Other [Issue 28] Of Ethics and Tactics

[MadDog21 230]

Of Ethics and Tactics

 

In Tanki as in life, there are ethics, or there should be. Ethics: “Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior.” And/or “The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.” Certain that some will call, “rant!” particularly one with over 5700 Forum posts to my 265, I’ll opine anyway. Har!

In lobby and game chat both, it’s common to see complaints and wailing regarding what some should or ought to do. From where come the should and ought? Religion provides the genesis of most, but we’ll not visit those various faiths and their rules or suggestions. Often the complaints sent squealing toward the heavens is, “It’s not fair!” Of course fair’s definition varies based upon who’s ox gets gored or who’s doing the goring. If one covets fair in life, the likely promise predicts a life of disappointment. Still, if one wishes to offer themselves as a model of fair play, a paragon of virtue, some options exist. None can control anyone other than themselves. So! What can you do if you’re one who favors “fair” play?

 

Tactical choices offer a flower garden ripe for plucking. Tanki’s a war game, a theater of aggression, but, like the early combat aviators in World War One, it can be a deadly theater for gracious, mannerly, even courteous killers.

 

I’ve noted, particularly with Russian Tankers, a proclivity to insist on no combat till teams are equally manned. That can get silly to the extreme when play suspends for each imbalance brought forth by one or more Tanker departures. It can make the match unbearable waiting for play. Some think it a high-minded ideal, but it fails to serve one tactical exploit any commander or combatant relishes. Outnumbering enemies or opponents makes for a combat dream. This is the weakest of fair play advocacy. Exploiting an enemy's weaknesses is good, tactical expression.

 

Another common practice occurs, most shamefully when a team is beaten or, even, scourged. You know. Everyones seen it; many’ve suffered it. A team is destined to win clearly, often soundly. Yet, for the final flag, their flag runner nestles in some hideaway to extend the misery and frustration of the certain-to-lose team. This for a meager, few points, nearly no crystals nor any fair reason other than to shame and frustrate an already defeated opponent. Perhaps that serves in real combat, but, as many parrot, this is a game at its core. There’s no “fair” reason for this. Finish it! Not finishing is akin to ripping the wings from an insect and tormenting it to death. Uncool, classless and clearly unfair.

 

One tactical strength belongs in the forefront of every Tanker’s tactical mind. Support and assist team members at every opportunity. One worthy example shows when a teammate snags a flag, and the scrum gathers round that teammate en route to the flag. Blockers and shooting defenders own merit, but wingmen, trailing tanks, offer greater promise to capture the flag and increase the team’s score. Here the Isida drivers are critical, but so, too, are any other Tankers who can keep pace. If the flag runner gets popped, teammates at the ready can recover the flag to carry it on for a cap. Smart and fair.

 

Often we’ll see a Mammoth or a Titan defending the flag stanchion. They sit and sit waiting for any onslaught. They rarely enjoy a cap, and they don’t get in on the action much till the opponent’s tsunami surges. Long periods of attentive boredom make way for seconds of sheer terror. Want to extend a pinch of fairness? When the pressure from the opposition allows, that is when it’s not breath-down-your-neck nearness, drop an occasional flag for the tubby to score. Enhance self-esteem. (Chuckle)

 

One notion merits an “SOP” designation. (Standard Operating Procedure) As we scurry through the maelstrom of open combat, its common to pass near a Mate engaged in a one-on-one with one of our Mates engaging an opponent. Fair play? Then don’t blow by on your own path to glory. Rather, slow to assist your Mate. Every time a teammate pops, we lose his/her participation for a short time as spawning occurs. Better to help our Mates survive, get a kill on the opponents and extend the honorable notion that we don’t leave anyone on the field without doing what we can to keep our Mates actively in the fight.

