Subject: I agree.
Author:
Posted on: 2011-11-13 13:07:00 UTC

There's nothing wrong (at least, the way I see it) with some rip-snorting agent fights. Written well, such scenes can be interesting and exciting. They can also provide a nice break from the typical "stand there like an idiot as we lecture you before dumping you into a volcano" mission wrap-up.

Aster has made a good list of points to consider. Here are a few additional things that I think should also be taken under review when writing about agents in combat:

BE SNEAKY
The PPC, for the most part, consists of fairly normal folks. Sues and Stus, however, are ultra-powerful abominations of literature. It's not exactly fair fight. So, you should be a little sneaky about this sort of stuff. Have one agent go read the charges while her partner hangs back with a sniper rifle. Set traps - mines or high explosives are always fun.

USE POWERS WELL
Aster kinda already touched on this, but I wanted to expand on it a little bit. Having special powers doesn't make someone a Sue or Stu. Using those powers in a stupid "break the plot" way does.

If you're going to create an agent with powers, set a final "do not cross" limit on them right away. Lets look at Gremlin, if I might use myself as an example. She's a DC universe metahuman with the ability to control electromagnetic forces. However, she can only MOVE electricity, not generate it herself. They only way she would be able to shopt off a bolt of lightning is if someone had fired it at her first. Of course, she'd have to survive not being fried first.

Benefits and drawbacks, folks.

GET YOUR HAIR A LITTLE MUSSED
As I mentioned before, there is a big power imbalance between your typical agent and your typical Sue/Stu. Sometimes, for all their sneakiness and combat pragmatism, agents get injured. That's why we have a Medical Department.

I'm not saying that we start crippling agents left and right. If they do end up in a knock-down fight, however, a few nasty cuts and a black eye (or whatever) would not be amiss.

More food for thought.

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