Ways for a character to "attack" others or "defend" themselves without physical violence, talking or otherwise. It's all about gaining an advantage in the immediate situation. Compare with Social Engineering.
- And Then What?: The villain is caught off-guard by asking what they intend to do once their plan succeeds.
- Armor-Piercing Question
- Armor-Piercing Response
- Berserk Button
- Break Them by Talking: Breaking someone down just by talking to them.
- Cowardice Callout: Someone gets called out on their cowardly behavior/conduct.
- Death Glare
- Defusing the Tyke-Bomb: A character tries to convince a person raised to be a weapon to be their own person.
- Forgot to Gag Him: A character is restrained, but not prevented from talking, which lets them be a threat anyway.
- Hannibal Lecture: A prisoner turns the tables on their interrogator via psychologically clever speech.
- I Shall Taunt You: A character deliberately insults and goads another as a calculated ploy.
- Kirk Summation: The hero verbally deconstructs the villain.
- Passive-Aggressive Kombat: A social situation presented as a battle.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: A character delivers a harsh tirade to a second character that is designed to dissect that second character's flaws, weaknesses or failures.
- Scheherezade Gambit: A character attempts to stave off death by being too interesting to kill.
- Shaming the Mob: A character calls out a mob, and the mob feels guilty.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: The villain makes fun of the hero by claiming they're no different from their opposition or that their idealism makes them a naive fool. The hero responds by addressing that the villain's claims are complete nonsense and/or a very poor rationalization for giving up on punishing the villain.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: A villain (or an at best antiheroic character) brushes aside a speech about heroism or the futility of evil.
- Staredown Faceoff: The villain gets up close and personal into the hero's personal space for intimidation and vice versa.
- Staring Down Cthulhu
- Talking the Monster to Death
- Talking Your Way Out: Someone has been captured by their enemies but manages to use smooth talking to get away.
- Verbal Judo: Defusing an explosive situation via communication.
- Villains Never Lie: A villain manipulates a hero by telling the truth.
- Villainous Breakdown
- Warrior Therapist: A warrior who can understand and affect their opponent's psychology.
