Police and prison
How do I become a cop and get better gear?
Talk to the officer at the Looty Bay police station. For the shift you get free gear and a car, and your personal belongings are stored and returned after duty.
Without a badge, only basic equipment is available. Badges are single-use: they’re found around the city or bought in the Trade Laptop after research. At the Barter, 15 Sergeant’s Badges trade for a Lieutenant’s Badge, and 5 Lieutenant’s Badges for a Captain’s Badge.
Police Station↗
How do I get a prison sentence and tattoos?
A normal arrest by a cop gives no sentence: it only takes the contents of your bag. The feds give a sentence for confiscating your property. You can also surrender to them yourself by selecting the prison on the global map.
The more property is confiscated, the longer the sentence. It starts at 1 year, plus a year for every 500,000 of property value in the state, but no more than 40 years per state. A sentence unlocks tattoos and some items in Larry’s Tree.
Why are cops so strong?
The developers call it an asymmetric role. There are almost always more cops, they respawn in Looty Bay, and they have good cars and equipment. At the very start they’re very dangerous for criminals, but later robbers can successfully fight back. The cops’ lack of risk is offset by noticeably smaller rewards.
What does "the feds are coming" mean?
It’s a timer on the right of the screen. When it ends, the feds arrive and take everything you have. You won’t see the feds themselves, but for your character it’s a full wipe.
Why surrender to the feds?
Confiscated property turns into a prison sentence, and the sentence is your authority. It unlocks new crafting and tattoos and stays with you after a wipe. The more property is confiscated, the longer the sentence.
How long can I stay in the city? Is there a shift limit?
In Looty Bay every player has a personal 40-minute timer, both cops and criminals. Near the end, the message “Leave the city before the feds arrive” appears.
A criminal who doesn’t leave in time loses equipment and items. A cop in that case gets the spent badge back.
How do I get paid for police duty?
Earnings build up during the shift, and at the end you collect confiscated goods from the officer: goods for the earned amount and only part in cash. Earnings per shift are capped.