To gank, or not to gank, that is the question.
by Chris Jahosky 
Aug 14th 2007 at 4:45PM
This obviously concerns players on PvP realms, where ganking is a daily occurrence, but I'm curious as to the habits of those who enjoy it. I'm using the term "gank" here loosely - although it tends to be used as a catch-all by anyone who's been on the losing end of a world PvP skirmish, I tend to use it to describe a situation where the player being killed is at an unfair advantage (e.g. fighting other mobs, low on health, or attacked by multiple players).
Those that do gank others regularly also sometimes stick around to grief their opponent, usually by killing them over and over after they resurrect. I've seen players stick around for hours to kill lower level opponents repeatedly - I remember when you couldn't run through Blackrock Mountain safely for fear of Rogue attacks.
As someone who doesn't have much interest in ganking, and no interest in griefing, I've never understood the mentality of someone who can stay in the same spot for hours killing players that have little or no chance of fighting back.
So what are your thoughts on ganking? Do you engage in it often? How much time do you spend on it if you do? At least one curious mind wants to know.
Those that do gank others regularly also sometimes stick around to grief their opponent, usually by killing them over and over after they resurrect. I've seen players stick around for hours to kill lower level opponents repeatedly - I remember when you couldn't run through Blackrock Mountain safely for fear of Rogue attacks.
As someone who doesn't have much interest in ganking, and no interest in griefing, I've never understood the mentality of someone who can stay in the same spot for hours killing players that have little or no chance of fighting back.
So what are your thoughts on ganking? Do you engage in it often? How much time do you spend on it if you do? At least one curious mind wants to know.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, PvP
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
ericcst Aug 14th 2007 4:51PM
I never gank someone unless it's revenge. I never start the fights, but I love to finish them!
Todd Aug 14th 2007 4:53PM
People who gank are usually making up for some small insecurity, in that they need to assert their dominance by oppressing others.
Trees Aug 14th 2007 4:53PM
"I tend to use it to describe a situation where the player being killed is at an unfair advantage."
-Don't think that's what you mean.
rockfish Aug 14th 2007 4:55PM
players the kill player 5 or 10 lvls below them or not more then RL bully
The Mighty One Aug 14th 2007 4:55PM
Gankers where abused children. Griefers have no lives and can't win one on one with someone in there lvl range..
Scylloga Aug 14th 2007 4:55PM
I have ganked before and done the whole camping bit. the reason being my alt or a guildie was being camped by the other person.
I find it dishonorable to kill people more than 10 levels below you. I look at it like this if I can face you in AV you shall face me now. On my server there is two rogues that camp hillsbrad for hours and hours. but the minute a lvl 70 shows up they disappear until the 70 leaves. I parked my 70 in tarren mills while I leveled through that zone. Luckily I only had a couple times that I was ganked and camped. Normally it was the usual raids on TM that got me.
Kaylek Aug 14th 2007 4:56PM
Yeah, you mean unfair disadvantage. Or the killer has an unfair advantage.
Depherios Aug 14th 2007 4:57PM
Is that a rogue in the priest T5 hood?
or...
I'm confused.
Todd Aug 14th 2007 4:58PM
I saw a mage and a shaman running up to get the same Nether Ray (to rope), but from opposite sides. The mage got it first. Since neither were flagged, the shaman decided to get his revenge by killing the Nether Ray. Is that what we've come to now on non-PvP servers?
Kavaa Aug 14th 2007 4:59PM
Want to see Gankage.... Go on the PTR pvp2 test relm. If you use a pre-made toon you start in ghoastlands out side zulamon. for the last 2 days, and im sure much longer, it has been a camping spot by the horde, filling every pre-made Alliance toon that spawns. People are selling ports to shatt for 100g and let me tell you with a bag full of epics it is a bargain. Check it out, its a blast to see how far you can get before getting doted up and back stabbed.
Juneau Aug 14th 2007 5:05PM
When I see a lowbie or someone low on health, I do gank em, but only once. I've never had an interest in sticking around for hours, I've got better things to do with my time.
Kavaa Aug 14th 2007 5:02PM
Sorry, killing not filling.
Epiny Aug 14th 2007 5:04PM
Ganking is a common occurence on PvP servers. The best discription is attacking someone who is not prepaired to fight you.
I gank, and I've been ganked. I have ran through low level towns slaugthering anybody there. Some people only kill certain classes, one of my friends will only kill lowbie hunters. STV is the perfect example, or it use to be. I think Hellfire is the new hot spot.
It's expected on a PvP server so I don't consider it griefing. What goes around comes around.
TheMinority Aug 14th 2007 5:11PM
I don't mind world PvP, I understand that when you're on a PvP server you have to take that chance of running into someone of a higher level who would like nothing more than to see you squirm.
However, I don't like camping and I don't like ganking/being ganked in the middle of a fight with a mob. Camping and ganking during a mob fight should be something only occurs out of revenge. Camp the jerk if he jumped you while you were leveling an alt, or whittle his health down to 2% and let the mob kill him (durability!) if he camped some friends.
I will never camp/jump a player while they're fighting a mob without good reason. However, as soon as you're done killing that mob, you can bet your hearthstone you'll get an aimed shot in your patoot.
farris Aug 14th 2007 5:12PM
The test realms are horrible like that right now. Started a premade Alli is murder for the first hour or so, rezing and running.
In terms of ganking, I feel like shooting myself after spending 30 minutes attempting to evade my killers by spawning behind a tree, hoping they don't see my tag.
Bart Aug 14th 2007 5:12PM
- If you don't like PVP, go to a PVE server.
- If you are weak and cant fight back then L2P or re-roll another class, call for help or just change to a PVE server.
- If its red, its a target. And remember, you are red for him too, so you are also a target.
- Its a war, if you don't let your enemy earn XP or gold, he will not become stronger, its the wisest thing to do. Or do you think your leader would like to hear you are helping the enemy ?
Todd Aug 14th 2007 5:05PM
@Juneau
Heh. Funny. Obviously you don't that much going on if you're willing to spend that extra effort to kill those who are already at a disadvantage to you.
Qanaesin Aug 14th 2007 5:12PM
Lol apparently most of you have never lvled on a pvp server, if you have you would know that ganking is a everyday life....if you dont like it go play pve....world pvp by far is the best type of pvp. And ganking someone over and over again...well thats just pure fun.
Fyi i have no insecurities and im or never was a bully....its a pvp server stop QQ'ing and roll with the punches
Christian Holton Aug 14th 2007 5:07PM
@9
How about opposite factions hovering in front of quest givers in Blades Edge Mountains in the hopes that you'll click on them and draw the attention of the guards, who will pound you into the dust? How about four or five of them doing it at once, on elite flying mounts? That is the definition of frustration, my friend.
Todd Aug 14th 2007 5:09PM
If you're crazy enough to call a PvP server home, then you have to expect ganking to happen. There is definitely something amiss when a 70 hits up the starter areas because it's fun. This must be a person who can't cut it in a equal PvP fight.