CodySoulDreamer

no. combat mg mk2 balanced way for gangs with non armor import to help beat rich fellas with 200 health 24/7 who try to bull doze.

Armor disparity makes people want to pvp more than if they didn't have it. Have been fought and pushed by two guys with full armor and combat MG's fighting 6 guys, and we lose. This has happened so many times I can't even count, so I personally believe armor should be taken out or available in some capacity to everyone, just like in real life, and it will help to lower pvp as well and not give people this huge advantage to keep pvping and level the playing field. Also, maybe make some crim missions or "heists" so that you can get armor from cargo bins or something but it costs money for the mission and maybe you're on a time limit for it. Just a super simple script but having missions to grab certain things at random areas would be a lot of fun.

Turn down the volume of the storms, or remove them from the weather completely.

That’s cool if you enjoy being everyone’s errand boy and living off scraps, but not everyone’s idea of roleplay is kissing ass just to survive. Some of us actually want the chance to stand up for ourselves without being steamrolled by gangs with 2x the health. Also, having basic tools like armor doesn’t remove the need for roleplay—it levels the playing field so people can create their own stories without having to bend over for bigger gangs.

The great thing about this armor take is it hits all three nails on the head. It creates a balance by mitigating large gangs monopoly over the drug trade while still preserving their inherent advantage for rp (still allowing them 100% armor over others 50%). Smaller gangs, in turn, are RPly incentivized to expand and participate in the drug economy, now with a better capacity to protect themselves and their resources. From a realism standpoint, it also reflects an item that, in reality, is readily available to anyone.

In reality, gangs grow for influence, territory, and revenue—not just for gear. It’s reasonable for bigger gangs to progress and get better weapons, and maybe even newly developed military-grade armor, giving them a slight HP advantage. That fits a gangs roleplay progression. Even if the armor aspect is somewhat unrealistic—since, in real life, military grade armor is fairly cheap compared to weapons and isn’t locked behind some mystical tier and is accessible to anyone with the means to obtain it. However, when large gangs effectively have double the health on top of heavy weapons, it actually pushes them to PvP more than if they didn’t have it. Let’s think about this logically, we’d probably all pick a lot more fights too if we knew we had twice the HP of 99% of the players we engage with—especially if they had something we wanted. Several people I’ve talked to also feel that unlimited armor access has “poisoned” some bigger gangs goals, turning them into new PvP juggernauts everyone flocks to for the extra HP and bigger guns. If smaller groups had even half of big gangs armor, it would make large gangs think twice before engaging in pvp with others, creating a more balanced rp environment for everyone.

I understand your perspective, but this suggestion isn’t about allowing smaller factions to provoke bigger ones—it’s about giving them a fighting chance in the drug economy when larger groups decide to claim their resources. Right now, top-tier gangs can show up with twice the health advantage, easily robbing or dominating smaller groups or civilians. That overwhelming edge lets them keep building momentum and stay in control of the economy, discouraging anyone outside a large gang from even participating in the drug economy. As for making armor available through legal means, I see the argument for regulations and consequences—similar to firearms—but in real life, there typically isn’t any tracking on body armor purchases. It’s puzzling that you can legally own something designed to harm others, but in the server are restricted from owning something to protect yourself from said harm. Providing a reasonable level of armor doesn’t mean handing out full military grade gear to everyone; it’s about making sure the server remains competitive and fun for all players, rather than reinforcing the dominance of those who are already at the top.

(Bare with me as I touch on some real life examples here.) I live in the United States and regularly drive through some tough neighborhoods on my way to work. For personal safety, I carry a firearm and wear IAAA body armor daily. This isn’t because I expect trouble but because I want to be prepared in case my car breaks down at night or, in the unfortunate event, I find myself in a dangerous situation like an active shooter or a mass stabbing. Modern light body armor is nothing like the bulky, heavy gear meant for military use, it’s designed to be lightweight, discreet, and practical. My vest doesn’t protrude, and it’s comfortable enough to wear under a shirt or hoodie for hours on end. The argument about “taking matters to the authorities” is valid to a point, but there are situations where authorities may not arrive in time—whether it’s a mass shooting, kidnapping, or a robbery. In those moments, having the tools to better protect yourself and your loved ones could make all the difference. Regardless of all these reasons, civilians in the U.S. can legally purchase body armor without any ID/background check/permit (even military grade armor). And many civilians do, especially in higher-risk/crime areas, for personal protection. So RPly this does make sense, allowing access to lighter armor (50% capacity) for civilians or smaller groups mirrors real-life and provides a balance in situations where they might otherwise be entirely vulnerable. This wouldn’t mean handing out 100% capacity armor to everyone, but rather offering a practical level of protection for self-defense while still maintaining an edge for more established groups.

Your point about bigger gangs having advantages makes sense to a degree, but the idea that this imbalance is entirely fair or good for the server doesn’t hold up. In the U.S., anyone can walk into a gun store or order body armor online without needing a background check, ID, or special permit. It's a widely accessible tool for personal protection in the real world, not an exclusive privilege for the most connected or powerful. The current system in place creates a situation where larger gangs have 100% armor while smaller gangs or civilians are left with none. This isn’t just an uphill battle, it’s a one-sided war. Yes, larger organizations worked to get where they are, but giving them total dominance discourages smaller groups from even trying to climb the ladder and instead just join the larger group. A more balanced approach, like allowing smaller orgs or civilians access to limited protection (50% armor), and more connected gangs access to military grade armor (100% armor), would still reward the progression of larger groups while giving newer ones a fairer chance to compete. Balance doesn’t ruin roleplay; it makes it richer and more engaging for everyone.

