I know most people here prefer the zako being knocked unconscious or otherwise being incapacitated, but out of curiosity I want to ask, how many people here also enjoy zako deaths, or prefer it over being knocked unconscious?
Hey Servi, interesting question.
I'm ok with either one. If the zako are mildly knocked out with no lasting consequences, they live to fight another day, but I feel like they got off too easy, without much suffering, punishment, or humiliation.
If the zako are killed, obviously this is a much greater punishment and shows just how little the good guys think of the zako, but at the same time it is very permanent and means the zakos' role in the story is completely over (unless the heroes need to search the bodies).
My real preference is for something in between, with some ambiguity as to whether the zako survives or not. For example, the zako may be knocked out by a hero using martial arts or blunt weapons, but in a more ruthless way, going beyond what would be necessary to simply incapacitate the zako. The zako is severely knocked out and left motionless and unresponsive. Someone who looks closely could see she is still alive and breathing, but as long as no one cares enough to help her, she may remain unconscious indefinitely and eventually succumb to her injuries. Moreover, if the zako is left lying facedown on certain terrain, even their ability to breathe may be impaired. But will the heroes or anyone else care enough about the zako to even turn them onto their sides or face-up while they are lying helpless?
A similar thing may happen with zako who are blasted by energy weapons...the shock of the weapon may leave the zako unconscious and unresponsive, but someone who checked them closely would see they are still breathing shallowly. However, without someone willing to help them, they are unlikely to recover and may eventually succumb to their injuries.
So essentially I like when the fate of the zako is left in the hands of others, be it the heroes, other baddies, or just random passerby. They will likely survive and recover if anyone cares enough to help them, but if no one helps them, their odds of surviving and recovering are low.
I have to admit, I like the idea of a bunch of zako being defeated and severely knocked out in a public place, and then just lying there while people go about their daily business. Will the defeated zako survive? It depends. Will any of the passerby stop to help them? Or will they just ignore them, or check them for loose change and then ignore them? Or perhaps kick them as they walk by (since they recognize them as baddies).
