rdfs:comment | - One of the heroes has been captured by a group of villains, usually a group with distinct personalities and backstories, like a Legion of Doom or a Quirky Miniboss Squad, who operate on more or less equal terms with each other (as opposed to a singular Big Bad and a collection of Mooks). How will he escape? He sits back and pretends to accept his fate. However, he's surreptitiously conducting psychological warfare against most or all of the members of the enemy group. Engaging the villains in idle conversation, he plants the seeds of discord, playing on the ... ... of each individual member.
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abstract | - One of the heroes has been captured by a group of villains, usually a group with distinct personalities and backstories, like a Legion of Doom or a Quirky Miniboss Squad, who operate on more or less equal terms with each other (as opposed to a singular Big Bad and a collection of Mooks). The hero is well-known to the villains. They are careful not to give him any obvious openings -- they disarm him, disable his powers, lock him up, and keep guards on him at all time. Escape by brute force isn't going to work, as he's seriously outnumbered and lacks access to his weapons and abilities. Without resources, MacGyvering up a solution isn't going to work, either. How will he escape? He sits back and pretends to accept his fate. However, he's surreptitiously conducting psychological warfare against most or all of the members of the enemy group. Engaging the villains in idle conversation, he plants the seeds of discord, playing on the ...
* ... egos - "How can you take orders from that buffoon? You should really be the one in charge."
* ... Greed - "What are they paying you? I'll double it."
* ... sympathies - "These morons don't understand you."
* ... insecurities - "It's really a shame the rest of them don't pay any attention to you."
* ... sex appeal - "You know what I really like? A man in a cage."
* ... and mutual distrust - "You realize he's just going to off the rest of you once he gets what he wants, right?" ... of each individual member. The villains never stop to think that they're being played for chumps, or wonder if the hero has anything to gain by starting a power struggle. The resulting dissension and infighting allows the hero to escape in the confusion. Truly, The Guards Must Be Crazy. Smart villains and the Evil Counterpart almost never fall for this. Occasionally the leader of the group will catch on to the hero's plan, but it's usually too little, too late at that point. Group dissolves, hero escapes, plan fails. Roll Aesop about trust. This is the main method of escape for heroes who are locked up well and good, and contractually or circumstantially obliged to use their wits rather than brute force. Often used to give The Smart Guy or the Badass Normal A Day in the Limelight, showing how they can defeat the villains without super powers or incredible fighting skill. Can be subverted by having the minions be too slick to fall for that trap. Sub-Trope of Mook Face Turn. Compare with Hannibal Lecture, which is the bad guy's version of this trick. Examples of Talking Your Way Out include:
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