In reading about "griefing" and "smurfing", the term "ganking" came up…is there a good definition for it?
Best Answer
Ganking is when a big group of players team up on one lone player, usually by surprise. Level differential is not necessary to be called ganking. In many games (mostly MMOs), this is a form of griefing, but in other games it is a legitimate and encouraged strategy.
For example, in DotA, ganking is an integral part to team victory. One player may roam around the map helping to ambush and team up on enemies who get caught out of position.
Griefing is the deliberate, indiscriminate and repeated harassment of other players - with generally little actual benefit to one's own character.
It is essentially a "play style" where the player derives satisfaction from the discomfort he causes others instead from the accomplishments provided by the game itself.
This stands in contrast to unintentional bad behavior resulting from inexperience and also in contrast to harassment of specific players as can be part of a personal feud.
Some examples:
Repeated killing of significantly less advanced characters
Denying other players access to important resources by looting them aways immediately after they reappear.
Denying less advanced players experience by out damaging them and claiming the kills for yourself
Stealing the fruits of other player's labor by looting their slain monsters before they get around to it
Convincing less experienced players to do things that will harm their progress.
Training monsters to areas populated by player that cannot defend themself from them.
Best Answer
Ganking is when a big group of players team up on one lone player, usually by surprise. Level differential is not necessary to be called ganking. In many games (mostly MMOs), this is a form of griefing, but in other games it is a legitimate and encouraged strategy.
For example, in DotA, ganking is an integral part to team victory. One player may roam around the map helping to ambush and team up on enemies who get caught out of position.