Solomon Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 Originally posted by D-Man Eurostar is a national security threat who put millions in harms way with their schemes (biowarfare, etc). Their escape isn't acceptable under any circumstances. A cook, and even a teammate, are acceptable losses. Its necessary to minimize collateral casualties, but letting Eurostar go to avoid them is, in my book, a decision of dubious morality, which is why I don't read comic books. I find comic book ethics banal. I do agree comic book ethics are banal. So what? I live by real-word, shades-of-gray non-banal ethics seven days a week... I only get to live by plain old simple and FUN comic book ethics four measly hours a week. What's wrong with that? Being a hero is fun, so... be a HERO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristopher Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 How many times must the naive ethics of 4C superheroes end up costing a lot more in life and property and suffering in the long run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tae Kwon Dan Posted November 12, 2003 Report Share Posted November 12, 2003 Originally posted by Kristopher How many times must the naive ethics of 4C superheroes end up costing a lot more in life and property and suffering in the long run? How long is the print run of the book? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zornwil Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 Originally posted by Kristopher How many times must the naive ethics of 4C superheroes end up costing a lot more in life and property and suffering in the long run? Of course, to be fair, in a true 4C setting, there is no or little "life and...suffering" cost, at least not substantive, or, rather, at least not as the 4C setting got away from pulp. There is property loss, but that usually is rectified. The difference now is there is this mix of four color and real world; to the degree real world stuff comes in, that is the degree to which certain 4c ethics will not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trebuchet Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 Four-color is a convention. It's not a code of ethics or a subset of physics in a superhero world. It's distinctly and deliberately non-realistic. Face it, in a real world where costumed characters have energy blasts that can hole tanks and strength enough to throw a freighter, casualties would be common. The low (practically non-existent, in fact) mortality rate in such worlds is more unrealistic than the superpowers themselves. There are other aspects of 4C, such as friends and loved ones never recognizing the hero despite the lame disguise provided by a half-mask or glasses. But the non-lethality I believe is the most important aspect of 4C. As long as players and GMs acknowledge that 4C is the central reality of their game universe it will work out. Once either party starts to fudge the 4C convention the system will break down. From that point on I suspect devolution (or evolution) to Iron Age or beyond is inevitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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