What is "Tanking" ?

Day 1,585, 09:10 • Published in France France • by AlI Might
Hello everyone,





Today, I'm writing an article about a different way to play eRepublik, a way that isn't accessible to every individual because it requires ressources from our real life and the desire to give them away.
In fact, we're going to talk about "tanking". A lot of people say "I wish I could tank", others say "It's pretty retarded", there are a lot of different opinions about it. And, right now, we're going to focus on what it feels to tank and what reasons the tanks act for, what is it for them.

At the begining of the idea for this article, I thought that writing my own opinion would be a good deal, then I just thought a bit, I reconsidered the question and found out that it would maybe be better to gather different opinions on the question because the best answers will come from those who are concerned. Not only me. That's why I contacted a lot of different people experimenting "tanking", no matter the side, the country or the reasons they fight for... so we can analyse what are the motivations and the feelings from different personalities.

I thank every people who agreed to give their time for this, now let's read together what I gathered :





- Argrob :
""Tanking" in itself means nothing. Clicking the mouse until use up all the gold is hollow. There is something much more important, a passion. All of which approach with a passion has its value, because it reveals our weaknesses and strength. Two hit or two hundred has the same value, for those who want something passionately. Those who "tank" without passion and dedication to a goal, will never understand what it means to be a "Tank"."



- PedjaT :
" Answer :"



- StrozeR :
""Tanking" in its general meaning is nothing else but simply inflicting a very large amount of damage in a single (mini)battle. The name "tanks" is a way to describe the so-called mastercards or the people who have lots of str.
For me tanking means winning a certain battle not only by my food fights, but also adding the power of my rank and str combined. ATM I am the youngest player from the top50 strongest accounts. I managed to achieve that due to 2 migrations of skills and training with Napoleon since its intriduction (I missed my Napo only once -- when I clicked on Lana accidentaly 🙁).
I don’t experience any special feelings when I tank, I am just pleased when we win a battle in which I have invested so much influence. It’s an after- thing; when you lose, well, that happens, but it doesn’t affect my feelings or my ego -- it’s just a game. When you win, it’s nice to see the overjoyed people on IRC and to tell yourself "yeah, I have had a certain influence on the result of that battle, it feels great to be a part of it!"
Sometimes it’s hard to stop tanking in the middle of a battle when the wall hangs just 0.5% below the egde. I usually do not get involved in the ping-pong battles as I am aware that a victory today shall be followed by tomorrow’s loss. I prefer battles about which I know that their result will last longer than few days and that my opponent won’t forget about them quickly.
And for your information, I have NEVER bought gold 🙂 I’ve been saving it ever since v1 for vingaer."


- Romper :
"I don't really have an answer to the question. It is like breathing, I just do it. The only thing I do feel is finger pain from pressing the mouse button. That's about it."


- Savonrepus :
"Tanking is like becoming an instant leader of the American GOP. You set your target and then become totally oblivious to anything else around you as you deliver. To be successful you need to ensure you have sufficient resources. If you are support tanking you can pre commit but if you are going to shoot the moon you estimate your commitment then triple it if you wish to know your outcome. You have to realise that once you start you will be out of control and you will use all your resources especially if you are up against Serbia or one of its culture bashed PTO states, Hungary the puppet master, FYROM and its arrogance or an Eden traitor states of Poland or Spain. On the other hand this passion is muted as admin drive this game into oblivion with game distorting promotions, economic interferance and ad hoc regulation. Tanking should be covered by a health warning by the surgeon general because there is one thing for sure - IT IS DANGEROUS."


- oboj :
"First 'tanking' started in V2 where we had 1-to-1 encounters. It was expensive but I had fun during that time. 🙂

After that my 'tanking' was the complete unload of all the gold I have in order to win the round/battle. The obvious main reason was to help my eCountry and its allies. If sometimes the Win had also 'moral boost effect' on our people then I was also enjoying it. 🙂

Another 'tanking' was of 'educational' nature. I was tanking to take the BH medal from stronger player who bully came above the weaker one who just spent everything he had trying to take that damn medal and who happened to be my friend 🙂

Currently, I'm not tanking anymore. I'm walking now on the road from Diamond down to Free member. This is the only way I can thank YOUKNOWWHO."

- Margaret H Thatcher :
"I like to tank to help my friends really. When you tank once, and you see your damage make a real difference for a country you have lots of friends in, you want to do it again.

I enjoy it, but I'm under no illusions about it."


- Yetlanesi :
Tanking for me is when you spend your real money into gold ingame, so you can use it to buy energy bars, weapons, and everything you think you'll need to defeat your enemies in a battle. Mainly on the true belief that you are going to win.
Experimenting tanking feeling is similar to ride in a rollercoaster without a safety belt, it gives you adrenaline sensation but you never know what will happen at the end -of a battle that is.
I have done quite a lot tanking everywhere and sometimes it has been worth it. But I can tell some other times I have regrets on how much I have spent for nothing.
Tanking is fun but it has to be done with responsability.


- FanaticZD :
"Hm what is tanking ? For me tanking is when I fight without thinking how much influence I will make, fighting as much as needed to win a battle. In those situations I usually hit to secure the wall and then follow the battle and fight more if needed. What I feel is adrenaline I guess. It is a satisfing feeling that you are part of a team and you are significant. But then, I have that feeling even if I make very little damage. The worst feeling is when you cant hit fast enough to keep the wall up. I love tanking, it is fun, but then I love betting as well, not so good for your wallet !"

