DISCLAIMER 

I’m a new(ish) player here.  Been here just over 40 days (it was 40 when I started writing this, I'm finishing here on day 42.)  What follows are my thoughts and opinions after a short time of playing and observing the game.  You are welcome to (and most likely will) disagree with me.  No hard feelings.  I don't know everything... this isn't a guide to game play, per say, it's just what I THINK about how the game is played.  Use it... piss on it... or ignore it because it's more than 500 words and some of you lose interest after that.  No skin off my back.  This is shared for those who like to know what newish players are thinking... and for discussion that could come from it.

All that said...

I’ve thought a lot about what parts of this place I enjoy and what parts I think miss the mark a lot.  I’ve seen a LOT of folks going on about the current In-Game leadership and how it’s ruining the game.  I’ve given that a fair amount of thought and this is the conclusion I’ve come to… the game is designed to this end.

When players play long enough together, eventually a group of them will do what’s been done here because it’s the natural progression of things.  You play, you die, you play again, over and over until you find a group of people willing to be ruthless with you and then take control.

I fail to see how the IC leadership is doing anything that isn’t already written into the game’s design.  From my point of view there are really three levels of play to the game…

Basic/Entry Level:  Most people come here, like me, and they start out clicking buttons and rp’ing and they are the low men who churn out the cash for the system to work.  They are the fodder to be shot at so that those above them keep their wack scores growing.  I’d say a fair number of people never have the time or commitment to grow past this point and maybe they drop cash into the game trying to buy credits in the hopes of getting ahead that way… but if they don’t have the RL time or desire, they will never leave the basic level of the game.  Most folks probably leave MR while still stuck at this level of the game.  PBB games are designed to have large numbers of basic level players come and go… it’s part of how they survive financially and it’s what keeps the game interesting for long term players.

Intermediate Level:  These are the REAL made men and women.  The people who kill the basic folks and the ones who still click monkey because they must; but they have taken the next step which basic players haven’t figured out:  they build relationships outside of the game itself with the people who are currently in power.  People at intermediate level of play will die REPEATEDLY and must keep playing the same angle again and again (loyal mook) to earn and keep trust with those in power.  That’s the only way they make it to the next level of play.  It’s worth noting that this is where most of the loudest rogues come from – folks at the intermediate level who got tired of trying to grind to the next level (or who don’t want to/don’t know how build relationships beyond the basic point) and never seem to make it through the glass ceiling. 

Basic level players don’t have the time or cash invested in the site to keep them from walking away when they get annoyed, but by the time someone gets to that intermediate level of play – where maybe they were a crewleader, a LHM or RHM, they really get bitter about being kept out of the final level of play and they can get really loud about their annoyance blaming everything from the site admins to ic cliques.  As a side note… yes, this is a clique game – plain and simple.  If you don’t like cliques, you aren’t going to have fun here.  Another word for mafia could easily be CLIQUE.  Think about it, mafia and cliques are both groups of likeminded people who are brutal to everyone who isn’t them!

Advanced (Leadership) Level:  These folks have almost (to a man) have played for years, they have lead crews at least once (many of them several times) and almost all of them have been a GL at least once.  To them the site is a staple in their daily life.  They may even have this page as their homepage on their phone’s browser or their PC.  They dedicate massive amounts of time to the site, nurturing friendships and monitoring the comings and goings of intermediate level players (while occasionally making note of smart folks in basic level play.)  Why?  For fodder to shoot – of course.  It’s how the game is designed, so they can stay at their level of play.  Also, for good material to help them organize and run their crap… but trust is a fool’s game here, so no one is above being wacked should paranoia raise its head.  The only way into this club of leaders, isn’t to kill the existing one (trust that it’s been done numerous times over the years, just listen to the players talk about how many times people have run the show before) even if you are the one who 1% Disorder, you’re not going to be top dog… the only way into this level of play is by earning respect of those already there.

Does that mean kissing ass?  Probably.  Does it mean having to chat with them via mobmail, chatrooms, messenger programs?  Yep.  Does it mean still being friendly even after taking a shot to the head for no reason a dozen times?  Probably.  You’re not playing a person here… to those who aren’t here for RP, you’re a quest to be completed.  If you’re not seeing the game that way yet, you’re with me in the basic pool still.  And that’s okay.  If it pisses you off that I say that… you’re probably not going to have a good time here.

