I want to suggest a broader redesign of the breach system. While the current system works mechanically, I think it misses many opportunities for meaningful roleplay. This is a fairly large suggestion, so I've included a brief summary following the format before going into more detail on the concept and some example implementations below.
What does this suggestion change/add/remove?
Redesigns the breach system so SCPs are contained through active, lore-based containment procedures rather than primarily through a breach queue and timer.
Has something similar been suggested before? If so, why is your suggestion different?
Not to my knowledge. This focuses on the breach system as a whole rather than a single SCP or mechanic.
Possible Positives of the suggestion (At least 2):
More meaningful roleplay for every department.
Makes containment procedures actually matter.
Creates more dynamic, player-driven breaches.
Possible Negatives of the suggestion:
Would require significant development.
More complex than the current system.
Would need safeguards against fail roleplay.
Based on the Positives & Negatives, why should this suggestion be accepted:
Even if implemented gradually, I think this would create more immersive and engaging roleplay while giving every department a more active role in containment.
More details:
Current Design
The current breach system revolves around a queue. Players who become SCPs are placed into this queue and remain contained until the breach timer expires or they are legally released through roleplay. During this time, containment is represented by a simple status indicator showing whether an SCP is contained or breached. Once released, the SCP exits containment regardless of the specific state of its containment procedures or what has occurred during roleplay.
Why it Falls Short
The issue isn't that the current system doesn't work—it does. The problem is that it doesn't reflect the world we're roleplaying in. Containment within the Foundation is an active process. Every anomaly has procedures that must be continuously followed, equipment that must be maintained, and risks that must be managed. When those procedures fail, the Foundation risks a containment breach. That is the entire purpose of containment protocols in the first place.
Yet on the server, very few of these protocols have any meaningful impact on whether an SCP remains contained. Instead, whether an SCP breaches is determined by a timer, a hostile player, an administrator, or a Game Master deciding it's time, while the actions and decisions of the players/SCPs involved matter very little.
Most importantly, it limits the roleplay opportunities available to many departments. Researchers should be able to develop and refine containment procedures; not just perform isolated tests whose outcomes have little effect on containment. Engineering and maintenance personnel should have meaningful systems to inspect, repair, and maintain beyond general upkeep. If the integrity of an SCP's containment status actually depended on the procedures being followed, every department would have a more active role in preventing breaches instead of simply responding after one has already occurred.
Possible Changes
Rather than relying on a containment blocker and breach timer, each SCP should be contained by the procedures established in its lore or by Foundation-developed containment procedures created through roleplay. If those procedures are maintained, the SCP remains contained. If they fail, containment begins to deteriorate until a breach occurs.
This shifts containment from being a static game mechanic to an active responsibility. Instead of waiting for a breach to happen, Foundation personnel would spend their time preventing one through maintenance, inspections, testing protocols, and proper containment procedures. SCPs would no longer wait in a queue; they could instead look for opportunities to exploit weaknesses in their own containment as they naturally arise.
Example Applications
The following are only examples to demonstrate the concept. They are not intended to be complete designs, just illustrations of how existing lore could be translated into gameplay.
SCP-106
SCP-106 is contained by suspending its containment chamber using electromagnets, preventing it from making contact with the floor or walls where it could corrode its way out of containment. Rather than relying on a containment blocker, Engineering could be responsible for inspecting and maintaining the suspension system. If faults, corrosion, or prolonged power failures are ignored, containment integrity could gradually deteriorate until SCP-106 can simply walk out.
SCP-079
SCP-079 is another example where the lore already lends itself to meaningful gameplay. Rather than remaining permanently contained behind a blocker, it could actively attempt to compromise facility systems while Foundation personnel work to isolate or counteract its influence. They could manage remote door controls and other networked systems to prevent SCP-079 from gaining further control of the facility. This would give Engineering or Technical Services meaningful responsibilities while making any eventual breach the result of a successful infiltration.
SCP-682
SCP-682 is submerged in a hydrochloric acid chamber, physically isolated behind reinforced containment doors, and restrained whenever personnel must access its containment cell. Routine maintenance, repairs to the containment chamber, installation of upgraded containment equipment, or approved research may require portions of this containment system to be temporarily altered, creating a genuine but manageable risk. Foundation personnel would need to carefully coordinate these activities and restore every layer of containment before SCP-682 is able to exploit the temporary vulnerability.
Final Thoughts
I'm not suggesting the current breach system should be thrown out or replaced overnight. These ideas could coexist with the existing breach queue while individual SCPs are gradually reworked. Likewise, any system like this would need appropriate safeguards to prevent fail rp, griefing, or unrealistic breaches.
I also don't know whether a change of this scale is something the administration would even be interested in pursuing. If not, that's understandable. I mainly wanted to put the idea out there because I think it's an interesting direction to consider, and I'd be interested to hear what the rest of the community thinks as well.
