Priority System

This page was last reviewed on January 19, 2025.

The priority system is the term used to describe the different cooldowns that are applied within the in-game server. Within the priority system you have two different cooldowns. An individual priority and a peacetime. More information can be found below.

Priority System Guidelines

There are guidelines you need to follow when using the different cooldowns.

• You are responsible for approving the following priority scenarios: Jewelry Store Robbery, Bank Robbery, Kidnapping Scenario, and Hostage Scenario. Please ensure you consider the timing of the last high-priority scenario, as there must be a 1h 30m interval between high-priority scenes.

• You are prohibited from using custom priority and cooldown lengths.

• The peacetimer should only be used after several priority scenes (such as Pursuits, Foot Pursuits, etc.) have occurred consecutively.

• It is required that at least one staff member be present on the law enforcement radio frequency at all times.

• You are required to use the :m and :h messages that are listed in the following sections and in the in-game messages channel for priorities, peacetimers, etc.

• You are required to verify that a member does not have a priority cooldown from a previous scenario before granting approval for a high-priority scenario.

• You are required to accurately log the occurrence of a high-priority scene using the Actions feature in the Panel Toolbox.

• If two high-priority scenes are approved simultaneously, staff members have the discretion to determine which scene will continue and which will not.

• You cannot approve a high priority scene within the first hour of a server startup.

Individual Priority

An individual priority is assigned to a member when they are actively participating in a priority scenario. There are two types of priorities: regular and high priority. Priority timers are used to limit the number of simultaneous priorities to one and to ensure that the overall number of priorities remains limited within any given timeframe. Priority Scenarios: Vehicle Pursuits, Foot Pursuits, Shots Fired, etc. High Priority Scenarios: Hostage Scenario, Kidnapping Scenario, Jewelry Robbery, and Bank Robbery There will be two sections below: one for regular priority scenarios and the other for high-priority scenarios. These are slightly different, as high-priority scenarios require a request feature and approval from staff, while regular priority scenarios do not require staff approval.

Priority Scenarios

These are regular priority scenarios, such as vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, shots fired, etc. These priorities do not require staff approval. The process to follow when one of these priority scenes occurs is outlined below, described from the perspective of you carrying out the actions.

1. You should be able to hear when a priority scene of this type is occurring by being on the law enforcement radio frequency. Confirm the scene with law enforcement.

2. If the member initiating the priority doesn't violate any of the priority system guidelines, then you will start by releasing the following :h message. :h A priority scene has been initiated. No new priorities should begin at this time.

3. You will now need to run the :prty 1200 command to active a priority timer for this priority.

4. You need to accurately log the priority scenario through an Action located in the Panel Toolbox under 'Execute Action.' The action to use is 'Individual Priority.'

5. You will monitor the priority scenario to ensure it stays within our rules and does not require staff intervention. If intervention is needed, it will occur at the end of the scene unless the member's actions violate our rules to an unacceptable extent.

6. If the priority ends early, use the :prty 0 command to cancel the priority timer. If the priority needs to be extended, it can be extended by 10 minutes using the :prty 600 command. Priorities should only be extended when absolutely necessary.

7. If the priority scenario has now come to an end, you will send the following :h message. :h The priority scene has concluded.

8. You will now issue a 30-minute priority cooldown to the member(s) who initiated and participated in the priority scenario by using the !cooldown [DiscordID] command in the game chat.

High Priority Scenarios

These are high-priority scenarios that require larger emergency personnel, such as Hostage Scenarios, Kidnapping Scenarios, Jewelry Robberies, and Bank Robberies. The process to follow when one of these high-priority scenes occurs is outlined below, described from the perspective of you carrying out the actions. These processes involve more automation, as this system differs from regular priorities, requiring approval through a priority request form.

1. You will be notified when a member submits a priority request form. Melonly will send a notification to online staff upon receiving the request.

2. You will head to the ERLC Toolbox and click on 'Priority Requests'. This will bring you to the Priority Request panel where you can view any pending requests.

