It would only take 5 devoted souls to end high-sec freighter ganking as we have known it for the last year or longer.
Now 5 is only an estimate, it could be a few more or less. But forget trying to field a fleet of 20+ logistics and electronic warfare ships to prevent freighter ganks. Stop trying to protect the freighters. All we need is a team willing to gank bumper ships. Without bumpers, gank fleets will find it nearly impossible to gank freighters.
The first defense of a bumper is to add tank, which is why a team of 1 or 2 isn't enough. I figure 5 should probably do it. And you don't even need to bother trying to sneak up on them. You can casually fly your fleet over towards the bumper. They will run, which is fine, as that stops the gank. Or they will stay, in which case, gank them! Either way, the freighter goes free.
This may eventually lead to gankers fielding anti-gank fleets to prevent the bumper ganks. While this would be an added challenge, it would also be hilarious to have the roles flipped in such a manner, so I would consider this a win regardless.
This may eventually lead to gankers attempting to gank the bumper gankers. This is okay too. It will divide the ganker fleets making it easier for other anti-gankers to pick them off or stop them with logi and ECM. And you can switch to using a neutral warp in to help protect the bumper gank fleet, just the way gankers use a neutral warp in to help protect the freighter gank fleet.
I have been supportive of this approach for a long time, and willing to participate in such a fleet. I would like the bears and white knights out there to think about it too. It's not for the faint of heart, but there are ways of managing the negative side effects that I am always happy to share with others. And there is nothing like using your opponents own tactics against them to give them the proverbial middle finger.
Not being militarily minded myself... but being one fifth of a fleet that is ganking Machariels within range of the gate guns might be funny.
ReplyDeleteIf I can't fly it already, what fit should I train into?
This is the fit: https://zkillboard.com/kill/49434727/
DeleteIt's going to be a LOT of fun! :D
DeleteBest part about this idea ( even though each bumper has 2-3 machariels more, and we have at least 10 corp machariels we use)
ReplyDeleteYou could gank one and then we dont see you guys again for 30 days LOL, and you and your "team" stay docked for 30 days because of killrights XDXD
Wait a second here wolfie. Are you saying they've already been replaced? We haven't really done anything yet! :D. I'm sensing some epic code tear potential with this one. I'ts like the rumblings of old faithful. Can't wait!
DeleteAlso, it's well known that HSM vigilantes use the power of supreme justice (and a simple game mechanic) to overcome killrights. We have no need to stay docked. We have justice on our side!
For anyone uncertain about managing killrights, I have done a brief blog post on it before: http://gankerbumpingtoo.blogspot.com/2014/11/managing-kill-rights.html
DeleteVerified. 5 is the magic number to get started on this. Very effective, and very fun. :D
ReplyDeleteUpdate: Only one dedicated vigilante in a T1 fitted cat is needed to take out a freighter ganker's scout.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you fit a ship scanner though, you don't want to accidentally kill someone who is fast asleep at a star gate. Unless of course that person is Oprah. :P