You the player know that your unarmed fighter could mash the peasant waving the rusty short sword with both hands tied behind his back, and that the peasant has zero chance of killing your character. But, if you are the fighter in that situation, would you really take the chance of being run through?
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Without knowing more about the situation or the character's personality, if the player was playing a heroic oriented character, it sounds like a good time for a sunder on the weapon or a blow of subdual damage just to rattle them out of their delusions of menace. And that would be if a more verbal tactic (preverably through role play, but through bluff/diplomacy/intimidate track if necessary).
It depends a lot on the player/character concept. I've played a no-nonsence paladin of St. Cuthbert who would have clocked him over the head for being such a dunce (he is the god of common sense, after all). A current paladin (also of St. Cuthbert) would avoid fighting a non-combatant unless it was absolutely necessary.
I'd go for a grapple. Especially if I had the Improved Grapple feat. Then pummel the poor sob 'till unconciousness.
Ultradan
Depends on how you've been roleplaying your PC and alignment choices you've made.
I've seen PC's in my games handle this situation about a dozen different ways.
Go for it! Sometimes all you have to go on is gut feelings. Who hasn't been in a battle before that they swore would be a cakewalk and had their behinds handed to them. Sometimes a peasant is just a peasant; and sometimes that farmer down the lane is a retired adventurer(Lvl 5 Fighter/Lvl 3 Monk), who really hates it when you walk through his garden. Life is all about the risk. As a player it's all about learning what you were raised to believe isn't always the way things really work. Though if i did beat down that curr, his rusty sword is going into the party fund.
If I was a metagamer I wouldn't be playing a fighter in the first place, since I know druid is the most powerful class. ;-)
-Amber S.
since I know druid is the most powerful class. ;-)Sing it, sister!
Can I get an AMEN!
I don't think I understand the metagaming question clearly. Is it that your PC knows this guy is a 1st-level Commoner and really not much of a challenge? And how to "role-play" the encounter correctly?
Or is it something entirely different? When you say metagaming, I assume your talking about player knowledge vs. character knowledge.
I think either way you look at it, a guy is threatening your character with a sword and deserves to have his ass kicked or killed. Your character is a competent warrior that can handle himself in a fight, right? Then there isn't any metagaming involved with that decision at all, IMO.
well, yeah, you'd try to attack. The main thing is to grab him by the arm, wrench the sword out of his hand, throw him down, and put the blade to his throat. I've done that myself in training practices in the SCA.
Honestly if you were playing a fighter, then that fighter would be able to tell if the peasant was more than a peasant or not. He could tell from the grip on the sword or the stance he was in or from the wild expression on his face. A seasoned warrior would show none of those things and a good DM would describe the character as such. Or he would have you roll spot checks to see if you noticed it or not. Thus the metagaming issue is no longer an issue.
Honestly if you were playing a fighter, then that fighter would be able to tell if the peasant was more than a peasant or not. He could tell from the grip on the sword or the stance he was in or from the wild expression on his face. A seasoned warrior would show none of those things and a good DM would describe the character as such. Or he would have you roll spot checks to see if you noticed it or not. Thus the metagaming issue is no longer an issue.
I'm glad to see that this question was finally answered the way it should have been from the beginning (I think lots of people misinterpreted the question). Dragonlvr, you have my vote for the best D&D answer in the last 24 hours.
Well thank you Phil! *holds up a golden statuette of a dragon* I'd just like to thank my parents who have always been there for me and I'd like to thank all my loyal fans and supporters. Ya'll are great! Sorry had an emmy moment there...
I don't think I understand the metagaming question clearly. Is it that your PC knows this guy is a 1st-level Commoner and really not much of a challenge? And how to "role-play" the encounter correctly?
Or is it something entirely different? When you say metagaming, I assume your talking about player knowledge vs. character knowledge.
I think either way you look at it, a guy is threatening your character with a sword and deserves to have his ass kicked or killed. Your character is a competent warrior that can handle himself in a fight, right? Then there isn't any metagaming involved with that decision at all, IMO.
Know this is off topic, but I just picked up Dungeon 121, and saw Fiend's Embrace. Assuming Steve Greer = Stephen Greer, than kudos on the cool adventure.
WaterdhavianFlapjack