VIP's and Their Effect on Free Roam...

[We Are Ninja]

The day that the Executives and Other Criminals DLC dropped, I was curious about how all the new stuff would work. A friend bought a yacht and and a few more friends and I messed around with it for a while before we got bored. Then a friend figured out how to become a VIP. We marveled at the $5000 being deposited into our accounts and the RP we were gaining just for hanging out. Then we left the yacht and headed into the city where a handful of players began attacking us unprovoked. I took two shotgun round at near point-blank range. Not only did I survive the assault, but I gun-butted and killed the assailant. I knew that being a bodyguard came with perks, but I didn't realize that increased damage resistance was one of them.

 

I could be completely wrong; maybe it was just dumb luck. But I've been killed from greater distances by shotguns. Anyway, my next realization was that trolls and griefers would utilize the VIP/bodyguard statuses and roam the map in their armored cars like super-powered trolls. "Great," I thought, "Once again, R* is wanking the trolls and the griefers." With super trolls and armored, explosive-resistant cars flying up and down the street, free roam is going to go form being Purgatory to an actual hellhole.

 

In my experience, though, this hasn't been the case at all. It seems that masochists/sadists/warmongers activate VIP status and every other sadist and warmonger in the lobby makes a beeline for them. It's been a week now, and I think I've been attacked by ONE rando. Everyone else is circling the lobby's VIP(s) like carrion birds. I've been testing cars, shopping, getting haircuts, etc. in peace while the VIPs and the red dots engage in perpetual mortal combat elsewhere. It's like all the f*ckery is concentrated in one area and the rest of the map is free to go on about their business.

 

This isn't at all what I expected, but I can't say that I'm not enjoying it. Has anyone else experienced this?

Edited December 22, 2015 by We Are Ninja

[slimeball supreme]

In realisation, the inflated egos of griefers has actually improved gameplay in a way.

Maybe this was R*'s intent all along...

[shadowoperative]

I can't say for sure because I am a free mode instigator.

[markyhitch]

I read on here that being a VIP was like having a constant bounty but also the VIP job "sightseer" was easy money in invite-only.

 

So guess what I do during my time as a VIP...

[DJS]

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

[shadowoperative]

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

[TreFacTor]

You can be a VIP in invite only Soooooo....

[DJS]

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

 

What? No...

[Atska]

Just do what I always do jump in a submarine, become a VIP, hire bodyguards and launch missions from the safety of the ocean floor.

[shadowoperative]

 

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

What? No...

Well you did IMO. A VIP should be able to hold their own.

[8up local]

 

 

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

What? No...

Well you did IMO. A VIP should be able to hold their own.

 

then what is the point of body guards if the VIP can do it all on their own?

[TCA]

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Lol I know the feeling I was VIP days ago and some literally came out to Sandy shores just to try and take me out. I had just got done doing some missions too. I haven't been VIP again yet, simply can't stay in a room long enough to do much.

[shadowoperative]

 

 

 

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

What? No...

Well you did IMO. A VIP should be able to hold their own.

 

then what is the point of body guards if the VIP can do it all on their own?

Apparently no one wanted to be their bodyguard.

[Rangerlump]

Just do what I always do jump in a submarine, become a VIP, hire bodyguards and launch missions from the safety of the ocean floor.

My Submersible with 5 sticky bombs on it wants to say hello

[m3ss12k9]

Just do what I always do jump in a submarine, become a VIP, hire bodyguards and launch missions from the safety of the ocean floor.

simple yet brilliant, I like it

[Nick930930]

So a giant indicator pops up over a player alerting the server that the specific player in question has become a "VIP"

 

 

and you thought people weren't going to make a beeline for him?

 

LOL what?!?!

 

 

 

If you want to have people swarming around you like rats... become a VIP yourself. Then the concentration of players will be evenly split among-st the current VIPs.

 

Just do what I always do jump in a submarine, become a VIP, hire bodyguards and launch missions from the safety of the ocean floor.

My Submersible with 5 sticky bombs on it wants to say hello

 

 

Yeah good luck with that.. it would take you about 20 minutes just to reach the spot of the VIP.. who's likely going to be moving away from you at the same speed... worlds most boring chase ever.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Nick930930

[TestX]

.

Edited January 4, 2017 by TestX

[Rangerlump]

 

So a giant indicator pops up over a player alerting the server that the specific player in question has become a "VIP"

 

 

and you thought people weren't going to make a beeline for him?

 

LOL what?!?!

 

 

 

If you want to have people swarming around you like rats... become a VIP yourself. Then the concentration of players will be evenly split among-st the current VIPs.

 

Just do what I always do jump in a submarine, become a VIP, hire bodyguards and launch missions from the safety of the ocean floor.

My Submersible with 5 sticky bombs on it wants to say hello

 

 

Yeah good luck with that.. it would take you about 20 minutes just to reach the spot of the VIP.. who's likely going to be moving away from you at the same speed... worlds most boring chase ever.

