Posted by The Angel Gabriel on August 04, 1999 at 11:06:54:
Once again the so called problem of Gangbanging is causing distress on the forum, and people decry its use as evil, wrong, no fun, etc., etc.
I will say this now, and I say it with complete and utter faith in its truth:
There is nothing inherrently wrong with gangbanging.
Let me say that again.
There is nothing inherrently wrong with gangbanging.
Now, lets discuss this a moment, and try to build a logical, cohesive set of points.
Start at the beginning. This is a mud, a game. It is based on people creating characters and playing them in a fantasy world. Death abounds in this fantasy world, both intentional and accidental. The only "laws" (read: rules) of this world are that you need to actually _be_ the character you create, and that the knowledge/abilities/power of the "outside world" (read: ooc) does not intrude.
That's it. Really. Everything else is just an extrapolation of these two things. All the rules are there to ensure that people 1) create and play a role, whatever it may be, and 2) people don't cheat. Sure, there are lots of little side rules, like no spamming, but generally all the rules are there to prevent ooc actions from interfering with the game.
So, we are in a world where you play a role, and death abounds. And, not just is it death by disease or a car accident, no, in *this* world (as you are warned by the motd and the helpfiles) murder is permitted and encouraged. ("If you want that nice sword, you need to kill him for it." or something like that)
We are now in a world where murder and death are permitted and encouraged, and the better you are at it, the better you are in the world, for the most part. There are *no* "laws" prohibiting, or even discouraging, gangbanging. There are no laws or rules even speaking to it. Killing is killing.
So, where did this relatively recent anti-gangbanging mentality come from?
It is a social more (as in more-ay), it is a philosophy that some people, for whatever reason, have adopted. But let us not forget rule one: you must create and play a character. If the character you created is someone who kills alone, so be it. If the character you created is someone who kills in concert with others, so be it. BOTH are equally valid, in so far as the game is concerned.
The only difference lies with those that for their *own* *personal* *satisfaction* have decided that they want to prove something either to others or to themselves, that they can play the game better than others and kill alone.
I applaud that. I think it's great that people want to achieve things. I am impressed with their skills and their desire to win.
BUT
It is no more inherrently "right" or "wrong" or "valid" than the player who says 'I don't ever want to die so I will only venture out when I have sixty nine thousand people to protect me.'
BOTH types of players are equally valid. Both types of players are welcomed at cf.
Both types of players come to the game to enjoy themselves in their free time.
To those that say gangbanging is wrong, or should be banned, or any of that, I say to you: Why? Why is the way *you* have fun something that needs to be imposed upon others?
Each person deserves the exact same thing from cf, the opportunity to create a character and play it, and to have fun. If you don't have fun because of limitations you have placed on yourself, I sympathize, but that doesn't make what others have done wrong. It means perhaps you made a bad choice and should start over.
Now don't get me wrong. I love the thrill of going in with my one character and wreaking havoc upon a group of two or three or whatever. And I'm the first to admit I have punched the wall when a character I spent hours getting gear for is smacked down by a group of four, against whom I had no chance, and didn't even see coming.
But that doesn't make what they did wrong, or improper, or even bad. Hell, I challenge each and every one of you to be completely honest and admit that you have been part of a group bang at one time or other, and that you were pleased as punch to see your enemies laid waste, and corpses of loot at your feet.
Enjoy the game as *you* choose. Play it as *you* choose. Complaining about how other people play, as long as they don't violate the two rules, wastes not only time and energy, but just lets bitterness build inside you and grow until one day you do something foolish. Or get an ulcer. :P
Remember, gangbanging is a choice. Playing solo is a choice. Both are equally valid and both are equally fun. Some people like ketchup on hotdogs. I think they are sick and in need of immediate counselling, because we all know that *mustard* goes on a hotdog. But I cannot say I am *right*. It is a personal preference. The same goes with the game. Whatever floats your boat.
End of Rant.