Line #24 PlayingWith/MachiavelliWasWrong


1	'''Basic Trope''': Ruling by fear works less well than ruling with love.
2	* '''Straight''': [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]] rules with an iron fist. He's surprised when Charlie, one of his high-ranking officers, {{Heel Face Turn}}s to Bob's side.
3	* '''Exaggerated''':
4	** Evulz throws Charlie in jail for leaving a speck of dirt on his weapons; Charlie escapes and joins Bob, who was waiting outside.
5	** Evulz, the resident EldritchAbomination, tries to lord over the humans [[HumansAreInsects as if they're defenseless insects]], humanity [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu proves him wrong]].
6	* '''Downplayed''':
7	** Emperor Evulz is slightly surprised when Charlie defects, but not very.
8	** Emperor Evulz rules through fear. His minions are reluctant to fight for him, but they don't heel-face turn.
9	* '''Justified''':
10	** Charlie realizes that even if he manages to survive under Evulz's rule, he'd still rather be happy on Bob's side.
11	** Charlie hates being controlled this way.
12	** Ruling by fear is prone to backfiring in the worst ways. If the leader ever gets in a vulnerable position, the people will inevitably [[TheDogBitesBack turn against him]] at the soonest possible opportunity.
13	* '''Inverted''':
14	** Evulz is actually the better ruler and his people are happier, even if they are afraid of [[MakeAnExampleOfThem what will happen if they ever step out of line]].
15	** Evulz believes that Machiavelli was right.
16	** Evulz is [[TheDreaded extremely efficient at maintaining fear among the ranks]] of his crew, who are a bundle of [[WeAreStrugglingTogether the most inefficient, backstabbing]] jerks who have ever been labeled a "RagtagBunchOfMisfits". If he was not there to crack a whip, nothing would ever be done.
17	* '''Subverted''':
18	** Bob's forces look like they'll win the war when they're overwhelmed at the last moment by [[WeHaveReserves Evulz's reinforcements]].
19	** It seems Charlie will heel-face turn to Bob's side, but he is too afraid of Evulz.
20	** Machiavelli's ghost appears and points out that Evulz is actually proving him ''right'' - his tyrannical rule is inspiring more hatred than fear, which Machiavelli advised rulers to avoid at all costs.
21	* '''Double Subverted''':
22	** Evulz's reinforcements appear at the crest of the hill... only for Charlie to give the signal and [[CavalryBetrayal charge Evulz's own troops.]]
23	** Fearing Evulz's oppression and not wishing to be captured, Bob's forces fight even harder at the sight of Evulz's reinforcements and manage to win the day.
24	* '''Parodied''':
25	** Evulz yells at Charlie. As he leaves the throne room, he's stopped by a rebel recruiter who promises that Bob won't threaten his friends and family like Alice. And he'll give him cookies.
26	** Evulz's method of instilling terror into his underlings' hearts consist of [[PokeThePoodle wearing a spooky mask and jumping out behind them]]. Most of them don't last a week under command and he always wonders why they leave so soon.
27	* '''Zig-Zagged''': At first, Evulz appears to be a loving ruler, but it soon turns out that he actually rules through fear. It's then revealed that [[WellIntentionedExtremist he's doing this for the good of the people]]. It's later found out that many people have figured it out and love him anyway.
28	* '''Averted''':
29	** It's unknown what kind of leaders Evulz and Bob are, as [[ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything neither one of them is shown actually leading]].
30	** Evulz and Bob are leaders of groups where the people have no choice but to follow them.
31	** Both Evulz and Bob are tyrants or well-loved, and neither is more nor less fair than the other.
32	** Evulz is [[TheDreaded too good at spreading fear]] for defiance to grow amongst his subjects. If Bob is not afraid, it's because he's literally an OutsideContextProblem, and even then he may end up having to fight alone.
33	* '''Enforced''': Evulz is such an incredibly powerful and terrifying villain that the only realistic way for him to be defeated is internal subversion from a subordinate who's not afraid of him.
34	* '''Lampshaded''': "Don't you know that you can't rule through fear? It ''never'' works out in the end."
35	* '''Invoked''': Bob, an aspiring democratic leader, decides to find out what the people want to give them something to fight for rather than just to fight against.
36	* '''Exploited''': Bob convinces Charlie to join his side because Evulz was so mean to Charlie.
37	* '''Defied''':
38	** Evulz knows what would happen if he causes his people to fear him, so she makes sure to treat them fairly.
39	** Evulz, if he decides to rule by fear, makes extremely damned sure that it's a kind of fear that shall never be defied. He also puts in place steps to make sure that hatred does not festers anywhere, to foster the appearance of a "tough but fair" regime.
40	* '''Discussed''': ???
41	* '''Conversed''': "Well, Evulz might have the upper hand now, but did you see what he did to poor Charlie? He'll lose in the end."
42	* '''Played for Laughs''': Evulz gives out {{Cool and Unusual Punishment}}s to his people and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard one of them leads to his downfall]].
43	* '''Played for Drama''': Evulz loses the war and [[HeelRealization realizes]] [[HeWhoFightsMonsters how far he fell due to his ruthlessness]].
44	* '''Played For Horror''': The things Evulz does to enforce fear amongst his subjects work incredibly well, not to mention makes the audience faint.
45	* '''Implied''': Evulz's leaership style is not given very much attention, but there is many a MookFaceTurn among his subordinates.
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49	%%Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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