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Just wondering
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Makensie Brewer
Makensie Brewer
Super Steeper

Oct-5-2005 22:11

I wonder if there would be any way, or how difficult it would be, to make it where ONLY the Directors could sell items from the Equipment Locker?
Be like how rookies have no access to the locker. It could be made that Agents have access ofcourse but Directors ONLY are the only ones able to sell anything from there.
Might be a bad idea but, I think it would be cool to have it that way.

Replies

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 12:11

I think preventing agency theft as much as possible is a good idea. In this case I would suggest director AND officer. Simply because there are some agencies that limit the number of directors. But do need more then 1 person to be able to sell equipment to operationally function.

Personally, I'd really like to see more levels of agents (Presidents, Vice-Presidents etc.) Or where you can assign specific titles with associated tasks (the recruiter, the treasurer, buyer/sales manager etc.) Situations where one director also has treasurer capabilities, but not the other director. Or you can be treasurer and recruiter at the same time. I think this allows more defined designated "permissions" in an agency. And also means you can readily promote someone to director, without bank access. You become more like a real business.
And more levels of agents...means more promotions. And being promoted is just more fun. I have always have issues with the limited amount of promotion possibilities. Because sometimes you have people at the same level of title, but yet....it still doesn't feel right to you. Perhaps give the uber-director the opportunity, to set "specific" permissions to each person in their agency. Among which the possibility of selling items.

Another option is. Tagging equipment if they a) can be sold, b) someone can quit the agency with the equipment on. This leaves the option of some equipment being able to be sold by anyone. And others only by directors (or officers)....like for instance the more expensive items in the locker.

Or even better. If equipment is tagged to NEVER leave an agency. And it does, it is simply marked (or dare I say brandmarked), as STOLEN GOODS.

Though I do think the possibility of theft can be considered a game element by some. Infiltration and theft, could potentially be something kinda fun, if it became an acccepted norm. Another game, where one agency can rip off the other, in form as a game element.

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 12:12

However, I think what would take a knock is the community spirit. Can you imagine the exposure to that on the message board. To introduce the acceptability of agency theft....requires somewhat of a revolution. :)

In any case, I am getting off track here. The main reason why I think as many controls as possible should be built in to safe guard agency theft. Is not only because of peoples hard work. But also because the impression it leaves on new players, and as a result they would not sub again.

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 12:15

What is also something to think about, is a situation where items over a certain value can not be sold. Or if a director wants to take more then a certain amount of money out of the safe, they need to have permission of another director. Or the CFO. :)

The reason why I am saying this, because we have seen many examples in here, of 2 directors starting an agency together, and one robbing the other blind. And then the victim director, never daring to start a new agency again. (and scream about it on the message board.)

Moonshh
Moonshh
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 16:39

Lots of interesting possibilities!

I can see why some might think that infiltrating another agency to steal money or equipment might be legitimate part of the role playing of the game, but I hope that particular "revolution" never happens, as one of the things I really like about this gaming community is that people generally say what they mean and mean what they say, which leads to good things like warmth, trust, and mutual support.

When agencies are infiltrated by sneak thieves, the general reaction by the victims if one of an abuse of trust, a feeling of being lied to or violated in some way. And that just isn't fun.

I value this game for being fun and creating friendships, and I want to keep it that way.

Sherlock H0lmes
Sherlock H0lmes
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 19:25

What if, instead of trying to prevent stealing from agencies, track each agents "amt owed" to the agency. This would be a running total of that person's share of the rent + items/money donated - items/money taken. Another director can alter the amt owed (+ or -).

In order to resign from the agency, the amt owed would have to be 0. If you owe money, you have to either pay it off or get another director to absolve your debt. If you were owed money, you have to either let it go or get a director to write you a check (or, if you were a director, you could go in the safe and take what was "rightfully" yours).

Moonshh
Moonshh
Well-Connected

Oct-8-2005 23:14

Interesting thought, Sherlock!

