Ganking

[Adam_Spire]

Ok here we go.

Ganking: It is a word commonly used in online video games, usualy used in an MMORPG. Ganking is the process in which a group of charecters gang up on one or more players that do not have a chance to defend themselves, Or when one high level player does the same action to a player way below his or her own level


In case you thought it was otherwise.


Scenario 1: Ok. Before Turret/Zoom there was Gunboat Missiles. And I love Gunboats. This was back when Missiles were still generating rage hate. I had two of them on my GB. This guy in his heavy fighter was just amazing. Mind you this was a guy in a Border World Heavy Fighter that nearly tore me a new one. He knew the dynamics and the range to stay at and I only managed to win because eventually I managed to damage him. By sheer numbers I was ganking him. No way someone would normally go head to head against a gunboat but this guy did. I didn'€™t win, he simply didn'€™t want to eventually let the numbers catch up with him. If I didn'€™t start some maneuvers He would have won, hands down. Remember, that'€™s one Heavy Fighter (Not VHF or bomber) but one HF against me. I wasn'€™t that bad but his understanding of the game dynamics made him far superior to me. For that one reason it was not ganking.

Scenario 2. me again, in my Gunboat. Two reavers and a VHF. Now, for me, that'€™s still not ganking. I was able to manage to take down 3 Reaber bombers back in the day, WHEN I had fire support from a near by border station. I used the area to my advantage and in good combat fun, they held up until they died. Back to the scenario, those two reavers and one Hessian VHF became I think two more bombers plus the ones on me. I was just able to hold three off. The five total became impossible. It became ganking. Here'€™s the twist. The reaver gave me a kudos for the battle and admitted I won that, even though I died. Here is the problem. I learned turret steer and to watch the names on the bottom left and the moment one range decreased, I used the '€œclosest target'€ and turned and fire. I figured out a way to hold off three snubs alone. They need to gank to win '€“faster- even though they could have won if they stuck out with the original 3. This one felt like (Gank and be ganked, its called tactical advantage.) The three were having a tough time against me, and may, -may- not have won without help. I feel the odds were in their favor.

Scenario 3: there are a fairly even number of ships on both sides. Battleships cruisers Gbs and snubs. The fight goes on for 20-30 minutes if that and one side is down to snubs or one ship while the other side has a good portion of their guys around. That remaining larger fleet is not ganking the remaining who ever. That is just finishing the battle and wrapping it up. This is on the lines of (I believe ganking should only be done in special circumstances.)

Scenario 4: GB vs GB. The classic confrontation. I believe one on one is 80% always fair. The only variance is in the armor, guns, and again, skill of the player. I fought a gunship with my explorer and was slowly turning to my favor. When asked to help by a nearby ally, the gunship said no and the one stayed out of it. They asked, it was turned down. Fair fight. Moments later, no asking just two of the gunship allies came and gave their engagement notice. I think they were bombers. The term :I just got ganked- flashed into my mind. I was already low on everything and hoped to conclude the battle with the gunship and hold off the first ship whos assistance was turned down. Nope. The gunship who would have had me pretty close, choose to gank and end the battle. I dropped my speed and didn'€™t move. What was a good fight became unfair. This one is right on the money for (I am completely against ganking.)


There are more variables here than I can even begin to mention. Its like trouble shooting a technical issue.
There is no way to measure skill until the fight starts. Even then, is that really good player having a bad day? Maybe his mind is distracted and he makes those critical mistakes? I have heard a story of a LF forcing a Cruiser to land. Can we all do that? No, but I'€™m sure that cruiser didn'€™t expect to run from a light fighter. Rheinalnd breaks out BS and some say that'€™s ganking. Now hold on there. Most in rheinalnd heavies know when to back down. I haven'€™t seen a Corsair gank in a while and Zoner? I'€™ve never seen a zoner fleet even fight so I can'€™t even say. I have seen Corsairs run in packs. Ganking? Yea ----BUT----- here is the flipside. That one transport can turn into three heavily armed transports. Or a small angry fleet. In a moment the gankers become the ganked. Is it fair?

I have no idea what I'€™m going to expect when I pvp. We all don'€™t pick fights we have no intention to win. Yea sometimes we do pick fights to delay and die anyway, but that'€™s rare. I have no idea if that pair of bombers will become a pack of five in 10 minutes. I have no idea if that one fighter I'€™m taking my GB against is one of the best pilots on the server. I hope for a fair fight but the one who loses typically doesn'€™t feel the fight is fair. Like scenario 4, I felt it was unfair. On the other hand, they may have had no idea the military was closing it. I didn'€™t even know. The bottom line is this. I expect anything. Its my job to get into and out of a mess. On the gankers mind set, maybe I'€™m that much of a '€œgood'€ player they need me out of the picture but sometimes it just feels like, '€œOh its that player. Launch every zig!'€ I can'€™t read minds although I do know many who feel they can. Ok, more power to ya. These are the four things I use to determine a battle and if it'€™s a gank or not.

Numbers '€“ How many are with and against you
Skill '€“ how good a player are they compared to you
Time '€“ How long will it take to win against your target
Firepower '€“ Do you have the right guns for the right job and know when and when not to use them


When its 2 on one or worse, you got to set your own personal limits because that skill factor will make or break the pvp
If its taking too much time to win or get the edge, you run the risk of off-setting the first two entirely, at this time, its up to all the players involved in the pvp to choose good form or gankfest

Firepower is last because I'€™ve found out, having big guns are great, if you can aim and have the time to use them.

Ganking will happen. Sometimes its needed while other times its just a metagaming hate rage to merely win at all costs. Welcome to Disco

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Sometimes, when all you want is to gain your freedom, you must be willing to risk it all.