 

Regarding in match communication and, of course, rules as well as fair play, note that no points or crystals are earned by insult, vulgarity, profanity or sharing news of the day.   These are merely distractions and the prattling of immature Tankers with a loser’s mind set. The chatter not related to the match distracts and costs the team a chatty Tanker’s support and participation. Better to chat it up in the lobby where no cost is lost than to allegedly join a team, then discuss philosophy, garage inventories or whatever. No matter how adept one is at keyboarding, this takes attention and participation away from the job at hand. Victory! It’s unfair to one's team. Compete!

 

One thing I’ve noted with appreciation for fairness and grace is the increasing occasions of players, win or lose, stating something to the nature of “Good game. Thanks all.” It’s admirable to see that the reality of sportsmanship shows in this clear manner. Many exit immediately as the match ends, so those many miss these statements. It might be worth your time to linger, catch the class and add your own.

 

Be encouraged to comment as you see fit. What’s fair? What’s not? Mostly, what can any Tanker do to make it better? Don’t let we Press types preach to the choir. You’re the choir; sing your own tunes. Blessings.

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

I'm Speechless..

[Meliora 1,652]

Of Ethics and Tactics

 

In Tanki as in life, there are ethics, or there should be. Ethics: “Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior.” And/or “The branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.” Certain that some will call, “rant!” particularly one with over 5700 Forum posts to my 265, I’ll opine anyway. Har!

 

Was it extremely necessary to single me out here? My point was that your articles seem to be you getting out your frustration at things players should and shouldn't do, however it's possible that people other than you actually have sense and do these things for a reason.

 

In lobby and game chat both, it’s common to see complaints and wailing regarding what some should or ought to do. From where come the should and ought? Religion provides the genesis of most, but we’ll not visit those various faiths and their rules or suggestions. Often the complaints sent squealing toward the heavens is, “It’s not fair!” Of course fair’s definition varies based upon whose ox gets gored or who’s doing the goring. If one covets fair in life, the likely promise predicts a life of disappointment. Still, if one wishes to offer themselves as a model of fair play, a paragon of virtue, some options exist. None can control anyone other than themselves. So! What can you do if you’re one who favors “fair” play?

 

 

I’ve noted, particularly with Russian Tankers, a proclivity to insist on no combat till teams are equally manned. That can get silly to the extreme when play suspends for each imbalance brought forth by one or more Tanker departures. It can make the match unbearable waiting for play. Some think it a high-minded ideal, but it fails to serve one tactical exploit any commander or combatant relishes. Outnumbering enemies or opponents makes for a combat dream. This is the weakest of fair play advocacy. Exploiting an enemy's weaknesses is good, tactical expression.

 

Would you like to be on the receiving end of a 10-5 battle where some players, having seen your frustration at having to wait an extra two minutes continue gameplay and you are left with no chance of winning? One thing which you may not have realised is that people also play to develop their skills. It certainly won't benefit your skill level if there's one opponent you're against whom you gang up on with two or three other teammates. You shoot, your teammates shoot and they're dead. Did that improve anything? Oh - some people also would prefer to win where the other team had just as equal a chance of winning as they did, too. This is especially common in XP, where a main purpose is improving tactics. Tanki is not the most realistic war game in the first place, so I think perhaps at least see the sense in this "tradition". Now I do take your point, but put it this way - would you rather go through your Tanki career winning only when your opponents were completely outnumbered meaning it was all too easy to destroy them, or have a more equal play (10-9, 10-8, not so much of a difference, but in XP even one player missing is vital, note.) where you coordinate your team to defeat the other based on skill? If you lose, you know how to improve your gameplay.

 

Another common practice occurs, most shamefully when a team is beaten or, even, scourged. You know. Everyones seen it; many’ve suffered it. A team is destined to win clearly, often soundly. Yet, for the final flag, their flag runner nestles in some hideaway to extend the misery and frustration of the certain-to-lose team. This for a meager, few points, nearly no crystals nor any fair reason other than to shame and frustrate an already defeated opponent. Perhaps that serves in real combat, but, as many parrot, this is a game at its core. There’s no “fair” reason for this. Finish it! Not finishing is akin to ripping the wings from an insect and tormenting it to death. Uncool, classless and clearly unfair.

