Re: [HOE] guts check and gun

[Theo McGuckin <tsm@jlab.org>]

> Remember,
>     Unless your character is from some sort of utopian outpost in the middle 
> of nowhere, they have had guns pointed at them multiple times in their lives. 
>  HoE characters are not from suburbia, they are born and bred in a savage and 
> brutal world, and I doubt that any would have as extreme a reaction to a gun 
> pointed at them as we would.

I can understand that in certain situations (duels for example) you would
surpress the urge to move out of the way. Or if you were focused on
something else, say. But in most cases it comes down to a "fight or
flight" response. And "stand there and take it like a man" isn't one of
the options. Sneak up behind the most grizzled of veterans and yell
something in their ear (c'mon, I dare ya) I guarantee they well react.
Whether it's to get you first (fight) or move away (flight), there will be
a reaction and it won't be to wait for them to collect themselves and wait
for a good chance to respond.
I'm not trying to advocate a guts check to not dodge (the last thing the
game needs is ANOTHER roll in combat). I'm just trying to point out that
sometimes players (me included) forget how normal people (heroes, mutants,
ABs, whatever) would react to certain situations. I for one will be making
my characters dodge (or at least shoot on the move and take the to-hit
penalties like a man) a lot more after this discussion.

>     I remember the stories that old soldiers tell about being shelled by 
> artilary.  Many reached a point where they would hear the incoming shell and 
> not take cover.  

Well I would argue that there is a big difference between hearing a shell
coming in somewhere around you (I can see a sort of detachment there) and
a gun pointed right at your face. Granted there is a certain anonymous-
maliciouness that comes from that faceless artillery shell...

Out of curiosity, if anyone knows someone who's been combat (and is okay
with talking about it), ask them if they was ever a time where they saw
they were going to be shot and made a conscious choice not to move, but to
go for their own weapon instead.

Theo McGuckin - SysAdmin, JLab


	"Apathy! Apathy! That's our cry! A-P-A-T... oh never mind,
	 it doesn't matter anyway..."