Picking: Definition

[RoGenT]

I know picking is one of the top topics in 200 (aside from HO shots) but everyone has different way of looking at it so I am curious on the feed back of ''picking'' from my fellow players.

Only fair that I go first.


Below is what I consider picking


When one player engages another one that pretty much has no chance of fighting his/her way out of that situation (falls under gangbang)

Shooting someone when they already engaged by at least one person (if your countryman is on his six)

Shooting already damaged plane (for example, half wing) and/or someone landing.

Non-Picks

Player is not being engaged or engaging someone else

Furballs: I do not believe there isn't any such thing as a pick in furballs unless it is completely one-sided

Coming to the aid of fellow countryman who has baddie on six and clearing it.

Player is afk and shot down.

[Zazen13]

Enjoy...

Here's some definitions that might help:

1) Bounce - Attacking with an altitude advantage a plane that is not already engaged with another.

2) Cherry Pick - Attacking an enemy who is already engaged with another.

3) Clearing Your Wingman's 6 - Attacking an enemy who is already engaged with another.

4) Drag n' Bag - Tactic whereby a friendly drags 1 or several enemy laterally for a friendly to destroy while they are "engaged" with him.

5) Vertical Drag n' Bag (aka Rope) - Tactic whereby a friendly pulls 1 or more enemy up vertically to slow them down, hanging them there for a friendly to destroy while they are "engaged" with him.

6)Cross Drag - Tactic whereby a friendly with a single pursuer turns him perpendicular to your flight path to allow you to close more quickly and provide a higher profile shot on the enemy "engaged" with him.

So, #1 is not a cherry pick, that's a pure BnZ in the classic sense. Some seem to think if they get bushwhacked and didn't see it coming that's a cherry-pick but it's not. If they were not otherwise engaged it's just getting bounced.

That leaves #2-6, all cherry-picks or variations thereof. Coincidentally, they are all fundamental tactics of air combat and cooperative wingman tactics. There's hardly more fun to be had in the game than flying in a complex engagement with some folks that can recognize, execute and exploit #3-6. In fact, there's a name for those that can't recognize, execute and exploit #3-6, "clueless noobs". Personally, I don't care to fly with people who consider themselves above cherry-picking, because in a complex engagement people averse to setting people up, recognizing setups, exploiting setups and clearing your 6 are not worth a pinch of owl poop.

[Vudak]

Anyone who claims they never pick is being dishonest...  But there are a good number of people who try not to be the 4th or 5th man in...  And a good number of people who hold the 4th and 5th in with complete disdain in case of "vets" and perhaps a sigh/eyeroll in the case of newer guys.

There is absolutely no good tactical reason to be the 4th guy dogpiling someone...  None.

[zoozoo]

every kill is a pick 

[Zazen13]

Anyone who claims they never pick is being dishonest...  But there are a good number of people who try not to be the 4th or 5th man in...  And a good number of people who hold the 4th and 5th in with complete disdain in case of "vets" and perhaps a sigh/eyeroll in the case of newer guys.

There is absolutely no good tactical reason to be the 4th guy dogpiling someone...  None.

I totally agree. A squaddie of the past had a saying I always thought was catchy and easy to remember for those who have trouble distinguishing the difference between a pick and a gang-bang.

"If there's two there's room for you, if there's three let them be..."

As you can probably tell by my avatar I am a huge advocate of cherry picking. In my opinion, per my self-quoted post above, sound cooperative tactics and cherry-picking are practically synonymous. I also have no problem being the 2nd or 3rd guy in on certain planes I consider "hyper-modelled" (ie: La7, Spit, Niki etc) just to make sure they get what they deserve, especially if I know or suspect they are being driven by someone with skill. Gang-Banging however, is usually just a waste of E and ammunition, if a bandit can kill 3+ of my teammates by himself he deserves to live...