What does this suggestion change/add/remove?
Redesigns the breach system so SCPs are contained through active, lore-based containment procedures rather than primarily through a breach queue and timer.
Has something similar been suggested before? If so, why is your suggestion different?
Not to my knowledge. This focuses on the breach system as a whole rather than a single SCP or mechanic.
Possible Positives of the suggestion (At least 2):
More meaningful roleplay for every department.
Makes containment procedures actually matter.
Creates more dynamic, player-driven breaches.
Possible Negatives of the suggestion:
Would require significant development.
More complex than the current system.
Would need safeguards against fail roleplay.
Based on the Positives & Negatives, why should this suggestion be accepted:
Even if implemented gradually, I think this would create more immersive and engaging roleplay while giving every department a more active role in containment.
More details:
Current Design
The current breach system revolves around a queue. Players who become SCPs are placed into this queue and remain contained until the breach timer expires or they are legally released through roleplay. During this time, containment is represented by a simple status indicator showing whether an SCP is contained or breached. Once released, the SCP exits containment regardless of the specific state of its containment procedures or what has occurred during roleplay.
Why it Falls Short
The issue isn't that the current system doesn't work—it does. The problem is that it doesn't reflect the world we're roleplaying in. Containment within the Foundation is an active process. Every anomaly has procedures that must be continuously followed, equipment that must be maintained, and risks that must be managed. When those procedures fail, the Foundation risks a containment breach. That is the entire purpose of containment protocols in the first place.
Yet on the server, very few of these protocols have any meaningful impact on whether an SCP remains contained. Instead, whether an SCP breaches is determined by a timer, a hostile player, an administrator, or a Game Master deciding it's time, while the actions and decisions of the players/SCPs involved matter very little.
Most importantly, it limits the roleplay opportunities available to many departments. Researchers should be able to develop and refine containment procedures; not just perform isolated tests whose outcomes have little effect on containment. Engineering and maintenance personnel should have meaningful systems to inspect, repair, and maintain beyond general upkeep. If the integrity of an SCP's containment status actually depended on the procedures being followed, every department would have a more active role in preventing breaches instead of simply responding after one has already occurred.
Possible Changes
Rather than relying on a containment blocker and breach timer, each SCP should be contained by the procedures established in its lore or by Foundation-developed containment procedures created through roleplay. If those procedures are maintained, the SCP remains contained. If they fail, containment begins to deteriorate until a breach occurs.
This shifts containment from being a static game mechanic to an active responsibility. Instead of waiting for a breach to happen, Foundation personnel would spend their time preventing one through maintenance, inspections, testing protocols, and proper containment procedures. SCPs would no longer wait in a queue; they could instead look for opportunities to exploit weaknesses in their own containment as they naturally arise.
Example Applications
The following are only examples to demonstrate the concept. They are not intended to be complete designs, just illustrations of how existing lore could be translated into gameplay.
SCP-106
SCP-106 is contained by suspending its containment chamber using electromagnets, preventing it from making contact with the floor or walls where it could corrode its way out of containment. Rather than relying on a containment blocker, Engineering could be responsible for inspecting and maintaining the suspension system. If faults, corrosion, or prolonged power failures are ignored, containment integrity could gradually deteriorate until SCP-106 can simply walk out.
SCP-079
SCP-079 is another example where the lore already lends itself to meaningful gameplay. Rather than remaining permanently contained behind a blocker, it could actively attempt to compromise facility systems while Foundation personnel work to isolate or counteract its influence. They could manage remote door controls and other networked systems to prevent SCP-079 from gaining further control of the facility. This would give Engineering or Technical Services meaningful responsibilities while making any eventual breach the result of a successful infiltration.
SCP-682
SCP-682 is submerged in a hydrochloric acid chamber, physically isolated behind reinforced containment doors, and restrained whenever personnel must access its containment cell. Routine maintenance, repairs to the containment chamber, installation of upgraded containment equipment, or approved research may require portions of this containment system to be temporarily altered, creating a genuine but manageable risk. Foundation personnel would need to carefully coordinate these activities and restore every layer of containment before SCP-682 is able to exploit the temporary vulnerability.
Final Thoughts
I'm not suggesting the current breach system should be thrown out or replaced overnight. These ideas could coexist with the existing breach queue while individual SCPs are gradually reworked. Likewise, any system like this would need appropriate safeguards to prevent fail rp, griefing, or unrealistic breaches.
I also don't know whether a change of this scale is something the administration would even be interested in pursuing. If not, that's understandable. I mainly wanted to put the idea out there because I think it's an interesting direction to consider, and I'd be interested to hear what the rest of the community thinks as well.
Last edited:
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