From my point of view this change will provide more of a reason for IA to be active and do their job as people rely on them more. This means that IA get more experience of the server, how it works and boosts retention of newer players as they have a lot of power before this change to make of break someones RP experience.
If ISD are rarely arresting people then I don't see why this is such an issue? Why keep something that is unused but when it is used it often depriciates the Department added to do the job? ISD do too much compared to what they were made to be, a body guard regiment. Their clearance and duties changed overtime because they couldn't find RP to create outside of training and escorting O5/EC. Now with their elevated Clearance of CL4 and their wider power they conduct research tests without the research department drawing RP away from them, they draw arrests from Internal Affairs, they draw guarding D-Block away from GENSEC, they draw SCP containment away from Epsilon-11 and GSD CU.
Unfortunatley these issues had not been picked up on and ISD has become too powerful to the point where it is harmful to the server. ISD could have retained their abilities if they had policies enforced on them such as only dealing with Code-5s when requested to, escorting other high ranking foundation personnel, co-operating with one anothers Site Command, aiding D-Block when it is in a critical state and requested. There are many options that could have been taken but weren't.
What sparked this change was indeed from the UK server. Server Leadership+, some players/GMs played on Internal Affairs for roughly 6 hours across 3 days and what they found was that ISD take control over most situations. They swoop in and steal the RolePlay essentially. Internal Affairs had been blocked off from accessing Interrogation Areas where the arrest NPC is, blocked off from the medical centre, blocked from entering D-Block all because ISD didn't allow it. As far as I am aware these situations were not ordered by Site Command but because ISD are "the action arms" of ISD no one questions their actions and they just go with it.
Having had a discussion with the USA Alpha-1 in their enlisted chat the general consensus was to RDM Internal Affairs if Alpha-1 broke the FLC/CoE/CoC on a non-serious level to ensure the A-1 doesn't get arrested. To highlight the issue, they have been told to RDM Internal Affairs making arrests which is against the rules. This has been enforced by their CO team.
This alone shows it is not just an issue on the UK server but just as bad, if not worse on the USA server. Having this change will mean ISD will have to work with Internal Affairs more and avoid pissing them off otherwise they cannot get their duties completed. Inter-departmental relations are key for SCP-RP, without it RolePlay cannot be presented rather just toxicity and rulebreaking.
This has kicked off a fuss, I understand why. I was Alpha-1 CPL twice, I was Ethics, I was O5, I know how annoying this is. But I have also been IA Ambassador 3 times and IA Director once. During all of my time on the server it has become clear to me that ISD are negative regiments for the server in their current form. My second run as Internal Affairs Ambassador I led a rebelion against the O5 Council and Alpha-1 for stepping on Internal Affairs toes, activity increased after A-1 stopped interfering with IA duties as much and started working with them.
To make matters worse, Alpha-1 and Omega-1 aren't actually Internal Security Departments, that was the nickname given to them when saying "Alpha-1", "A-1", "Omega-1" or "O-1" would get you executed for being an information leak.
This change is needed, ISD and Site Command need to return to how they were before these issues started to occur, more observers than "actioners". More of a RP guidance role then an RP controlling role.
In any case of the option presented being to remove or reduce a core department, or to remove the two ISD regiment I would always take the option to remove the ISD regiment.
These changes were made to allow RP to prevail, it will just take time to adjust to or reflect upon them. But for now, time is needed to get the information, data and feedback required to make any further steps with ISDxIA relations and ISDxserver relations.
If ISD are rarely arresting people then I don't see why this is such an issue? Why keep something that is unused but when it is used it often depriciates the Department added to do the job? ISD do too much compared to what they were made to be, a body guard regiment. Their clearance and duties changed overtime because they couldn't find RP to create outside of training and escorting O5/EC. Now with their elevated Clearance of CL4 and their wider power they conduct research tests without the research department drawing RP away from them, they draw arrests from Internal Affairs, they draw guarding D-Block away from GENSEC, they draw SCP containment away from Epsilon-11 and GSD CU.
Unfortunatley these issues had not been picked up on and ISD has become too powerful to the point where it is harmful to the server. ISD could have retained their abilities if they had policies enforced on them such as only dealing with Code-5s when requested to, escorting other high ranking foundation personnel, co-operating with one anothers Site Command, aiding D-Block when it is in a critical state and requested. There are many options that could have been taken but weren't.
What sparked this change was indeed from the UK server. Server Leadership+, some players/GMs played on Internal Affairs for roughly 6 hours across 3 days and what they found was that ISD take control over most situations. They swoop in and steal the RolePlay essentially. Internal Affairs had been blocked off from accessing Interrogation Areas where the arrest NPC is, blocked off from the medical centre, blocked from entering D-Block all because ISD didn't allow it. As far as I am aware these situations were not ordered by Site Command but because ISD are "the action arms" of ISD no one questions their actions and they just go with it.
Having had a discussion with the USA Alpha-1 in their enlisted chat the general consensus was to RDM Internal Affairs if Alpha-1 broke the FLC/CoE/CoC on a non-serious level to ensure the A-1 doesn't get arrested. To highlight the issue, they have been told to RDM Internal Affairs making arrests which is against the rules. This has been enforced by their CO team.
This alone shows it is not just an issue on the UK server but just as bad, if not worse on the USA server. Having this change will mean ISD will have to work with Internal Affairs more and avoid pissing them off otherwise they cannot get their duties completed. Inter-departmental relations are key for SCP-RP, without it RolePlay cannot be presented rather just toxicity and rulebreaking.
This has kicked off a fuss, I understand why. I was Alpha-1 CPL twice, I was Ethics, I was O5, I know how annoying this is. But I have also been IA Ambassador 3 times and IA Director once. During all of my time on the server it has become clear to me that ISD are negative regiments for the server in their current form. My second run as Internal Affairs Ambassador I led a rebelion against the O5 Council and Alpha-1 for stepping on Internal Affairs toes, activity increased after A-1 stopped interfering with IA duties as much and started working with them.
To make matters worse, Alpha-1 and Omega-1 aren't actually Internal Security Departments, that was the nickname given to them when saying "Alpha-1", "A-1", "Omega-1" or "O-1" would get you executed for being an information leak.
This change is needed, ISD and Site Command need to return to how they were before these issues started to occur, more observers than "actioners". More of a RP guidance role then an RP controlling role.
In any case of the option presented being to remove or reduce a core department, or to remove the two ISD regiment I would always take the option to remove the ISD regiment.
These changes were made to allow RP to prevail, it will just take time to adjust to or reflect upon them. But for now, time is needed to get the information, data and feedback required to make any further steps with ISDxIA relations and ISDxserver relations.