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<blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 391816" data-attributes="member: 3051">I'm with the people who say subdual combat is A Bad Idea (tm).&nbsp; Why?&gt; Magical healing heals subdual really well, and chances are an adventuring party has more healing than the town guard.&gt; It's practically guaranteed to go lethal AND the party probably has more magic (and can therefore overcome the odds).&gt; Guards would work on the concept of implied power (i.e., mess with us and we'll call our 100 friends at the barracks and you'll never be in this town again).&nbsp; Either they'd bring overwhelming force (10:1) or they'd send a small group to politely ask the PCs to accompany them.&nbsp; If the PCs say no they're Persona Non Grata in this town, no violence.(Conversation from Piratecat's Story Hour: &quot;Why'd you leave our cell unlocked?&quot; &quot;Could you escape if you wanted to?&quot; &quot;Yes&quot; &quot;That's why.&quot;)&gt; If the Aristocrat wants to keep the theft a secret then not telling the guards might be okay, but if the person is trying to get the PCs to help them, having them beaten unconscious is NOT a good way to ask for help.&nbsp; Besides, it'd be even harder to keep a secret, since you've now had dozens of guards involved, possible fatalities, and having the PCs released from custody will look even more suspicious.&nbsp; If the PCs killed a guard in the &quot;arrest&quot; there's no way they'd be released to help.And if it's NOT a secret, why not hire the PCs openly?&nbsp; It could even be subtle like having a town guard deliver a note.Anyway, point is, subdual fighting is only good for bar brawls, where it's clear no one is trying to kill, or as a combat move when you want prisoners but aren't too picky.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Spatzimaus, post: 391816, member: 3051"] I'm with the people who say subdual combat is A Bad Idea (tm). Why? > Magical healing heals subdual really well, and chances are an adventuring party has more healing than the town guard. > It's practically guaranteed to go lethal AND the party probably has more magic (and can therefore overcome the odds). > Guards would work on the concept of implied power (i.e., mess with us and we'll call our 100 friends at the barracks and you'll never be in this town again). Either they'd bring overwhelming force (10:1) or they'd send a small group to politely ask the PCs to accompany them. If the PCs say no they're Persona Non Grata in this town, no violence. (Conversation from Piratecat's Story Hour: "Why'd you leave our cell unlocked?" "Could you escape if you wanted to?" "Yes" "That's why.") > If the Aristocrat wants to keep the theft a secret then not telling the guards might be okay, but if the person is trying to get the PCs to help them, having them beaten unconscious is NOT a good way to ask for help. Besides, it'd be even harder to keep a secret, since you've now had dozens of guards involved, possible fatalities, and having the PCs released from custody will look even more suspicious. If the PCs killed a guard in the "arrest" there's no way they'd be released to help. And if it's NOT a secret, why not hire the PCs openly? It could even be subtle like having a town guard deliver a note. Anyway, point is, subdual fighting is only good for bar brawls, where it's clear no one is trying to kill, or as a combat move when you want prisoners but aren't too picky. [/QUOTE]

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