Combine Points
Combine Points (or CPs) are an OOC reward to players for helping the Combine. There are a variety of ways of obtaining them, as well as uses for them. The number you currently have is shown on the sidebar, underneath your avatar.
Contents
Getting CPs
CPs are obtained from helping the Combine in some way. Most players will get them from voting and donating, while others will get them for helping the Combine in various ways; including but not limited to improving or adding Artwork, writing new or improving Descriptions, and helping promote SWC in the web (See BannerX).
Donations
You can decide to generously donate to the Combine and receive CPs as a way of saying thanks from the Developers. You will receive 1,000 CPs for every US$1 you donate. The CPs you receive can then be used to spawn ships and customise the appearance of your entities. For a detailed list, see below. The donation page is located here: Donate to the Combine.
Voting
This is the main method players that don't donate use in order to get CPs. Going to the Support the Combine page will give you a variety of different voting options. There are a series of voting sites you can visit each day on the left of the page. Simply click the site's banner and vote on the site to get 10 CPs for each site you vote on. When you have sites available to vote on your CP amount on the sidebar will turn green and have a + at the end. Once all sites have been voted on, it will return to grey and loose the +.
Surveys
This is accessed on the same page as the Voting. On the right of that page are 2 survey systems (Blvd-Media and CPALead). Click on the offer there, do what they require and you will receive the relevant CP reward. Sometimes the system doesn't register that you completed it, but they are refreshed every so often so you will not run out.
Helping the Combine
By helping the Combine you can receive CPs as well. You can post your works in the various team's forums and receive CPs for each submission you make, or you can join a team of volunteers (such as the Art Team and the Descriptions team) upon invitation or application receive CPs for submissions you make to private SWC projects.
Artwork
If you have a talent for Art, you can check the Combine forums for the Art Team Public forum and see what needs to be done. There is a list of entities without images or images that need to be replaced or improved. Creating these images from scratch using your own ways and methods, and then presenting them to the public can earn you the honour of having your images displayed in the Combine's official rules page but also CPs. This can range from 5000 CPs to 10,000 and beyond depending on the quality of Art and the Art Team's judgement.
Descriptions
Every entity in the Combine has and needs a proper Description. They give the entity a RP overview and cover some of its basic elements. If you are good at writing, and have an excellent grammar, head over to the Descriptions Suggestion forum and follow the rules to post a new Description (or a replacement or a current description). The amount of CPs you can gain from this also depends on the quality and the Description's team judgement.
PR & Banner Exchange
The Combine is always looking to expand its playerbase and grow. If you can help with Public Relations by joining the Banner Exchange, voting on Websites and offering new websites that can join our voting system, then you can also receive CPs for your work promoting SWC. However, there are many more things you can do in order to promote the game, for questions regarding this, please contact the Public Relations Director.
Using CPs
After you receive your CPs, there are a number of ways you can use them and enjoy their benefits.
Credits
You can use your CPs to directly get credits. The exchange rate is 5 Credits for every CP. This isn't fairly a large amount and is best to use when you desperately need a few credits at the moment. There are many things you can spend your CPs on so you may not want to convert them all to Credits.
Entities
You can use CPs to receive various entities within SWC, including ships, vehicles and droids. In order to get them you need to be in the relevant facility, and access the Exchange CPs page. That will tell you which facility you need to be in to spawn the entity.
When you are in one of the appropriate facilities, you will see a list of entities you can spawn, along with the cost of each. Simply put the number of entities you wish to spawn of each entity. (For example, if you want one C-Wing ugly then input "1") and press the [Exchange] button. It will be spawned outside at the top left corner of the facility. The CP entities are usually not stationary, and will change every year or two. You should plan carefully when you go to spawn entities.
Customs
Custom Images
Main Article: Custom Images
You can also use CPs to get a custom image on any of the entities you may own. You can do so on the Exchange CPs page. For a more detailed instructions and the rules regarding custom images, please refer to Custom Images.
Custom NPCs
You can spawn a Custom class NPC at your location for 500 CPs. You can provide it its name and image (must also follow the Custom Image rules), and then choose the race and gender of the NPC. Once you click the [Exchange] link it will be submitted for review. The NPC will appear in your inventory, but will not appear at your location until it has been accepted by the NPC team. You can do this at any time.
Custom Items
Much like Custom NPCs, Custom Items are items that have no real value other than RP and they are used to decorate your ship, house or equip your character with clothes and many other original ideas. To spawn a custom item, go down in the Exchange CPs page, the fields are located below the Custom Image submissions. Input an Item name, images (must follow the Custom Image rules), a description (must be submitted but can be changed at a later date), the number of custom items of the same type you want to spawn and select which slots your item can be equipped to. For example, if your item is a helmet, make it equipable to your head only. If it's a ceremonial armour, then equip it to your Chest and so on. They will spawn at your location after they have been reviewed and accepted by the Art Team. These cost 250 CPs, and can be done at any time.
