History Main / ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst

* Implied (if not stated outright) in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. Most Keyblade wielders (and other benevolent inter-worlders) do their best to maintain a world order, and so are generally prohibited from [[Malaproper muddling]] [[RunningGag ("Meddling!")]] in other worlds. The events of the games happen because Unversed, Heartless, and Nobodies[[note]][[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep in]] [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI that]] [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII order]], chronologically[[/note]] are travelling across the Ocean Between and spreading darkness in many different worlds.

* Implied (if not stated outright) in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. Most Keyblade wielders (and other benevolent inter-worlders) do their best to maintain a world order, and so are generally prohibited from muddling [[InsistentTerminology ("Meddling!")]] in other worlds. The events of the games happen because Unversed, Heartless, and Nobodies[[note]][[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep in]] [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI that]] [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII order]], chronologically[[/note]] are travelling across the Ocean Between and spreading darkness in many different worlds.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "Fall Weather Friends", Rainbow Dash and Applejack [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat resort to increasingly dirty cheats]] in their eagerness to beat each other at a race. At one point Rainbow Dash literally says 'That's it! All bets are off!' when she decides to break one of their self-imposed rules after a particularly nasty shove from Applejack.

!!Examples

* ''TabletopGames/DungeonsAndDragons'': One of the archdemons is described as being honorable enough to allow enemies to challenge him to fair combat. If they cheat, however, all bets are off.

* In ''Film/HolidayInn'' early in the film Ted steals Lila from Jim. Lila leaves Ted for another man, and Ted shows up at the Inn in horrible shape. He falls in love with Linda, who Jim is in love with, and manages to talk her into going to Hollywood with him. Jim's housekeeper encourages him to go to California (where Ted & Linda are busy making a movie based on the in-universe Holiday Inn) and get her back. Jim says "[[TheBroCode A fella doesn't steal another fella's gal]]. ...Or come to think of it, does he?"

* The threat of this plays a key role in the InevitableMutualBetrayal plot of ''Literature/SkinGame''. Through a convoluted series of events, Harry is forced to work for Nicodemus - a member of the series's BigBadEnsemble - until Nick has accomplished his goal. These two characters absolutely despise each other, but the laws of the magical world prevent them from trying to kill each other while this arrangement stands. [[InvokedTrope One of Harry's goals is to force Nicodemus to throw the first punch so that he can be freed from his obligation to play nice.]]

-->'''Death''': [[AC: Yes, there are rules. And you broke them.]] ''[[AC: How dare you!]]''

** [[TheProtagonist Sheridan]] accidentally ups the ante on this at the end of third season. [[spoiler: Apparently, the Shadows and Vorlons still had some basic rules, specifically about [[MutuallyAssuredDestruction not using WMDs]]. Unfortunately, Sheridan didn't know anything about this, so he [[OhCrap nuked a city on the Shadow homeworld]]. In response, the Vorlons assumed that the WMD treaty is now over, so they whip out their ''PlanetKiller'', which is rather excessive compared to a nuke. [[LensmanArmsRace In response to ''that'']], the Shadows decide to whip out ''their'' planet killers. Basically, the galaxy quickly goes to shit.]]

* In general, {{face}} {{tag teams}} don't enter unless tagged (versus {{heel}}s, who will often run in to break up a pin, then back off when the ref admonishes them), but when the heels start double-teaming a face member, generally the face team disregards the tag rule, at least until one of the heels is taken out of the ring.

* In general, face tag teams don't enter unless tagged (versus heels, who will often run in to break up a pin, then back off when the ref admonishes them), but when the heels start double-teaming a face member, generally the face team disregards the tag rule, at least until one of the heels is taken out of the ring.

----

* Played with in an episode of ''SonsOfAnarchy''. The Sons and the Aryans agree to meet for an unarmed brawl. Knowing the Sons will be unarmed, the Aryans show up packing guns. The Sons then reveal that they had anticipated this treachery and had made deals with two other gangs to cover them from the bushes. Rather than taking advantage of their now superior firepower, the Sons simply insist that the Aryans honor the original deal and fight them unarmed as originally agreed.

* [[ProudWarriorRace The Clans]] in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' have a strict dueling code that they use to fight. If it gets violated, though, they have a tendency to go nuts and use all kinds of dishonorable optionss available to them: calling in reinforcements, ganging up on single targets, or even calling in artillery or air strikes.

* On the first possession of the Ultimate Game in ''Film/SpaceJam'', WesternAnimation/BugsBunny starts dribbling the ball upcourt until Pound smacks him hard enough to send the rabbit skidding the width of the court. No foul is called, and Michael Jordan gives a "woof" at just how rough the game is going to be. The Monstars continue to play nasty while the Tunesquad plays nice, until the second half. Then the LooneyTunes bring in explosives and firearms and livestock, which begins to even the score. No foul of any kind is called, ever.

* ''Series/BabylonFive'': This is implied to be how the ancient conflict between the Shadows and Vorlons started. [[spoiler:When the First Ones left the galaxy, the Shadows and Vorlons stayed behind to guide the younger races, [[OrderVsChaos the Vorlons by providing structure and stability, and the Shadows by causing conflicts and weeding out the weak]]. At first they had some sort of agreement and both abode by it, but eventually one of them, it's never said which, decided their way was the only way and violated the agreement. The other reciprocated and thus began the cycle that lasted for millenia if not longer.]]

* In non-hardcore matches, the use of weapons is illegal... but if one wrestler brings a weapon into the ring, the other wrestler can legally use that weapon.

Two or more groups have a agreed-upon set of rules, contracts, oaths, or other agreements. But when one side violates these, the other side may well declare those rules null and void, and thus freely disregard and violate them as well.

* Cloud City adminsitrator Lando Calrissian from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' played along with TheEmpire, allowing them to set a trap for young Skywalker. Lando had qualms about torturing Han Solo, then handing him over to a bounty hunter, but he was cowed by Darth Vader. However, after being ordered to take Princess Leia and Chewbacca to Vader's shuttle, Lando protested, and was met with Vader's "I am altering the deal; pray I don't alter it any further." No surprise that Calrissian gets on the [=PA=] system, alerts the city that TheEmpire has seized control, and actively joins the rebellion.