I don't think this really counts as a spoiler since it's from the Intro?

So, when you get off the wagon, one of the guys starts to run and gets shot by an archer. They then ask, rhetorically, "Anyone else want to try running?"

Hells Yeah I do! I mean, kill me with an arrow, kill me with a headsman's axe, I'm dead either way. At least if I run, there's a chance, however small it is, I might survive.

How do you really threaten someone who you are about to execute in 2 minutes? There's nothing left to threaten them with, unless maybe you threaten their relatives/girlfriend/dog/etc.

Seemed like a particularly un-inspired bit of dialog. Then again, I suppose that it might not be unrealistic for a Legionnaire to try to threaten someone, even when the threat would have no reason to persuade the target - they might not be bright enough to really think that through. . .

Glad to feel like I'm not the only one who wanted to smart back to the captain and just run for it.

LOL brilliant!

There where houses verry close to you at that time, why can't I just weave between the houses to avoid arrows? Also, after the intro you can take like 20 arrows and still be just fine even if you take one in the knee (sorry, I just had to do it) so why can't I do that in the intro?


>>---(Knee)----->

I'm pretty sure that was a reference to Army of Darkness, IIRC.

i would have just looked at her, tilted my head (like a confused dog), give a biiiiig grin, then take off running, artfulling dodging every arrow (because the game trains you to dodge arrows, 1 hit and you die, 1 hit to the knee is even worse)

What if you don't? What if taking an arrow (anywhere, not just the knee) is extremely painful and slow, causing you agony and grief that would otherwise have been avoided by a swift swing of the axe?

anything to live another day, my friend, 'cause that next day may have help in it (although in skyrim i suspect a real, magic, healer would be hard to come by)

We don't really know what it feels like to have your spinal cord severed, do we? It's not as if anyone who's ever had that done to them could tell you what it feels like. For all you know, that could be the most excruciating thing that could possibly happen to you?

You know, that's one of those potentially interesting science experiments that will most likely never be done because it would be too inhumane/ethically challenged, but it would be nifty if some people were to be executed anyhow, to connect their heads to those devices they use to sense and map brain activity (do they use MRI's for that? Can't remember), and record what activity happens when someone is beheaded, to try to determine what the person might be experiencing.

You can threaten a condemned man.

"The next person who tries to run will be ruthlessly tortured until you beg for execution" is how I would do it. >:3

? so the chance of life via escape with or without injury vs sure death you would pick sure death? Obama is that you?

Reality check time.

Just look at history guys. Read a history book. Even as recent as WW2.

It may sound totally illogical and strange, but people (including even soldiers) in real life would go to their deaths even when they could just run away taking a chance and some did and were shot, and others did not run and were ultimately executed.

Some (as in skyrim) would rather die standing tall than be shot like a running chicken.
Others hoped for a last minute miracle or reprieve.
Others were too petrified to do anything but accept orders.
And others still couldn`t believe what was happening until the last second.


Anyway, back to Skyrim. What I find strange is how my character just walks forward and puts his head on the block. Most people would have to be pushed there because you`d probably stand there or move reeaally slowly. Doesn`t seem like a potential hero to just dejectedly put his head down like that.

They can kill you quickly with an axe, or torture you for years and make you beg to be killed.

There are far worse things than a quick death.

(but yeah, that captain is a *insert censored word here*)

Looking at that scene, I think the better choice would have been to go for the captain. Assuming you're standing to the right side of the dragonborn, you're much closer to the captain than the others.

Remember, your hands are bound together. Fake like you're making a break for it. Get a little closer to her, then jump behind her, bring your arms down on the sides of her head, down over her ears. Bring your hands down below her chin, and pull her back up to you. You could even run between the captain and the male soldier, knock him out of the way, then jump behind her. It will only take seconds and should catch everyone by surprise.

She serves as a shield now. Then, with the ability to strangle her, who knows what will happen. But you have a hostage, at least.

Not saying it's guaranteed to work, but it's worth a try if you're about to get your head chopped off. I might die in that fort/village, but not by getting my head chopped off.

But hey, it's a game lol.

You are pushed down afaik

The motion of the going down kinda looked like it, and there was a sound of something like pushing.

Since you are stuck in FPV... it's hard to KNOW for sure, but I was under the impression I was pushed down


Also... tied with hands behind back? lmfao

I've been handcuffed IRL and while in the cop car I shifted my hands to in my lap (the officers were none to pleased by this roflmfao)

Could have done the same while in the back of the wagon... and you could have started a fight as soon as you jumped off the wagon

Would you have died? more than likely... but if it was IRL it's what I would have done.... you're going to the headsman anyways and have nothing to lose really

You know those scenes where the mobster gives you a shovel and asks you to dig your own grave? I would just start wailing on them and make them dig my grave after they off'd me.

I guess when your facing the end of your life, every moment left is to be savored and prolonged.

I would savor those moments by beating as many SOB's to death as I could before someone got over the shock and dropped me.

Yeah, I don't care about an honorable death in the case of either being beheaded or shot in the knee. Neither of them are honorable! I'd rather take my chances with the archers. At least there's a volley of arrows to hit me in the head and end it just as quick. Not to mention I have a chance of escaping, in which I can rub my bindings up against a tree until it snaps.

Old saying goes: A cornered rat will bite the nose of a cat.

As long as you say it's time I'll trust you so if you're ready. And yes I know you will say "but but but that's only US" It was later added as

Article 85 of the 1949 Geneva Convention

Making it a standard.

United States Military Code of Conduct

Article III
If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.

In fact you could have started running during the ambush. Not after you arrived with your hands bounded. Only stupid commanders are going to spent man power chasing a random guy in rags when that means less guards to secure the grand prize.

You don't just walk up to the block and put your head in it. If you look at the camera movement (in 1St person) you head weaves and there is extra sound. I interpreted it as the guard behind me forced me to the block then was standing on my back just before Alduin attacked.

The threat itself doesn't bother me, it's how she says "anyone else" like I'm not the last person waiting there or something.

I find it more strange that the eventually-executed-Stormcloak-guy interrupts the priest during her speech because "He doesn't have all day." But you do, idiot. After all, this is literally your own execution. What do you have left in life besides death? Besides, if you had waited a few more minutes you would've been rescued by a dragon attack just like the Dragon Born.

It's not the worst piece of dialogue in the opening sequence. That prize goes to Ralof: 'End of the line.'

End of the line? As in the phrase used primarily on buses or trains? Seriously?

Also why didn't they execute Ulfric first. You'd think they'd be eager to get his head in a basket. Why put me, a random guy who's name isn't even on the list, on the block before the perpetrator of the Stormcloak Rebellion?

Don't get me wrong, I liked the opening sequence overall. It's just there are a few instances where a little suspension of disbelief is required.

This might not make sense your first time playing the game, but it actually does make a sort of sense if you've played through before. Keep in mind that the Stormcloaks view these priests, who've turned their backs on Talos, as basically being heretics. He probably can't stand the sound of a heretic droning on about "The Eight" and leaving out Talos.