Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Player-made guides on how stuff works.
Post Reply
User avatar
Grypho
Registered user
Posts: 182
Joined: 02 Jan 2016, 10:13
Location: Finland

Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Grypho » 09 Jan 2016, 06:39

Starting speech: Hello, this is a guide on how you should behave and interact with people as a MP, this is not a guide on MP equipment or on every possible crime you should handle. So I am assuming you already know marine law and your security equipment at least satisfactory. If you don't, check the earlier MP guide about them and read the marine law in-game book.

I made this guide because I noticed many MPs struggling with the problems mentioned (and fixed) in this guide. I will also keep it as short as I can, so people have enough strenght to read it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The biggest mistake many MPs make - not using dicretion correctly

Your job is to keep the order and enforce the safety of the personnel in Sulaco. You don't always need to use force to deal with every situation, words are usually much more effective. In fact, directly tazing and cuffing someone with out explanation will get the marines hate you - and after that it's even more challanging to do your job. Use the force only if the marine continues trespassing/disobeying for example commander's order even after your warnings. You are much more likely to not earn "asshole" reputation amongst the marines. Try to approach your suspect with negotiation intent if it's possible, sometimes it's not but in many cases it is.

Your relation to command staff


Sometimes the commander might contact you and give you instructions. Follow what he says, but remember to remain lawful in your actions. If the command staff requests you to arrest someone and gives no charges, ask them for charges before arresting the suspect. You need to know the charges when you are arresting someone, because you need to tell your suspect their charges after you've arrested them. Usually the command staff doesn't order an arrest on anyone with out reason, but you should stay vigilant and think everything for yourself. If the commanding officers give you confusing orders which make no sense, ask them to clarify their order.

You should remain polite and appropriate, especially when talking to command staff. You are an example to be followed, so give a salute when higher ranked officer passes by. If you have nothing to do, ask the commanding staff if they have any tasks to give you. If you are lucky, you might end up getting a task to take care of the survivors.

Your relation to the marines

Now the second biggest mistake I've seen when it comes to interacting with marines, is giving them an impression that you are dominant, strict and not approachable. If you think you are the law, you should probably change your job. You are nothing more than a staff sergeant, the same rank as squad leader, but you have different tasks than a squad leader has. Do not think that you are above anyone, you are just here to follow and enforce the commanding staff's orders. You are also to assist marines if they are confused. If you can see a confused marine running around the hallway, ask him to go to briefing politely.

Commander gives an order to get to the shuttles - you enforce it. If the marines hate you for your bad behaviour, don't expect anyone to listen to you. As has been said earlier, you are an example to be followed. Ask the marines to follow the commander's order - and usually they will. If the marines show signs of decent behaviour, you have no reason to get angry at them. The best MPs have a reputation of being relaxed. Marines see that kind of MPs much more comfortable to listen to.

Extreme situations

If the situation gets totally out of hand and it's not your fault - it's time to use force. Sometimes there are totally horrible marines who cause chaos by running around the briefing room just for fun, break windows and run around in inappropriate clothing. It is likely that this kind of marines will not stop their crimes until you stop them by force. Remember to follow arresting procedures and give them a sentence mentioned in marine law for their crimes. Remember prisoner rights so they can't complain about anything. You should still remain appropriate when handling the criminals, then you will have nothing more to lose.

All in all

Being a MP requires specific social skills, it's not enough if you just know your equipment and the marine law. You must also know how to interact with your "customers" as well. Remember to use discretion!

TIPS
Wickedtemp wrote:Emphasis on the whole "If Command tells you to execute someone for petty theft, or gives an equally outlandish and illegal order, you probably shouldn't do it." thing.

"I'm just following orders." isn't an excuse. After the round, Command will get arrested and the MP that carried out the illegal order will meet the same fate.
Last edited by Grypho on 11 Jan 2016, 03:54, edited 1 time in total.
Image

User avatar
Seehund
Donor
Donor
Posts: 497
Joined: 11 Aug 2015, 12:28
Location: Unter dem Meer.

Re: Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Seehund » 10 Jan 2016, 17:38

This, x100000.

Good guide, you clearly know what you're talking about.
Kudos!
When the voice from the shadows calls you
When the wind whips past your ears
Will you stand when the weight is upon you
Or will you go to your knees in fear?

User avatar
Jen_Llama
Registered user
Posts: 111
Joined: 31 Aug 2015, 23:28

Re: Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Jen_Llama » 10 Jan 2016, 19:22

But what if my best friend in the whole world just blatantly broke the law and is being arrested, and this has turned me into a psychotic unthinking animal?

Seriously though, great guide.
Image

Wickedtemp
Registered user
Posts: 603
Joined: 10 Aug 2015, 22:14

Re: Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Wickedtemp » 10 Jan 2016, 23:08

Emphasis on the whole "If Command tells you to execute someone for petty theft, or gives an equally outlandish and illegal order, you probably shouldn't do it." thing.

"I'm just following orders." isn't an excuse. After the round, Command will get arrested and the MP that carried out the illegal order will meet the same fate.

User avatar
Grypho
Registered user
Posts: 182
Joined: 02 Jan 2016, 10:13
Location: Finland

Re: Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Grypho » 11 Jan 2016, 03:54

Jackserious wrote:This, x100000.

Good guide, you clearly know what you're talking about.
Kudos!
Thanks for the compliment :thumbup:
Wickedtemp wrote:Emphasis on the whole "If Command tells you to execute someone for petty theft, or gives an equally outlandish and illegal order, you probably shouldn't do it." thing.

"I'm just following orders." isn't an excuse. After the round, Command will get arrested and the MP that carried out the illegal order will meet the same fate.
Good point, added to the guide.
Image

User avatar
Smov
Registered user
Posts: 13
Joined: 30 Sep 2018, 15:49
Byond: Smov

Re: Guide to being a good MP [Behaviour and interaction]

Post by Smov » 27 Dec 2018, 14:50

Yes, as in the movie " Kingdom of Heaven " : "A King may move a man, but the soul belongs to the man " . Too lame ... I´m sorry

Post Reply