[SA:MP] Developers Answer: Give Examples

[Gandalf]

Question 1: Are admins able to read private messages while they're in the game?

Question 2: Could you give us an estimate how much time the property lockdown will be? Like a couple of weeks/months? Anything?

Question 3: Is it true extra objects like Mordor and Disney Land are the main cause for crashes?

Thanks in advance for answering.

1. No, but a log check is very fast in case its needed.
PM and CB are deemed to be private communications, and in general they will be treated as private. Players can express their thoughts freely without direct consequences. However if they abuse this freedom to break the rules by excessive flaming or recruiting, or other illegal discussions, the administration can take action against them.

2. The property lockdown is due to script reasons. There for an estimated time is impossible to tell.

3. Not the main cause. However people will crash more often when in or around objects that are added.
SA:MP has to work with the limits of GTA:SA, that allow a maximum of 128 objects loaded within viewing distance.
If a higher number is loaded, a crash is more likely to happen.
However one of the main reasons for crashing is desync, which is why people crash more when they are in large groups.
Let me explain:
If you move your character, by pressing a key you send the direction to move to the server. The server sends this to all players, moving your character on the client in the direction you indicate. When you stop moving, the server is given a signal to stop moving and sends it to all clients.
As you might understand, there is a delay between the time you move/stop moving and the moment it reaches the last clients to be updated. There for the movement can be calculated incorrect. This causes lag effects, like you see someone walking and suddenly 'jump' backwards. If during such a movement the position of another character will be exactly the same as your position, the result is a client crash.
There for we always advise not to move around a lot and not to use animations when on a busy party or mass gathering. As in custom interiors not only the player are calculated but also the objects, many people moving around will result in more crashes.

[Gandalf]

- Hope that answers the question

Answers are to be given by the main developers.

[Gandalf]

Am I allowed to have my house interior changed? Fernando said no, due to the property lockdown.

The lockdown is needed to evaluate all current properties, and to test them on the test server.
If something is changed during the lockdown, there is a risk of it not being updated and there for lost.

[spartan1178]

I was browsing the forums and I though about a situation that occurred a long time ago, and I am fairly sure that the situation is clear but I wanted to check to be sure.

Situation: (Real Situation)

A player goes to the billboard just in the upper garage entrance of LSPD and types "/me climbs the post" (presumably to the top) and uses /helpmeup a few times to get up.

Simple question, is this a valid use of the command?

Now, as far as I know and have gathered /helpmeup is strictly non-RP related, meaning this would NOT be allowed, but he maintained when prompted that as far as he knew, this situation would be allowed. It seems a little foolish to ask such a seemingly obvious question but I really thought about it and wanted to get some clarification. Please enlighten this topic when one of the developers has time, as it clearly isn't a matter of urgency.


:ps: Melvin, read the topic title.  

[Melvin]

As far as i know that is strictly NOT allowed,
/helpmeup is made to get yourself out of a bug and not to get advantage for climbing higher then someone else.
It is also punishable,

[Gandalf]

I was browsing the forums and I though about a situation that occurred a long time ago, and I am fairly sure that the situation is clear but I wanted to check to be sure.

Situation: (Real Situation)

A player goes to the billboard just in the upper garage entrance of LSPD and types "/me climbs the post" (presumably to the top) and uses /helpmeup a few times to get up.

Simple question, is this a valid use of the command?

Now, as far as I know and have gathered /helpmeup is strictly non-RP related, meaning this would NOT be allowed, but he maintained when prompted that as far as he knew, this situation would be allowed. It seems a little foolish to ask such a seemingly obvious question but I really thought about it and wanted to get some clarification. Please enlighten this topic when one of the developers has time, as it clearly isn't a matter of urgency.


:ps: Melvin, read the topic title.  

Not allowed.
/helpmeup is intended only for a bug where you land under objects, and not to get to points that are impossible to reach by normal play.

[spartan1178]

Not allowed.
/helpmeup is intended only for a bug where you land under objects, and not to get to points that are impossible to reach by normal play.

Thanks, I figured that, and was SURE that it wasn't, but I am extremely curious, and wanted to get a more official word on the subject. 

