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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.

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).

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...

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.

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. ::

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.

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:)

Oct-10-2005 16:29

PS: For sure, after the agent's put the borrowed equipment back, he/she mus put back on what they own, to help prevent the locker room from filling to capacity. Anyway, good thread Makensie.

Oct-10-2005 16:41

Thank u Daru :)

Oct-11-2005 00:53

Daru the clerck is already telling you who borrowed what. So no need to sign you name anywhere. Just check with the clerck.

Oct-11-2005 03:01

I think what DaRu has done, most agencies have done in one form or another. But deadbeat thieves, tend to ignore it. :)