Combat Pragmatist/Web Original: Difference between revisions

== Webcomics ==

** Agatha vs. her cousin:

'''Agatha Heterodyne''': Well, I suppose it isn't that much worse than bringing a gun to a [[Clockwork Creature|clank]] fight. }}

** Who could forget her approach to [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0327.html the test of the mind]? Or, for that matter, [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0565.html the return trip]?

** Considering Haley's class and the above commentary on D&D rogues, this is justified.

** Belkar also fits into this category, being quite willing to fight sneakily with a paladin and either taking potshots or using traps against her.

*** In addition, when Belkar was confronted with the son of a Kobold he had killed, who was in full [[My Name Is Inigo Montoya|revenge mode]], he was unable to kill him due to {{spoiler|his Mark of Justice}}. So does he accept his fate? [[Karma Houdini|Hell no]]! He simply hires mercenaries mid-fight to slay him.

*** Miko herself surpisingly pulled this off while appearing to be more of the [[Honor Before Reason]] type. When facing a group of enemies, she rouses them all to wake up, allows them to pick up their weapons and even lets them eat first, allegedly so it'll be a fair fight. In truth, this was all a ploy to get them into one group so they could all be hit with the same attack.

** Belkar is an even better example in the prequel book ''On The Origin of PCs'':

'''Guard:''' It wasn't a knife fight until ''you'' started stabbing people! }}

** Vaarsuvius shows shades of this, particularly in his/her fight with {{spoiler|Zz'dtri.}}

'''Vaarsuvius''': Oh heavens! I cannot believe I violated the detailed rules and regulations we agreed upon before starting this contest! We must consult the referee for an appropriate penalty regarding my heinous transgression! }}

** During the siege of Azure City, Redcloak averts this when he accepts the duel with the human cleric while he still has an overpowering army. Later however, he plays it strange when he is proposed to a fair fight {{spoiler|by Thanh}}, who is held by an elemental summoned by Redcloak.

'''Redcloak''': Crush him. }}

*** It should be noted that Redcloak has always been pragmatic, with examples such as using Titanium Elementals instead of Earth because they are lighter yet stronger (if distasteful, not being a "classic" element); walking his hobgoblin army into certain death because he only needs them as a distraction (prior to gaining a change of heart regarding racism); creating decoys of Xykon to make the heroes guess which one's real, but then having the real one take an entirely different method of approach; etc. The reason Redcloak accepted the duel is specifically stated by himself as being because even though he could crush the cleric with his army, he does not want to waste any more hobgoblin lives when he can take him out himself. In the later case with {{spoiler|Thanh at the elemental's mercy}}, Redcloak has already won the would-be duel anyways, and so orders him killed without further delay.

** During his gladiator match against Thog, Roy uses discarded crossbow bolts as improvised shivs, [[Grievous Bottley Harm|smashes an empty potion bottle into Thog's face,]] throws sand in his eyes, and eventually wins by goading Thog into destroying the pillars holding up a section of the stands.

'''Chisulo''': Thank you sir! Point...um...taken. }}

* Bun-Bun from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'' just plain ''loves'' this trope. Some examples:

** [http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990330 Putting his "friends" in rabbit costumes to act as decoys.]

** [http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=990404 Using a robot's programming to make it jump into molten steel.]

*** [http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080425 torg facing lod moldy pantss in a magic duel pulls out a shot gun] [http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080504 he also shot first]

*** [http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/020622 torg and the truth brick]

* TFA Prowl in the ''[[Insecticomics]]'' teaches his class to use any available item as a weapon. When Laserbeak tries to call him on this, [http://www.insecticons.com/insecticomics/v5/437.html he kicks her aft with a sandwich.]

'''Raven:''' The lives of my students are more important. }}

* Karcharoth and Fenrir of ''[[Cry Havoc]]'' do whatever they think they need to in order to survive and win.

* In ''[[Errant Story]]'', Jon Amraphel is the only main character without any magical ability. How does he cope with fighting [[Magic Knight]] elven military, [[Warrior Monk|monks]] with [[Bullet Time]] [[Super Speed]], and tiny fairy demigods? By a) being [[The Gunslinger|very good with guns]], and b) cheating like hell. Being a semi-retired assassin, he does his best to avoid anything like a face-to-face fight.

* Pinton the Pig in ''Future Pig'' is definitely this. See him teach it to a student [http://www.futurepig.com/fut065.html here.]

* Dark Pegasus from ''[[DMFA]]'' not only [http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_923.php disintegrates an enemy in mid-speech], but then finishes his speech by mocking his enemies for allowing him to do that.

** Winning his immortality by {{spoiler|killing the Black Queen with the bunny}} does, however.

** Vriska Serket and her ancestor, Marquise Mindfang have no qualms with using their psychic powers to use others to kill or maim their opponents.

** Dave is not above using his friend {{spoiler|who their foe cannot bring himself to harm}} as a human shield. AUTO-HARLEY!

 

== Web Original ==

** If I'm sitting in my camp, hear a twig snap, start to investigate, then encounter a small woodland creature, I will send out some scouts anyway just to be on the safe side. (If they disappear into the foliage, I will not send out another patrol; I will break out the napalm.)

** 201.) Under no circumstances will I ever, EVER give a weapon back to the hero engaged with me in a duel. Sporting chances are for sissies.

** One should note, of course, that some folks {{spoiler|- including Ayla -}} doubt that Ito is actually ''just'' a [[Badass Normal]]. One of the prevailing theories is that he's also {{spoiler|either a secret mutant, or ''very'' experienced at Ki manipulation. Odds are weighted towards the Ki manipulation.}}

** Erik Mahren, {{spoiler|before his emergence as a mutant.}} As one of the range instructors, he's the one who okays {{spoiler|or used to}} what is and is not allowed to be used on the range. And he ''is'' a [[Badass Normal]], and is more than capable of defending himself against most of the students at Whateley - even the ones who think it's funny to sneak up behind people and stab them in the kidneys.

* In ''[[The Salvation War]]'', the demons accuse the humans of fighting dishonorably by using long-ranged artillery, airstrikes, tanks, and long-range rifles rather than fight the demons in hand-to-hand combat. Or at least, the demons ''try'' to, but the humans are too busy slaughtering their Bronze-Age armies wholesale to listen.

* Sup guy extraordinaire ''Johnny Rocketfingers''.

 

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