Checkpoint usage over mass searches and dealing with the issue locally.

[Equinox]

I'm sure we've all been in our fair share of "Everybody huddle in the apartments and stay on the wall" followed by 10-15 minutes of just sitting on a wall. It isn't really efficient when it comes to searching and keeping people orderly, doesn't result in much RP because you can't move and the chat is being flooded, and it's often just a waste of time for everyone. Sure, it can rally the players together (OOC wise) to make forming a new RP easier, but there are better, more effective ways to do this.

Checkpoint Usage
If contraband is expected to be rampant through a scene, or a massive amount of people need to be searched, don't order "Inspection Positions". They suck for reasons I explained above. Instead, enter a period of time with Civil Protection where checkpoints go up (fields are activated) and random searches are done in the checkpoint. This increases the atmosphere by amping up the fear and tension of "What if I get searched?" as well as police presence, while carrying out the same goal. Citizens feel like they are being interacted with personally instead of just part of some obligatory mundane search task being done on everybody as well. Meanwhile, because other paths may be blocked off, characters have to either risk it, or stay behind. One option creates POTENTIAL conflict if they are carrying contraband (and smart workarounds) while the other allows characters who'd often slink away to god knows where to remain temporarily, or try and seek out people to help them smuggle something past the checkpoint.

Essentially, it presents an obstacle, instead of forcing roleplay onto others since "Inspection Positions" usually results in CP just roaming around and forcing anyone they find into a room.

Localized Issue Resolvement
Of course, sometimes you can't just do things slowly. If a lot of people need to be searched at once- an inspection shouldn't be called where people have to huddle in somewhere. Instead, handle the issue where it started. Have Civil Protection secure the area, search the people who were involved in the scene, and then release them when the force is done with them. If they need to be questioned, do it there, or perhaps move them into the Nexus for interrogations.

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lord Beckett]

I'm all for random searches. It doesn't even have to be at checkpoints. CPs could just be patrolling around, stop a couple of people or so and order them to face the wall for a search (though they should try to not interrupt RP, just catch travelling citizens). Makes it feel like much more of a police state. Mass gatherings for searches don't make much sense: there is no historical precedence for them, telling people they're about to be searched is a great way for people to dump contraband/escape to the sewers beforehand, and they just take so goddamn long. It's better to be a bit more proactive when looking for contraband.

 

[Robert]

Checkpoints aren't really a thing. There isn't enough CP manpower most of the time to handle checkpoints and we are so far constantly dealing from situation to situation so CPs have no time to sit around messing with checkpoints so quite frankly they aren't going to become a thing at this rate thus far. The only Checkpoint to exist is the entrance to the City.

CPs need to perform mass searches at times because it is mandatory for after work shifts and generally if something is known to be stolen. Such as the building materials which so far is the only reason 80% of the searches so far have occurred. Building Materials are classified as Possession of Resources which is a Terminal Verdict ranging from a Heavy Re-education all the way to Amputation depending on the violation and circumstances. In the end, the suspect is always interrogated once found.

Overall, currently checkpoints are out of the question.

Localized Issue Resolvement
Of course, sometimes you can't just do things slowly. If a lot of people need to be searched at once- an inspection shouldn't be called where people have to huddle in somewhere. Instead, handle the issue where it started. Have Civil Protection secure the area, search the people who were involved in the scene, and then release them when the force is done with them. If they need to be questioned, do it there, or perhaps move them into the Nexus for interrogations.

This is already what happens. If you have been watching, you would know CPs only grab those involved for searches unless dispatch says otherwise. SO far only 1 district inspection will be called and before you ask... yes Dispatch will on the rare occasion call a district-wide inspection for everyone in the server and perform a headcount.

But in the beta thus far, this only happened on Day 2 due to the riot, QZ problems and so forth. Inspections of the server scale occur during Code Orange which is automatically UNREST procedure.

So far, pretty much all searches have been localized.

 

[Gr4Ss]

Big no on searches at checkpoints for me, for two simple reasons:

1. Standing at checkpoints for any length of time is boring for the CP's. 15 minutes for an inspection is bad? Try hours at a checkpoint.
2. People can actively try to avoid checkpoints if they see they are up/manned so you rarely find any real contraband.

On the rare occasion that there is an indication of widespread contraband problems or risk of such (e.g. like we had after the riot) we will keep on doing full block inspections. We can see to make that less annoying for citizens (e.g. for me it is not required that they all be facing the wall constantly). Our main improvement here is the fact /charsearch works without tying people up, which cuts the searching down from 3 /me's to a single one, and it can be done while the person is facing you (zip ties on CW required you to be behind the person, hence why CP's still have this 'face the wall' mentality).

Experience from inspections learns that if it is mostly a formality search, a single CP can search 10 people in under 2 minutes without any issue.

Know that if possible we do local inspections instead (e.g. workshifts). But that highly depends on being sure nobody got out of the area before we arrive.

It is already easy enough to move contraband around, let's not kill one of the few tools CP still has available to catch people off guard and replace it with a highly ineffective time consuming boring thing instead.