38 replies to this topic

[Appogee]

I just played a rather epic game which concluded with me and a Spider on our team, vs one remaining unknown player on the enemy team.

When we got to the enemy base, we found an AFK Atlas, which I proceeded to destroy ... as one usually does with enemy Atlases, particularly when there's a chance they will suddenly come to life and kill you.

The Spider pilot protested. He said it was ''dishonorable'' to kill an AFK pilot. He said I should just help him cap instead, and leave the Atlas as is. He even friendly-fired me for a moment when I kept killing the Atlas.

I decided to keep killing the Atlas, on the basis that if it did come back to life it would kill us both easily, I couldn't see what was ''dishonorable'' about killing an empty Mech, and I generally couldn't see why we should leave those CBills behind.

However, I do believe in honor, and I do try to uphold the spirit of MechWarrior, even in these mercenary CBill-driven times.

So, for next time... Should I leave AFK Mechs alone, and cap out the match instead? What is your view?







PS: I scored 168 and 1303 damage in that match, in a lowly Shadowhawk. I'm not sure how much of that was ''illegitimate/free'' damage to the AFK Atlas, vs the other 4 enemies that I killed in active combat.

[Felicitatem Parco]

It would be dishonorable to report the position of friendly units to the enemy...

But if you come across an enemy that appears to be away from keyboard (afk) or disconnected from the match (dc), then they are fair game to be attacked. As you mentioned, a player that steps away from their keyboard for one reason or another may spring to life and kill you, and don't forget the notion that a real-life tank commander that steps out to take a pee in combat will receive no quarter from enemy forces.

[Dexter Herbivore]

Honour is a luxury that can only be afforded by those who are certain of victory.

Edited by Dexter Herbivore, 04 November 2013 - 07:56 AM.

[Magna Canus]

I see no issue with shooting an AFK for the above mentioned reasons: if/when they come back then they will be a threat. SOME people use AFK and power downs as a way of escaping combat all together. For those that don't, you have to accept the fact that if you are away from the keyboard for whatever reason you are still in a battle and can get shot.

What worries me more is that your team mate decided he wanted to shoot you over it, which is absolutely not acceptable.

As for DC's: I tend to leave them alone unless in similar situations where you are capping and their carcass presents itself anyways. If the game intended you to be immune then you would be.

[Razuko]

Next time leg the ***** RP spyder then proceed in killing the afk atlas.

[Durant Carlyle]

Dishonorable to kill the other team's AFK? Heck no. They knew the risks when they hit Launch.

Since when do we care about honor in a video game?

Edited by Durant Carlyle, 04 November 2013 - 10:02 AM.

[Appogee]

Magnakanus, on 04 November 2013 - 09:13 AM, said:

What worries me more is that your team mate decided he wanted to shoot you over it, which is absolutely not acceptable.

I agree that was a bit much, even though he clearly felt strongly about it. Several people who were spectating advised him not to do it further.

[cSand]

If I leg a guy and he's got little/no weapons, and my next strike will kill him, I'll sometimes stop shooting (if I'm not under fire from someone else) and stare him down, and give him a chance to power down. If he wants to go down in a blaze of glory though I'll let him fire that "first and last" shot before I make a crater out of em.

AFKs on the other hand... just a big pile of free CBills

Edited by cSand, 04 November 2013 - 10:15 AM.

[rolly]

Marack Drock, on 04 November 2013 - 09:24 AM, said:

Its not against any rules that I see. If the person went AFK his mech is free for all.

I'm a Clanner and therefore go
by Clan rules....

Tisk tisk. Contractions are unbecoming of a clanner. Quiaff?

Edited by rolly, 04 November 2013 - 10:31 AM.

[Appogee]

cSand, on 04 November 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

If I leg a guy and he's got little/no weapons, and my next strike will kill him, I'll sometimes stop shooting (if I'm not under fire from someone else) and stare him down, and give him a chance to power down.

