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<blockquote data-quote="Pielorinho" data-source="post: 2146424" data-attributes="member: 259">I guess i don't see it like slaughtering farm animals, because farm animals are killed regardless of their guilt or innocence, and their death serves a functional purpose, not a preventative purpose.&nbsp;In this case, the PCs had to weigh the foreseeable consequences of their actions.1) If they marched the captives back to the gnome village, many innocent people might die because of their decision.2) If they kept them in bond and carried them along, many innocent people might die because of their decision, as their captives slowed them down and attempted to escape.3) If they tied them up and put them in the hunters shack, many innocent people might die because of their decision, as the captives' allies found out about the PCs' plans.4) If they executed them, it's far less likely that many innocent people might die because of their decision.&nbsp;Now, if the execution of the prisoners is beyond the pale, then none of that matters:&nbsp; the ends don't justify the means.&nbsp; But my point is that in many fantasy milieux, the PCs are in a position to exact &quot;The King's Justice&quot;:&nbsp; they may perform field executions as part of their job.&nbsp;I think it's pretty important to let the players know ahead of time the circumstances under which they may commit violence, especially if these are going to be extraordinary to the genre.&nbsp; It's fine to have a game in which rules similar to the rules of modern warfare apply, but the players need to know that up front.&nbsp;Daniel</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Pielorinho, post: 2146424, member: 259"] I guess i don't see it like slaughtering farm animals, because farm animals are killed regardless of their guilt or innocence, and their death serves a functional purpose, not a preventative purpose. In this case, the PCs had to weigh the foreseeable consequences of their actions. 1) If they marched the captives back to the gnome village, many innocent people might die because of their decision. 2) If they kept them in bond and carried them along, many innocent people might die because of their decision, as their captives slowed them down and attempted to escape. 3) If they tied them up and put them in the hunters shack, many innocent people might die because of their decision, as the captives' allies found out about the PCs' plans. 4) If they executed them, it's far less likely that many innocent people might die because of their decision. Now, if the execution of the prisoners is beyond the pale, then none of that matters: the ends don't justify the means. But my point is that in many fantasy milieux, the PCs are in a position to exact "The King's Justice": they may perform field executions as part of their job. I think it's pretty important to let the players know ahead of time the circumstances under which they may commit violence, especially if these are going to be extraordinary to the genre. It's fine to have a game in which rules similar to the rules of modern warfare apply, but the players need to know that up front. Daniel [/QUOTE]

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