Similar to another thread I made, this is something that has been bugging me for a while. I also don’t say this as a new player, this has been something I’ve struggled to properly approach for years.
Base Understanding
To start, from what info I’ve got, normal player intervention against antagonists is primarily centered around validhunting/powergaming, escalation policy, and roleplay.
Powergaming/Validhunting
The issue regarding powergaming/validhunting (on approaching antags) revolves around chasing antagonists across the station as a crewmember or directly intervening in a dangerous situation when it isn’t sensible/appropriate to do so.
Escalation Policy
There are multiple connections with escalation policy referenced in No Self-Antaging. It describes the process players should take in IC conflicts. Importantly, it discusses how to intervene in breaking up fights, such as if an antagonist attacks a coworker.
Breaking up a Fight: If you witness a conflict in progress or wish to come to the aid of a co-worker, you may follow normal escalation to do so by attempting to shove players apart. You may not take sides in a fight if you do not understand the context for it unless one of the players chooses to intentionally escalates against you.
There is also the escalation chart detailing station(crew) responses against different factions/antags. Although I’m still very confused on how that fits in all of this.
Escalation Chart Elaboration
Station response states that “Lavaland” or “Hostile” threats still adhere to validhunting rules. This may be confusing because I’ve heard different interpretations, even by staff. But from what I understand, “Lavaland” or “Hostile” threats can be lethally attacked in something like a self-defense situation or you’re intervening in one attacking a coworker. Although I’ve heard it’s fine-ish to lethally intervene in defense of a coworker against…anyone (except security/maybe command? as per Security Clause).
Roleplay
I’ve also read various ways that roleplay or the lack thereof can influence these interactions. I’ve seen recent ongoing player reports on sec officers for being too hasty or attacking in RP stick-ups. I don’t know how valid that will be but I’ve read statements stating that as bad RP, alongside shoving an antag who’s roleplaying.
Challenges to my Understanding
From what I am trying my best to believe, all this is just supposed to encourage a roleplay environment and mitigate bad behavior that unfairly ruins other’s (antag’s) rounds. That playing in good faith will generally land you out of trouble. But I just have such a sinking feeling when I think about this.
Because I see the contradictions and conflicts between these statements at times and their effects on those around me. I’ve read situations where a player follows escalation policy in intervention with shoving , gets charged for validhunting, is uncharged from validhunting, but the reason essentially remains the same (getting in a dangerous situation). If you properly follow escalation-intervention policy, you’re damned for unrealistically shoving a dangerous individual, if you use a lethal weapon, you’re damned for whacking a valid. I understand that the primary solution is to not intervene out of self-preservation, but letting another player die because security is absent and the attacker has a weapon isn’t just not winning to me, it just…doesn’t seem fun to me. It sucks that when you’re being murdered, shoving may even be off-limits to your potential saviors.
I understand that in many cases, these incidents don’t become an issue and naturally flow with the round. But because of the nature of player reports, players can continually report others for edge cases like this and it’s bound to the whims of differing staff interpretations of differing circumstances. Likewise, due to the nature of the game (dynamic), players are constantly faced with conflict and have to deal with it in various high-stress situations. Even as the observer gamer I am, I remember a time I shoved someone pointing a gun at someone else as a free golem. I was next to them when it happened but because of the dynamic nature of admin responses, if that was turned into a player report, I truly don’t know what would have happened.
Ultimately, this isn’t just a vent or critique, this is how I currently understand over-escalation/valid hunting is being approached. I understand that the current approach has resulted from years of discussion and events I can’t even begin to fathom, just like naming conventions or whatnot. For instance, I read about the sentiment against shoving players committing a stick-up from Discord /discussions revolving around someone shoving “in the most optimal way” to save another player being attacked by an energy bow. I didn’t even know shoving or tabling was off-limits for some staff at that point, I’m sure there is much more I’m ignorant to.
Questions (Read Previous Material first)
So, is there something I missed? Can any staff or veterans advise me on how to deal with this? How am I supposed to not just “be safe”, but enjoy the server like this? I understand that punishments differ from case by case and staff by staff, but with what I’ve read, how can that be reassurance?