Does the ends justify the means?

[Praetorian13]

I've just recently gotten back into Assassin's Creed Brotherhood online. About 3 games into it, I came across a team of 4 people who all stun farmed my entire team just for points! Even though their objective is to hide and escape they thought that they knew better.

After talking (arguing really) with one of them for a while he said that he didn't care what he had to do in order to get to the top of leaderboards. I call that a messed up idea. I've noticed this theme recurring across a lot of other games!

So basically. Does the ends justify the means?

DISCUSS!

 

[DanielBrown]

Outta be counted as a broken mechanic, and hopefully fixed asap - especially since it ruins other players experience. :/

 

[Praetorian13]

Outta be counted as a broken mechanic, and hopefully fixed asap - especially since it ruins other players experience. :/

I can only hope they do! I bet they won't bother fixing it and put it down to 'its a real tactic though! Honest!'

 

[WolfEdge]

Was he having fun doing it? I mean, an allowable tactic is an allowable tactic, but it seems like most of the fun to be had in the AC multiplayer was pulling a successful hit while escaping with your own life intact. To think that someone would go through the trouble of essentially farming opponents, all for the increase of this imaginary number and distinction, almost borders on the absurd. Why play the game at all if you're simply going to circumvent the "game" portion? So you can win? Seems counterproductive if you don't care enough to play the game to begin with.

 

[sheah1]

God no, I play games to have fun, not to be the best, being the best is just a side-effect (one I seem unable to catch).

 

[Praetorian13]

God no, I play games to have fun, not to be the best, being the best is just a side-effect (one I seem unable to catch).

'The fun is the journey, not the destination' springs to mind!

 

[Disaster Button]

I don't think slaughtering one fifth of the children in a school justifies obtaining one gum drop, regardless of how yummy said gum drop may be.

 

[Praetorian13]

Why play the game at all if you're simply going to circumvent the "game" portion? So you can win? Seems counterproductive if you don't care enough to play the game to begin with.

I totally agree! Heard them talking to each other, was like listening to people at work.
'Ok so you do this. Then i'll do this move. Good.'
Got old VERY fast.

 

[Woodsey]

That's a viable tactic, and it makes the game more interesting and fulfilling when you get the drop on someone's whose supposed to be killing you.

 

[zehydra]

They had a different goal in mind. To them, it was the points and reputation (leaderboard) that mattered, not the game itself.

Such people like these really shouldn't be playing these games in the first place, since it is not for the game that they play.

But, to answer your question, no.

 

[Praetorian13]

That's a viable tactic, and it makes the game more interesting and fulfilling when you get the drop on someone's whose supposed to be killing you.

I get the part about getting the drop on someone chasing you. But restricting them doing any more chasing? It removes any form of fun or challenge!

 

[gigastrike]

If you reach the top of the leaderboards by using a no-skill tactic then you don't deserve to be on the top of the leaderboards.

 

[Woodsey]

That's a viable tactic, and it makes the game more interesting and fulfilling when you get the drop on someone's whose supposed to be killing you.

I get the part about getting the drop on someone chasing you. But restricting them doing any more chasing? It removes any form of fun or challenge!

Oooh, you mean they stand over you until you get up again, then rinse and repeat?

 

[Praetorian13]

Oooh, you mean they stand over you until you get up again, then rinse and repeat?

Bingo. No fun at all.

 

[Woodsey]

Oooh, you mean they stand over you until you get up again, then rinse and repeat?

Bingo. No fun at all.

Well that's just bad sporstmanship!

Quit out and join a different game - I never had that trouble if I'm honest (played online for about a month).

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Of course not.
I'm reminded of one of the tech quotes from Civilization V.
?As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy.?
? Christopher Dawson

I suppose that doesn't mean much when it comes to AC:B though, does it? Having never played AC:B I'm not really sure I understand the situation. If they're taking advantage of a flaw in the game just to get ahead then that's cheap and it ruins the experience for everyone else.

 

[Praetorian13]

Oooh, you mean they stand over you until you get up again, then rinse and repeat?

Bingo. No fun at all.

Well that's just bad sporstmanship!

Quit out and join a different game - I never had that trouble if I'm honest (played online for about a month).

Been absolutely loving online! That's the one thing i've not liked so far! And been afraid of it ever happening again!

 

[Praetorian13]

Of course not.
I'm reminded of one of the tech quotes from Civilization V.
?As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an evil, then their good becomes indistinguishable from the evil that they set out to destroy.?
? Christopher Dawson

I suppose that doesn't mean much when it comes to AC:B though, does it? Having never played AC:B I'm not really sure I understand the situation. If they're taking advantage of a flaw in the game just to get ahead then that's cheap and it ruins the experience for everyone else.

Definately!
It is weird that the Assassin's little motto thing is 'Nothing is true, everything is permitted' which weirdly goes with the quote you just said!

Game wise I think it's a massive hole in an otherwise perfect game!

 

[darth.pixie]

"If the end does not justify the means, then in the name of sanity and justice, what does?"

"A means can be justified only by its end. But the end in its turn needs to be justified"

Cookies to those who know the quotes.

Also, they represent my answer. It depends on the goal.