 

So waiting a few minutes to cap a flag is unfair, but playing 10-5 isn't? Hmm. Anyway, sometimes after winning a hard battle you may want to rub it in the other team's face. Although it is very frustrating when you're on the other team, and I'm not fully in support of it, it illustrates victory. And just noticed that here you say it's just a game, but above you say that we should be "real" and play battles which are outnumbered like they would in a war?

 

 

One notion merits an “SOP” designation. (Standard Operating Procedure) As we scurry through the maelstrom of open combat, its common to pass near a Mate engaged in a one-on-one with one of our Mates engaging an opponent. Fair play? Then don’t blow by on your own path to glory. Rather, slow to assist your Mate. Every time a teammate pops, we lose his/her participation for a short time as spawning occurs. Better to help our Mates survive, get a kill on the opponents and extend the honorable notion that we don’t leave anyone on the field without doing what we can to keep our Mates actively in the fight.

 

Tactics again here. I often leave my teammate knowing they have the skill to overcome their opponent quite easily. If I were to waste time and get damaged, my attack would be delayed and I'd probably be destroyed due to lack of health. And besides, perhaps it's better to let the teammate die. He'll respawn with full health and can assist you better in your attacks (better in a smaller map).

 

 

I think articles which are just what you think should also consider the other side of the argument.

And I'm not sure if you're using your position just to get people to think just like you do...

A few mistakes in there too.

Edited November 1, 2014 by Meliora

[GoldRock 6,165]

This article is highly impressive, thought-provoking and a must-read IMO. I agree with pretty much every point there, though there are a couple which I would personally class as 'situational':
 

I’ve noted, particularly with Russian Tankers, a proclivity to insist on no combat till teams are equally manned. That can get silly to the extreme when play suspends for each imbalance brought forth by one or more Tanker departures. It can make the match unbearable waiting for play. Some think it a high-minded ideal, but it fails to serve one tactical exploit any commander or combatant relishes. Outnumbering enemies or opponents makes for a combat dream. This is the weakest of fair play advocacy. Exploiting an enemy's weaknesses is good, tactical expression.

 

_______________

 

One notion merits an “SOP” designation. (Standard Operating Procedure) As we scurry through the maelstrom of open combat, its common to pass near a Mate engaged in a one-on-one with one of our Mates engaging an opponent. Fair play? Then don’t blow by on your own path to glory. Rather, slow to assist your Mate. Every time a teammate pops, we lose his/her participation for a short time as spawning occurs. Better to help our Mates survive, get a kill on the opponents and extend the honorable notion that we don’t leave anyone on the field without doing what we can to keep our Mates actively in the fight.

Suspending play, on some occasions, is often the fairest way to do things. I would particularly raise the example of XP battles. In such contests, having an equal number of players to your opponents is practically vital for success (unless your opponents are really that bad), simply because of the nature of such a game-mode, Having an equal number of players is central to these XP battles, else it will hardly be a challenging, fun or fair contest. However, I agree that in a normal battle, play should not be stopped for the sake of one player leaving. After all, it makes sense to call your friends or clan mates to a drug war to fight together - this is hardly unfair, and so I agree that not stopping play for the sake of one opponent departing from the enemy team is also perfectly acceptable. All's fair in love and war, after all!
_______________

However, under the same logic, tactics are very important. What if you have an opportunity to run into an empty base and steal the flag away whilst your team mate desperately tries to hold off a single opponent? In this case, you should use your tactical advantage - and your team-mate should not blame you for doing so. After all, you're only doing what's best for the team. Prioritisation is the key here - if the situation isn't pressing, then slowing down and assisting your team mate is surely the better moral action. But slowing down when a tactical opportunity presents itself? I think not! A team mate should understand why you wouldn't choose to do so, as you're fighting for the team as well as its members. 'Situational ethics', eh?
 

I think articles which are just what you think should also consider the other side of the argument.
And I'm not sure if you're using your position just to get people to think just like you do...

