Questionable Tactics?

[BZ55]

I was playing Sat night with a lot of other TGers and was defending on Camp Gibraltar...

A squad on the other team consisting of mostly TG guys managed to place a beacon on top of one of the buildings on EU base flag. Needless to say, this resulted in the next 10 minutes being spent getting pummeled from above in order to defend the EU base flag. Our commander tried to orbital strike the beacon a couple times without success, so after a 5+ minutes of this business, we were losing our patience and weren't really sure why a TG squad was continuing to do this.

At the end of that map, there were at least a few pubbies that made comments to the effect that it was upsetting and unimpressive for a TG squad to have carried on like that. So, in the vein that TGers are supposed to be a model for fun, fair, and mature game play, we didn't do the TG name any favors during that episode, sadly.

Regardless of what TG's letter of the law says when it comes to beacon placement/tricks, the sprit of the TG way seems to suggest that this is the kind of tactic we should shy away from. Thoughts?


Andy

[ThePenguineer]

This has already been discussed. Don't be suprised if Bommando comes around and shuts down this thread.

[Zoraster]

this thread will get closed, but yes. it's absolutely against the spirit of TG, and no there won't be a rule made against it. That's been made abundantly clear, so your best bet is to just grin and bear it. in the grand scheme, it only makes TG a marginally less fun place to play -- still miles ahead of anything else out there.

[BZ55]

Originally Posted by ThePenguineer

This has already been discussed. Don't be suprised if Bommando comes around and shuts down this thread.

Right, but that's why I've framed this in the light of "the spirit of the TG" vs. proposing any sort of rule or policy. However, the annoyance factor of a roof beacon only seems to damage the TG name when it goes on for 5+ minutes.

I'm in the camp that this isn't an exploit or an unbalancing issue. However, I'm also in the camp that it takes away from the fun and general enjoyment of game play, which seems to be in-line with the majority of the sentiments expressed in the thread that you linked to.

Also, I'm not sure why this thread would be closed down--this discussion seems to be appropriate.

Andy

[Bommando]

My thoughts are that you should read the two existing threads on the subject. Also be aware that the members of that squad are well respected long-term TG players who had no intention of using an exploit or engaging in 'cheap' tactics. The beacon placement was in response to a previously compromised beacon which needed to be relocated.

I invited comments from people via PM in yet another thread about "Shameful Activites" so that the admins could look further into this practice. None of us have received a single PM about this to date. If people have a problem with this practice, then rather than rant, whine and point fingers, they should do as instructed and take it up with the admins to actually be proactive in explaining why they believe this tactic is cheap or an exploit.

The ball is in your court. Stop frowning at it in a displeased manner and hit it back.

EDIT:

I hear people talk about the "annoyance factor" a lot. Running into APMs is annoying. Getting sniped is annoying. Being shelled by an APC is annoying. I fail to see why we should frown upon a tactic that doesn't contravene any type of fair play, but is simply "annoying" to people. We deal with annoyances in this game all the time. It's part of winning and losing. There are many tactics I find lame in this game. I don't post new threads about them in the hope that people will suddenly stop dropping APMs or stop sniping me. I suck it up, grumble under my breath and move on.

Sorry, but we can't set a precedent where we try to regulate behaviour that is neither an exploit, nor unbalances the game. We cannot argue for the primer here either, since beacon spawns are 'realistic' in this game. I already mentioned in the other thread that if this were spawn camping, then it would be considered in quite a different light. This was a concerted attempt to capture a flag. Nothing more, nothing less.

Despite this, I welcome input from our members via PM, IM or on a private TS channel, so that the admins can collect valid arguments for and against this practice and work out a policy from there.

[Tempus]

As mentioned in the linked to thread by Penguineer, this was discussed thoroughly. The admin team is in complete agreement that this is not an issue that needs a rule.

The key points on this are:
- it is not an exploit
- it is not effective
- it is defensible
- it would be difficult to enforce if we prohibited it

Each one of those points individually would be reason enough not to make a new rule, and taken together, it is overwhelming. Too many rules can ruin a game, causing unnecessary drama. Imagine... How high a building is too high? Can it be placed on walls? What about boxes? Etc. etc. etc.

I have yet to see a compelling reason why we need to go down this route. If you have one, please PM it to me.

In the meantime, for those who think it "takes away from the fun and general enjoyment of game play", I happen to personally disagree.. I love defending a flag like that. I consider the jumpers to be easy pickings, and the constant excitement holds my attention far more than sitting idly waiting for an attack.