Economy (V1)
Money is supposed to feel heavy. In V1, the city stays healthy when players use money to create scenes—repairs, rent, food, favors—not to speedrun loadouts.
Principles (V1)
The best economy is the one that pushes you into other people. If you can get rich alone, the city dies.
If you are repeating the same payout loop with minimal RP, staff will rebalance it. V1 is designed so the “best money” comes from social work: businesses, services, deliveries, towing, and events.
If you find an unintended farm, stop using it and report it. Exploit abuse and duping are escalation-level offenses.
- Legal money is steady and modest; illegal money is risky and costly.
- Sinks are intentional: fuel, repairs, food, medical, fines.
- Banks and receipts create disputes, debts, and favors.
- Avoid hoarding; spend to create RP (events, outfits, services).
- If an activity feels like a grind exploit, staff will rebalance it.
Starter loop (day one)
Stability comes from a simple loop: small income + predictable costs + consistent social spaces.
- Get a bank card and keep deposits regular.
- Spend on appearance and food early; it creates conversation.
- Choose a job that puts you near people (services, deliveries, tow).
- Pay your medical bills and fines; use them as hooks.
- Use businesses as 'third places' (barber, diner, mechanic).
- Bank account active
- A public job selected
- You know where food/fuel/repairs are
- One contact saved
Sinks (where your money goes)
Sinks keep money meaningful. They also create RP: disputes, loans, favors, payment plans.
- Fuel and repairs: vehicle culture is social, not just transport.
- Food and consumables: daily routines are the backbone.
- Medical: injury is story; billing is consequence.
- Legal: fines, bail, fees, permits.
- Lifestyle: outfits, housing, business investments.
V2 (planned) — kept separate
V2 content is intentionally separated so Beta/V1 enforcement remains clear. Nothing in this section becomes active unless staff announces it via Discord and patch notes.
Appendix (reference)
RP micro-cues (quick reminders)
- Ask, then act: a 2-second verbal check prevents 20 minutes of confusion.
- Emote your intent before touching someone: /me reaches for the beltline slowly.
- If a scene is crowded, lower your volume and let one voice lead at a time.
- When you lose, make the loss cinematic: frustration, bargains, aftermath.
- If you win, leave space for the other side to save face and keep their arc.
- Never narrate another player's body, inventory, or thoughts without consent.
- Use names sparingly early; earn familiarity through repeated clean scenes.
- When unsure about rules, de-escalate first and ask staff after.
- If you have leverage, use it to negotiate, not to speedrun violence.
- Give compliance time: 'ten seconds' is a real count, not a vibe.
- During searches, describe what you're doing: pockets, waistband, shoes.
- In pursuits, call out turns and hazards over radio to keep everyone safe.
- In hospitals, treat it like a real building: calm, controlled, respectful.
- In green zones, keep conflict verbal and move problems outside.
- Don't chain-rob or chain-harass the same person for 'content'.
- When someone is down, protect the scene: stop looting theatrically.
- Before big actions, confirm mechanics: 'Is this door actually locked?'.
- Use /do to establish visible facts (blood, smoke, bullet holes).
- Use /me for actions and effort (hands shaking, breathing heavy).
- If you start a scene, you own the pace: do not rush the other side.
- If staff pauses a scene, freeze and comply; don't argue mid-moment.
- If you break immersion, repair it: quick OOC note, then back in.
- Don't use phone/Discord comms for IC advantage unless it's in-world.
- Keep police stops clean: reason stated, commands clear, time to comply.
- Respect VoL: weapons change the room; act like it.
- Don't treat cuffs as a minigame; treat them as an outcome.
- Record 'receipts' as story hooks, not as threats.
- When conflict ends, do closure: hospital, court, apology, tribute.
- Let businesses be social: talk while you buy.
- If you are new, ask in-character first; staff second.
- If you're veteran, mentor quietly; don't flex.
- Don't camp exits (hospital, PD, job center).
- Use disguises responsibly: masks reduce certainty, not all memory.
- If you saw it OOC, pretend you didn't. Investigate IC.
- Keep pursuits believable: don't risk 20 civilians for a minor ticket.
- If someone says 'pause', check comfort and adjust.
- Avoid graphic detail; imply and fade-to-black when appropriate.
- If you are streaming, do not use chat intel as IC knowledge.
- If you are shot, play pain: slower movement, shorter sentences.
- If you're in a crowd, do not stack numbers to bully.
- Use 'time-of-day' and 'weather' as scene flavor.