[Pandalink]

As far as I know, the lockdown covers interiors too. Sorry but you may have to wait a little while

Ok, sorry . I did check the forums before, based on what I found (the first post about lockdowns), I thought I could at the time. :redface:

[hijol_goswami]

Situation:
There is a large group of criminals wanted, and for the sake of self-preservation they have come together.
The Police forces launch constant assaults and due to the fact the criminals are better equipped, positioned, and skilled, the cops keep dying. The criminals are basically not dying. No criminals intend to return after death, and since none die, none do.
Suddenly, one of the cops calls the whole situation "DM! DM!" (in a specific situation this is based on, this was actually an admin).
DM?

As you said, if you are wanted you can expect to be shot at, similarly if you are shooting at wanted guys you can expect to be shot at - I don't think it should be classed as DMing just because the cops can't win.

It seems that "omg, DMers!" is just a code-phrase for "We can't win through combat, lets get them kicked!".
I think this needs to be clearer, as its irritating when the cops have the nerve to complain when they are the ones attacking, and the criminals are just defending in a single place with good positions.

     




well i agree with that now

[spartan1178]

I have a bunch of questions. . .

Situation 1:
A suspect is running from the police, and goes into the water, not to get to a boat, but to just get away as a suspect would.

Question:
Allowed or not? I have been told different answers too many times, suspect is not diving, just swimming away.


Situation 2A:
A suspect is surrounded by the police and types /hail. He claims /gu says "Unknown Command", an officer checks and the suspect shoots and kills the officer.

Question:
Allowed or not? I assume that it isn't, but what should the killed officer do in the situation?


Situation 2B:
A suspect is surrounded by the police and types /hail. The officer stops to let them know the command is /gu, not /hail, and the suspect opens fire when the officer attempts to type (Which is seen when they lower their weapon).

Question:
Allowed or not? Again, I assume that it isn't, but that doesn't fit into a report, and the admin can't really do anything, because there isn't enough evidence to act on.


Situation 3:
A suspect is followed into a house on foot, the officer calls backup and 3-6 officers surround the home, the suspect gets unsuspected via script, and walks out. He has the same clothing, and the officer never left the site. He also mentions something like "Haha, I escaped".

Question:
Can the officer resuspect the player? I THINK that you can't, but can you as the officer do anything? Is this probable cause to at least frisk the suspect?


Situation 4:
Multiple suspects are followed to a location, and enter a building. The police surround the building, and prepare to make entry. The suspects exit, grab a car, and manage to get away, followed by police. However, some units remain on scene, to search the building, civilians exit the building and the police shout "Do NOT move!", the civilians either begin to casually walk away, or drive away, seemingly not to just get away from the police, even though the police continue to tell them not to move.

Question:
Can the police suspect these civilians for something like "Failure to Obey Order"?


Situation 5:
A suspect is being chased by police, and heads to the military base. He/she enters the base, and manages to get a jetpack, and make it out. The suspect uses the jetpack to evade police, even though they continue to follow on foot.

Question:
Is this allowed, to use jetpacks in police chases? If someone is in an aircraft, it freezes the escape timer, but not in a jetpack, so would it be allowed?


Situation 6:
A police unit is in a closed radio channel with his "friends" who are wanted by the police. He organizes the arrest of them, and even specifically mentions that he wanted the arrest to look legit, and jails them for the lowest time amount.

Question:
Is this allowed, or would just be corruption?

[Gandalf]

I have a bunch of questions. . .

Situation 1:
A suspect is running from the police, and goes into the water, not to get to a boat, but to just get away as a suspect would.

Question:
Allowed or not? I have been told different answers too many times, suspect is not diving, just swimming away.

Depends on the situation. If a suspect is on foot and followed by cops, he can choose to jump in and swim across a river.

If he runs to the beach and starts swimming towards the horizon to get away its not allowed

The difference is that in the first situation the chase can continue (it is almost impossible to shoot a suspect while swiming) and in the second one the intention is clearly to avoid the chase.

Situation 2A:
A suspect is surrounded by the police and types /hail. He claims /gu says "Unknown Command", an officer checks and the suspect shoots and kills the officer.

