Alternative to Social Credits (Discussion)

[vilhjalmrf]

Like my other past before, I encourage you all to stay on topic and not to derail or shitpost. Note that this is not a suggestion, just merely want thoughts from the community and CMs and see if maybe this is something we can switch over to even with how unlikely it may seem.

Social Credits
@Conair has given me some things to think about as I tuned in to his discussions and arguments (truthfully not fully as there was so much going on that I just couldn't pay attention anymore). In short to what the argument is that I can remember from discussions is participating in a workshift does not equal to loyalty, it doesn't contribute or promote roleplay, motivates players to grind and treat it as a grind, or even demotivates them not to do anything else. This was half-assed but the gist of it seemingly. This can be considered a mindset issue of the player but regardless I just want to gather thoughts on the matter and I'm interested onto what 'alternatives' people may have thought up.

Truth be told, I really have no concrete concept alternative for social credits. Only an idea that was just made up in my head an hour ago. Might've been a thing of the past already but regardless, what I'm going to suggest is not fully thought out yet. So if you like, you can introduce your own idea or add onto mine. My alternative is 'Commendations'. I'll start with the basic which is how you earn commendations. Commendations are earned through notoriety for good deeds you committed that isn't partaking in one singular work shift or going to a workdesk only just to be handed a broom and sweep a floor.

The criteria of what a good civic deed that earns you a commendation is up to debate. Other than that, how it compares to Social Credits is it won't be a grindy and/or large sum of social credits you must earn. Hopefully it may promote roleplay instead of waiting for a shift to open up or for an officer to man the desk.

And each x amount of commendations determines what you are eligible for. For example: 1 commendation makes you eligible for stall store ownership, 2 commendations makes you eligible for CWU/CMU/Store Building ownership, 3 commendations makes you eligible for the BRI/MoE and a raise in credits you may get from using the ration machine, 4 commendations makes you eligible for Civil Protection and puts you under pending for the Collaborator's Party but must go through an interview and so on.

 

[ConcernedCitizen]

Sounds like a reverse blackmark for citizens, why not just tie it into the main social credit system; have it as like a get out of jail free card for a serious infraction. I don't necessarily disapprove, this could be a good way of commending people with a sort of 'loyalty token' giving them leeway to sidestep union regulation at the disposal of the token, e.g. wanting to own a store but not meeting the required SC count.

 

[George]

remove social scredit. Add breen buck

 

[RedHotGinger]

Sounds okay, but probably wont be.

Firstly, who gets to hand these out? As of now, this would be delegated entirely to CP's, who in this case now are responsible for the dispersal of commendations across the entire city - surely being flooded with constant requests as a result. Party members could possibly be introduced as givers to alleviate this, but given that the Party has zero power currently, I doubt this would actually be something that could come into play without a major overhaul.

Secondly, this is a inconsistent reward method. There is no sure way for you to really get these and its all determined on random chance + will basically just cause civs to ravenously do literally anything that could be considered 'commendation worthy' and badger CP's almost constantly for the good boy points. You will almost certainly see a surplus or a major deficit of these, its unlikely to balanced in distribution.

Thirdly, this would replace the party system, which despite its flaws, does require some legwork to get to higher tiers (even though its not worth the effort) with a trash collection simulator, where everyone is just doing the bare minimum to get those points. Essentially, just like a workshift, just not as organized.

Lastly, the rewards for this will dry out quickly, leaving people with an excess of useless points if you are not careful. Could do something similar to STC system that CP's have, but there are only so many rewards you can hand out. Could take things off the loyalist menu and make them exclusive, but this will just lead to credits being devalued.


Willard doesn't need a completely new system. It needs an overhaul to its current one. Party has potential, it just needs to matter instead of being a hollow armband. Workshifts are workshifts and citizen RP needs to be improved via better City RP. This likely wont be done using the loyalist system, but the base citizen experience itself.

 

[Merlinsclaw]

would never work for willard without major reconsideration of how city rp operates