In the past months ive seen many suggestions about RP... many ideas and even the SPs had a meeting about this topic.
After all that ive seen there has been close to no result yet - something that i expected knowing that everybody has a different imagination of roleplay.
Actually if we talk about RP then we have to face a few facts first.
1. we have roleplay rules which actually should work if the players wouldnt discuss about the "what would be if I... " and stick to these rules.
2. we have players which took roleplay too serious and every lost $ caused angry words on the server or the forum
3. we have players which totally ignore rp because they think they have made bad experiences with rp before (something i consider pure bullshit coz in RP you can not always win... )
4. we have clans which try to do RP but dont find opponents coz the others refuse RP
Knowing that its time to fix those problems.
1. if RP rules are not clear then ask so we can make them clear in the next few weeks
2. i suggest you start playing again instead of crying - nobody of you is a poor guy which can not afford paying tax for fines (except the new players which naturally are protected from taxing and fining)
3. wake up and realize that its a game... one day you loose - the other day you win
4. for that case I will introduce something new
With the release of CF1.8 i will return to BG as normal player and the Serverpolice will be turned into some kind of clan which will control the Sol System. They will be called Galaxy Rangers and their main job will be to keep roleplay running and balanced.
The job of the Serverpolice shifted from cheat hunters to RP coordinators since I will be back on the server and deal with cheaters.
All server clans have one member which is part of the GR and I will give RP orders. That means one day I might decide to tell a trader clan to trade in a specific area and I expect that the GR members ensure that this clan does this kind of RP in that area. There also might be the order for pirate clans to tax in specific systems where these traders run through. Cops will patrol in these systems. Bounty hunters get the job to look for jobs on bases in that area.
If we see that the RP gets unbalanced new orders will be given, new areas will be chosen, or the GR will even the chances on all RP factions. There migth also be the chance that we give orders that 2 police clans get into political troubles and fight each other somewhere in sirius or that pirate clans fight for "taxing grounds".
Actually we try to turn the currently free (and not 100% working roleplay) into a moderated RP that will balance the sides and force the players to play again.
The entire RP on the server will be moderated by some kind of RP board which gets included into the new CF page. There the results of the RP can be posted by every clan via their GR member. Comments on this RP section are not allowed in order to prevent endless discussions.
Benefits of this kind of RP:
- no more endless discussions
- the chance to seperate clans which have troubles
- more rp activity
- balanced RP
- good rp stories
- better involvement of ALL rp factions
- less war situations since the clans already have to fight
- and if everything fails you can blame me for the RP
Whats the job of the GR?
besides usual serverpolice jobs (keeping eyes open, ensure that the rules are followed, guiding players) they get RP orders and turn them into real RP on the server
they are the link between the GR RP orders and the clans
how the clans realize those orders is the job of the clan leaders (they still have the command)
The GR also will act as a clan if neccessary and does RP jobs, no matter if they are police, pirate, bounty hunter or trader.
There alsow will be special events when GR will lead player expeditions into DK or Inner Core territory.
Sol will be GR territory but all clans will be able to pass through... the mars station is protected by GR and we might restrict access to that station for RP purpose.
I expect from the clans and players on CF to do a clean cut with the release of CF1.8. The troubles of the past wont matter anymore. If i see ppl spreading rumours about other players then it will have consequences. If i see that there are personal attacks against other players then there will be consequences. I have tolerated much in the past but as we meanwhile know this was not the right decision.
. As long as Roleplay aint dictated for every second and every clan, this is probably one of the best things comin in 1.8, at least for me. GM's like in any roleplay game, just lead the way, like a narrator in a book, the rest is up to the characters. Also a clan build up of all server SP's is a very good idea (tho i dont think its wise to use all the current SP's as GM's. forum itself showed many times, that Roleplay mostly comes from normal players, not from Leaders or SP's, see our precious lucy for example^^. And well, some just cant find the line between SP char and RP char), same should be done with 
Just charge it to senility, if you like, or that I had just left my strength with my favorite wench on Rodez, after a night of wild abandon... 