Question:
Allowed or not? I assume that it isn't, but what should the killed officer do in the situation?

An officer should not kill a suspect that shows no signs of agression. If a player chooses to do /hail or even stands still without weapons the officers should talk to him and request him to follow to jail.
However if the suspect repeatedly refuses for whatever reason or tries to run/fight , he can be shot at once without having to ask for surrender again.
If a suspect is caught doing this to later run away, he can be punushed by a 5 minutes ajail + disarm for running after surrender.

Situation 2B:
A suspect is surrounded by the police and types /hail. The officer stops to let them know the command is /gu, not /hail, and the suspect opens fire when the officer attempts to type (Which is seen when they lower their weapon).

Question:
Allowed or not? Again, I assume that it isn't, but that doesn't fit into a report, and the admin can't really do anything, because there isn't enough evidence to act on.

See the previous answer.

Situation 3:
A suspect is followed into a house on foot, the officer calls backup and 3-6 officers surround the home, the suspect gets unsuspected via script, and walks out. He has the same clothing, and the officer never left the site. He also mentions something like "Haha, I escaped".

Question:
Can the officer resuspect the player? I THINK that you can't, but can you as the officer do anything? Is this probable cause to at least frisk the suspect?

Only thing that can be done is reporting it as bug in the script.

Situation 4:
Multiple suspects are followed to a location, and enter a building. The police surround the building, and prepare to make entry. The suspects exit, grab a car, and manage to get away, followed by police. However, some units remain on scene, to search the building, civilians exit the building and the police shout "Do NOT move!", the civilians either begin to casually walk away, or drive away, seemingly not to just get away from the police, even though the police continue to tell them not to move.

Question:
Can the police suspect these civilians for something like "Failure to Obey Order"?

Yes, if civilians disobey a direct order from the police they can be suspected.However police should not drag out the order too long, the civilians might be on their way to seek help after their trauma.

Situation 5:
A suspect is being chased by police, and heads to the military base. He/she enters the base, and manages to get a jetpack, and make it out. The suspect uses the jetpack to evade police, even though they continue to follow on foot.

Question:
Is this allowed, to use jetpacks in police chases? If someone is in an aircraft, it freezes the escape timer, but not in a jetpack, so would it be allowed?

As the police units would be close enough to get their own jetpack, no reason why not.

Situation 6:
A police unit is in a closed radio channel with his "friends" who are wanted by the police. He organizes the arrest of them, and even specifically mentions that he wanted the arrest to look legit, and jails them for the lowest time amount.

Question:
Is this allowed, or would just be corruption?

It is corruption, and if someone manages to cath him on it (in RP not with other methods) he can be thrown out of the police force.
In another case, if a police officer decided to constantly suspect and jail frieds, he can be  punished for money cheating.

[spartan1178]

Thank you for clearing up so many questions, so many.  :hurray:

For the jetpack situation, I TOTALLY didn't think of that. . . .

[James_Alterlis]

Situation 1A:
Suspect is escaping the police, jump into the water and dive deeper, few times he drowned (Suicide) and died.
Suspect claimed that it accident "It's too late to swim up"
Situation 1B:
Suspect just dive deeper, and deeper, no sign of he tries to get up and drowned.

Question:
Is the suspect allow to drown himself as suspect (Accident and Not)?
Is it punishable with the server rules (Accident and Not)?

[Gandalf]

Situation 1A:
Suspect is escaping the police, jump into the water and dive deeper, few times he drowned (Suicide) and died.
Suspect claimed that it accident "It's too late to swim up"
Situation 1B:
Suspect just dive deeper, and deeper, no sign of he tries to get up and drowned.

Question:
Is the suspect allow to drown himself as suspect (Accident and Not)?
Is it punishable with the server rules (Accident and Not)?

A server rule since the days of MTA has been that suiciding in a chase to escape your wanted level is not allowed.
This includes 'accidentally' diving to deep or not trying to get out of a burning car.

[8793574]

Situation
A player randomly walks up to a nearby car.
The player "/me breaks the car window"
And then /me pull the driver out of the car"
the player "/me steals the car"

Is this allowed ? i seen 2 players that had done this  :trust: