Sejs said:
So let me get this straight: This person who is a hired killer attacks me out of the blue, saying something like "Try to die clean, I need your head as proof." or whatnot. Due to some luck on my part I avoid his death attack, and normal combat starts. First round, I get lucky and go before he does; I feint as a move-equvalent action because I've got some improved feint ability and he falls for it. He's now denied his dex bonus to Ac, and I lay into him with my shortsword while he's left an opening in his defenses. Luck smiles on me again and it's a crit. I then roll my critical hit damage which comes out to 19 say, and add in my 8d6 of sneak attack because I'm a rogue of some kind - that comes up ooh, let's say 36 damage. Total from one attack, 55hp of damage. Forces the assassin to make a death from massive damage save, which he fails, and he dies.
The assassin didn't have a chance to fight back. He didn't get a single swing in on me other than his initial supprise attack; I put a hole in his defenses, and ran my blade into his heart. By your reasoning I am not evil.
Very nice, but this wasn't the situation that was presented to me. I thought you had him held or something? Ok, so let me answer this new situation (although I already did in an earlier post).
The enemy died to you in comabt. He was a threat. He knew what he was getting into, and he took the risk to attack you not knowing you would defeat him. Luck was on your side and you ended up killing him. You are not evil, you are not at fault. You were defending yourself in combat, and he was a threat.
A held opponent on the other hand is not a threat. Especially if you have time to knock him out, disarm them or tie them up.
Sejs said:
or
Same assassin attacks me out of the blue, saying the same line about dying clean. Again he misses his death attack, again I win initiative, but instead of feinting him with my combat skills, I cast a spell to hold him still. Lucky me, he fails his will save and is held and I lay into him with my shortsword while he's got an opening in his defenses.
Why are you attacking a helpless opponent who is no longer an immediate threat to you when you can just as easily disarm, knock out or tie him up? Everything else at this point is moot, whether he survives or not. Of course if he does survive, you have a chance to redeem yourself. Whether you do so or not is up to you.
Sejs said:
Again, the assassin didn't have a chance to fight back. He didn't get off a single swing on me other than his initial supprise attack; I put a hold in his defenses, and ran my blade into his heart. By your reasoning I am evil.
Not necessarily. You committed an evil act. If this is how you normally conduct yourself with other beings, then you very well may be evil. At the very least, you've taken one more step closer to the dark side.
Sejs said:
But what probably gets me the most is your constant assumption that there's somewhere 'better' to take wrongdoers to. That there's some repository for other people's problems that you can just mosey up to, drop off your bound hired killer / rapist / soulsucker / world-destroying archvillian / jaywalker where they'll gladly take them off your hands, ask you to sign a few forms, and wish you good travels like you were dropping the kids off at daycare.
Funny, I think the opposite of you. That your constant assumption is there is no other place to bring them and that death is the only way for them. Personally, I wouldn't want to take the chance in killing them if there WAS a place to take these evil doers instead. You seem to not care. If there is a place to take them, who cares? Just doesn't seem right to me. Different play styles I guess.
Sejs said:
Or no, maybe I should just disarm them and say "Now you stop all this killing people for money nonsense, and go straight. I'm keeping your knives young man, you can have them back when you learn to get along with others.". Maybe put them in time out until they learn their lesson.
You you're getting it! Hehe, just kidding...
Sejs said:
Or maybe I should knock them out, so they can come back later and try and kill me again. Heck, I should probably be around a whole bunch of people they could use as leverage against me by killing or making hostage, too. Even if they get the idea that they shouldn't mess with me and leave me alone forever more after I disarm them or knock them out, I'm sure the next person they slit the throat of is going to give me a big ol' thumbs up for letting this person go. I mean sure, they're dead, but at least I took the red spandex-wearing moral highroad.
See, we just have different views. I would give them the benefit of the doubt and and hope they learned their lessen. That crime doesn't pay. They should be lucky they are alive, because they were at my mercy. Were I some twisted villain, they would not be alive now. Maybe they will think of this next time they try and jump an unsuspecting adventurer.
It's just a different way of looking at it I suppose. Pessimist vs. Optimist. I think the safer route (safer for your "soul" or you alignment) is to be optimistic and give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they see the error of their ways. You believe they won't see the error of their ways, so you might as well kill them.
Sejs said:
The funny thing is, last time I looked foolish was a function of my intelligence attribute, not a requirement of my alignment. You bring up mercy alot - the fact of the matter is not everyone is deserving of mercy. There are people who, offered redemption, will spit if back in your face with a mouthful of poison.
"An enemy deserves no mercy. Mercy is for the weak. A man confronts you on the street, in competition, he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy." - Sense Kreese, "The Karate Kid"