And if he does power down, you don't kill him?

Intriguing!

[Egomane]

Razuko, on 04 November 2013 - 09:43 AM, said:

Next time leg the ***** RP spyder then proceed in killing the afk atlas.

I strongly advise against self justice. Please leave that to the GMs!

I approve the killing of AFK mechs though. Pilots who leave their mechs unattended on a battlefield, do not deserve the honor of keeping their ride intact. The business men in me is calling for a cockpit shot or destroyed legs, for better salvage.

[cSand]

Appogee, on 04 November 2013 - 10:34 AM, said:

[/size]

And if he does power down, you don't kill him?

Intriguing!

I know right?

Situations where I can actually do this are rare though... usually can only get away with it after a good 1v1 fight.... if I win Can't stop my team mates from blowing em up either, lol

Edited by cSand, 04 November 2013 - 11:41 AM.

[TercieI]

You hit launch and then had to go AFK? OK, real life matters more, but your mech is fair game. The only thing that's bad about killing an AFK mech is when you take a long time about it. On a still mech, it's easy to alpha the cockpit 1-2 times and get on with more important things. Don't hurt your team by wasting time (this comes up a lot in light packs, I see guys dance around "dead" mechs) I stop in front of them, zot! zot! and we're done here.

[Kenyon Burguess]

enemy afk killing is just fine, however, do it as fast as possible. I once had a pilot return to his assault mech while I was mid legging and he delivered a fatal alpha strike to my light mech....very embarrassing

[LauLiao]

Also, it's usually a bad idea to stop to "kill" an afk mech that's no threat to you or your team while, actual live and present players are tearing your team apart. Seen it before, in the middle of a giant fur-ball, I die and end up spectating some Atlas that's taking one limb at a time off an afk enemy mech on the other side of the map.

[NuclearPanda]

I'm cool with this.

[TheCaptainJZ]

The only honor in a video game is adhering to the official rules. If there is no rule against it, it is fair game. If a player wants to handicap themselves by upholding their own sense of "honor" beyond this, that is their choice, but it is not binding on others.

There is nothing wrong with killing enemy afkers. (It IS wrong to kill your own teammates, afk or not)

The spider probably protested because you were not helping to cap the base and thus conclude the match faster. (Was the afker the only enemy left? Probably not, as disconnected players count as dead to the game.)

However, if your teammates need help with live enemies, deal with those first, not the afker for your own personal gain! Your greed could cause your team to lose the match.

[Navy Sixes]

Appogee, on 04 November 2013 - 07:17 AM, said:

I do believe in honor, and I do try to uphold the spirit of MechWarrior

Me too, but when I get a chance to tee-off on a disco, I'm not really thinking about that. I'm thinking, "Well, there's a free kill and a whole bunch of extra damage." Heck, if you have the time/ammo, blow its arms and a leg off for the component bonuses while your at it. As for that Spider, you know there are a lot of good light drivers out there that won't run Spiders because their hit reg is allegedly borked and it's 'dishonorable.' So it's all relative.

As long as you're not screwing over your own team, I don't think it's a problem.

[Kenyon Burguess]

Tycho von Gagern, on 04 November 2013 - 02:37 PM, said:

As for that Spider, you know there are a lot of good light drivers out there that won't run Spiders because their hit reg is allegedly borked and it's 'dishonorable.'

I miss my spider nothing worse than spending MC on camo and paint and then months later u cant run it cause its broken

[Appogee]

TheCaptainJZ, on 04 November 2013 - 01:20 PM, said:

The only honor in a video game is adhering to the official
The spider probably protested because you were not helping to cap the base and thus conclude the match faster. (Was the afker the only enemy left? Probably not, as disconnected players count as dead to the game.)

AKKer was the only remaining Mech. It did take a while to kill it because the only weapon I had left was Streaks. (However, for the sake of the CBills etc surely waiting the extra minute to kill it was reasonable?)