History Main / CombatDiplomacyStealth

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[[caption-width-right:316:Examples from Fallout. There is always a chick isn't it?]]

* [[TheSocialExpert Diplomacy]]: Using in-game social skills and {{Dialogue Tree}}s to manipulate {{NPC}}s.

* In ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', Diplomacy is king, but Combat and Stealth are also available, because your starting class is always the Fighter but you can switch to Thief later on to bypass most of the fights.

* Most quests in ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'' offer just stealth and combat paths, but diplomatic skills earn you a lot of other nifty bonuses.

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* In ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' (and its sequels) you have the option of sneaking past enemies or fighting them and can often bypass areas by saying the right thing to the right people.

[[folder:Stealth-Based Games]]
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Hitman}}'' series, most missions/conflicts give you the options of run-and-gunning (at the risk of killing civilians), disguises (which sometimes let you access areas or talk to people whom you couldn't otherwise), or avoiding or evading conflict in the first place via stealth. However, as you are a ProfessionalKiller, you will be expected to kill people at some point.
* The ''VideoGame/NoOneLivesForever'' series generally encourages you to stay stealthy but the penalties for breaking stealth with guns blazing are not as high as in other stealth games, and at some points you are outright forced into open combat. All diplomacy is, however, delegated to cutscenes.
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* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' often offers the choice of sneaking past enemies that don't you talk your way out of a fight. However, combat is still the biggest source of XP in the game, and you ''will'' need those character levels for the endgame bosses.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series was among the first games to have offered all three paths in most quests.

* The FanConvention Otakcon has a LARP (''LARP/OtakonLARP'') where any of the three styles can be used, but due to the large shonen genre population, it is most commonly completed with Combat. The climax of the LARP has been ended with one or two players using Diplomacy, on uncommon occasions.

* The FanConvention Otakcon has a LARP (''LARP/OtaLARP'') where any of the three styles can be used, but due to the large shonen genre population, it is most commonly completed with Combat. The climax of the LARP has been ended with one or two players using Diplomacy, on uncommon occasions.

* The FanConvention Otakcon has a LARP (''OtaLARP'') where any of the three styles can be used, but due to the large shonen genre population, it is most commonly completed with Combat. The climax of the LARP has been ended with one or two players using Diplomacy, on uncommon occasions.

* [[ActionHero Combat]]: Using in-game combat skills and [[CommonTacticalGameElements battle tactics]] to kill every enemy in the way.

* [[ActionHero Combat]]: Using in-game combat skills and battle tactics to kill every enemy in the way.

* Comes up in the ''{{Geneforge}}'' series quite often. The diplomacy and stealth options often blur together and usually include use of the Mechanics skill to disable or subvert devices and pick locks, but there is almost always a way around combat for plotline quests and many sidequests.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' mechanically offers [[FighterMageThief Stealth and Two Flavors Of Combat]]. Diplomacy skills (the Speechcraft and Mercantile skills) are rolled into Stealth. While high Speechcraft can bypass some parts of some quests, most of the game will require that enemies end up dead or dodged.
** Speaking purely technically, it is possible for ''almost'' all combat to be replaced with "diplomacy" in the form of various spells (e.g. Calm, Charm, Command, etc.). In practice, any mage capable of usefully employing these on most opponents is likely capable of chain-nuking the entire building into ash anyway, as they are far more expensive and high-level than plain combat abilities.

* [[TheSneakyGuy Stealth]]: Actively avoiding the enemy and completing objectives from the shadows.

* [[TheBigGuy Combat]]: Using in-game combat skills and battle tactics to kill every enemy in the way.
* [[TheFace Diplomacy]]: Using in-game social skills and {{Dialogue Tree}}s to manipulate {{NPC}}s.

* [[ActionGame Combat]]: Using in-game combat skills and battle tactics to kill every enemy in the way.
* [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath Diplo]][[TalkingYourWayOut macy]]: Using in-game social skills and {{Dialogue Tree}}s to manipulate {{NPC}}s.
* [[StealthBasedGame Stealth]]: Actively avoiding the enemy and completing objectives from the shadows.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' changes it to [[FighterMageThief Combat, Magic & Stealth]]. Diplomacy (the Speechcraft and Mercantile skills) is rolled into Stealth.
* ''VideoGame/ADanceWithRogues'' usually offers all three paths, though stealth is preferred to combat (because you can only play as a rogue) and attempts at diplomacy more often than not [[OptionalSexualEncounter lead to]] SexForServices.

* ''VideoGame/ADanceWithRogues'' usually offers all three paths, though stealth is usually preferred to combat (because you can only play as a rogue) and attempts at diplomacy more often than not [[OptionalSexualEncounter lead to]] SexForServices.

* [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath Diplo]][[TalkingYourWayOut macy]]: Using in-game social skills and {{Dialogue Tree}}s to manipulate {{NPC}}s.

Compare FighterMageThief. Contrast UselessUsefulNonCombatAbilities, where non-combat paths are available in theory but rendered useless by the game design.