Buff D class and researcher gameplay

[Tacca]

Need I say more than the title? It feels like management forgets that the D-Class and researchers are fundamental factors when it comes to SCP roleplay. Ask yourself why almost nobody plays it... because it’s boring as shit. I remember 2 years ago it was actually fun and you could have good roleplay at most times. Now it’s a waiting game, literally. Nobody wants to gather scrap for 15 minutes, get lvl 2 keycard, and die with it 2 min later. Nobody wants to research an LCZ SCP for the 9th time. Management should stop prioritizing MTF and CI roleplay and corny ass regiments with powertripping higher ranks that are ruining the server. The basics of the foundation should be prioritized when developing the server at all, I don’t get why this is basic knowledge? Without D-Class and researchers you don’t need guards, why not rename the server to MTF VS SCP when these parts of roleplay are being so neglected...!

 

[Sule Goodman]

follow the format chat or they're not even gonna give it a second of though

 

[Cloudblade]

Use the format or else this will be denied by them.

 

[Yeke]

Need I say more than the title? It feels like management forgets that the D-Class and researchers are fundamental factors when it comes to SCP roleplay. Ask yourself why almost nobody plays it... because it’s boring as shit. I remember 2 years ago it was actually fun and you could have good roleplay at most times. Now it’s a waiting game, literally. Nobody wants to gather scrap for 15 minutes, get lvl 2 keycard, and die with it 2 min later. Nobody wants to research an LCZ SCP for the 9th time. Management should stop prioritizing MTF and CI roleplay and corny ass regiments with powertripping higher ranks that are ruining the server. The basics of the foundation should be prioritized when developing the server at all, I don’t get why this is basic knowledge? Without D-Class and researchers you don’t need guards, why not rename the server to MTF VS SCP when these parts of roleplay are being so neglected...!

I appreciate the sentiment and frustration, we are activley looking for ways to improve the experience for researchers, but it isnt as simple as "add new content" because frankly, what do we add to keep it interesting? we require actual suggestions without being rude, this isnt a suggestion, just a rant.

Roleplay isnt anything for a management > player fix, roleplay is the action between Player to Player, and the only people who make the roleplay experience is yourselves, we cannot force people to roleplay in the way people want, because frankly everyone has their own warped view of roleplay (hence why minge is such an over used term)

We can create more inanimate SCPs, but those will be boring very quickly, however the issue we have then is how do we A. code that SCP and B. make it interesting to interact with.

We can create more playable SCPs but then we have to ask A: What SCP do we choose B: how does it work from a player perspective C: How does this impact the server in regards to breach as respectfully, people dont enjoy playing non violent SCPs, about 0.5% of the playerbase will enjoy that. D: What RP can actually be gained from this, and how do we ensure players roleplay as this SCP.

That is the unfortunate reality, we are activley looking for ideas and id appreciate if you gave us more ideas than just a rant.

In relation to D-class, they are suppose to engage with the researchers, testing, and other personnel, we even added the ability for janitor D-Class etc to try improve that loop when no testing is around, what more are we suppose to give prisoners of the site?

 

[Dan Roth]

The main reason many players avoid the Researcher role is due to long D-Class wait times in D-Block and overly strict document requirements. Below are proposed changes aimed at increasing engagement and improving gameplay loop.

• Reduce scrap spawn time: From 15s to 10s to encourage faster progression and potential D-Class riots.
• Lower scrap dealer prices: Reduce by 5% to make scrap trading more impactful and increase scrap availability.
• Increase sampling possibilities: Inanimate SCPs should allow sampling from any D-Class that interacts with them, not just biological entities.
• Lower document requirements: Especially for HCZ-tier SCPs to reduce the time barrier to testing and experimentation
• Reinforce D-Block as GSD territory: GSD units should remain on-site to manage D-Class, rather than roaming surface. This ensures researchers aren't stuck waiting extended periods for test subjects.
• Increase D-block instability: More frequent riots would demand GSD presence in D-Block checkpoints, indirectly improving researcher access to D-Class personnel.
• Reduce A1 and O1 slot count: These specialized invite-only regiments often draw numbers away from critical departments, especially when Ethics Committee or Overseers are not online.
• Enforce SOP across all departments: Many roles are deviating from protocol, reducing immersion and causing confusion during breaches.
• Non-combatives in restricted areas: Prevent non-combatants from entering D-Block airlocks or loitering in breach-critical zones, which blocks tactical movement and disrupts roleplay.

These changes would collectively revitalize Researcher gameplay by reducing friction, improving access to D-Class, and restoring clarity to department responsibilities. A more dynamic D-Block benefits everyone—Research, Security, and D-Class alike.
i have been on site for around 4 years now and have had much time to think about this and these changes in my opinion would have great effect.

 

[Holland]

hey @Tacca,

We have noted your concerns, as stated by @Yeke

Can you please follow the format and include what you would like to be changed as Right now, the post doesnt includes any suggestions and is only pointing towards the Issue rather than a solution or suggestion to fix the issue.