- Don't teleport stories: travel time matters.
- When you rob, negotiate an off-ramp: money, items, or apology.
- When you get robbed, create RP: protest, plead, remember.
- In courts, keep it simple: facts, evidence, argument, ruling.
- In corrections, play routine: counts, jobs, programs.
- Treat vehicles as property: tow, impound, paperwork.
- If you see a bug, stop and report; do not exploit.
- Don't use unrealistic props to block doors/LOS.
- Be mindful of audio spam: sirens and music should have purpose.
- Don't turn every scene into a shootout; talk is the main weapon.
- If you want a war arc, earn it through weeks of build-up.
- Avoid 'instant reveals'—give investigations time.
- If you are medical, narrate triage and choices.
- If you are PD, narrate PC and chain of custody.
- If you are civ, narrate fear and compliance.
- Treat money as heavy: banks, receipts, debt, favors.
- Ask for consent before 'torture' or sensitive content.
- Keep minors out of serious violence or adult themes.
- Avoid ERP and any sexualized violence: zero tolerance.
- If you are unsure about a zone, assume it's protected.
- Do not grief new players; recruit them into stories.
- If you change lanes (civ to crim), do it gradually.
- If you are a faction lead, host public events.
- If you are a business, publish hours and prices.
- If you are media, blur private info in posts.
- Use the smallest force that ends the threat.
- Don't 'finish' downed players unless story demands it.
- If someone is bugged, pause and reset fairly.
- Use 'one-liners' to keep scenes moving.
- Always leave a thread for tomorrow.
Emote snippets (copy/paste)
- /me checks the area before speaking, keeping hands visible.
- /me lowers their voice, nodding once as if confirming a plan.
- /me exhales slowly, trying not to escalate the situation.
- /me pulls a phone out, thumbs hovering, then puts it away.
- /me steps back half a pace to give space.
- /me winces and puts pressure on the wound with a clean cloth.
- /me keeps their eyes on the exit, measuring risk.
- /me raises both palms to chest height in compliance.
- /me speaks clearly, counting down to give time to comply.
- /me listens, then repeats the instruction back to confirm.
- /me places items on the hood of the car, one by one.
- /me keeps the flashlight low, sweeping corners methodically.
- /me leans on the counter, making conversation like a local.
- /me scribbles a receipt and slides it over with the change.
- /me checks a pulse and calls out a triage color.
- /me radios dispatch with location, count, and severity.
- /me glances at the bodycam and announces the reason for the stop.
- /me kneels, hands shaking, and starts compressions.
- /me points to the nearest safe area and directs traffic around.
- /me keeps a calm tone while setting firm boundaries.
- /me offers a compromise to end the standoff clean.
- /me writes a quick statement while memories are fresh.
- /me tags evidence and logs the time.
- /me asks for a supervisor politely.
- /me nods toward the door, signaling it's time to move.
- /me takes a deep breath before answering.
- /me tilts their head, skeptical, but stays respectful.
- /me checks the map, then points out a better route.
- /me looks for witnesses without crowding them.
- /me keeps a hand near the radio, ready to call it.
- /me puts a cone down, marking a boundary.
- /me looks at the paperwork twice before signing.
- /me returns a nod, keeping the peace.
- /me gives a short apology and steps away to cool off.
- /me talks through the plan so everyone knows their role.
- /me takes a seat, bandaged, and accepts the consequences.
- /me offers water and a chair while the situation settles.
- /me moves slowly, favoring the injured leg.
- /me checks the time and marks it out loud.
- /me keeps their voice steady: 'We can do this the easy way.'
FAQ (common questions)
Original outline (source)
# Economy + Jobs + Progress (V1) V1 retention loop: Earn → Spend → Progress → Flex → Story ## Money sources (V1 pillars) - Service work: fast food, restaurant, retail support - Vehicle work: mechanic, towing, repairs, gas logistics - Trade: pawn flips / market sales (controlled) - Events: tournaments, leagues, staff-run events with prizes ## Money sinks (keep RP alive) - food/water - gas - barber/tattoo/clothing - repairs - permits/fees (Downtown pressure) - fines/restitution (court outcomes) ## Anti-abuse guardrails (player-facing) - cooldowns on repetitive payouts - diminishing returns on “farm loops” - audits for suspicious flips - strict handling of duping/exploit behavior ## Progress that matters (not just money) - reputation unlocks (roles, invites, access) - business credibility (steady hours, customer trust) - city influence (events, alliances, court outcomes) Pro tip: in V1, reputation > cash.
