A successful op?

What constitutes a successful pvp op? I guess depending on the op there are different levels of success. A mining op will want to get X amount of minerals, a mission op is looking after X amount of ISK, and a roaming mission wants X amount of kills. However, besides these hard numbers, isn't there another level of success?

Today 5 members of the Tuskers went on a roaming op. full of nano ships. The ships included 3 Inty's, and 2 stabbers. Eventually being joined by a cov ops, we fount a Hawk pilot ratting in a belt and quickly pounced on the Assault Frigate. A few minutes later, we fount yet another ship ratting, this time a Caracal. Much like the assault frigate, he didn't last long to our combined firepower. Able to pounced very quickly on a target before he can realize and warp away is a very powerful tactic, reminding me a little of the Blitzkrieg tactic Germany utilized during WWII.

We were evaded a few times after this, first by a myrmidon in a mission, then by a destroyer salvaging a mission. Finally, we engaged our final target, a flashy Curse at a gate. Our inexperienced engaging different ships got the better of us here. With none of the members having much experienced againts Curses, we decided to try our luck, hoping to be able to inflict enough combined damage to bring it down. Unfortunately, we lost a crow and a stiletto, the rest of our fleet making it out alright and the curse leaving as well.

We learned a valuable lesson. We learned how Curses can completely ruin your day in a nano gang. One blast of his neuts will cap you out, and a nano without cap is like a Mexican without soccer..we just die! :)

According to statistics, we came on the loosing end. With the loot recovered and insurance payouts, we came out about 29 mil ISK in the red. However, when you consider the valuable lesson we learned (specially with relatively cheap shups), plus the fun that was had by all...I would consider it a valuable and successful op. Don't you agree?

Then again..the people who lost their ships might think differently *grin*