Being a bank hostage is a frustrating experience.
As a civilian, I get held hostage multiple times a day. Yesterday, I wasn't even back to my vehicle for even a minute (42 seconds to be exact) before being held hostage a second time.
Now I'm fine with playing along with the whole scene but:
-It happens frequently enough that I struggle to do things I'd rather be doing with my character.
-Unfortunately, not many criminals, that I've seen so far, focus on creating an engaging unique experience or putting effort into the interaction so RP is usually minimal for hostages.
-Rarely will an officer, in my experience, actually help you after the interaction, leading you to find your own way back. Especially frustrating in Paleto.
It really can feel like a punishing experience when you have zero control over a situation that can take 20+ minutes and be given nothing, just for it to happen again a minute later.
Perhaps if some businesses e.g. Clothing stores, were considered green zones? Just please keep in mind to make your interactions enjoyable for everyone involved.
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Comments7
kimbrrito
May 29, 2024
I agree that green zones can cause issues, but yeah.... waking up and being taken hostage immediately from a clothing store when you have half a torso is very frustrating. Happened to me like three days in a row a long while back, and I took a nice long break over it. Like, I genuinely did not see the point of logging in if I couldn't get in any roleplay in that was at least under some of my control.
I think the imposed rule of no retaliation at the hospital is a good middle ground - not quite a green zone, but it does prevent ongoing confrontation and encourage additional roleplay. I don't know how to impose some sort of middle ground for hostages, though, without it delving into a bunch of player dishonesty. Maybe implement an additional "duty" on cops to actually help return hostages either to VPD so they can arrange a safe pickup or to some other populous "safer" area (like, let's be real, I've never seen hostages taken from casino - even though it's not a green zone, it's generally an area people feel safer.)
Won't eliminate the "double duty" hostage, but it can at least space out the time between getting taken.
leftjavina
May 29, 2024
Agreed. Again, I really don't mind being a hostage but please, everyone (police included), try and make it more engaging for civilians during bank robberies. Greenzones or no Greenzones.
damightylamb
May 29, 2024
Green zones are not going to happen. Its weird to be like "YOU CANT TAKE ME HOSTAGE PAST THIS LINE!"
ya know?
geckox_
May 29, 2024
Green zones have been discussed before multiple times and as far as I am aware, it won't happen. They just turn into hangout spots and shelter zones.
Unfortunately, I think being taken hostage is inevitable in civ rp. There are ways to get around it or have less odds to being taken as experienced Civ RP'ers know and utilize. That's why its always fairly new people being taken hostage. I always hate seeing people fresh off the boat being taken hostage and try to make the experience as positive for them as possible from a cop pov.
Crims and PD have the expectation to make the interaction as engaging as possible and those who treat hostages as a mechanic should be reported.
leftjavina
May 29, 2024
While I'm fairly new to Echo RP, I've been playing on a variety of servers for over a year at this point.
I have mixed feelings about green zones myself. Places like hospitals can definitely attract a lot of people when not handled correctly. EMS having to constantly shoo away uninjured players.
It would however be nice to just have a little more control over when and where. Criminals and cops get their money, chases and interaction. As a civ, currently, in my opinion, you're lucky to get a decent interaction during bank robberies.