- Alfagrem :
"Tanking is simply using anything other then food to recover wellness while fighting in a battle.
Mega-Tanking is dropping 12 to 16 million per round for 6 to 8 rounds.
I stopped tanking months ago when it became evident that the eUK leadership was frankly terrible and needed to stop hiding behind my skirt and improve itself through adversity."


- Rejep Dectash :
""Tanking" occurs when the unit or a single person is intended to make a big amount of damage according to their side.
For some guys is their way of enjoying the game more than the usual.
For some others its because they have orders to do it.
I'm personally doing it for personal pleasure,when and if i have more than enough gold."


- Tang Li :
"Tanks, the main weapon of the modern land-based operations, "the name of the King of Land Warfare, which is a powerful direct fire, the high degree of cross-country mobility, mainly the implementation of the enemies tanks or other armored vehicles combat.
For me, just protection of all the things I cherish as possible as i can.
As a soldier, I always believed that even if I have played a key role in battles, I still need to thank the supports from many friends, without friends I can't do anything."


- Mudash :
"TANK, for me is it not just a title. It’s a kind of way of living.
Every morning, I’m looking myself in a mirror and saying:
- You are the MAN !!! \o/
It also brought me lots of joy and excitement. From the moment when I became a TANK, I stopped watching porn, because Tanking is giving me multiple orgasms.
On this occasion I would like thank my friends and family for their support. 😘 "


- depici :
"Tanking is like making love. once you start it, it is almost impossible to stop without feeling satisfied.
In the beginning of the game, I was tanking more often. Greece and Bulgaria are the countries I tanked against and Fyrom was the one I tanked for in that time.
Now when I check my relations with people in erepublik my best friends are Greeks and Bulgarians and I dont like Fyromians most.
It is really fun to tank with some friends, Rejep Dectash is my tanking buddy. We tanked for Cyprus lots of times together.
I do not recommend one to buy gold and tank because once you start it, you always look for it if you are interested about the game. Keep it simple and dont buy gold !"


- amvlad :
"For me tanking doesn't mean to put a huge amount of damage in a round. Everybody can do that without being a tank. A good tank must meet 2 conditions to be called so. To fight on gold (much more than only food fights) and to inflict the damage needed when it is needed and as much as it is needed to keep the wall above 50 in order to score points. Otherwise is nothing more than a spender. Now regarding what I feel when I'm tanking, well, I'm to old in this game to fight for countries or alliances. I fight only for friends and for my personal fun. And we we all know very well the pleasure we feel when we are helping friends. It worth all the efforts and even more."


- LadyArgana :
"For me tanking is to lead or to help the leading tank at an important battle to have the wall above 50. Not much... only 50 and something
I used to tank for allies and my country but not anymore. Now I tank only for my friends in this game. I dont exclude allies and Greece but for me, the main goal, is to help my friends if I feel they need me or if they ask me my help.
Ofc in order to do that, I would also have the necessary gold to spend 😛
I dont get upset if the battle I am tanking is lost but I do enjoy a lot to win a battle, especially if its a battle that everyone else thought its a lost battle but I didnt 🙂
I enjoy a lot to fight side by side with my amvlad and to make a double force no matter how the battle will ends.
But in the end of every battle, I know I have tanked for a good reason.
Friends 🙂"

- GOURRYNSX :
"Another kind of art, such like Tug of war, is a sport that directly pits two teams against each other in a test of inf. In the war, every tanker is fighting hard for their faith. So, for me, tanking is an another way to show the power of female !"


- Attila14 :
"I only tank when I'm drunk or when the program bugs. Both are very common."


- whatsupcarlitos :
"Tanking is something I do to help my friends or to botter my enemies.
I usually do it when i'm drunk or stoned, I prefer the night to do it, because there's less people to help our allies...
I don't feel anything special when I do it, just trying not to be so bored !
If i can't handle the battle I start calling friends to help, like kloraq, tute cabrero or lucas05, almost never fight alone (it's a waste of damage)."

- FRITZHILL :
"Tanking is kinda addicting. You go into a close battle and see people fighting on the other side. You have no idea how much they are going to fight. So the battle comes down to the wire so you just keep going if you have the supply. It is rewarding knowing that you made a difference in the battle for or against your country which has been the case as of late."


Now, as it would be unfair if I wouldn't share my own opinion, here it is :
"Tanking is another way to play, when I invest in a battle I'll do whatever I can to bring the victory, sometimes it works, sometimes not.
When I go for a BH, it isn't really for the medal, I just place myself on the starter, that means I'm taking the responsibility of the battle, and I'll probably ready to tank hard to win. I often do it for my friends and my country, also for Germany, Portugal, Croatia.
Tanking is very addictive, I warn everyone, stay away from it. But it brings nice sentations and fun I have to admit it.
My "tanking" is for my friends, nothing else.
Otherwise I wouldn't spend my money for a virtual map and some numbers on the screen."





I'm really glad I managed to gather that much opinions from great people in here, I also am impressed about how nice some ONE's tank are. Even if I got insulted by 2-3 ONE guys, in overall, I'm satisfied. And I thank everyone who had the will to answer me, they made that article possible.
Some answers are very intrsting though, we can sometimes guess a few about how the "tanker" behave on the battlefield and in regarding this game.

Well, now, you have multiple opinion about tanking, you can now know what are the motivations, how it is seen by the concerned person.
It is clear that tanking in its more objective way, is totaly pointless. And very expensive though...
But it is fun and how would be the life without fun ?




AlexMCS182
For My Foxy...