Remove or Reform O.S.I

[swagile]

Id like to mention, before I even read everything here, that a lot of these screenshots are out of context.

By that I mean I made these comments while chatting to people idly in the server-discussion channels when I was a SA and didn't have much say or feedback with OSI or even talked to the OSI leader at the time.

I am merely stating this because:

A) My opinions have since changed as I have more contact with OSI as a CM and more knowledge in general.
B) The screenshots show my name as red, which makes it look like my stance as a CM, but I made all those comments when I was a SA.

 

[𝔄𝔪𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔮]

Before responding, please take the time to read and digest my whole response as it might answer a few of your questions, or bring up a few.....

as someone said you do this and he werent kidding! hot damn

 

[Noodle]

Hiya.

So from my experience- the activity and all was lacking for a bit and I felt quite a lot of uncertainty in the stance of my position once I took it up. Sometimes I have had a different responses to the relationship between the OSI x CA (ultimately the CCA) but it has become more clear with time.

I am well aware that a lot of the members part of the CCA feel uncertain as well in regards to their knowledge about the OSI and its operations, and they should. It is secret and confidential.

But so far with time comes changes and improvements. I have never stated that I do not influence the OSI nor that I do. Depending on the personality of the CA; in this case; Laurentius views the relationship as extremely mutual simply because of what he has been told. OOCly it makes sense for them to follow the highest order of authority as die-hard loyalists. I am a huge fan of paperwork rp, and general reporting, something that the OSI exceeds in. They are marvellous at it.

The activity of the OSI has picked up as well, and it is clear that it feels a lot more fluent than previously a few months back. But that happens to every faction every now and then. The organizing and planning done by the OSI are extraordinary.

Ergo: I feel that I am both OOCly and ICly on the same page. 100%.

 

[Triviality]

Im just's a hicks's from the Civil Workers's Union's

I ain't ever heards of none's OSI

My friends aint never heards of nones' osi's

Literally what player comes onto the server that's new and gets a cool experience because of this faction, i didn't even know it existed until this thread and it seems like a scam and not even Half Life flavored

P.S can someone explain what OSI stands for and what they do and why they have all these OOC secretiveness

 

[Dostoevsky]

Hi, I'm the original architect of the OSI. I joined roughly in August, set up the faction, and subsequently left in early November because I was busy. I was not around for V1, so I do not recognise that period as being related to the OSI.

The OSI was structured to be resistant to metagame because this is a small community and quite frankly I trusted no one. I still don't. Early in the groups conception we tested meta in both union and resistance factions and found that it was so extensive our group could not actively function if we were to remain above board.

The OSI responds to the flow of roleplay, there was a considerable period when we had to sit back and passively collect intelligence simply because any operations would cripple a resistance that already couldn't get its shit together. The same could be said about union factions. It was my point of view we existed to create roleplay and thus should seek to encourage it by assisting these organisations in their growth.

 

[radreaper100]

for people who really like this sort of RP and want to engage in it, what do you recommend they do to get involved?

 

[Ronald]

for people who really like this sort of RP and want to engage in it, what do you recommend they do to get involved?

We have our applications open periodically. We try to keep the faction on the smaller side as it's easier to manage. Keep an eye on the applications subforum. It is possible to join ICly, though this is rare and usually involves us approaching you.

 

[ShadoWiz4rd]

Preface:

The leader of O.S.I, Ronald (publicly) posted last in the Discord in November and the has only posted in the forums 4 times since September and his faction has come up in the discord a few times. I'm going to take a few screenshots of what O.S.I was described as by staff.

I'm making this post because I too am irked with O.S.I. I need not to recall V1 (which I don't like to bring up in the first place) when O.S.I did the infamous 'Fallout New Vegas' incident. Now, I'm irked because O.S.I has continuously, in my eyes, just shit on RP.

I'll personally start off by saying this. I enjoy a good dystopia. I think the past few days has proven that alot of people do too, as long as it's done right. Sometimes we should embrace the 'good' aspects of dystopia and allow RP to flourish even if at sometimes O.S.I in particular goes "holy fuck!!! you can't do that!!!"
They've shut down the BOE, locked people in cells for weeks, and basically done nothing to actually help or create RP.

As Swagile said "I don't count starting a fire real chaos. I mean chaos from within. I want corruption to matter."

O.S.I at the moment is above the CCA, above Overseers, and above OTA in some cases (according to staff).
It's fucking crazy, unnecessary, and stupid.


Suggestion:

Reform or Remove O.S.I.

I believe O.S.I being removed outright is the best case scenario but I also offer an alternative.

