Forums » General

Tactics... and cowardly?

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Mar 08, 2004 Pirogoeth2 link
Tactics. Tactics are the key to victory in this game, so why is someone called a coward when executing a tactic to counter tri-flares? Who decides what is cowardly? Who can call a person a coward for backspacing if he himself triple teams? Both are legitimate tactics, so why is one cowardly and the other not? Heck, why would EITHER be cowardly, they do the job.
Mar 08, 2004 SirCamps link
I think it boils down to what people would consider "fair." I for one, don't believe in fair fights.

"So I'll put down my sword, and you'll put down your rock, and we'll try to kill each other like civilized men?" :\ No.

In a battle, there are winners and losers. A righteous/proud/honorable loser is still a loser.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. Defenders always have the advantage.
2. Triple sunflare is not invincible, as long as you switch out of arcade and backpedal.
3. Taunting your enemy can prompt him to irrational actions that he would not commit otherwise.
4. If someone calls you a hypocrite, admit it--we're all humans, we're all inconsistent. Thank them for stating the obvious.
5. Discretion is the better part of valor. If several good pilots team up to kill you, run and live to fight another day.
Mar 08, 2004 Spider link
Some tactics are often percieved as "cowardly" or not, usually it depends on the situation they are used in.

For example, were you to pull your valk up behind me and start sniping me with your rails, I'd consider that quite cowardly, Both because I'm not a hostile target, and the prom is a sitting duck on a tri-rail valk, and that its from behind.

Yet, it'd be a very valid tactic in a battle-situation (flagcap).

How we play differ quite a lot on how the situation is percieved, compare me grabbing a vult + homers just to get at the flag carrying person, All others are mere "annoyance" and people to be dodged, and as many homers as possible on the sitting duck, the rag with the flag.

Is this cowardly or not? I'd actually consider it so, and its nothing I'd do if I thought I'd have a fair chance battling the wingmen off, but against a squad of fighters? Sure its valid, and tactical.


however, a lot of "tactics" are plain boring, stay at 300 meters, circle and fire gauss for example. Wonderful sense of stalemate where noone dares close up due to the other player might get a hit. Boring, but cowardly? Yeah. actually it is. from both sides.

Docking, repairing and killing the enemy who let you off with your life and told you to back off, before he has a chance to repair? Cowardly or tactics? A valid tactic?

taking to a wormhole, jumping time after time whenever you take a hit running back into the defended homesector to repair, then jump back, shoot a few times and jump again? Cowardly or tactics?

Frankly, tactics are usually cowardly. They don't imply the head-first boldness of a dashing attack. On the other hand, they also mean that you are likely to survive.
Mar 08, 2004 timmy10150 link
you can win in this game?
Mar 08, 2004 Tilt152 link
Ok, in other space mmopg, people thinks that running away in a losing space battle is a cowardly act.
Mar 08, 2004 Pirogoeth2 link
ANd there are just as many people that think otherwise.
Mar 08, 2004 electric27 link
Other space mmorpg? Well if that's what the "others" think, we'll just have to think the opposite, just to spite them :P

I really see the value in tactics and retreating as a person, but my character's supposed to be brash and have slightly sub-normal intelligence, so I never run and instead fight to the last bus! Besides, when I'm broke, it gives me something to do on slow nights.

Personally, I hate swarm spammers, but at the same time, they're buckets of fun, especially in s9 with the station beams and stuff. Good times.
Mar 09, 2004 Demonen link
My goal: Take the High-Yield Acidics from S15 to S3
My problem: Pirate in S10
My solution: Go to tactic codenamed "Run like a sissy".

In a Cent I have absolutely no chance agains even a lonely Valk.
"Run like a sissy" involves two racs of proxymines, efective engine and fast-charge battery.
Full boost (forever) and wait for the agressor to come up behind (he has to if he's gonna catch up)
Drop mines in pairs to stop rockets or persuade agressor it's not worth it. (since the shockwave was implemented it allso slows them down)


Is this cowardly? Yes!
Is it the only way for a mediocre pilot like me to get away WITH cargo? Yes!

