"I never took it away from you. You took it away from you. Now you're ready"

[Nymdok]

Pacifism is more of a lifestyle choice than an instinct.

As an example,

Less than 2% of the US millitary must repeat basic training(Where they are effectively trained to kill in the most fundamental ways.) That is for all branches regardless of difficulty level (for marines out there).

Of those that fail, less than 2% of those fail on the second attempt, and the percentage continues for the cascade.

The long and short of it is, in my ruling, there is no such thing as a born pacifist.

A simple pacifism choice is the willingness to end the life of another under appropriate curcumstances. For inaapppropriotae circumstances, see blood lust.


Nymdok

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

This may seem like a strange question, but are there any believable ways to roleplay buying off any of the Pacifism Disadvantages?

Driven by traumatic events to the point of needing vengence.

[Ragitsu]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

The long and short of it is, in my ruling, there is no such thing as a born pacifist.

Ouchy :-(.

[Dangerious P. Cats]

This sort of thing actually happened to a character in the T.V series tour of duty. The cahracter (Horn) is conscripted into the Vietnam war, but refuses to fight, even to the extent that he throws away his rifle (the sargent makes him carry the squad radio after this). Towards the end of the episode (sorry for spoilers) he is attacked by an enemy combatant and is forced to kill with his bayonet to protect his own life and that of his friends. The episode is all about how war and death is unescapable, and probably a good guide to how a pacicist would lose thier pacifism and then act afterwards (the character was very anti-war still).

I suspect the specifics of how a character would and what would happen afterwards would depend on the type of pacisfism and the character themselves. Some characters might just down grade their pacifism (cannot kill becomes, self defence only), other might trade it for something like nightmares disadvantage. Or they might buy it off compleatly, but I would suspect that would still hold reservations about violence.

[Ragitsu]

Yes, you are right about that. Pacifism (Total Nonviolence) to Bloodlust is a big leap!

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

Pacifism is more of a lifestyle choice than an instinct.

As an example,

Less than 2% of the US millitary must repeat basic training(Where they are effectively trained to kill in the most fundamental ways.) That is for all branches regardless of difficulty level (for marines out there).

Of those that fail, less than 2% of those fail on the second attempt, and the percentage continues for the cascade.

The long and short of it is, in my ruling, there is no such thing as a born pacifist.

While I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion*, I must point out the selection bias of your chosen sample.

The US military is a volunteer force. Don't you think that it's at the very least possible that among people volunteering to serve in any kind of armed force, pacifists might be slightly underrepresented?

The analogy to your example would be asking expectant mothers about their views on procreation and 'discovering' that there is no such thing as someone who doesn't want children.

*Appropriately qualified, of course.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by Icelander

While I don't necessarily disagree with your conclusion*, I must point out the selection bias of your chosen sample.

The US military is a volunteer force. Don't you think that it's at the very least possible that among people volunteering to serve in any kind of armed force, pacifists might be slightly underrepresented?

The analogy to your example would be asking expectant mothers about their views on procreation and 'discovering' that there is no such thing as someone who doesn't want children.

*Appropriately qualified, of course.

Indeedy. A fairer thing might be to look in a place with compulsory military service, and very little chance of getting away. Anyone got any suggestions?

[Flyndaran]

A smart pacifist would avoid putting himself in situations with kill or be killed choices.
I'm a self-defense only guy, so I would refuse military service.

[D10]

Originally Posted by Ragitsu

Ouchy :-(.

I do think the rules to do non letal damage are non existant in gurps

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by D10

I do think the rules to do non letal damage are non existant in gurps

Because there is no such thing...
other than tazer type weapons, which still kill a few people every now and then.