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Nov-11-2006 15:36

On other threads the discussion about how many cases you can turn in is happening.

The idea that there is a rule that you can only have 2 detectives in an agency seems to be a false one to me.

If you can access every detective in the agency because you have their password then do you control all of them?

Nov-16-2006 10:02

The fact that this is even a discussion is funny. Seriously, do high scores really even matter? Who cares. It's a game. I just laugh when I see some of the ridiculous scores some people have (the high hundred thousands or millions), with few city contacts and being only a few days old. You know what they are doing. It doesn't effect me directly...all it does is show me people have this need "to be on top" in a make-believe world, and have way to much time on their hands to sit at their computer. WHO CARES?

Nov-16-2006 10:19

Get back to the topic of this thread. I will say, again, if you have a problem with another detective then have it out with that detective in private.

Nov-16-2006 10:22

Beef Flaps, some people dont care about the high scores list and that is fine. Those of us that have millions of exp points just have them because we play all our cases everday. The points start to add up quick. It doesnt mean we are doing anything unethical. Sometimes if we are trying to get a particular favor, item or maybe a faction skill we might use some other detectives cases if they have given them away but thats about it. Please dont judge people by their experience points. Everyone plays this game differently.

I spend alot of time on my computer through work and I solialize though IMs with others in my agency. That doesnt mean I have too much time on my hands, it means this is what I choose to do with my time.

Nov-16-2006 10:44

As Sunny asked to bring this back onto the topic I started with.

What defines "controling a detective"?

The issue is not what you do with that control but at what point is a player in control of a detective? To open hunts, do favors, what ever you choose to do with that control.

Is it when your IP address is the one that loggs into that detective 51% of the time in the past 30 days?

Is it that you can exert final say over a detective?

If that is the case than anyone who has the detectives PW is in control. It only takes a moment to get three false accusations.

What do you think of when you say someone is "in control" of a detective?

Nov-16-2006 11:15

I think that someone "CONTROLS" a detective when they are the ones who sign the detective up and they pay for the subscription.

If a person's subscription runs out and they do not renew it, then their detective is probably controlled by the agency until that person returns to the game. Some unsubbed/unplayed detectives may be moved to an agency that isnt really active just so they have a home in case they decide to return. I dont think someone popping in and using them for some PE verification once in awhile is "CONTROLLING" that detective.

We have had some unsubbed, unplayed detectives in our agency recently. In one case we had not heard from the person for about 6 months, used the detective for PE and once we had another active agent with the same contact, moved her out of the agency. The other case, we have someone with a serious heath issue that was a regular player and we are very fearful that the worse might have happened as her detectives became unsubbed and she has not checked back in. We moved her out of the agency and will let her in if she comes back. We used these detectives for PE verification only, not for hunts or anything else and I do not feel that we "Controlled" them. Their original owners are still the people who should control them.

And I respectfully ask, Why is this a topic for discussion? Shouldnt this be an agency policy on how they want to handle AWOL players?

Nov-16-2006 11:59

I agree with Roamie.
Detectives belong to/ are controlled by the person who created them and paid for their subscription. If the owner decides their detective is being abused, they can come in and change the password.

In our agency, we use each other's contacts for PE or WE, and for treasure hunt favors. Our policy is only directors have access to passwords, no detective will get an FA, their money will be untouched. When and if they return, their detective will be the same or better than when they stopped playing.
Every agency has their own set of policies. These are ours, right or wrong - they work for us.

Nov-16-2006 12:31

I agree Solve and Roamie, that each agency sets up their own rules for what is allowed in conjunction with Password Sharing. That is part of what makes each agency different.

I do disagree with the two of you on the idea of control based on paying a subscription. I have given out gift subscriptions to "friends and enemies", does that mean I am now in control of that detective? I do not think anyone would think that reasonable.

The other point of somone being unsubbed and you just logging into to use their contact (a very reasonable and common use of PW sharing). If the only reason they are in the agency is for that use, then it seems you are controling them.

The reason this is a topic of discussion here is the percieved ambiguity of Ben's statements back in Jan 2005.

"A single player should not control more than 2 single detectives within any given agency. This has always been the semi-official policy, but I will start to enforce it more regularly. " and "Password sharing is OK. What I'm trying to avoid is having an agency that is entirely controlled by two or three people."
( http://noir.playsleuth.com/map/cityhall/post.spy?id=3794&first_record=31299 )

Nov-16-2006 12:43

If you are paying a subscription for someone else, then No, you dont control that detective. The person you gave the gift to controls it.

You say "A single Player should not control more than 2 detectives" if all the directors of an agency use that detective for PE verification then a SINGLE person isnt controlling them.

And I thought I made it clear in my previous post why we kept detectives around who werent playing. Sorry if this was not clear. We do it in extreme circumstances i.e. work -like the person who was gone for 6 months or illness-like the person whose detective became unsubbed. Of course, having people who can work their own detectives is much better in my opinion. I would much rather work my own detective and spend the rest of the time socializing with my agency.

Nov-16-2006 12:51

RAnstett,
I think you are saying the same thing we are.
1) I have given out gift subscriptions to "friends and enemies", does that mean I am now in control of that detective?
NO, You are not in control of this detective, because you GAVE it to someone as a gift. You did not create this detective for your personal use.

2) The other point of somone being unsubbed and you just logging into to use their contact (a very reasonable and common use of PW sharing). If the only reason they are in the agency is for that use, then it seems you are controling them.

We do not keep unsubbed players in our agency to use their contacts, although that is a perk. We prefer to have an agency of active players - trust me, working on PE cases all day is not fun for me. We may keep INACTIVE players in our agency (all are subbed btw) because they have been with us for a long time. They may just be taking a break for work or health reasons. If an active player approaches us to join our agency, regardless of their contacts or lack of, we bring them into our group - and let the inactive go to an agency we have created for the inactives. That way, they have a home.

Nov-16-2006 14:11

I do think we are saying the same things Roamie and Solve.

We all three agree that PW sharing as described above is the norm. The three of us would likely get along great in an agency with those ideas.

The point where we differ is if that is controling the detective.

As roamie & others alluded to, people consider some detectives to 'belong to the agency'. The problem with that is someone has to be 'credited' with controling that detective.

We have had players go on sabatical for months at a time. I have their PW and use the detective as described above. I consider that control. It does not mean that the orignal player does not retain control also.

Roamie that quote was from Ben not myself but you do highlight that same issue I think.

If a detective is shared by the 4 active players in an agency is there 1 person in control because they subbed and created them? or are 4 people in control because they all share that PW?

Thank you both for considering the various opinions on this.