Ganking

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Ganking is a type of griefing in online roleplaying, video games which employ player versus player combat (especially in MMORPGs). Ganking may involve attacking another player without warning; more specifically, doing so while the targeted player is already engaged in combat with a non-player character, usually meaning they're distracted and/or their health has been compromised, or attacking a player of much lower level than the attacker. Ganking is not considered an honorable practice in MMORPGs, since the ganker is winning a fight they might not have won in circumstances where those participating in the PvP combat had an equal chance of winning. Essentially, ganking involves engaging in a battle where the instigator of the fight will certainly win.

[edit] Contention

The main issue that ganking raises among players of MMORPGs is whether it can be considered acceptable behavior.

For those who defend the act of ganking, their argument is that they are playing by the rules, that is to say they are not exploiting nor manipulating the game mechanics unlawfully, therefore they have every right to attack any player in any manner they wish, no matter how one-sided or seemingly dishonorable the fight may be. Also, as ganking involves fighting within the rules of the game, any player may be considered a potential ganker. For example, if a level 100 player attacks a level 1 player, and (for the sake of the argument) may be considered 100 times more powerful than the level 1 player, the fight is obviously one-sided, and the level 100 player will win. However, the level 1 player would only need to reach level 100 themselves, and attack a level 1 player, in order to be in a similar position, thus fairness is established - a player who is ganked has the capability to become a player who also can gank.

The arguments against ganking support the notion that ganking is either unfair, dishonorable, petty, mean-spirited and often cruel, as a ganker cannot gain anything from the outcome of such one-sided fights other than satisfying a sadistic urge, thus having no respect for the feelings of the ganked. While certain players may become involved in one-sided fights occasionally, many other players dedicate considerable time and effort to ganking, such as placing themselves in areas of the game world where much lower-level players are numerous and more balanced fights are scarce, or by maintaining a low profile until the opportunity arises to attack low-level players.

[edit] Purpose

Gankers deliberately target low-level players in the knowledge that a human being (on the other end of the targeted player character) will be either insulted, frustrated or upset by their inevitable death(s). In purely physical terms, ganking involves the effortless killing of another. However, the habits of gankers have rarely been observed to include committed combat with non-player characters (controlled by a computer as opposed to a player), thus highlighting the suggestion that the specific intention of a ganker is to enjoy causing grief to other human beings. When gankers do gank NPCs, it is to stop them from helping other players.

Another interpretation of the intention of a ganker is that the ganker is simply trying to draw out more powerful player-characters for a serious and exciting challenge. The premise is that the more powerful player-characters will soon come to "rescue" the weaker player-characters (these players are known as "Carebears"), and that the high level player-characters will come in greater numbers than is typically seen in the game. In this manner, the ganker greatly increases the likelihood of encounter with a high level opponent. In some cases, the ganker attracts player-characters that are much more powerful than he or she is. The result can be a thrilling "cat and mouse" game and genuine test of skill. Ironically, the ganker may very well be killed by the more powerful player-characters he or she has attracted.

Finally, players may participate in ganking for easy rewards. Such as victory points, renown, trophies, or in some games, loot.

Ganking is often concurrent with corpse camping.

[edit] In Warhammer Online

In WAR, higher tiered players who go into lower tiered areas and begin griefing will be turned into chickens. These chickens have 1 HP and have one ability, "Peck" which does 1 damage.

In RvR servers, the "turn to chicken" level is raised by 10 Ranks. For Example: Players above Rank 11 cannot go back into Tier 1 but in an RvR server, it is raised to 21.