer]

More of an existential discussion spurred on by recent developments and idle chatter in the server, but I think it deserves discussing. This thread is is just somewhere to talk about the overall direction [TC] is going and where everyone in the community would like it to go.

[TC] Servers today are a lot different to what they were a few months ago, the introduction of mods brought a whole new slew of possibilities to [TC] that previously were not possible.

We've seen the introduction of trucks, buses, taxis and various role-play elements.

I've heard [TC] admins say that Roleplay is not what [TC] should be about - [TC] is Cops and Robbers. Is that really true anymore? It's an existential question.

I had a recent encounter as a [COP] with a person who was treating [TC] more like farmville and have no interest in roleplay, just farming money, I was met with hostile contempt for trying to roleplay with them.

At the same time, Chuck develops new Roleplay features every day, and much of the [TC] users use them. We see buses driving everywhere, Trucks, Taxi's, each new roleplaying development appears to be being gobbled up eagerly by people who just can't get enough.

Where do you think [TC] should be going? Should [TC] have more of a roleplay oriented culture or stick to systems only? How should the systems and rules be adapted to meet how [TC] is used today?

I'll post my own thoughts on this as a reply, just so the OP can be the question

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There are some things that have happened recently that make me wonder about the quality of time spent at [TC] and how it could be better.

I've primarily played as a [COP] but also sometimes I like to get myself chased as well.

Some of my own observations

• As a [COP] I often do not speed despite advised it's OK to do so responding to Thefts and Danger on road - Because I lose money
• As a [COP] I've noticed that it can often be very difficult to find somebody speeding, and some chases have prematurely ended early because the suspect was losing too much money speeding - Not very fun
• As a civilian there have been times where I've avoided certain roads that are otherwise empty in a chase because I'll lose too much money
  

I've heard [TC] admins say that [COP]'s should earn the most money, because that is the name of the server and what it's all about. But I find that position frustrating personally, as I can hardly find anybody to chase recently, I've been feeling like the system is too geared in my favor. I've got everything to gain and nothing to lose, whilst the suspect has everything to lose and nothing to gain.

I also tried doing jobs but found myself disappointed that after investing in the big LCT truck, that I could not make a decent income. In fact, the time my truck spent loading/unloading, I would have probably earned my reward from simply driving.

Personal view:[/u]

I feel like if [TC] wants to go in the roleplay direction, roleplay should be rewarding. My gut tells me that what would make it work is to simply do away with earning/losing money from driving, and instead earn money from doing jobs only - The job money would have to be increased hugely to completely replace driving income, and fines for traffic violations would have to be raised as a result too to encourage more people to be a [COP] and enforce the traffic speed. It would mean more action for me as a [COP] and I think increase the realism too.