- (2.2) Random Deathmatch (also known as RDM) - Shooting at someone without engaging in any form of quality role play (eg. Giving enough time for them to comply with your order. Count downs are not considered quality roleplay, please at least attempt to create an interesting roleplay story before considering shooting.) is considered RDM. (Punishment is a ban).
(7.1.3) Killing someone must be carried out with high roleplay, “put your hands up or I will shoot” etc is considered low RP and may lead to a ban for RDM/Fail RP.
There are a lot of unwritten rules about killing someone. These written rules don't cover every situation you come across on the server. And that would be virtually impossible. My suggestion is that underneath both of these rules there should be a link to a forum post that has quick summaries of reports that have led to a ban and guidelines how to act in certain situations that involve or could involve killing someone.
I'd also like to adress one unwritten rule in particular; you being robbed/having your life threatened/being in a gunfight while having friends in the area. In my opinion you really shouldnt have to tell the ones who have threatened your life that you have friends nearby. I think it should be the initiators responsibility to ask if you have friends nearby, and the victims to anwser truthfully. Especially if the initiators have fired shots then there shouldnt be any reason to try and inform about you having help nearby. When you shoot someone without making sure they're alone you take the risk of being shot at. It feels like you can take advantage of this "rule" by killing someone before they have a chance to inform they have friends in the area. This rule forces your friend(s) to give up their element of surprise by being forced to interact with the person they just saw killing you. I dont think that "roleplay" should be forced in anyway. Roleplaying should be the way of your playstyle and in no way the goal of it, it should happen naturally. The goal should be a pleasant experience for everyone using the platform we've been given. It's in no way roleplay if you're forced to act in a different manner you would in a real life situation just because you might get banned for it. Also for some reason I feel like people use "roleplaying" as a tool for their advantage too often. It is not roleplaying if you're forced or allowed to act in a way you wouldnt in a real life situation. For example when someone sneaks up on you with their gun pointed at you and tell you to put your hands up, you start running and they havent said the magical words "or you will be shot" they aren't allowed to shoot. But you can grab your gun off your back when you get behind a corner and shoot them. But if you dont get behind that corner and you get shot it's suddendly rdm. That makes no sense to me. If someone is pointing a gun at you it's pretty much implied that he has every intention to shoot you if you dont comply. There are these stupid and infiriating magic words you have to say even though your intention and the outcome of the other party is 100% certain. People bend these rules all the time for their advantage and that really should not happen. Everytime someone doesnt say the magical words people start acting like complete idiots because "how could have i known you were going to shoot me because you never said so?"
I do think that the initiator has to tell if he has friends nearby just to make sure initiating wont be used as baiting for a gunfight. And anyways if you do have friends nearby and the person you're robbing has been made aware of this he is more likely to comply to your demands. But robbing someone should come with the risks, and you should never feel safe robbing anyone.
A lot of you will be commenting that "This isnt real life" well yeah it isnt but common sense still applies. It's mandatory that we have these rules about vdm, rdm etc. to guarantee a pleasant experience for everyone. Otherwise people would be taking advantage of the game mechanics. But taking advantage of the rules shouldnt happen either. I feel like many of you have the wrong/different understanding of what the word roleplaying means. For me it means playing as a character on a platform that allows you to experience situations you would never experience in real life but acting as if the situations took place in real life, not on the platform you're on. Many of you will argue that not having to tell if you have friends nearby will result in random people joining the active gunfight. I dont think thats true, it's pretty easy to ask the guy you were mugging if X was his friend. And then resolve/report if something like that happens.
Also the rule about killing someone should be changed so it states that killing should be your last resort. Meaning you should only shoot if your target doenst comply or is a theat to you or your friend. If you have someone detained/restrained you shouldnt be allowed to shoot that person unless there has been good roleplay leading up to it. For example your demanded ransom hasnt been paid so you excecute them etc. Someone wont give you the keys to their car? Pick lock it in front of them and drive off to the sunset. You dont want them to follow you when you're selling their goods? Take them with you and release them when you're done. If you have eliminated the threat someone poses to you why kill them other than to ruin their experience? Zipties are only 15k each, if you have the money for your gear you have the money for zipties.