1. Make O.S.I directly under the control of the C.C.A. They will be below Overseers and O.T.A, obviously.

2. Give the intelligence aspect of O.S.I over to the C.C.A and a new Ministry if they want it. It'd make it more interesting.

3. Allow O.S.I to guard the C.C.A

4. Allow O.S.I to be loyal to the C.C.A/C.A moreso than Overwatch.

5. Encourage O.S.I to allow (certain) corruption in the C.C.A. If some guy in the C.C.A wants to go snort cocaine in the back of a bar and make shady deals away from Overseers/OTA, let them.

6. Allow the Overseers/OTA to handle the C.C.A if they really fuck up.




See you all on page 11.​

#DefundOSI #DisbanOSI

 

[Merlinsclaw]

Arguments over leadership and all aside, it still doesn’t seem that there’s been a response to what OSI actually adds to RP.

I don’t think anyone disagrees with the notion of having a Stasi or something similar but that isn’t ultimately what OSI is.

 

[Ronald]

Arguments over leadership and all aside, it still doesn’t seem that there’s been a response to what OSI actually adds to RP.

Sure.

Some immediate stuff that's come to mind that I can talk about. On the CCA side, we've been involved in investigating major corruption and more recently a lot of the Auspicious events.

I'm not sure how I could talk about the rebel and Union sides (as most of it's ongoing) without metagaming.

How best would you like me to provide some examples of RP we've done without metagaming?

I don’t think anyone disagrees with the notion of having a Stasi or something similar but that isn’t ultimately what OSI is.

What do you believe the OSI is right now? It's important to separate us from V1 (literally none of us were involved then). Which you seemed to have confused us within your original post.


Just to note a few of things:

1. Since you've brought this post up, I've done a round-robin of everyone within the faction to gather feedback on processes that could be improved and different ideas they have. I'm currently waiting for responses.
2. I've spoken to @Immerseus to make sure that we're all clear in terms of OSI x CCA relations.
3. I've spoken to @swagile following his suggestion to improve ways people can reach out to the OSI. We're looking into making a direct line of communication between ministers and the OSI as well, rather than just the CA.

Lastly, if this conversation continues over many days, there will be a black spot where I won't be able to respond or see responses over Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday as I am going to be in Hospital for a brief operation. When I'm back I'll be able to digest any ideas and discuss what are the best steps moving forward.

Lastly, a question for you @Merlinsclaw please could you provide some names (either PM or here) of the people that have been locked up for weeks? I want to make sure this is sorted ASAP, but I genuinely don't know who is locked up waiting for us. Equally any situation where members of the faction have shit on RP so I can get this sorted as well. Would be mega appreciated.

 

[𝔄𝔪𝔟𝔢𝔯𝔮]

Arguments over leadership and all aside, it still doesn’t seem that there’s been a response to what OSI actually adds to RP.

Makes people use their heads more, there could be a micah bell in the crowd

 

[caedes]

Ronald has practically debunkt everything. Also the entire thing of let OTA and Overseers deal with CCA if they fuck up is already true. Coming from an OTA player, we step in and enforce the CCA whenever they step outside of their boundaries. OSI being guards too is uh.. a strange idea to say the least

 

[RedHotGinger]

When you were a CM you came to us once when you first joined our discord, requesting access to all channels in a meme way, I took it as a meme. Subsequently you have done nothing but be negative about us in a public forum, not once have you approached me privately about this or using the dedicated channels we had set up for communication. You never have asked to see who is in the faction, nor what operations we are currently undertaking. It took me approaching you privately to get some semblance of constructive feedback. You know better than most that I am more than happy to have a discussion about things as I have tried communicating with you in the past about unrelated issues. You are not always willing to have that discussion. All you had to do is ask. You never did.

Really was no need for this. All feedback I have given has been constructive. You just seemingly don't like it when people give any negative thoughts towards the faction. I was told admins aren't able to actually get any of that info, so there is scarce reason to actually seek it out. Hell, I had to pry to check if some snitch was OSI, with you being reluctant to clarify despite it being OOC info for administration purposes. Whenever I asked about how the OSI was interacting with rebels, I was refused any information, aside from 'It's good for RP, don't worry' and was dealt with quite aggressively. You approaching me privately, was just you asking me to repeat what I said in a private chat so others couldn't see it.
I don't doubt you actually want this faction to be open to critics, but I can say with confidence it seems to be the opposite.
As for reworks:
Allow people to actually know what is happening within the faction without having to step over landmines and having to seek out very specific things they may or may not even know is happening. Basically bring it into the public light, as this is the only way people can actually view the faction and properly comment on it.
Don't be so heavy into Rebel RP. Again, I don't know how bad it is, since the information was never fully divulged, but rebels have it rough enough without Combine agents who are literally impossible to track.
Having the OSI be only subservient to S24 is cringe. S24 is being overused in so many ways lately its starting to be watered down.
Find a way for people outside the OSI to benefit from its existence. As many have pointed out, you would not even know it was a thing unless you were in it, or just happened upon its name.

