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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JediMasterGunner" data-source="post: 5722308" data-attributes="member: 67229">This question has come up a lot in the d20 Apocalypse game I am playing in. Our game started during an epidemic and during the fourth session the Bombs fell. There is a lot of uncertainty because we have not found any continuity of government in our region. My character was a cop (Smart level 1 with Diplomacy and Gather Info as occupation skills). He has consistently been trying to preserve life. Dealing with prisoners is really difficult. In the beginning we faced a lot of questions about where to draw the line. I tried to parley before anyone was shot or stabbed. When the shooting started I try to dig in and talk people down. What do you do when the guy on the other side is just looking for medicine or food and you are competing? This avoids the prisoner problem. We could turn some prisoners over to the National Guard or the Army as we encountered them but the group wasn't thrilled about the extra weight, especially when resources are limited. Often the party suggests trying to distract my character so they can murder the prisoners while he is away. I have to point out the "Good does not mean stupid" phrase that a lot of paladins should consider. We have had PCs fight each other while a battle was taking place because one wanted to honor the deal and thought another was going to kill the prisoner.After the fight we often leave the unconscious and stabilize the dying but don't take them with us. It depends on if the fight was between professionals or if it was an ambush. If it is clear this was a group of slavers or cannibals then my character has accepted that some losses need to be cut. We haven't executed anyone yet: all of the party kills have been in the heat of battle. So far, no prisoners have caused problems for us. It may be that the GM  doesn't want to derail the planned missions. If he really doesn't want us  talking to a guy, they've met with foul ends before we get the chance.   Sometimes I'll take a prisoner and the bad guys kill their own guy to prevent him from talking. This in turn presents a new opportunity for a mission.Recently we ran into a new hurdle. Our group is working for a town where a lot of refugees have holed up. We have encountered a highly organized raiding party (picture advance teams of Caesar's Legion from New Vegas) and we were able to capture a handful of guys. We brought them back to town for intelligence and they were executed by the town while we were out trying to stop another raid. This is a problem because my character talked them a couple of them into surrendering.These events have been frustrating to my character but rewarding as a  player. Playing a character with moral or ethical constraints in some  settings is for the challenge because there are no mechanical benefits.  My badass-book worm wasteland cop isn't going to lose spells or a magic horse if he does evil, just the reputation he has been earning over the last seven levels. It is a great opportunity for roleplaying.</blockquote>

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