A Sword To The Throat

[AlphaCentaurus 173]

In light of certain events going on which will remain completely unnamed, I have decided to clarify on something exceedingly common that often has a few... miscommunications.

A popular strategy among villains is, when you're in a tight spot, to grab someone important (or not) and stick a sword to their throat. Often, this works well. But often, stuff goes wrong. Most commonly this takes the form of the victims - not the ones with the swords to their throats, but instead the people usually with their swords out, completely armored, and an intent to kill the villain - rushing forward, or doing some action to counter this move. If the villain is good, he slits the person's throat.

And then... an ooc argument saying they can't do that. Well, they really can.

Basically, a sharp object is at the person's neck. No, not an inch or so away - digging into the flesh. Most likely drawing a thin line of blood. I want you all to reach up to your neck right now. Feel that? Pretty darn soft, right? Imagine an incredibly sharp diamond/gold sword to that. You have quite a bit of valuable stuff in there. The merest move could kill them.

Now, have you ever seen a hostage situation on the news? A situation where a crazy gunman has a gun to someone's head. Finger on the trigger. There will be a line of cops around them, helicopters buzzing overhead, SWAT teams ready to move in. But they will not rush forward. Or try to do anything to stop this person - or at least anything overt in any way shape or form. Why? Because, hey, it might work. Who knows? They could have a sniper fire a bullet into their head. Everyone would be happy! Crisis averted! But on the other hand, it could just as well result in the man pulling the trigger. The civilian would die. And they will never take such a risk. If you do, in almost all cases, you are acting on the knowledge that this person will merely lose their minas and items, then return to spawn and all will be well. In a way, it's metagaming.

The criminal will be on high alert. Their focus is almost completely on the knife to the neck, and their automatic response to any sort of stimulation will be to move. It only takes milliseconds, at this stage, to cut through their throat. A loud sound, a movement, or the slightest touch will send them into almost a fatal flinch. This is the same case with, say, an arrow to the head. Even if they couldn't hear the passage of air from the arrow in time, the impact will cause their body to spasm automatically. All of this means that their quick hand will move to slice that throat in almost every case. Again, the victim dies.

Anyways, not only is the villain completely justified in killing this person almost immediately, these situations should be avoided almost always unless in the specific situation suits it, such as if the provoker was 1. Exceedingly stupid 2. Didn't care much about the victim, anyway. So all you rushing in, expecting to cover the distance, even if it is only a few feet, before I kill the small, pretty elven girl I have a sword to, can kindly go **** yourself rethink your actions.

[_pok_ 1768]

Hm, great post. Gunna take this into consideration next time I have a sword [or axe] to my throat!

:wink:

[Hylian the Heretic 233]

I don't know anything about these situations or miscommunications, but this is most definitely true. I honestly don't know how someone could argue for the opposing side.

[LTKiinG <3 2]

was this sparked up by one certain mishap involving a person in salvus? if so i see what your implying, well i think i do... also heres a tip, don't write in purple, it hurts some people eyes, one of them is me

[AlphaCentaurus 173]

was this sparked up by one certain mishap involving a person in salvus? if so i see what your implying, well i think i do... also heres a tip, don't write in purple, it hurts some people eyes, one of them is me

This is meant in no way to reflect or comment on the situation in Salvus. I've been meaning to write this post for some time now and I decided that now would be a good time.

And the purple text is meant to make me seem more serious than I am.

[High Prophetess Mezua~ ♥ ツ 144]

...I approve. This should be pinned in the roleplay section or something :D

[LaCabra (Soda) 1519]

THANK YOU! I get so annoyed with this!

[Secret Lizard President 313]

-Tries to read purple text-

My eyes! Yes, but seriously, this is a good post. :3

[Ozzyoverlord 26]

I agree that it is normally a very stupid idea to charge a criminal with a hostage. However, indulge me in a little story.

Someone took a hostage, a 17-year old girl, on the roof of a 3-story building. I was walking around and spotted them and decided to take a look, climbing up from the back of the building. I then heard the kidnapper shouting he wanted a ransom or she'd die. He then strolled around and spotted me (by walking around he logically did not have her in his grasp, only close by). As soon as he saw me, I ran up to the top of the roof and then emoted charging forward. He emoted grabbing the girl and holding her in front of him with a blade to her throat.

I decided to take a chance and continued charging. After a sparse OOC interaction with him restating that she was in his grasp, and me affirming that I was still charging him, he agreed to roll for the outcome of my charge. I won and slammed into the girl with my shoulder and the resulting force pushed all three of us clear over the edge of the roof. The man obviously lost his hold and when he hit the ground he was killed by civilian arrow fire. The girl and I were then treated for injuries suffered in the fall and everything was right as rain after that.

This is a true story. As true as a video game can be I guess. Point is, I'm just saying crazy stuff can happen if you just take action. But only once in awhile. Things could have gone very differently and much much worse. But hey, sometimes the unexpected is the best strategy. Don't imitate me kids, I'm a professional.

[chaotikal 2392]

Agreed totally, when I was a powergamer and a metagamer [Namely, Oren Guard] I did this wrongly once...and I learnt from it, however, in these times these tactics arent known, so most likely an easy trigger archer will jump out in despair and shoot down at the hostage, caring more to kill the criminal rather than saving the hostage, just my 2 cents however.

[Hylian the Heretic 233]

I agree that it is normally a very stupid idea to charge a criminal with a hostage. However, indulge me in a little story.

Someone took a hostage, a 17-year old girl, on the roof of a 3-story building. I was walking around and spotted them and decided to take a look, climbing up from the back of the building. I then heard the kidnapper shouting he wanted a ransom or she'd die. He then strolled around and spotted me (by walking around he logically did not have her in his grasp, only close by). As soon as he saw me, I ran up to the top of the roof and then emoted charging forward. He emoted grabbing the girl and holding her in front of him with a blade to her throat.

I decided to take a chance and continued charging. After a sparse OOC interaction with him restating that she was in his grasp, and me affirming that I was still charging him, he agreed to roll for the outcome of my charge. I won and slammed into the girl with my shoulder and the resulting force pushed all three of us clear over the edge of the roof. The man obviously lost his hold and when he hit the ground he was killed by civilian arrow fire. The girl and I were then treated for injuries suffered in the fall and everything was right as rain after that.

This is a true story. As true as a video game can be I guess. Point is, I'm just saying crazy stuff can happen if you just take action. But only once in awhile. Things could have gone very differently and much much worse. But hey, sometimes the unexpected is the best strategy. Don't imitate me kids, I'm a professional.

For a second I thought you were talking about a story IRL o.o

[Ozzyoverlord 26]

For a second I thought you were talking about a story IRL o.o

HA! I wish! ... Maybe not.

I'm imagining "emoting" in real life. I suppose I'd shout at the man "Aserisk (insert my name here) charges forward!"

*hostage-taker and police all stare dumbfounded as young man charges like it was some video game.

[AlphaCentaurus 173]

-snip-

There are a few instances on this, I agree. The fault is mainly on the villain for not emoting slitting her throat and the such.

[FORƎST 1312]

I always just highlight your posts to read them. :rolleyes:

But yeah, I see exactly what you mean.

[Aislin 4354]

I'm colorblind, I literally saw no text.

What did it say?

EDIT:

I always just highlight your posts to read them. :rolleyes:

I did that.