TOPIC: First week back, Thoughts on the Server

So I've been playing for about a week now, and I've enjoyed my time so far. I thought I'd make a post critiquing some of the aspects of the game I would try to change/implement.
So most of the events I've enjoyed, I haven't had a chance to try any of the newer ones, but my main problem with the events are ones with the knife. In many events, such as One in the Chamber for one example - the knife is actually much better than the point of the event (one bullet, one kill). The range on the knife is insane, in many cases with great ping I was getting stabbed seemingly 5 player lengths away from myself and it was pretty aggravating.
There's been many new Gangs I've seen, and I recently joined a new one! My main problem with the gangs in general and I've come across plenty of people that share this thought - is that the server is pretty much controlled by a single gang. There's not much competition aside from one or two others, and even then they're massively outmanned. This isn't as much a fault of the server, but I believe it's a byproduct of certain aspects of the server that has made it harder for new players to base without joining a massive gang that simply cannot be confronted by 99% of the server. This leads on to my next issue, basing.
Basing has always been one of my favorite aspects about not just ZARP, but DarkRP in general. Getting money, using that however you want, and printing honestly are all some of my favorite things to do. Problem is, on the current map there's pretty much very few places to base that are dependable. Mainly, the elevator base in Crack House. I do wish certain parts of the map in future map changes that are not being used by the majority of players could be changed into somewhat suitable bases that are more defendable for new players and players alike.

I tried out the Casino area a while ago, and unfortunately it just isn't used apart from raiding the vault on a day where the reward is good (SCU, Mini2, etc.). The Casino itself it not profitable, and the prizes you can redeem with your chips are just unrealistic and unappealing. Why pay 5,000 chips for a gluon (500m) when you can buy one from another player for like 200m. I'd like to see the rewards looked at and revitalized. A Casino should feel risky, but the reward should be worth that risk and right now it just isn't.
The New Player Experience can be a sad and tough one. If you were first joining the server, and were unknowing to ZARPs meta's of suits, explosives, and more you would be very underwhelmed and more than likely - confused. The server has made certain changes to help the new player experience, such as easy things like Daily Objectives, Events, and other simple things players can do from the start to make money. But, they come to a crossroads at some point where they attempt to make a base like they have on other servers previously that might have worked, they more than likely will get stomped out by a player with explosive weapons, a crazy suit that fly's, teleports, makes a clown of themselves, and more that will destroy them and really might be a complete turnoff to the server as a whole.

Even since I've been back, I've seen numerous players and helped them out by giving them things to help get them started, but in some cases they would just get raided and the printers I gave them would get blown up by people that ultimately gained nothing from raiding them.

I think a good place to start to improving the new player experience is to make the information about things they can do at the start to get some basic money going should be more accessible, if not spoonfed to them by systems in game. A forced tutorial, links to new player guides on the forums if you're a first time connecting user, things like this would be a good place to start. I think the server could be a much bigger success if ultimately basing was more accessible to new players, and there were more places to do so.
Thanks for reading through this, I'd like to if possible have a good discussion in replies about what you think about my points here, and perhaps expanding on them or bringing up things you yourself have experienced in game.

zarp is dead for everyone

sinzz wrote: That's not even what the post is about?

Please do your research before making such ridiculous statements as the servers are not dead.

Clarky wrote:
4 me it's alive bad people say the server is dead

The thing is about gangs and basing with new players, is that a lot of the big gangs or as you say the ones who have control over the server, they like to help out new players, they ensure the new players aren't completely destroyed as we care about new players coming onto the server, having a chance and stay. But external gangs that you see a lot of members in but not much control for some reason have fun running in on a new player or a semi-new player who is just trying to earn some cash and destroying all their stuff. So as much as we(big gangs) attempt to help out new players in not raiding them and giving them tips, there are other small scale gangs that don't care and will just do what they can to get a bit of satisfaction.

On the contrary, I believe new players should be given some help when first loading into the server, in form of some links as you said and maybe some starting items and a bit more cash as from what I have seen from getting an account on is the starting point at 5k cash. This isn't enough to do anything, also when a new player tries to do a drug run someone will go and kill them straight away so they aren't really getting anything. IMO together a lot of people could help new players settle in bringing more to the community widespread as it's nice seeing new people get more involved in ZARP which has happened a lot so far.

With events, I'd love to see some new events and some unique ones which stand out though there isn't much to say other than we can only hope for what the development team brings.

On term with suit's, as good as they are new players won't even step near to getting a suit whether it be lack of money or not wanting to buy boosters packs using IRL cash just to get a virtual item where someone will come with their GGluon and just send them to sleep. So on that note something would be nice to do about suits and new players knowing more about these, as you don't see much talk of them from new players, the most you see is them trying to base > get raided > leave the server or have a rulebreaking hissy fit.

Overall I wish there was more that could be done

Gody wrote: Put a cap on members allowed in a gang maybe 10 at the most, stops big fucking zerg gangs and will hopefully allow for the people who aren't in the gang to diversify and make their own gang

The rivalry between gangs is just gone. Pretty stupid to invite everyone

Lewis_is_java wrote: Except the fact that gang allies exist :woozy:

Junrey Balawing wrote: Wouldnt matter anyway, certain people dont allow standard gang toxicity. The pure energy behind rivalry. Makes it no fun when you have to be nice to your rivals.

Markus Chellwigg wrote:
Jayhouse is toxic lol


As for the main topic yeah I get what your saying but server is gone past saving at this point which is a real shame, its "fun" for a few people who play to be toxic and ruin it for others but apart from that not a lot to do. Its you join the toxic assholes or get shit 24/7 from them because they can lol

SSRP is unplayable when you want to play properly because of other people and a broken economy

Indeed. The economy is broken due the massive gangs... they're owning an entire map, constanly nuking the server or raiding the bank/casino with their fucked up suits

Katje wrote:
I played a couple other darkRP servers and got a bit of the magic back I once had from like 2014-16 zarp and just made SSRP look more disappointing. But your right, nukes whenever it can be done with half the map owned and if its not nuking its sitting in the bank or casino with stupidly overpowered items so they cannot be stopped, I remember when the jugg suit was first added in the summer update and it was like its downhill from here, yeah it was cool but it removes any type of skill in a fight from just 1 suit being silly op, then nano to go invis then ACS and on and on just building up these silly abilities, ESP/teleportation/multiple lives vs nothing. Its a balance issue.

Its like 2 feathers competing on who's the heaviest so they both get on either side of the scale and feather 2 knows he's a bit lighter so gets a kilo of sugar on his side to "assist" him

I have no clue why I just gave feathers genders and what the fuck I even put but I think it shows the point im trying to make

Lewis_is_java wrote:
Even then that would not make any difference at all, allies exist and lots of people would be in separate gangs but still work together

Gody wrote:
Course it wouldn't work they base their "skill" on finding the best possible loopholes so if one is possible they will use and abuse it

I agree 100% especially with the gang situation, shit is mega boring. The only gang that raids seems to be PL and they lack players massively, kinda sleeper bro make Zarp classic already D:

I also really dislike the casino system, I would much rather put straight money into it and get money out, would be way more appealing and could reduce coinflipping by adding more exciting things.

narexa wrote:
kinda facts

yeah it do be really feeling like an empty shell

One in the Chamber for one example - the knife is actually much better than the point of the event (one bullet, one kill).

yes is it and it's same with arms race l'm the best pvper knife ever now !

sinzz wrote:
What the fuck are they feeding you bro

narexa wrote: Nothing, his body is turning his brain into glucose just to survive, what you're witnessing is literall retardation