Thought I post a conclusion to this back and forth as lots of speculation and wondering if this will be playing out or not.
I want to say that yes, a Gear wipe will be occurring- just rather than gear which mainly effects Rebels, we decided to spread it across the whole board and wipe all Items and funds from the Server. SC and Loyalty will be left intact, though I have spoken to CCA/SeCon and a mix of a IC and OOC cleanup will occur across all loyalists to demote, remove or just nudge down your status/SC will be happening based on Activity, their contributions and so forth in the system.
We understand some may not be happy and may quit, but that is a sacrifice Willard is willing to make. We have been thinking and a Whitelist has crossed our minds a few times for the Server as some seem to hold the opinion that they would rather have a low pop server with high quality RPers vs a high pop server with constant CvR, weapon issues and low quality RP. Just isn't fun in the current state of things for anyone. RP Focused groups & factions cant be arsed to play when their experience is ruined by people just wanting to press e on the next trash bag or just looking for the next item to add to their inventory.
The Survey showed massive dissatisfaction with the current scene and wanted a wipe too and the problems to be fixed. Not just Rebels, but OTA, CCR and some other elements of the server took a fair chunk of the blame. Vorts have been nerfed so they now can fight CPs without Cps feeling outgunned and outmatched. OTA has been pushed back heavily, buffed quite well but also can't deploy without a good reason and takes 2-8 hours to arrive on map. CCR is basically event faction now, just able to play as off duty CCR as civs and be able to grab gear when a situation calls for their urgent assistance.
Reason why we are doing this can be summed up below:
- Item Wipe
Needs to happen as now the Economy has been completely rewritten with Chips and Credits now being interconnected at a ratio of 1:4 (1 Credit to 4 Chips), the Rebels with gear are effectively holding 50,000+ chips worth of gear per rebel. Sentinel players currently hold a total net value of around a near million worth of chips in pure gear, which in the old 1:10 system we were half-assed using before, would basically be nearly 3-5 million of worth in chips.
The way the new economy works with stores becoming the main method requiring RP with other players and such and Trashbags have been slightly reduced with a reduction in lootcrates and what they hold and how they work doesn't fit the old gear at all. The only way for this new economy to work is for everyone to experience a loss of their stuff with proper IC reasoning to back up why.
Rebel Reps have already gone through with the Wipe and cooked up some IC lore as to why the Rebels lost their gear while heading to the new site for our next map. Explaining what happened, why and how the gear was lost and why nothing could be recovered.
On top of this the BMD system was rewritten, the Vendor system redone, Smuggling redone, GOI fabrication lists and how that works redone. The whole method of getting loot has been switched up. Also comes with a partial AC/BOL wipe to allow those rebels to use the City services and buy and sell goods from Stores. Some Stores will even trade in Credits and Chips.
Some may also complain and go "What about Transaction logs? What about the MOC process of getting a store? It blocks rebels!!!". Not anymore. Transaction logs are now restricted to essentially CCA and Server Admins only. Flags got reset too as too many people had flags bypassing systems. Also MOC now have 2 types of stores Official ones and Unofficial. You can now claim a store just by walking up, slap a padlock down and bam, you have a store.
Alternatively, you can do the above but then speak to MOC about getting permits for more official status and access to City Stocks and Warehouses.
Also update the weapons, removed a few, changed values, etc. Gear slightly different now too. Clothing now has warmth values, etc. Food and Drink also been changed along with drugs, medical, etc.
All different, nothing the exact same as before. Wipe is better for the whole system to take effect and work as intended.
- Eco Wipe
Money was wiped from both sides to ensure people start off with pocket change to spend with most money coming from Rations, tasks, workshifts, quests, Expos, etc. If this wasn't wiped with gear, it would leave some holes open for those rich enough to basically skip a few weeks ahead of everyone else, creating a unfair playing field. Instead we decided to start everyone off with the default starting amount of 20 credits. Enough for the basics.
Given this terminal is also poor af, and GOI set to a starting amount of 50k credits or below. It means that someone rich would break the whole system in a day and with Credits and Chips linked, those rich in Chips count towards an eco break as well as both currencies are basically of value now.
This ARC for this next map has a heavy emphasis on slow build up. Everyone is starting from scratch. Even CPs as they don't have a vendor able to spew out guns nor ammo, just the basics like zipties, batons, suits, masks, etc. CMU holds the medical, CWU does all the building and construction, including logistics.
Wiping money from both sides means both sides are now equal and both can equally use the new changes and systems made for this new Story coming into this Terminal and the changes we made to the Economy as a whole, as explained in the previous "ITEM WIPE" above.
- AC/BOL Wipe
Explained in the Item wipe. But needed to allow Rebels or those as AC/BOL to use City functions without 10 officers running their way. Cameras also not prominent in this map, nor are forcefields so works for such an low security and abandoned terminal.
There is possibly more to go over, but hope that satisfied some answers on what is going on and what decisions were made. Though I slapped this together so will need a more official announcement later on before launch.