I have to disagree with that thought. This, to me, seems to be an opinion-based article - that's the whole point. Arguing for both sides would just defeat the purpose behind this article, which is not to spread 'propaganda' or 'convert' others to MD's way of thinking. Rather, I see this article as an interesting way to express his opinion, and to reveal the thoughts of the author himself. After all, freedom of expression to voice your opinion is an inalienable right, and the Press is surely no exception to this!

However, I do agree with much of what you wrote within the responses you wrote in pink. Nicely phrased ^_^

 

---

I'm enjoying these opinion based articles, even though I do not always agree with every point you put forward, MD. That is to be expected - it doesn't stop me appreciating the thought and the justification gone into the presentation of such points. Hats off to you! 

[Meliora 1,652]

 

I have to disagree with that thought. This, to me, seems to be an opinion-based article - that's the whole point. Arguing for both sides would just defeat the purpose behind this article, which is not to spread 'propaganda' or 'convert' others to MD's way of thinking. Rather, I see this article as an interesting way to express his opinion, and to reveal the thoughts of the author himself. After all, freedom of expression to voice your opinion is an inalienable right, and the Press is surely no exception to this!

I don't think this is really the place for opinion-based articles. There's not really much point to them unless they send out a message other than "MD thinks this", which this article in particular doesn't. It also provoked my post, and really the points I brought forward are actually valid, and something which should have been considered when this was being written.

 

Your articles would be a lot more useful if it was used for informing people of the different "tactics", so you don't need to put your opinion there. Perhaps this shouldn't take the form of a formal article, but something were MD can complain about whatever he wants and we can give our thoughts (to which he'd respond) in order to create a discussion of some sort.

[icekrieger 7]

Good ethics article. One classless thing that I hate the most is people who use a repair kit in the middle of a one on one duel, that is really unsportsmanlike. The powerup cooldown is really working great, but some people still use double power or armor every time they respawn, it may not be illegal, but I find it pretty tacky. 

[andreaNEW 108]

nice post.

 

 

I’ve noted, particularly with Russian Tankers, a proclivity to insist on no combat till teams are equally manned. That can get silly to the extreme when play suspends for each imbalance brought forth by one or more Tanker departures. It can make the match unbearable waiting for play. Some think it a high-minded ideal, but it fails to serve one tactical exploit any commander or combatant relishes. Outnumbering enemies or opponents makes for a combat dream. This is the weakest of fair play advocacy. Exploiting an enemy's weaknesses is good, tactical expression.

 

sometime I did the same, and I am not from russia :-) IMHO there is no point to fight 5 vs 1 ...no fun, no crystal , no final reward ! usually I wait for more players and I ask to my teammates to do the same

 

 

Another common practice occurs, most shamefully when a team is beaten or, even, scourged. You know. Everyones seen it; many’ve suffered it. A team is destined to win clearly, often soundly. Yet, for the final flag, their flag runner nestles in some hideaway to extend the misery and frustration of the certain-to-lose team. This for a meager, few points, nearly no crystals nor any fair reason other than to shame and frustrate an already defeated opponent. Perhaps that serves in real combat, but, as many parrot, this is a game at its core. There’s no “fair” reason for this. Finish it! Not finishing is akin to ripping the wings from an insect and tormenting it to death. Uncool, classless and clearly unfair.

 

agree . I never did something like this, and I hate when even my teammates do the same.

Edited November 2, 2014 by andreaNEW

[SicTransitGloria 76]

Here's a few of the ethics things I do:

 

Never shoot a typing tanker. I really enjoy talking to the people on both sides of a match, and I really don't want to discourage them by gunning them down while they're replying to me. I see it as rude; after all, I was the reason they stopped, should I really be a jerk and exploit it? That's no fun.

 

Always make an effort to flip a teammate right side up (when possible). Self destructing is a pain now that it is penalized. Why make your teammate needlessly do it?