   

3. If there is a pending request, you will review it. The member should have provided a brief description of their scenario, along with the names of the members who wish to participate in the high-priority scenario.

4. You will check to make sure that the members who are participating in this high-priority scenario are all following the priority system guidelines.

5. If no high-priority scenario has occurred in the last two hours and none of the members have a priority cooldown, you may accept the request as long as you are comfortable with the high-priority scenario proceeding. You can deny the request if the description suggests that the scenario may cause significant disruption to the server.

6. When accepting the priority request, set the priority timer duration in the designated box, using the standard 20-minute timer for all priority scenarios. In the 'Decision' box, enter 'Your priority scenario will start within the next few minutes.' This message will then be sent to the user via direct message.

   

7. Within a few minutes of accepting the request, Melonly will automatically start the priority timer of 20-minutes and send out the correct :h message.

8. You need to accurately log the priority scenario through an Action located in the Panel Toolbox under 'Execute Action.' The action to use is 'Individual Priority.'

9. You will monitor the priority scenario to ensure it stays within our rules and does not require staff intervention. If intervention is needed, it will occur at the end of the scene unless the member's actions violate our rules to an unacceptable extent.

10. If the priority ends early, use the :prty 0 command to cancel the priority timer. If the priority needs to be extended, it can be extended by 10 minutes using the :prty 600 command. Priorities should only be extended when absolutely necessary.

11. If the priority scenario has now come to an end, you will send the following :h message. :h The priority scene has concluded.

12. You will now issue a 30-minute priority cooldown to the member(s) who initiated and participated in the priority scenario by using the !cooldown [DiscordID] command in the game chat.

Permission for high-priority scenarios can no longer be granted via mod calls, voice channels, or similar methods. All requests must go through the Priority Request form. If a member asks otherwise, redirect them to the form in the bulletin board channel.

Peacetime

A peacetime timer will be activated after a few priority scenes have occurred. This will provide the server with some downtime and allow for non-priority scenes to take place. The process for activating the peacetime timer can be found below. Please note there isn't a set number of peacetimes that should or shouldn't occur during a server startup; it is at staff discretion. However, it is recommended that one is initiated after 2 or 3 priority scenes have occurred.

1. If you feel like the server needs some downtime after a few priority scenes have occurred, you will initiated a peacetime timer.

2. You will start by using the :pt 600 command which will set a peacetime for a duration of 10 minutes which is the default duration time for this timer.

3. You will then send the following peacetime message. :m A peacetime has been activated. No priorities are allowed to occur during this time, and player-vs-player combat is disabled automatically.

4. Now, you will monitor the server to ensure that no one starts a priority scene. Logging when a peacetime has been activated is not necessary.

5. Once the peacetime has ended, you will release the following message. :h The peacetime has now concluded. You may now initiate a priority, and player-vs-player combat is enabled.

Priority Cooldown

Priority Cooldowns are applied to a user after they have initiated or taken part in a priority scene. This includes Vehicle Pursuit, Foot Pursuit, Shots Fired, Bank Robbery, Jewelry Robbery, Hostage Scenario, and Kidnapping Scenario. Priority Cooldowns mean that the user cannot commit a priority for a length of time which gives other people the opportunity to do a priority. The process for giving a priority cooldown and when to give one will be listed below.

1. You will issue a priority cooldown when a user has taken part in one of the priorities above. You will have been the person who gave them permission and/or issued the individual priority to them so you will already know the priority type, the user's involved, etc.

2. To log a priority cooldown, you will use the !cooldown [ID] command within the game chat channel. This will then ping the user telling them they have been given a priority cooldown.

3. A priority cooldown lasts for 30 minutes. If a user initiates and/or takes part in a priority while this timer is active, they will receive in-game moderation.

4. You do not need to delete any messages stating they have bee given a cooldown. They can figure it out for themselves when their cooldown has ended.