The point is, get used to being the newbie.  Get used to getting shot.  Work hard for shit, play hard – but recognize where you are in the game and know for certain that your day is coming and there is already a bullet with your name on it.  YOU’RE NOT WASTING TIME BY PLAYING THIS CHARACTER WHO WILL DIE… ideally, you’re having fun getting to know folks and sizing up who they are allied with and where the chinks are in that armor.  When you finally do take out someone, be as gracious as you WISH they had been to you.  Be a respectful player.  And when you die, be respectful then too.  Roll a new character and pick up where your old one left off.

In the end, the profile pictures aren’t the suits… the characters are.  You’re gonna lose a lot of suits before you find one that you can wear a long while.  When I hang up Lucy, I already have a character name picked out … and I’ll probably come back and ask Pollution if I can chill in SMOG again, because even if it’s his gun that gets a +1 from me it’s just like gangsters in the movies say: “it’s nothing personal… it’s just business.”

In conclusion, I thought a lot about commenting on the many threads complaining about the game and it’s IC leadership; but I’d be lost in the noise.  I really wanted to share my thoughts about the game so far as I’m a newer player and I thought it best to do it away from all that.

I could say how sorry I am that the rogues are angry, or that they are wrong – but at this point I see there is no point.  Either they are folks who are genuinely hurt at having their hard work shut down abruptly (if that’s the case, I have empathy for you and hope you do keep at it as there are many folks on here who did/do appreciate you and your contributions!) or maybe they’ve found some joy to be had in playing the role of angry righteously empowered vigilante/rebel/robin-hood type character. 

It’s my firm belief that the hardest thing to swallow about the current IC leadership (for most folks) is that they are clearly a tight knit group who are firmly in control of the game - much respect to you guys for doing that... it's NOT easy to get people on any internet site to work in concert and not backstab each other!  For anyone to take you out, it  will take an equally committed, well placed, SILENTLY united force (unless the current leadership simply gets tired of holding the game in the current state.) 

Will YOU be one of those people… maybe, but I hope you take a few minutes to learn a bit about how to hold onto the seat once you get there, I think you'll find that the best way to do it is by following the current example (as loathsome as some of you think it is, it IS effective.)  There have been many leaderships before (some wildly successful, some not) and all of them have eventually fallen.  The odds don’t favor the current leadership staying there forever. 

The big difference between most folks on the site and the current leadership – when they die… you can bet they’ll dust themselves off and start working their way to the top quietly again.  Likely only sharing their plans with their inner most trusted allies who aren’t character names on the site… but real people behind keyboards. 

PS:  When I go down (and I will cause, in case you've skimmed past that part above, that’s what happens to basic level players) if you want me to contact you with my next character, post as your character to my funeral (I'm a roleplayer, do me the nod of RP'ing your goodbye!) and let me know you liked what I said around the site and you’d appreciate playing with my next incarnation.  I promise to look you up if you do so.

Thanks for listening to my random thoughts.

-Lucy
Resident Noob & Gangster in Training.

Hear, hear

Fuckn Aye. If only all players were as insightful as this noob, there wouldn't be so much negativity. But, it is what it is :) Great post.

I really wish we could find another 100 just like you Lucy. Very well written. Kudos.

An insightful post, truly. It clearly explained the real nature and symbiosis of the game. 

Keep up the brilliant writing, Lucy. I do have to disagree with one particular bit though

If you don’t like cliques, you aren’t going to have fun here.

This is absolutely untrue. While the majority find it more fun/best/easiest to clique up, there are a considerable amount of people who don't belong to any "groups", who consistently work for different people, and still manage to have a damn decent time around here.

Is it more beneficial to "clique up"? The answer to that is, almost unequivocally, a resounding yes. That much is almost undeniable, however it is not necessary to do so in order to have fun - merely only if you wish to have a higher chance of achieving success - whatever that may be in your eyes.

Thanks for your input HenriDucard - I'll keep an eye out for people who aren't playing that angle.  Most likely I haven't noticed it simply because of how new I am around here.  Thanks for sharing!

This is amazing. I only just met this girl today and found out she was new at this and I'm pretty sure no matter what level you fall into Lucy, you will be the best, the cream of the crop.

Oh and also I have to agree with HenriDucard. I have seen a lonewolf turn this game on it's head a few times. It only takes one action to get a huge reaction. The longer you stay here you will find that being in a group is beneficial but not always necessary to achieve certain goals. Though if say someone was to build up on their own maybe meet one or two people along the way and then get their own family and start building a click after they had already achieved so much, it's not to say they don't have a chance at achieving the highest of honors. 

You don't necessarily need it at the start or at the end but somewhere in the middle you will need a couple of friends to help you out.

Very well written Lucy. I loved hearing your perspective on the game we all love.