I'm not sure that does much for the gear aspect of things, though, because gear can be worth more to the agency than just the money it costs. Some items can only be gotten at the Cabaret or from a faction, or only from an almost impossible case or a favor at a level that no one in the agency has favors at any more, or in another city....so having someone leave with that item if they had to pay what it is "worth" could be frustrating to the agency...unless perhaps the directors could set the agency value on some items higher than their game-specified value?

I think that would make the idea work for me...

jstkdn
jstkdn
Well-Connected

Oct-9-2005 02:58

Heheheheh, so you could technically hold an agent ransom in your agency prevening them to leave until debts are paid. I think the problem is, you may get stuck with someone that you rather have leave now then later.

R Anstett
R Anstett

Oct-9-2005 07:37

Hmmm the image of sweatshop labor and share cropping springs to mind with this one.

:: sure you can leave the agency Detective X, just as soon as you have done your 12 cases a day for 3 weeks to earn enough cash to pay off this initiation fee we charged you to join. ::

Moonshh
Moonshh
Well-Connected

Oct-9-2005 23:34

I think you ought to be able to kick deadbeats out. The struggles we went through with a DIRECTOR who didn't solve any cases or message anyone for months...we couldn't kick him out or demote him or anything, because of the safeguards. It turned out his computer was allowing him to log on, but not to play or to send PM's. But it sure caused a lot of bad feeling, as we had a policy at the time of something like "no going AWOL for more than two weeks." In the end, we got it basically sorted, but it wasn't fun in the meantime, and I think some relationships never totally recovered.

So if there were a safeguard of someone not being able to leave an agency wearing certain gear or without clearing a negative balance, I think a director should still have the option to boot them out if they are not contributing. (I am assuming that expectations within the agency are clearly posted and communicated.) It would be worse to have that agent taking up what could otherwise be a productive space than to have the loss of some money or gear, at least in come cases, and that should be at the directors' discretion.

As long as someone isn't joining just to bilk the agency, I don't have a problem with someone joining for a while and leaving with better gear than they came with - especially if they have worked to earn it. But even if it's a gift from the agency, that's fine too - of course I am speaking of agencies that are developed enough not to feel the loss /too/ keenly...and it's still best if it's a mutual agreement, rather than someone just running off with stuff.

DaRu
DaRu
Well-Connected

Oct-10-2005 16:16

Presently we can store equipment by stipulating who can use it. But, what about everyone being able to use all the equipment as needed, but before they can log out of the equipment room they have to type their name there someplace & state what equipment they've borrowed, PLUS, they won't be able to log out of the agency with borrowed equipment on, unless they put it back in the locker room. This would prevent people from forgetting to put it back so others can't use it. Also, everyone can check in the locker room and see whose checked out what. To simply put it, everyone has to sign in the locker room & state what they've taken. Also, any borrowed equipment belonging to another person, or the agency, (expensive or not) CAN'T BE SOLD, unless it belongs to them. Somehow add a block on equipment belonging to another or the agency. Not sure if this could be done, but it'd be helpful, for sure on expensive & special equipment purchased from the factions, or Cabaret. At least make it where agents can't leave the agency with borrowed equipment on, until they've put it back in the locker room. Now, if the locker's full,& all Directors/Officers are gone, then add a 24 hr storage, 4-8 pieces can be put, until someone the next day, or later on, can place it back in regular storage. However no new equipment can be placed in the 24 hr. storage area, just only the borrowed ones. We had a few newbies that borrowed stuff & kept forgetting to put it back, which prevented others from using it, & it caused a lot of upset..lol. I know they didn't do it on purpose, just in a hurry to leave. Again, blocking agents from selling borrowed equipment would prevent problems. I know I've paid up to $150,000.00, for items, & I wouldn't want someone selling it accidentally or otherwise. I don't know how difficult it would be to add a block on them though,but hopefully added protective measures can be done:)

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