 

Never shoot someone who isn't responsive. It's just bloody annoying to be cannon fodder if you leave the screen for a few moments. It's not really fun either, to shoot someone who doesn't shoot back. Also, if you're in an enemies base, you probably have more pressing issues, like stealing a flag or defending yourself.

 

Apologize whenever necessary. If I accidentally get someone killed or something, I never hesitate to apologize, even if they never say anything in chat. Come on, it;s basic manners.

[LaserShark 2,095]

My unnecessary opinion, if it's not against the rules, do it. Play the game by the games rules and not the rules of your opponents. Sure, show sportsmanship every now and then, but don't feel like you have to, remember, it's a war game, not a tea party.

Edited November 2, 2014 by LaserShark

[r_CookieCutter0 0]

Often we’ll see a Mammoth or a Titan defending the flag stanchion.

I always do that - I find it the best way to get score.

I think it is fair play to defend my flag.

[CTIBPO 35]

Good article and I would like to add:

 

I totally agree that it is lower than low to drag out a last flag. Your teammates may need to go after a long match, the opponents want to go and may have stayed just to make it a match for everyone. Nobody gains much and just loses the ability to move on to something else they wish to do. Totally selfish and immature making people suffer for the wait. There should be am unofficial list of offenders that do this so we know who to not play with.

 

"Drop an occasional flag for the tubby to score. Enhance self-esteem. (Chuckle)" - Why mock defenders? What's the use in returning with a flag if your flag is gone. Its a team game - period.

 

Waiting for a fair start. "Some think it a high-minded ideal, but it fails to serve one tactical exploit any commander or combatant relishes. Outnumbering enemies or opponents makes for a combat dream." I totally appreciate, encourage and try to get in matches with fair starts. Unfair matches tend to start unfair and only get worse. How many XP are you going to get when the other team mass bails early?

[ShadowyNinja 208]

hi

[G.A.T.O.R 130]

Here's a few of the ethics things I do:

 

Never shoot a typing tanker. I really enjoy talking to the people on both sides of a match, and I really don't want to discourage them by gunning them down while they're replying to me. I see it as rude; after all, I was the reason they stopped, should I really be a jerk and exploit it? That's no fun.

 

Always make an effort to flip a teammate right side up (when possible). Self destructing is a pain now that it is penalized. Why make your teammate needlessly do it?

 

Never shoot someone who isn't responsive. It's just bloody annoying to be cannon fodder if you leave the screen for a few moments. It's not really fun either, to shoot someone who doesn't shoot back. Also, if you're in an enemies base, you probably have more pressing issues, like stealing a flag or defending yourself.

 

Apologize whenever necessary. If I accidentally get someone killed or something, I never hesitate to apologize, even if they never say anything in chat. Come on, it;s basic manners.

Amen. Good additions. Sometimes a restroom break is unavoidable. :)  And a simple "I'm sorry, man." goes a long way.

[monkdelta 4]

a good tactic is putting mamoth and titan, rico and twins to defend the flag while hornet and viking, railgun and thunder to try to get the flag! And think this would give the team good chances to win!

[blackjack91 49]

a good tactic is putting mamoth and titan, rico and twins to defend the flag while hornet and viking, railgun and thunder to try to get the flag! And think this would give the team good chances to win!

and a fire or freeze

[icekrieger 7]

Saw an incredibly rude player today in a flag match. My team had a pretty big lead and the other team all quit with about 5 minutes left. One player on my team then starts demanding that all members of our team quit so that he could have all the crystals for himself. I told him that we all had a right to our share of crystals but he just wouldn't shut up. Luckily me and two others stayed until the end to get our share. Really rude, classless player. Wish I remembered his name so I could report him.

Edited November 26, 2014 by icekrieger

[coolthebest1 301]

a good tactic is putting mamoth and titan, rico and twins to defend the flag while hornet and viking, railgun and thunder to try to get the flag! And think this would give the team good chances to win!

freeze and wasp should get falg because they fast and can freeze u and will be hard to shoot them because of that:)

[jazz20 1,181]

The language is so...extravagant