If it gets me to the S6 gate it's a good tactic. I'll keep using the "run like a sissy" tactic well into the final game.

:)
Mar 09, 2004 RelayeR link
This is not going off topic...trust me...

TAUNT = affront, bother, crack, deride, dig, disdain, dump on, flout, gibe, guy, insult, jab, jeer, lout, mock, offend, outrage, put down, quiz, rally, rank out, reproach, revile, ridicule, scoff at, scorn, scout, slam, slap, sneer, swipe at, tantalize, tease, torment, twit, twitter, upbraid.

If you get upset at being called a coward for your tactics, you have fallen victim to the taunt.

There is but one thing to remember: All's fair in love and WAR! If your opponent does not like what you did...it's their problem..not yours.
Mar 09, 2004 genka link
/me aplauds RelayeR
Mar 09, 2004 UncleDave link
A fair fight is one you havent planned.
Mar 09, 2004 Demonen link
A fair fight is one free of exploits and cracks.
If it's within the rules of the gamecode then it's fair.
Dig?
Mar 09, 2004 technocrat link
Don't forget the secret cloaking device....codename: L.O.G.O.F.F It's helped me escape a few instances of certain death... ;)
Mar 09, 2004 SirCamps link
Well, I was hoping we'd get some irate people who would drone on and on about what's fair and what's not, but we didn't. So, I guess I'll play devil's advocate here. Please note my sarcastic comments have a bit of taunting to them, don't take it personally.

It's very cowardly to attack someone and then run for the dock when they turn out to be more than you can handle.

It's a shame when someone invests in the fastest ship in the game, removes all of its forward gears, and adds in five extra reverse ones.

It's very cowardly to run and repair when you take the slightest bit of damage.

It's very cowardly to boost-rocket stationary, chatting targets in any sector--you're greedy for PKs, not combat.

It's very cowardly to wait until a duel finishes and then kill the surviving damaged player.

It's very cowardly to put the last shot on the frigate when someone else has done all the work of weakening it.
Mar 09, 2004 Pirogoeth2 link
I believe cowardly=cheap in the above, and not even all of those things apply anyway(You can only trade all the foward gears for four reverse ones)
Mar 09, 2004 RelayeR link
(major giggles)
Mar 09, 2004 AlienB link
MMmm..lots of opinions here..

Basically, I try not to have a major advantage over whoever I'm attacking, and at least try to give him a chance. Doesnt apply in flag-cap situations, or when I don't feel like being nice. Tough.
Mar 09, 2004 Tilt152 link
I picked up some interesting information from another website about PvP(from another game.. like jumpgate):

"1. The hideously over aggressive. Pilots such as these are likely to go for the first enemy pilot they find, and flashfire until that pilot is dead. They won't care that much if they are getting badly hurt while doing it. Unlikely to disengage from their target. This type of pilot will often take one down with them, but are of little help to a fleet due to the rate at which they die.

2. The slightly over-aggressive. This type of pilot generally makes sensible decisions, but when engaged in a 1v1 situation in a large RS battle will often stay in that situation well after it's become clear that they are not going to win, or will die shortly after winning.

3. 'Just Right'. Generally makes good targeting decisions, and knows when to disengage and re-engage.

4. The mildly cowardly. Generally a decent all-round pilot, but likely to disengage from battle for longer than necessary when hurt (For example, will wait for shields to get to 50% or more before recommitting to the fight).

5. The hideously cowardly. Travels behind the main body of the fleet. Runs as soon as they get hurt. Even more useless than type 1 pilots."

what do you guys actually think of it?
Mar 09, 2004 Sheean link
Let's see..

That would make me about 3-4

Also, interupting in a duel/killing the winner is really, really, really cheap.
Mar 09, 2004 Urza link
i land right on 2.