An armed character wields the power to end a scene for someone else by simply squeezing the trigger. For this reason, the privilege of carrying a firearm must be earned through gaining experience role-playing in the Crack Den and following combat etiquette.
The Crack Den Story HUD must always be worn while role-playing anywhere in the Crack Den. The HUD allows you to accurately build chapters and the necessary street cred to earn eligibility. The minimum requirements are:
- 7 chapters
- Street cred boosted by a quarter
How do I earn chapters and street cred?
The Story HUD and other features in the Crack Den awards players with new privileges and roles based on presence and role-play interaction with other characters. Boost your street cred by actually role-playing with other players in scenes, be present and work a job, play out hospital recovery and jail times, attend classes on campus, and much more.
How will I know I am eligible?
The Story HUD features a button dedicated to the Armed role. It will visually change state as you meet eligibility, have an active armed status, or are temporarily suspended. You can also click this button to uncover hints.
Once eligible, you will then have the opportunity to apply for the role through the Pawn Shop.
How do I know of someone else’s eligibility?
The Character Card, automatically attached by wearing the Story HUD, will display your armed status when you or someone else clicks on it (above the avatar’s head). For this reason, please make sure your Character Card is attached at all times.
Firearms Allowed
Firearm Types
In order to ensure the sim maintains its ethos, we have decided to allow the following firearms to be used:
- Semiautomatic Pistols
- Revolvers
The following firearms are banned from the sim unless authorized by an admin:
- Shotguns
- Automatic Rifles
- Submachine Guns
- Machine Guns
- Sniper Rifles
- Armor Piercing Bullets
The following firarms are banned and are not to be used in the sim at any time.
- Miniguns
- Desert Eagles
- Rocket Launchers
- Grenade Launchers
- Any firearms not listed above
Other projectile weapons: Armed status is required for all potentially lethal projectile weapons and for realistic looking fake guns. Projectile tasers can be used by HPD officers who haven’t gained armed officer status yet; everyone else needs armed status to use them.
Armed Police Policy
Police and Firearms
Officers of the Hathian Police Department are armed with a semiautomatic pistol or a revolver as their standard sidearm when performing their duties. The officers in the Hathian Police Department are required to follow strict guidelines when handling firearms. The Hathian Police Department will have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy toward those officers who fail to follow these guidelines.
In addition to the standard sidearm on their person, the Hathian Police Department also have an associated arsenal of firearms including those weapons that are considered banned. Only the Chief or Captain of the Hathian Police Department (or in thier absence an admin) will have the authority to authorize the use of the banned weapons.
The Hathian Police Department has grenade launchers in their arsenal, but it is only allowed to be used for firing canisters with tear gas for riot control purposes.
Using Firearms in RP
Principles
- Guns should be used sparingly in RP. They tend to end scenes abruptly and often contribute little to them. Other forms of combat can be much more engaging. Use your privilege of using fire arms responsibly.
- Purpose of guns in RP: Guns in RP are not meant to kill a character or to end a story. Play as you want others to play with you; respect limits and don’t hide behind your own. If you push for a kill with a compliant person, or trivialize a gun threat while hiding behind limits, you might lose your privilege to use firearms.
- Balancing power in scenes: Guns give a significant advantage in scenes. Be mindful not to misuse this power. The goal should not be to ‘win’ a scene with a gun, but to enrich the RP experience. Keep in mind: Drawing a gun does not necessarily mean it must be fired. And it is good practice to allow your counterpart the opportunity to avoid severe injury.
- Drawing guns in scenes: When you are carrying a gun, activate the ‘Armed’ tag on your HUD. Don’t enter a scene with your gun already drawn. Only exception: the HPD being called to incidents where guns are already in use. All others must adhere to the two-post rule, unless an exception has been agreed upon by all involved parties (e.g. for an armed robbery).
- IC laws and realism. Sim laws don’t necessarily mirror RL laws: In Hathian open carry is illegal. Understand the IC consequences for displaying a firearm in public. Expect a realistic response for violating gun laws, including potential gun confiscation, armed response from HPD or substantial jail time.
Actions
Firing a gun in Hathian requires three actions in two steps, every single time, no matter the circumstance.
- 1. The drawing of the firearm and aiming.
- 2. Pulling the trigger.
- or
- 1. The drawing of the firearm
- 2. Aiming and pulling the trigger.
- Keep in mind that a maximum of two shots can be fired per post, but you don’t have to fire two.
Example:
David could see the cop approaching the bar from the window, his eyes narrowing with every step closer the lawman made. “Fuck it..” No way was he going to get incarcerated today. With that, the man approached the bar’s exit, lifting the pistol he held in his hand. He shouldered the door frame for support and extended his arms to aim at the cop’s figure in the distance. “This ain’t happening today…” he muttered under his breath, too quiet to be heard by the uniformed man.
The cop couldn’t quite understand why he, alone, had been sent to an armed robbery. ‘Suspect is armed’ and yet here he was, without any support, again. Still, there was a job to be done and with David likely at Lou’s, he called again for back up and withdrew his gun, creeping forward and using the metal fencing for cover. Eventually, however, he was without cover as he neared the back door.
David knew that there was no chance of backing away now. Sure he could try to run, but there was no way of exiting without being seen by the cop. When the officer emerged from the fencing, David moved into the doorway for a better shot, a finger curling around the trigger as he aimed at the other man’s chest. The trigger was squeezed and a jolt of recoil followed the loud bang.
Note that the cop would have had time to return fire and he would have been in pain, but his vest would have saved him from the gunshot. David would not have been so lucky. Be aware of the consequences of using your gun.
Maintaining Armed Citizen Status
How will I lose the Armed role?
If your character has their firearm confiscated by the police twice in a single month, then you will have your firearm privilege automatically suspended for a month. Discretion is key when wielding a firearm in Hathian – don’t risk getting caught and written up about it by the cops. Failing to follow the rules laid out in this guide will also have consequences, possibly including having your permit suspended or revoked.
