I'll put this first bit in spoilers this time because it's actually substantially off topic now, but I did want to at least give some answers to these bits ^.^
Yes, perhaps... in the cases where it is warranted, but at the level to which you are identifying it, this comes at the unacceptable cost of often also vilifying innocent people who do not deserve it at all.
Hmm. I understand your concern but I think the greater concern is accepting these sorts of practices. I'll probably stop after this post but I've heard some stories that would give you chills and some of them started with when very nice seeming men did things like brought flowers, bought an expensive dinner . . .
Am I right say that we see the same things but you simply see them and think "but that's not a bad thing!"
Yes and no; We both see a person cleaning the house properly, putting the kettle on and bringing their partner a cup of tea and a biscuit when they get in from work, before sitting down to talk to them about an issue they're nervous about... and for some reason, you choose to see
Another in that particular example the person does not seem motivated to manipulate so much to calm her nerves?
It is not that I see manipulation but think that it's okay... I disagree that there is manipulation happening at all.
Darn. I thought we could come an agreement there. Oh well back to agreeing on Ocatavia, the deficiencies of intimacy scenes and most other things it seems.
it's just how it's come to look from my perspective.
It's a hypothetical risk, sure, but I that risk is wayyyy outweighed by the risks of blinding oneself to manipulation.
For the game related bits:
The four of us transform and we take out say 30 - 50 flaming fist and few clerics? Gale will take out 140K?
As others mention, a handful of highly intelligent mindflayers can become the enslavement and downfall of entire civilisations, if left unchecked. If they go to ground long enough to set up a base of operations, spawn and begin to expand their influence, the problem grows rapidly. In time, one will transform into an Ulitharid, and when a suitable location is found, it will become a new Elder Brain, creating the lair and brine pools necessary for its growth in the process. This is far, far more dangerous and has an overall much higher potential for loss of life than a single explosion that happens once, and then is gone – even if that explosion flattens a city. These tadpoles are tampered with, and we don't know exactly what that entails, but it seems unlikely that it would reduce their ability to dominate the world, or make them overall more benign a threat.
Possibly, yes. Lots of lots in steps in the scenario and only one step in "Gale explodes taking out the entire city". Right? Depends how the DM plays it I guess - I was imagining it playing out the way it did in my introductory teaser. If instead its the four of us reach an secret illithid lair? That could be trouble.
It comes off as pretty repugnant and very “Fine for me but not for thee”, to say that it's okay and morally acceptable for you not to self-terminate and to continue looking for a solution, because you're only endangering 30-50 sapient lives, you think, probably, but that Gale is a bad person for not self-terminating immediately upon the understanding of his condition...
Not fine but scale matters right? Even if both are horrible we can make a distinction between a small bomb and a tactical nuke?
But I'll be honest - I thought Lae'zel had the better argument when she came for me with the sword so my Tav has dirty hands as well. Not that she's thoroughly repugnant like Gale but not as pure as the driven snow either.
The timeline for Gale is fuzzy regarding when he was cut off, when he lost his power, and how long it's been – and that fuzziness doesn't do him any favours . . . That fuzziness is indeed a potential problem for Gale's good character.
Agreed. And we're back to the starting point - the color of the glasses you wear depends on your view of Gale. He seems dishonest and I find it harder to believe he's telling the truth than to believe he's lying.
since we know that the illithids have been working with netherese magic, which is related to his immediate situation and the shadow weave chunk, and the pocket he found it in.
I doubt he was picked up right away - otherwise how did he become such an expert in things like explosions and other things related to his condition - but I also suspect he was targeted. Gale for the shadow weave + chosen status, Shadowheart for her corrupted chosen status, Wyll for his connection to a Cambion. That leaves the other two as random grabs . . .
I think he also plays the cello.
Just goes to show you that even the worst person can have good qualities. Gale, for example, is a good sacrifice to Booal