I understand the value of progression in roleplay, but the gap between 100% armor for established groups and 0% for everyone else is just too extreme. I’m not asking for full access to the same tools as top-tier groups—far from it. I believe unestablished groups and civilians should have some sort of access to 50% armor, while 100% remains exclusive to established groups. This would maintain the sense of progression while addressing the severe imbalance. It wouldn’t hand smaller groups the same power as larger ones but would at least give them a fighting chance, making rp more dynamic and competitive.

PART 1: I respectfully disagree with the idea that "you don’t need body armor to cook drugs or win fights." If that were truly the case, why does every high-tier gang consistently use it to cook drugs and win fights? The reality is that armor reinforces their ability to dominate both in the drug trade and in fights, its like trying to go toe to toe with a raid boss who has twice the amount of regular HP and more often than not has some sort of big gun with them, that smaller gangs simply can’t compete with. It’s like saying, “You don’t need a calculator to solve complex math problems, you could technically do it by hand.” Sure, you could, but it would be inefficient, impractical, and leave you at a huge disadvantage compared to those with the right tools. Armor might not be essential, but it provides a huge edge that high-tier gangs exploit to maintain their dominance, while smaller gangs are left without a chance to compete anywhere on the same level, especially in the drug economy. PART 2: While I understand and completely agree with the idea of rewarding established gangs for their ties and experience, the current imbalance makes it nearly impossible for smaller gangs to even get a foothold. Gang A doesn’t (and shouldn't) need to match Gang B entirely, but they should at least have the tools to stand a chance and participate in the server’s ecosystem meaningfully. Making body armor more accessible with 50% capacity wouldn’t eliminate the influence of larger gangs, it would still give them an advantage through their resources and connections with them being able to have 100% capacity armor. It would, however, reduce the overwhelming gap that discourages new groups. Diplomacy and tactics are valid, but they shouldn’t be the only way smaller gangs survive. Saying Gang A should “get body armor by becoming a loyal ally” to a larger gang just reinforces the monopoly and dependence on a select few groups, limiting competition and creativity. Balanced access to tools like armor encourages more dynamic rp and gives smaller gangs a fair shot at paving their own path and not having to bend to the knee of every large group.

I can speak from experience that the few groups who have armor won’t sell it outside of their group or close allies, especially to smaller groups because of the fact that it is such an advantage and a resource they want to hoard. I would love to RP with larger gangs to get access to FULL armor, but the fact that small groups or lower tier gangs are not allowed/given a way to have any sort of armor and 4 gangs have access to armor, and only two of them are really active for NA (and they’re allianced), makes it just unrealistic. I have to bend to the knee and give these already all powerful gangs more resources and cash just so I can maybe get a couple armors that they will just turn around and buy 10 more with. At that rate again it’s the never ending cycle of power with these high tiered gangs. I’m simply saying 50% armor helps allow newer gangs to get into the drug economy and be able to protect their assets and grow, while higher tier gangs can have access to 100% full armor which is still a huge advantage even over 50% armor. I’m just saying the discrepancy of having everyone at 0% armor with no way to go up and large gangs having 100% is just a complete broken monopoly that needs some tweaking.

I disagree with your approach. Joining a gang just to buy armor and leave undermines the rp and forces you into an rp situation with a gang you may not inherently like. The issue is accessibility, smaller gangs are shut out from the start, creating an unfair imbalance. Gangs with full armor inherently have a 100% health advantage, I simply would like to minimize this advantage to 50%, which is more than fair in my opinion. Balancing the server isn’t about making things too easy; it’s about ensuring everyone has a fair shot at success. Your example of beating larger gangs with strategies is great and im happy for you, but it overlooks that smaller gangs can’t even get to that point without proper resources. Armor and defensive options should be accessible up to a certain point to provide a fair chance, not just for PvP but for the server’s overall health. It’s not about self pity; it’s about creating a level playing field where tactics, not resources, decide the outcome. Also, CSGO’s eco-rounds aren’t a perfect comparison, you can oneshot someone in the head with a pistol. It’s one thing to outsmart an opponent when you have some resources; it’s another when the gap is often too wide to even compete.

I respect the hard work larger gangs have put in, and I’m not suggesting smaller gangs would suddenly outnumber them with armor. It’s more about giving them a fair shot. Armor wouldn’t guarantee winning a fight, but it would help level the playing field so smaller gangs can defend themselves and their product in the drug economy. This helps those who are trying to pave their own path and not be bullied and steamrolled every single time a high tier gang with armor comes around. 50% armor would be a great compromise. The goal is to give larger gangs a 50% advantage instead of a 100% one, which would still respect their efforts but reduce the overwhelming edge they currently have. This would make the server more dynamic and competitive, benefiting everyone.

I completely agree with these points. The limited availability of armor has created a clear monopoly, as only a small number of gangs have access to it and can use this to their full advantage, continuing to make money and solidify their control over the server. This monopoly not only locks other groups out but also reinforces the power of those few gangs at the top. What makes this even more significant is that 2 out of the 4 gangs with access to armor are allied, further consolidating their control and reducing competition even further. While I understand the argument that waiting for more gangs to tier up might eventually make these resources more accessible, the reality is that the current monopoly makes it incredibly hard for smaller gangs to even survive long enough to reach those tiers. Without more balanced access to defensive things like armor (even 50% armor), many groups won't have the chance to grow or compete (especially in the drug economy), leaving the server stagnant and dominated by the same few gangs.