Warfare & Tactics

So, in my mind, if you PvP as your primary activity and not because of Sov, you either:

1. PvP for profit (isk) or for Killboard efficiency (bragging rights) and maximise your kills whilst minimising your losses (risk averse PvP).

2. Take on as many opportunities for a fight (or engineer opportunities for a fight) as can be generated (despite the odds) at the expense of Killboard stats.


So, which do you choose and what motivates you to do so (why)?

I PvP for fun. Nothing is more fun in life than interacting with other humans, without them there would be pretty much no reason to go on living and life would be incredibly dull. I want to make as much noise as I can and I want to be the best.

That's why solo PvP is actually just a myth, because any PvP, by definition, requires more than one player in order to be considered PvP.

I suppose I started out just wanting to be the best. I wanted to kill everyone and be the guy that never dies. But the main reason is for fun, so I try to maximize my win / loss ratio to the best of my abilities, but in the end you have to get out there and you have to participate, and in doing so there will always be losses.

I remember when I first started pvping I was perplexed at why I was unable to even hit another frigate with my turrets. Now I'm doing things that I would have thought were impossible back then.

The name of the game is fun.

3. To complete an objective. In SOV / FW occupancy of a system can be a defining reason to PvP.

Edit: Did miss the "and not because of sov" part of OP

you can do 2. thing when you do 1. thing so i do not see any reason do only 2. thing.

That's what I was going to say. If you take every fight that basically means you jump into Rancer and fight their gatecamp, no matter what ship you're in.

It basically means you lose a lot of ships.

1) Often I say I care little for efficiency, but I'm often catching myself checking the KB to see what the guys have been up to and while I'm there I can't help checking out my month. Neither am I much for profit, as most of the loot just goes into the closest station and is forgotten in time, unless there's a faction drop!

2) Is my bloodlust so wreckless that I disregard my losses for the slightest chance of the adrenaline or content? I would say no.

Futhermore, I've often seen #2 when I fly with a majority of FC's that are obsessed with #1, which leads to many suicide tackles and unnecessary losses. They get caught up and the moment takes control of THEM, leading to compulsive assaults that are measured after-the-fact by Isk ratios. I am not a fan of this kind of deployment. It removes the art of engagement and strategy that these same FC's employed to see long numbers and green on the KB.

Now, I don't FC often, but when I do I try to visualize a few things.

1) Will I likely lose any ships?
2) Do I have to lose any ships?
3) Do I have to reship, get numbers or adjust my doctrine?
4) Will it be a good fight?

If I can get two Yes'/No's, it's on! If there is only one yes or no, you are going to drag your feet into the next ship.

My best pvp moments involved the thought: 'Can I engage with something inferior and worth less, but pilot and fit in a way that my disadvantage guarantees a fight with a high probability of victory?'

The satisfaction found in those fights have trumped every other type of engagement I have experienced, with most of them being in a t1 frigate. You don't think about KB after those fights. You don't end the day by "burning through ships until you win". And you don't rely on numbers to represent your ability.

tl;dr I shoot anything my guns can track

i doubt there is anyone who will always suicide his ship without thinking he might get some kills.

I like watching stuff blow up, whether it be myself or someone else.

Sometimes I think my killboard could be a bit cleaner, but I remember how much fun it was to do what I did.

Suicide? Yes I do that for lols :) (as demonstrated in my recent nado loss)

YOLO?

I do it for the challenge of solo pvp, which I am not the best at but still do enjoy sometimes.

I think it's also just fun to fly around with others and try and find someone else to shoot at (who hopefully shoots back).

I don't really care about my killboard stats, but I am also not throwing my ships at any possible fight. I don't want to lose ships unnecessarily, but that's not because of killboards or stats, it's simply because I don't want to lose the isk/time spent on getting said ship (even if it's minimal) unless I have a reason for it. I would more fall into the 1st category due to the "risk averse" clause, but I wouldn't say I am really risk averse, I just also don't like needlessly throwing away isk and free kills to others.

Engaging other ships is just plain fun! Especially when you get to surprise the other pilot with beautifully packaged ammunition. Who doesn't love a surprise party?