 

[Aspect™]

Allow people to actually know what is happening within the faction without having to step over landmines and having to seek out very specific things they may or may not even know is happening. Basically bring it into the public light, as this is the only way people can actually view the faction and properly comment on it.

Wouldn't this put all their efforts in avoiding metagame and remaining secretive in jeopardy? I understand the thought process but due to the nature of the faction this just doesn't seem possible without making heavy compromises, which, in my eyes at least, could end up rendering the faction obselete.

Don't be so heavy into Rebel RP. Again, I don't know how bad it is, since the information was never fully divulged, but rebels have it rough enough without Combine agents who are literally impossible to track.

I think Ronald mentioned in an earlier post that the OSI has deliberately avoided taking action against certain rebel groups because it would most certainly kill them off and ruin their RP, thus sitting back and simply monitoring them.
Plus, isn't that the entire point of the faction, besides Internal Affairs?

 

[RedHotGinger]

I think Ronald mentioned in an earlier post that the OSI has deliberately avoided taking action against certain rebel groups because it would most certainly kill them off and ruin their RP, thus sitting back and simply monitoring them.

I get that, and I don't doubt that. But, think about it this way.
If Civil Protection knew about a rebels hidden base, but just decided not to do anything about it for the time being, would that base really be secure? No, it would be on a ticking time bomb, waiting for the time they eventually do get caught out. Or, if not that, simply constantly allowed to exist at the mercy of a faction that you cant really possibly counter as a rebel.

Wouldn't this put all their efforts in avoiding metagame and remaining secretive in jeopardy? I understand the thought process but due to the nature of the faction this just doesn't seem possible without making heavy compromises, which, in my eyes at least, could end up rendering the faction obselete.

The specifics are up in the air. But, 70% of the problems this faction has are a direct or indirect result of the fact that basically no one knows what it is doing outside of the very basic general idea. Without people being able to converse about the faction, and generally comment on it, while being able to hear of what it does, it may as well not even exist. Nobody but the OSI benefits from the OSI existing as far as I can tell. This is mostly due to the fact that no one outside the OSI even knows about it.
Not even people targeted by the OSI will probably ever know as they have other forces do their dirty work for them, or just refrain from doing anything at all.

 

[Manio]

I get that, and I don't doubt that. But, think about it this way.
If Civil Protection knew about a rebels hidden base, but just decided not to do anything about it for the time being, would that base really be secure? No, it would be on a ticking time bomb, waiting for the time they eventually do get caught out. Or, if not that, simply constantly allowed to exist at the mercy of a faction that you cant really possibly counter as a rebel.



The specifics are up in the air. But, 70% of the problems this faction has are a direct or indirect result of the fact that basically no one knows what it is doing outside of the very basic general idea. Without people being able to converse about the faction, and generally comment on it, while being able to hear of what it does, it may as well not even exist. Nobody but the OSI benefits from the OSI existing as far as I can tell. This is mostly due to the fact that no one outside the OSI even knows about it.
Not even people targeted by the OSI will probably ever know as they have other forces do their dirty work for them, or just refrain from doing anything at all.

Ginger noo, not my favorite CM How's the "listen to people and maintain good PR" going for you because you used to preach a lot about it back in the day? Oh right yeah


Also @Merlinsclaw get a life you loser

 

[Triviality]

Wouldn't this put all their efforts in avoiding metagame and remaining secretive in jeopardy?

This is a videogame my friend. One where we roleplay for fun about being in half life. So much of this faction i still know nothing about does not seem fun

I dont get why we need to take this faction so seriously when its not even based around half life

It also doesnt really much add to the citizenry in my own perspective.

 

[Aspect™]

Honestly at this point I'd go as far as to say that the existance of a faction like this shouldn't be known if it wants to be fully effective lol

 

[Aspect™]

Ginger noo, not my favorite CM How's the "listen to people and maintain good PR" going for you because you used to preach a lot about it back in the day? Oh right yeah


Also @Merlinsclaw get a life you loser

If you have nothing of value to contribute to the discussion, do not post.

 

[Triviality]

Honestly at this point I'd go as far as to say that the existance of a faction like this shouldn't be known if it wants to be fully effective lol

What does the faction do