Disallow Text Based Camera RP

[Eliza]

Over my time on the server, I’ve run into quite a lot of situations where players have provided false or misleading information by bending the rule about roleplaying footage.

Right now, the rule says:
If there are no out of character videos or screenshots to support the roleplay of what a player would see as they review footage, it can be roleplayed in /do but all parties involved must agree to the description given. If no agreement can be met, the footage should be considered corrupted in character.  

The problem is that in practice, this doesn’t always happen the way it’s written. I’ve seen plenty of situations, especially in court cases, where the “agreement” is basically between the person showing the footage and whoever they want it to benefit, instead of including everyone involved. That ends up making things one sided and not very fair.

A few examples I’ve personally seen were players claiming security cameras at a store or gas station caught someone’s full face and license plate, when no actual recording exists, police saying bank or store CCTV shows very specific details about a suspect’s actions or clothes, even though there’s no in game footage, people using “made up” footage in JB cases to back up their claims, which leaves the other side with no way to fairly challenge it, corruption cases where players argue that footage clears or convicts someone, when in reality it’s just being described in /do.

Stuff like this really opens the door for powergaming and cherry picking what’s “on camera” depending on who it benefits. My suggestion is to remove this completely. If you’re roleplaying a camera, there should be an actual OOC video clip recorded by a player, or footage from scripted store or bank cameras, screenshots would fine too. If there isn’t real in game footage or images, then it shouldn’t be roleplayed at all. If you don’t have the evidence, that’s just part of the roleplay.

[Daxu]

+1 it's far too easy to suspend disbelief with /do and make a pretty crazy difference in a situation. I think for certain cameras (ATM camera's were subject of a previous suggestion) it could still work, but need the publishing of guidelines from staff as to what each camera type would realistically capture.

For example, an ATM camera isn't going to see the license plate of the car across the street. At most, it could be for the identification of someone accessing it/smashing it/walking by within 10-15 feet. This would be because of the wide angle lens usually used in those machines and the prioritization of proper exposure than a high shutter speed, low motion blur configuration..

Tangentially related, I think there's something to be said about bodycams without there being a clothing item/accessory/vest that can be worn to indicate this. No one is RPing having a hidden bodycam (the RP would work for that, alone, given proper AltRP).

 

Edited September 6, 2025 by daxu

[RustyOsprey2]

I made a "similar" suggestion regarding the non-script cameras a while ago. So yes +support.

 

[CalvinKlein]

I love this idea, more balance,. I can use my "subjective" opinion in a /ldo describing someone as "aggressive/hostile" for example, while in reality (if footage shows) others can percieve it as normal.

Too much power in a /do, which you cant disprove so yea.

[SteakHappy]

+1

[Demonmit1]

100% agree. i had OOC footage that proved a false /do against me in a court case. the LEO player heavily worded it to favor his outcome, but the OOC footage showed it was completely different. /do footage RP should not be allowed without OOC footage or at least, OOC footage context (3rd party footage that reasonably proves the /do first party camera RP)


Body camera being an in game asset you have to wear, thats visible would be great too. its visible on lots of law enforcement outfits, why do civilians/criminals get to just RP it without it being a visible asset?

[Quietthecutie]

3 hours ago, Demonmit1 said:

100% agree. i had OOC footage that proved a false /do against me in a court case. the LEO player heavily worded it to favor his outcome, but the OOC footage showed it was completely different. /do footage RP should not be allowed without OOC footage or at least, OOC footage context (3rd party footage that reasonably proves the /do first party camera RP)


Body camera being an in game asset you have to wear, thats visible would be great too. its visible on lots of law enforcement outfits, why do civilians/criminals get to just RP it without it being a visible asset?

Civ Bodycam RP is generally incredibly cheesy anyways. We have no following fdo command so someone can rp clipping on a bodycam, drive to a location and record something, and unless the other party specifically asks in /do if they are wearing a bodycam they would have no way of knowing.

Going back to the original point, i believe the reason we have non scripted cameras is, funnily enough, due to a lack of script support lol. Hell most visible static CCTV cameras are not scripted. Like many rp elements on the server this is not ideal but i would not like to see it removed.

14 hours ago, Eliza said:

bending the rule

Sounds like they are not bending the rule but flat out breaking it if they are not consulting you regarding if the wording is ok.

If people follow the rule properly, non scripted cameras work fine, as any party can veto the RP if they are not happy with the description. 

I do think the rule could be better worded to make sure whoever is giving the description is aware they are responsible for checking all parties agree. And particularly with LEOs and JB non scripted camera rules be baked into their training. Atm i dont think its mentioned.

I feel less drastic action can be taken than just shitcanning the rp altogether. We rely on non scripted rp alot on this server... 

[Demonmit1]

make the civ bodycamera item a body armor slot type item, so it doesnt overlap with any slots for beards or accessories. not like a crim is going to need to wear a body camera while also wearing illegal body armor.

[Pegasus_]

Maybe if script CCTV worked all the time and had easier way to navigate recordings further back in time than ~30 minutes. Maybe

[CalvinKlein]

5 hours ago, Demonmit1 said:

make the civ bodycamera item a body armor slot type item, so it doesnt overlap with any slots for beards or accessories. not like a crim is going to need to wear a body camera while also wearing illegal body armor.

 

10 hours ago, Demonmit1 said:

100% agree. i had OOC footage that proved a false /do against me in a court case. the LEO player heavily worded it to favor his outcome, but the OOC footage showed it was completely different. /do footage RP should not be allowed without OOC footage or at least, OOC footage context (3rd party footage that reasonably proves the /do first party camera RP)


Body camera being an in game asset you have to wear, thats visible would be great too. its visible on lots of law enforcement outfits, why do civilians/criminals get to just RP it without it being a visible asset?

no OOC footage? RP as "bodycam footage corrupted"

[Tomvd682]

+1 same, same goes for snake cam rp