Weapons Licenses

I would like to raise a concern regarding the accessibility of basic city services, particularly the process of obtaining a license when DOJ personnel are unavailable.

Speaking from personal experience, I have spent the last three weeks making repeated trips to City Hall and dedicating multiple hours a day to trying to obtain a license, only to find that the necessary personnel are unavailable. I understand that these services are player-managed and that people have their own schedules, but I believe the current system creates an unnecessary barrier for new residents trying to get established in the city.

As a newcomer, you often do not know who works in a particular department, when they are available, or who to contact to get things moving. You cannot reasonably be expected to know which players to approach, ask them to clock in, or rely on word of mouth just to access basic resources. Asking around is not always a viable solution, either. Even simple attempts to interact with other people can be difficult. I have personally tried saying "excuse me" to players blocking doorways, only to be completely ignored.

These experiences make the city feel inaccessible to someone who is new and does not already have established connections. When basic necessities depend on knowing the right people, having existing relationships, or catching a particular department member online, it puts newcomers at a significant disadvantage before they have even had a fair opportunity to participate in the community.

I would like to propose considering an alternative system for distributing licenses. For example, an NPC could handle the process through a coded eligibility check, verifying whether an applicant meets the necessary requirements before issuing the appropriate license. This would preserve whatever prerequisites the city wants to enforce while ensuring that the service remains available regardless of whether a particular player is online.

If certain licenses or circumstances require direct interaction with DOJ, that could remain an option. However, there should be a reliable alternative for routine applications that do not require individual staff intervention.

I am not suggesting that player-run departments should be removed or that the people who volunteer their time are at fault. Rather, I believe essential city services should have some degree of accessibility independent of player availability. Player interaction should enhance the experience, not become a prerequisite for accessing basic gameplay systems.

Ultimately, the newcomer experience matters. If someone spends weeks trying to obtain a basic license and cannot make meaningful progress because the necessary personnel are unavailable, that is a system worth examining. New players should have a reasonable way to learn how the city operates, access its resources, and become involved without already needing connections to established members.

I hope this feedback can be taken constructively and that consideration can be given to systems that make essential services more accessible, consistent, and welcoming to everyone, especially those who are just starting out.