Getting Started

So, you want to join the server. What even is it? Where do you start?

As this is a roleplay server, you need to know what you're getting yourself into. Take some time to read below to make sure it's going to be fun for you, and therefore the people you'll playing with! If you like the sound of it, fill out a whitelist application!

What is a Roleplay Server?
Unlike "GTA Online", where you can somewhat do whatever you want with reckless abandon, a roleplay server focuses on you literally becoming a character and "playing the role". While you are logged onto the server and walking around - you ARE that person.

This may seem obvious, but it comes with some important rules:


 * You must always play as your character. This is important for immersion, the only time you can break character is if you have a non-roleplay issue to report, like a game bug.
 * You only know what your character knows. This is very important. Using any information you've gathered outside of your character is considered "meta-gaming" and extremely discouraged.
 * For example: You noticed on Discord some people joking about robbing a house next time they're on the server. Your character does not know this information unless they came across this information in-game, without any external knowledge.
 * If you are trying to figure out if you're meta-gaming, try asking yourself "Did my character see it happen?" or "Would my character know that?" first.
 * This includes meeting up and interacting with people you know outside of the server. That's right, you have to organically meet everyone's characters in-game without any prior knowledge. No coordinating or planning outside of the game, your character doesn't know their characters yet!
 * You value your characters life. You want your character to live as much as someone you care about in the real world. Regular people do not actively harass police and commit crimes, we strongly discourage making a character like that.

So, what do you actually do?
Let's say you just got your application accepted - clearly you wrote an awesome character bio that we loved, congrats! What now?

Hop on the server and... exist! You'll get a chance at the start to customise how your character looks and then you're good to go. Simply walk around with a desire to meet people and thrive in this new environment - get out there and start chatting. Play as you would a real person, you need to eat and drink like a regular human. Treat it as some escapism, to get away from the real world for a bit.

Maybe you form a friendship group that decides to work together to buy a car. Or perhaps you desire to own an apartment? Maybe you want to become a paramedic, a taxi driver or a police officer? How would anyone else do it? Ask around and learn!

Using this wiki and other various guides - you'll learn all the different features of the server, such as accessing your phone, getting a job and earning money. The rest is down to you building on your character and interacting with others. That's where the fun is!

We've got a lot of features in-game for you to use as incentives and devices for good roleplay. This isn't an instant gratification style of gaming - It's a slow burn with some genuine menial work involved like any regular human would be subjected to. Be prepared for that!

What can't I do?
We want to make it really clear. You don't just hop on with the intention to kill as many people as possible. This isn't GTA as you know it. The focus is on community and immersion - by being someone else and respecting people. You know, a good law-abiding citizen.

Bad stuff can and will happen - but within the realms of fun. Police officers want to catch bad people, bad people want the thrill of the chase. All we ask is you don't go out of your way to ruin the game for anyone else. Respect people and their boundaries.

People aren't born criminals, crime usually happens as a result of their circumstance. What made your character a criminal? Their turn towards crime should happen naturally in-game as a result of what happens to them. We won't accept anyone's whitelist application that has the intention of committing crime straight away.

Sounds great! How do I join?
First of all, you need to access the Hat Films Discord to find the Whitelist form and fill it out! Two things: Firstly please read the Server Rules FIRST before stepping foot on the server. Secondly please take some time to think about the character you will be playing before you join - remember, not a criminal! You're a regular person entering a city of people with regular jobs, try and focus on personality traits and aspirations that are grounded in reality. Then let the rest develop as you play!