Since the NCPD is modelled from a functioning Law Enforcement structure there are some things to keep in mind when creating a character to join the N.C.P.D.
Character Creation
Can I have a character who works for the N.C.P.D. who isn’t an Officer? Yes you can, within the N.C.P.D. there are multiple civilian occupations in administration, human resources and IT.
How young or old can my Officer be? The minimum age to apply to the N.C.P.D. is 18 years of age, but the character would still need to go through the academy which could take as many as 2 years to complete. Compulsory retirement age is currently set at 70, however most officers over the age of 50 have settled into a desk job.
Can my Officer be a Meta Human and can they use their abilities while performing their duties? Yes, many Officers are meta humans. Abilities can be used provided they are not applying excessive force or any forms of manipulation to gain a confession.
Does my Meta Human Officer need to declare what they are? Not at all, everyone is entitled to keep their secrets. The official stance is ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, so not one with authority can demand the information.
Can my Officer be corrupt? Absolutely, your character can have multiple allegiances, but if you want to go down this road be sure to cover your tracks. Internal Affairs are always watching and they could show up at any stage.
What sort of crimes can a corrupt Officer participate in? - Redistribution and Sales of Seized Goods: For those Early Retirement and College Funds
- Blackmail: You would not believe the things they can prove, so why take the chance
- Accepting Bribes: Evidence Tampering, Ignorance is Bliss
- Taxation of Criminal Activity: It is a Working Arrangement
Can I make an Officer with a criminal record? No. If the character has any convictions or was suspected of a crime it will immediately disqualify them from applying to the academy. Traffic violations and non violent juvenile records will generally be overlooked.
Do I need to do anything special with my Officer before being approved to join the N.C.P.D? Yes, you will need to select a department to join which may or may not have other active PCs in it. If you are interested in joining a department with other member characters, do some research in IC Planning to see who is currently active and where they are. If you want to take the hands on approach, you may be able to find someone to run a single recruitment style thread that will hopefully get your character all settled in and ready to keep the streets clean.
Can my Officer be in any department? Yes, excluding the highest tier within the N.C.P.D. structure which is reserved for NPCs and members of Internal Affairs, all other N.C.P.D. departments are available for characters to join. Any specific stories involving transfers or promotions within the PC Ranks are at the discretion of the Member. General Information
Why is my character no longer in C.R.A.S.H? The C.R.A.S.H. department was disbanded at the end of 2014 in preparation for the launch of the new Season. All active N.C.P.D. characters need to select and report to another department.
Can my Officer have high rank within their Department? Promotions are generally based on experience and time, unless your character is transferring from another police department or military structure it is highly unlikely that your character could hold rank without having earned it.
What happens if my Officer shoots or kills someone in the line of duty? Your character will come under investigation for the circumstances surrounding the shooting. During the investigation it is not uncommon for the Officer to be restricted to desk duties until the investigation is completed. The onus of running this particular story and any outcome from it is at the discretion of the individual member.
Can my Officer be in a relationship with another Officer? Yes, provided that your character’s personal relationship will not impact on the job or is a clear violation of rank.
Can my Officer be fired? Yes, if an investigation finds your character to have conducted themselves in a way unbecoming an Officer of the Law, your character may be discharged from the N.C.P.D. However there are always appeals processes your character can go through if he or she believes the decision was in error.
What is the oath of the N.C.P.D? On my honour, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the laws of my community and the agency I serve.
What does it mean for a gang to be part of the Big Three? The Big Three refers to the three major superpowers in the City. They are the organisations which control the majority of Niwa. Due to the operational size of the Big Three, the bulk of these forces are made up of NPCs. The reason for the NPCs is a simple numbers game. For a city with a population of 3million people, the men and women on the police force should number in the hundreds, if not thousands. It is impossible to have every position filled by a developed character. A similar situation exists within the additional Yakuza Clans and the Triad Groups. Why develop Organisations which are so big they need to include so many NPCs? The Big Three are also designed to be a part of the environment and having a massive NPC contingent to all of them gives the members a lot of operational control with the groups. Say there is a small Member developed Gang trying to muscle in on the Yakuza turf to sell drugs. The Gang Leader can take control of Yakuza NPCs that could come in and rough the smaller Gang up. Maybe they can push the Yakuza back a little bit, maybe it all goes horribly wrong for the Gang and they end up on the Yakuza hit list. The controllable portion of the Big Three means that Members can initiate these stories. If the Big Three are part of the Environment, why have PCs in the ranks? Eventually the Big Three need to take a stand and put the little guys back in their place, or try to. The smaller Gangs can only encroach on the Big Three’s territory for so long before there are going to be repercussions. When the time comes, it is great to be able to bring other characters to the fight than an endless line up of NPCs. While ultimately a small portion of the overall organisation, the PC elements within the groups are essential for driving the interests of the Big Three forward. Task Forces
What are Task Forces? Task Forces are specialised groups of Officers which are formed to meet a threat or contain a situation which is outside of the normal day to day business of the N.C.P.D. One Task Force will almost always be different to another and will usually be lead by the Officer with the most relevant information in a position of leadership.
Dose my character need to be an Officer to be involved in a Task Force? No, a Task Force is not limited to members of the N.C.P.D. and outside specialists can be called upon to assist if needed.
How long will a Task Force last and how big can they be? Task Forces are formed to handle a single event or plot which can be of any size. A major site wide event may be open to ALL members of the N.C.P.D. while a smaller, invitation only, side plot may be limited to three or four participants. The Event Coordinator in charge of the Task Force will usually be able to give an indication of how long the Event or Plot is scheduled to take.
Who can run and organise a Task Force? Anyone is capable of calling upon other members and forming a Task Force to handle unique situations.
How do I start a Task Force? Once you have an idea of something you would like to run, be it large or small, the easiest way to start a Task Force is to head on over to IC Planning and list details about the Event or Plot to generate interest from other people. Partners
Does my Officer have to have a Partner? Not at all. If you want to have an Officer who has a terrible track record with partners and has decided to go it alone, no one is going to force them, or you, into an RP that you do not want to have.
Can My Officer have a Permanently Assigned Partner? Yes. Permanently Assigned Partners can be PCs or NPCs. If you enjoy RPing with someone and you both RP frequently, you are encouraged to approach them personally and ask about the possibility.
Are there any Restrictions with who can become Partners? Yes. Partners are generally restricted to the same department and roughly the same rank. Captains and Lieutenants will NOT have partners due to the nature of their position. Whereas Detectives are more likely to work closely with a partner.
Do all N.C.P.D. Divisions allow for Partners? No. Some specialised units such as S.W.A.T. operate as a single team and do not make allowances for permanent partnerships.
I want to find a permanent partner for my Officer, but no one seems to be in the same department. What do I do? Advertise that your Officer is looking for a permanent Partner in IC Planning and be sure to let people know via Chat. Be open to the possibility of moving across departments to make it happen and make sure your potential RP partner is going to be able to keep up with the stories you want to run.
What should I do if the person who plays my Officer's Partner goes MIA? First of all don't stop RPing your character. There are numerous ways around this issue without rubbishing another character. Officers are reassigned to different Partners and Divisions every day, today may just be their turn. Leaving your options open will instantly free the character up to take on a new Partner or explain a break that you and the other member may be able to pick right back up when they come back. Always remember it is a working relationship first and foremost.
(If you have any other questions, post them in a reply and a staff member should be able to update the Frequently Asked Questions list)
Edited by Faith, Jan 22 2015, 08:36 PM.
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