If this post was meant to be a complaint, then this section isnt the right place for it.

Please do this within 24 hours. Otherwise the post will be marked as denied.

Thank you in advance,
Content team

 

[Emilia Foddg]

Increase sampling possibilities: Inanimate SCPs should allow sampling from any D-Class that interacts with them, not just biological entities.

Sampling gameplay, while necessary for the chem economy, is not necessarily good RP. It's just a purely functional gameplay loop.

Lower document requirements: Especially for HCZ-tier SCPs to reduce the time barrier to testing and experimentation

Non-combatives in restricted areas: Prevent non-combatants from entering D-Block airlocks or loitering in breach-critical zones, which blocks tactical movement and disrupts roleplay.

IC issues, to my understanding.

Reinforce D-Block as GSD territory: GSD units should remain on-site to manage D-Class, rather than roaming surface. This ensures researchers aren't stuck waiting extended periods for test subjects.

...What? Why are GSD on surface?

Increase D-block instability: More frequent riots would demand GSD presence in D-Block checkpoints, indirectly improving researcher access to D-Class personnel.

More frequent riots would kinda be a terrible idea for roleplay as it holds any roleplay up until the riot is over - Especially given, to my understanding, that the actual riot functionality can only actually end by the timer running out.

Reduce A1 and O1 slot count: These specialized invite-only regiments often draw numbers away from critical departments, especially when Ethics Committee or Overseers are not online.

...Down from 25? I mean, I guess? To my understanding, AO on UK struggle with populating themselves anyway because of how shrewd they are with scouting (Which is a good thing, IMO)


I agree with increasing the availability of scrap, though.

 

[Dan Roth]

It does seem like a lot of the in character issues the site is experiencing all comes down to the O5 council and their failure to manage the site and last time i check the 05 is chosen by O5 and if they are already bad then 05 continues to be bad by just replacing bad with bad there wont be improvements its about time that staff stepped in and fixed it.

 

[Sule Goodman]

It does seem like a lot of the in character issues the site is experiencing all comes down to the O5 council and their failure to manage the site and last time i check the 05 is chosen by staff.

Pretty certain the Chairman of EC and O5-1 is picked by staff. If im correct THEY pick the others

 

[Dan Roth]

Pretty certain the Chairman of EC and O5-1 is picked by staff. If im correct THEY pick the others

I believe the root of the current issues stems from the fact that the O5 Council appoints department heads, and in this case, those appointees appear to be the problem. For example, the GSD has repeatedly failed to follow their SOP—there have been multiple instances recently where they've been roaming the surface without clear purpose.
Worse, there's a lack of leadership from GSD command. They frequently fail to respond properly to Code 2 situations. On several occasions, they'll show up, take a quick look, then vanish without resolving anything. This delays response times significantly and forces researchers to wait unnecessarily long for testing to resume.
I genuinely think the gameplay loop could be vastly improved by restructuring Site Command. That includes replacing the current O5 Council, Site Managers, and Site Advisors. If someone is negatively impacting the server experience, they shouldn't be in that role.

 

[Sule Goodman]

I believe the root of the current issues stems from the fact that the O5 Council appoints department heads, and in this case, those appointees appear to be the problem. For example, the GSD has repeatedly failed to follow their SOP—there have been multiple instances recently where they've been roaming the surface without clear purpose.
Worse, there's a lack of leadership from GSD command. They frequently fail to respond properly to Code 2 situations. On several occasions, they'll show up, take a quick look, then vanish without resolving anything. This delays response times significantly and forces researchers to wait unnecessarily long for testing to resume.
I genuinely think the gameplay loop could be vastly improved by restructuring Site Command. That includes replacing the current O5 Council, Site Managers, and Site Advisors. If someone is negatively impacting the server experience, they shouldn't be in that role.

Alright some quick info i just got.
Site admin usually picks department heads, BUT O5 picks Site admins, Ethics handles the head of ISD. The rest is all done from SA. O5 doesn't really pick / get as invovled in with most things.

Gensec is usually harder to unite as , unlike other combat regiments, theres no application , training, etc. Its just unlocked early on right out from D class, and theres no requirement for teamspeak.

Everyones current role is fine, sure theres some people who likely are doing the best of their abilities, but this is kinda just how things go.

And to correct my self earlier, Site command vote on applications for new site command (O5 vote on new O5s, ethics vote for new ethics) SL / SSL only vote if theres possible bias / tie.

 

[Dan Roth]

The root of the problem lies in a broken gameplay loop. Since I joined in 2022, I’ve gradually watched the server’s RP quality decline. There was once stricter enforcement of department SOPs, but that’s faded — and I believe leadership is largely to blame. Many of the concerns raised by Tacca can be traced directly to departmental leadership. As the saying goes, “poop rolls downhill.” If we want real change, it has to start at the top.

 

[Holland]

Locking suggestion until edits are made, for discussion surrounding the topic please use https://civilnetworks.net/community/forums/scp-rp-discussion.249/