In terms of world lore, the actual universe itself has grim and inescapable aspects of doom crawling all over it. However, in terms of City RP, it is much too soft for my liking.
In the retail version of Half-Life 2, the environment which we are introduced to in the opening sequence is a step above being cast into Hell, with forced relocations, random inspections and block raids, ruthless Civil Protection officers that don't even step out the way to engage in a conversation, the outright banishment of public socialization, and constant propaganda looming over citizens via broadcast screens. The City RP aspect of Willard Networks doesn't really implement many of these glorified aspects of Half-Life 2 that set up its universe to be one of best storytelling games out there, often refraining from elevating the oppressive environment out of fear of crippling roleplay. In my opinion, the citizens of City 24 are granted too many rights and privileges for being the oppressed, herded cattle they all are, and it is very distinct from the world we see in Half-Life 2, almost acting as an entirely different game.
I think that City RP would flourish and the atmosphere would be perfect if conditions were adjusted to the following:
- Free housing assigned to civilians, though their apartments are selected at random. This grants more roleplay in indoor areas like the apartments. Additionally, it'd be best to start with low-tier housing and then being able to advance to luxury housing, all dependent on your Social Credit amount. Those with low or no loyalty tears reside in squalid, dilapidated apartments, whereas loyalists thrive in well-kept lodges. This energy is shared similarly with rations.
- Random or scheduled block raids / inspections to verify that the residents haven't stepped to far out of line.
- Restrictions on some shops to prohibit extremely flashy, old-world logos, as well as limiting their stock and functions to prohibit excessive leisure activities for the common citizen. The Combine doesn't want people to have fun, as this threatens control.
- Civil Protection confiscating citizen luggage, as seen in Half-Life 2.
- Civil Protection establishing a control zone or checkpoint in the train station, as seen in Half-Life 2. This means that the first thing a new player sees when they join is the immediate threat of Civil Protection looming over them after they exit the train.
- More Combine technology scattered around different areas, especially the plaza.
- Removal of political parties. Yes, this is controversial, but the Combine would like not want any form of political entanglement that plagued the old world for as long as it has existed, likewise with 'militias' appearing who can be immune to some charges given by Civil Protection, thus creating a power struggle that could be resolved if political parties and militias were expunged. While some may argue that these factors benefit roleplay, they are not the only things that can benefit roleplay. The CWU and other branches offer roleplay opportunities.
- Forced workshifts that actually pertain to the world of Half-Life 2, e.g. manufacturing Combine materials, making rations, etc., just workshifts that benefit the Combine and its rule - nothing else. Remember, everything is centered around the Combine, and it just doesn't really feel like it.
The rest is either up to player discretion or is simply too harsh for Willard, e.g. citizens disallowed from speaking to one another. Like I said above, everything in this universe is centered around the Combine, and to capture that dystopian feeling but not be too liberal with it, some changes should be considered, though that's not what this post is. Just my opinions.
Everything else in the server is perfect, in my opinion. The way the Combine and Citizen factions operate is perfect, but like I said, militias and political parties suck and are dumb and gay.
TL;DR
Willard Networks should borrow several ideas from the retail version of Half-Life 2, such as forced inspections, harsher conditions, and others, but not overstep and complete absorb the Half-Life 2 retail environment which will inevitably cripple roleplay and make the server unfun.
