There's been some discussion recently on how to go about fighting other players, what the "unspoken" rules are, whether or not to use swarms, etc etc etc.
This article will attempt to clear those things up, it will discuss [ITAN]'s stance on the issues, and in general be a clearinghouse for all PvP information. I thought about it, and it appears that it might be best to post in a FAQ-like format. So, here goes:
What are Swarms/Seekers?
Large-port weapons: Chaos Swarms, Locust Swarms and Stingray MIssiles.
[Click here for VendettaWiki reference]
Small-port weapons: Firefly, Gemini or Yellowjacket missiles.
[Click here for VendettaWiki reference]
Stingray, FireFly, and Yellowjacket misiles are not usually considered to be as annoying as the Chaos/Locust Swarms or Geminis. Mainly because they are not as effective - their homing systems are crappy. I've been standing completely still and Stingray missiles have missed me.
Can I Use Swarms/Seeker Missiles on other players and be an [ITAN] Member?
The short answer is
no. There are a couple of reasons, which I'll try to elaborate on.
First, swarms are considered "cheap". Why? Well, this goes back to the methodology that most people use to fight, and has its roots in the VendettaTest, which was pretty much described as "Space Quake." In those days, Vendetta was nothing but PvP, and its players had a lot of fun. Coming in with homing weapons when they were introduced was considered "bad form", mainly because it doesn't take any skill to use them. They're "fire-and-forget."
And that's the basis of the bias against swarms. Vendetta is a skill-based game (twitch-based.) It is also ego-based, meaning that there is a relatively well-known hierarchy of player skill that is apparent in this small player community. The higher-skill players disdain the use of swarms because it doesn't give them any excitement for killing someone else. If a lower-skill player uses swarms to kill a higher-skill player, that is considered "cheap." Why? Because there's no chance that the lower-skill player would have been able to defeat the higher-skill player with non-homing weapons. So there was no contest based on the SKILL of the two players. The contest was decided by the guiding systems of the missiles, and that's not considered "fun" or "honorable." The higher-skilled player begins to dislike the "swarming" lower-skill player, and this is how grudges are born! (Yay)
Plus, using seeker missiles is a "crutch", because you don't have to aim. Other players respect you when you have good aiming skills in VO; furthermore, developing a good sense of how to AIM is very important in VO, since almost all weapons require it. Using swarms in PvP marks you as a skill-less n00b. The more you use swarms against other players, the more you will be disliked and derided. It's always best to attempt to improve your skills by learning to use energy weapons and the unguided rockets.
Finally, since you represent a guild now, your actions reflect on the guild and its other members. If the playerbase begins to associate [ITAN] members with "swarming n00bs", well, then, that's unacceptable. PvP is meant to be a somewhat honorable contest, more in line with the romanticized version of World-War I dogfighting. Where new pilots were frequently spared after being shot up to within an inch of their life by the old vets, and the old vets knew each other well and would actively seek each other out for a dogfight. Using swarms is the equivalent of using Sidewinder missiles in a WWI dogfight. The fun stops and the victory (assuming you win) is hollow.
So, there's three reasons as to why you shouldn't swarm against other players. It's cheap, it's a crutch, and it takes the fun out of a PvP contest.
Can I use swarms/seekers against NPC's and Bots?
Sure. There's no player at the other end of the connection, so if you MUST, be cheap and use them. However, you should still opt for other weaponry in order to learn the ins and outs of rockets and energy weapons, and build your skill.
Can I use swarms/seekers against capships or other large ships with players in them?
Well, this is a gray area, but bombing runs against a capship are accepted uses of swarm/seeker missiles. Targeting weapon emplacements/turrets is fine, as is targeting the hulls or shields of said ships. However, you should still opt for other weaponry in order to learn the ins and outs of rockets and energy weapons, and build your skill.
Can is use swarms/seekers in the Deneb Border Skirmish and Border Patrol missions?
This is generally not the best idea. Other players will frequently be in the same sector as these missions, so it's possible to, say, encounter an enemy Vulture on your bombing run in your swarm-rag. The only weapons you have are your swarms, and the enemy pilot probably knows this, and try to lure you into a fight on purpose in order to be able to accuse you later of being a "swarming n00b!". If this happens, don't fire swarms at them, period. Notify the player that you have swarms and back off a bitor continue what you were doing. If the player persists, don't run. It's your fault that you brought swarms, so don't complain if you die either. As usual, you should still opt for other weaponry in order to learn the ins and outs of rockets and energy weapons, and build your skill.
When can I run?
Do not run if you have engaged someone. If you have fired shots at them, or have otherwise implied you are willing to fight them stick it out. This is pretty much for the same "honor" reasons mentioned about spamming.
So do I always have to fight someone?
Nope! If they jump in and you are out of ammo, low on health, or have some other reason why you wouldn't want to fight that person, you can leave the fight. DO NOT FIRE SHOTS AT THEM if you're planning on leaving.
What if I run out of ammo?
If you run out of ammo in the middle of a combat zone, just GO. If you run out of ammo during a duel or single PvP combat, well, that's your fault for being a dumbass and dueling with weapons that have ammo.