 

Noooo =) Off the Grid + Cargobob

[Sky_Light12]

as i said here : http://gtaforums.com/topic/834210-is-it-worth-keeping-1000000-in-the-bank-to-be-a-vip/page-3?do=findComment&comment=1068293139

the VIP can be used as trump card : during freemode battles , you could take advantage of vehicles , bullshark ( better than brucie's delivered since VIP themselves are dropping it ) and armor

not to mention ghost organization , in order to momentarily turn tables if your organization are overwhelmed

bodyguard's HP can also regenerate and earn up to 2 levels stat boost ( the higher level VIP , the better the stat is ) but only if it close enough to VIP radius . this kind of organization greatly resemble of typical MMORPG " party group " at which the group may receive buffs ( though it may from member's spell ) and finally , by default the group cannot harm fellow member ( unless challenge in duel or if the group involved in PVP modes ) . but in GTA online , you can kill your fellow member by running over them or continuously flinch them somehow ( killing own's VIP would result a " scratch in your paycheck " )

a combination of BP helmet , 100% armor , maxed strength , bullshark testosterone and VIP's vicinity buff greatly enhance bodyguard's durability at peak , which is possible by normal means ( though it does not means the bodyguard could whitstand barrage of minigun or at least one explosive ) . however , utility vest's durability are not possible to be combined with these since it's impossible to call brucie for bullshark during heist and the vest's buff only functional during heist

the drawback of organization is :

 

VIP :

~ do not receive vicinity buff , only the bodyguards do

~ the bodyguards may rebel at the VIP

~ using VIP abilities may cost you ( some vehicles are free , presumably the VIP owned them )

~ the use of VIP are extremely finite , register-retire would wait every 12 hours . even then , the VIP contract can be expired

~ all members of organization are disabled use of passives

~ VIP , like bounty , has risk of being hunted down ( particulary starting VIP works and challenges ) due VIP has their own icon on the map

Bodyguard :

~ lacked ability to drop ammo , bullshark and armor . only summoning vehicles

~ in order to attain the buff , the bodyguard must be close to VIP's vicinity ( indicated by a circular zone around the VIP in the map )

~ as with VIP , disable use of passives

~ being a bodyguard , the player must be close to VIP and risk their lives to protect the VIP at all cost

~ everytime the VIP dies , it will reduce bodyguard's paycheck

~ the VIP may be treachously betray the bodyguard

 

Edited December 22, 2015 by Sky_Light12

[Hazel Mae]

Being a VIP is fantastic. Everybody thinks they can just murder me but they get f*cked in the mouth. And if you hire your friends as bodyguards you can make some good money from the VIP works. The abilities and being able to spawn cars is nice, and it's very exhilarating having people come for you constantly. It's really improved freeroam tbh.

[DJS]

 

 

 

 

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

 

What? No...

 

Well you did IMO. A VIP should be able to hold their own.

 

then what is the point of body guards if the VIP can do it all on their own?

 

Apparently no one wanted to be their bodyguard.

 

I said I got attacked. I didn't say I got killed repeatedly.

 

1. I had a bunch of random Bodyguards (who were mostly sh*t)

2. I can hold my own

 

Learn to read.

[shadowoperative]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I tried being a VIP once, then just got consistently attacked...

Then you lost VIP status.

What? No...

Well you did IMO. A VIP should be able to hold their own.

then what is the point of body guards if the VIP can do it all on their own?Apparently no one wanted to be their bodyguard.I said I got attacked. I didn't say I got killed repeatedly.

 

1. I had a bunch of random Bodyguards (who were mostly sh*t)

2. I can hold my own

 

Learn to read.

Hire better bodyguards.

 

Learn to recruit.

[fSpiral]

I have had a similar exprience when im not vip. Only attacked by 1 vip troll group and blew up their limo. I get the occasional freeroam warrior but I travel in an armored v12. Days of the random 1 shot sticky bombs are over and I can drive through red dots without concern.

 

As a vip I try to get my body guards as much money as possible. We're hardly idle. I get in a heli and start sightseeker or whatever and spawn a buzzard so my body guards become the target and I can fly with protection. Also only the vip can pick up the briefcase for sightseeker. After that we do an assualt on merryweather or the altruist camp for 16,000.

 

Once I was being flow around with 2 body guards and we heard the lock on of a rocket. We jumped out moments before it blew up and landed right next to each other. One of them downed the buzzard that shot us down with a homing rocket. The other sniped a random trying to snipe me as I called the mechanic for my v12. We drove off to continue sight seeker and im sitting there thinking, this is pretty awesome.

Edited December 22, 2015 by fSpiral

[DJS]

Hire better bodyguards.

 

Learn to recruit.

Nope, I'm done. You've officially lost me.

 

I just fired out invitations to people in the session, I wasn't caring who I hired and clearly if I already had bodyguards I know how to recruit...

 

None of which are going to stop people trying to kill me seeing as I have a huge target on my head.

 

Terrible, terrible advice.

[TreFacTor]

 

You can be a VIP in invite only Soooooo....

to who? brainless NPCs who don't give a f*ck if you're an organized crime boss or not?

the main point of being a VIP is to run an organization and hire bodyguards and make rivals and other players fear you. basically cosplay Al Capone or Tony montana, not use it just to get the blacklisted outfits or make $23,000 every 6 minutes.

 

To OP though, IMO VIP's and the whole organizations thing is great for freeroam, it really enhances the gameplay, but with that said, it only works when players corporate and understand each other, and not get hired by a VIP and then run away to the northern part of the map or your apartment. sadly that's not the case here since most are hidden in their anti social cave and afraid to speak to another fellow human being, or in other case can't resist being assholes.

He wanted to be vip without being bothered though.

 

Invite only solves that problem and most other complaints about free roam.

[psymin]

I love the vip mode.

 

Like you OP ive noticed a change in free roam since its introduction, as non-affiliated players seem to leave eachother alone

sitting on my yacht in vip with bodyguards around fending off attackers is pretty rad.

Game changer imo. Like rdr posses but more gta-esq