By the same token, I have absolutely no problem being cherry picked. Anyone who doesn't cherry pick bandits off their countrymen is a waste of bandwidth in an air combat game. If I was proceeding to kill someone and his friendly had a chance to pick me off him and did not, I would assume he's either grossly incompetent, drunk or both.

[BoilerDown]

Anyone who claims they never pick is being dishonest...  But there are a good number of people who try not to be the 4th or 5th man in...  And a good number of people who hold the 4th and 5th in with complete disdain in case of "vets" and perhaps a sigh/eyeroll in the case of newer guys.

There is absolutely no good tactical reason to be the 4th guy dogpiling someone...  None.

If there's no other red cons in sight and the "dogpile" has gone on for more than 30 seconds without a resolution, or if the one enemy killed one of the pursuers already, or if I'm already within 2.0k (especially if they're coming towards me), I consider any of those good tactical reasons to pile on.

[Steve]

Anyone who claims they never pick is being dishonest...  But there are a good number of people who try not to be the 4th or 5th man in...

I will not join a 1v1 without first asking my teammate if he wants help. Anything more than 1v1 and I'll not join, unless settling a score. There's plenty of targets out there.

I realize this is oldschool and the current mindset is set in opposition to my position but I don't care. I think gangtards are just as low as first merge Ho'ers.

[Lusche]

I pick, therefore I am

- Rene Descartes.

[Vudak]

If there's no other red cons in sight and the "dogpile" has gone on for more than 30 seconds without a resolution, or if the one enemy killed one of the pursuers already, or if I'm already within 2.0k (especially if they're coming towards me), I consider any of those good tactical reasons to pile on.

Worry about the red cons not in sight

[Masherbrum]

Enjoy...

Chigger flicka! 

[whiteman]

If there's no other red cons in sight and the "dogpile" has gone on for more than 30 seconds without a resolution, or if the one enemy killed one of the pursuers already, or if I'm already within 2.0k (especially if they're coming towards me), I consider any of those good tactical reasons to pile on.

same here, if 5 guys can't kill a con in 30 secs I'll swoop in as long as I'm not blowing a bunch of E. I also expect others to do the same if I'm the dolt that can't kill the con 200 in front of me.

[redman555]

well, heres a deifinition... some dweeb flying a niki, spit, hurri or la la diving from 15k when your 10k under them....


-BigBOBCH

[1Boner]

Personally I hate what I call "base baiters"

You'll have anywhere from 1-3 guys who will fly over base(obviously making it flash)

They have absolutely no intention of taking the base, nor the means to do so.

And they will pick off guys as they attempt to up to "Fight".

At the 1st sign of any plane that is co-alt with them, they will scamper away with their "well earned" kills.

I've noticed that most of these guys are the "Sko-Hoes" that are always whining about not being able to find a "good fight"

I call THAT  "punking" not picking.

[Vudak]

Personally I hate what I call "base baiters"

You'll have anywhere from 1-3 guys who will fly over base(obviously making it flash)

They have absolutely no intention of taking the base, nor the means to do so.

And they will pick off guys as they attempt to up to "Fight".

At the 1st sign of any plane that is co-alt with them, they will scamper away with their "well earned" kills.

I've noticed that most of these guys are the "Sko-Hoes" that are always whining about not being able to find a "good fight"

I call THAT  "punking" not picking.

One to three guys doing this are going to be shot up by the ack or run low on fuel/ammo before you can replane and bring in a coalt fighter...

[NoBaddy]

Killing an engaged opponent. Usually requires that the opponent fly like a "CHERRY" (noob...not paying attention...zero SA). Damaged or landing planes would qualify as vultches and not cherry picks. The latest one I've heard is a guy that does the Gang Rope (1 high guy vs 2 or more low guys) is a cherry picker. Not so, sometimes I think noobs simply make up definitions for terms they hear. I had one weenie complain that I ho'ed him when every shot was inside his 5 to 7 o'clock arc.