To Gank or not to Gank . . .

[frost889]

To gank, or not to gank, that is the question.

Apparently, there is a strange dichotomy amongst game players in regards to the activity of ganking. As I am an old soul when it comes to gaming (and just plain old), I have been around since the beginning of Player versus Player, especially as it pertains to MMOs. Just wanted eGOs opinion.

Per the Urban dictionary:

1. Ganking

It is a word commonly used in online video games, usually used in an MMORPG. Ganking is the process in which a group of characters 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

For all intents and purposes, and for the sake of this post, I will consider ganking attacking someone far below in level. That flagged level 10 you happen to ride by on your level 85. That group of questing lowbies your elite group flies over. One shot and their dead. No chance of them attacking back. Or, it might take 2 shots, but their counter-attacks can't hurt you anyway.

Very few MMOs deal with PvP the same way. World of Tanks for instance does not allow a high level 7 massive armored tank to attack a smaller level 2. World of Warcraft allows the community to dole out punishment on their PvP servers by players asking for help.

What is the eGO community take on ganking? Are the majority of users up for bullying (yes it's a game, but the activity of picking on the weak / smaller started long, long ago) as it is part of the game? Or do you believe more in a chivalrous turn at PvP and attack only those that can properly defend themselves? (Ambushing a similar level character is not ganking).

Also, do you think a penalty should come into play for attacking or constantly camping lower level characters?

What do you think?

 

[A_Bystander]

Hmm... an interesting forum thread.
Heres what I think:
Ganking has different meanings and applications based on the game you are referring to. The first game that comes to mind for me when you say ganking is LoL. In League of Legends it is part of the game and thus an acceptable strategy to say, keep a carry from farming up and becoming unstoppable. However, that being said, in another game such as World of Warcraft, ganking a low level player from another faction is just like grieving. If it is a strategy built into the game and a method of benefiting your team or yourself I believe it is perfectly acceptable. If you are just doing it to frustrate another player, I would argue against that because it contradicts with the character of this gaming community.

 

[Dayman]

The fact of the matter is on MMO's like WoW it is acceptable on PvP servers. It has always been this way it is one of the foundations of PvP. It starts world battles. In Vanilla wow it wasnt as bad because each faction had people in the those waiting for this type of thing and it just made for more fun world pvp. However, when zones get more scare and you don't have to actually leave your main city then that is where people seem to think it is grieving. Simply fact is if you dont like being ganked don't level on a pvp server.

It sucks when it happens and it can frustrate you but it's part of MMO's if it wasn't then the companies would take more action against it.

 

[Manason]

I like ganking in terms of MMOs, I remember getting ganked and then my higher level friends/guild mates would go seek revenge. It works like a big brother. When the big kids push you around your big brother fights the battle for you and you can fight the big kids little brother. When PvP works like this it is very enjoyable, now I don't know exactly what game your referring to, and theres no way to really stop ganking in MMOs, it's always been there and always will remain.

 

[blackhawksniper]

PvP

Its combat, why would I want to put myself in a position where I don't use my full force?

Nothing honorable about using less of yourself/assets/skills, etc. against someone who doesn't have them

 

[Naku_vamp]

this one game i played it was practically a stregety because twice a day there was a war, you had to be at least level 20 to participate and even tho a level 20 would get owned in most hand to hand combat even in the war having a bunch of levels 20's helped towards the overall goal, so people regularly would go to other factions low level training areas and try to prevent them from leveling which usually caused mini battles all over the place cus the high levels would protect the low levels or fight them off, and since the war effected economy of teh factions it was takn seriouly

 

[A_Bystander]

Sigh... I am a little disappointed with the general response to this thread. Maybe this is why I didn't stay in the WoW division long. Just because you can does not mean you should.

 

[Raul Tha Monk]

Man i didnt think people still play WoW MMORPGS are so 6years ago

 

[3vlNomad]

Sigh... I am a little disappointed with the general response to this thread. Maybe this is why I didn't stay in the WoW division long. Just because you can does not mean you should.

You're absolutely right, it does not mean you should. Would you rather not have the choice though? The evolution of gaming has brought us to the point where, if we can't choose then what's the point? Straightforward games with only one direction to walk in don't usually float for very long.

 

[Snipeye]

There's a flaw in your reasoning frost in regards to comparing WoT to WOW. WoT is considered an MMO because of the scale and size of the battles and the number of participants. However, it's not a persistent, continuous fight with people stuck to participate if they don't want to. WoW is a persistent, role-playing game where even if you log off, there will be players in the same active server, regardless of whether or not they're actively playing (i.e. Being AFK in the capital cities). So, both games are MMOs, but execution are definitely different, thus affecting how PVP can work. And to be honest, WoT doesn't even have a PvE option. You're better off comparing WoW, to Everquest, Lord of the Rings, RIFT, even Global Agenda would qualify because it does have a PvE option, even though it's made primarily for PvP.

I don't like ganking, personally. I think it's a crap move by a person, but I understand it's allowed, especially in a PvP server. Which is why I liked WoW's method in dealing with it. Especially for lower level characters. Common areas for lower levels to play in are protected zones for their faction, so opposing faction players are not allowed to initiate contact. But the higher-end zones are neutral, so anything goes. It may suck when you're trying to complete a quest, or mine certain materials, but hey, if that's what you only wanted to do, stick with a PvE server. In the WOW division, we tried to strike a fair balance when it came to PvP rules between our Alliance and Horde factions, especially after a few players ruined guild-sponsored raids and events. We cannot dictate every allowable action for a player, but we also couldn't give them free reign to do what they want without repercussions because it's just a PvP server. I'm guessing this post is partly related to how SWTOR will define ganking, and possibly regular it between our two guilds, since we're looking to join a PvP server.