Change Of Heart

Emotion Ex Machina.

When someone transforms their way of thinking. In the most optimal situations, this change is triggered by a previous experience, like deciding not to kill an enemy after the player's own loved one was killed in a similar fashion. Better yet, this change could have been in the works for a while and now that the choice is relevant, the player makes the move to go against their first intention. In most cases, however, Change Of Heart is a Plot Saver designed for the protagonists' security and keeping them out of real danger. It's played when one of their enemies is Mere Moments or Inches Away from doing some serious harm to them, neutralizing any actual suspense. Writers can make this Ex Machina worse if nothing at all provoked Change Of Heart. This Weak Writing can make it an Eye Roll UnTrash for viewers who gag at the sight of blatant Plot Armor. Somebody going through so much trouble earlier only to Screw The Action now will beg the question of why bother working so hard to begin with. It's a ripe opportunity for Questioning Fiction no audience member wants to deal with.

While Change Of Heart is an UnTrash skilled in the field of being a Plot Saver, it doesn't always need to be a cop-out for the creators. There are methods for properly approaching the UnTrash that can rescue it from being slammed by critics. Because of its reputation as a Plot Saver, Change Of Heart needs to be backed up by a real cause so it isn't sprung on the protagonists and audience without warning. The player is probably an antagonist or enraged protagonist out for their teammate, so repeatedly affecting their emotions can weaken their resolve if they aren't the Brazen. When it's time for this UnTrash to play, the player has now been softened up and is now ready to unleash Change Of Heart with minimal annoyance to the audience.

Change Of Heart Mirrors
Basic: Someone decides to not execute their actions.

Reinforced: After sparing the party they were planning on attacking, the attacker befriends the victim after being their enemy.

Downplayed: The attacker pretends to have a Change Of Heart so they can wait for a more optimal chance to make their move.

Negated: The attacker psychs out their target by falsely sparing them then Taking The Shot.

Inverted: Become Cruel.

Justified: The attacker has been slowly changing their mind over time which ultimately led to them not making their attack. Points Subtracted if they're Mere Moments Away from attacking their target after figuring they shouldn't long before the strike could be made.

Gleeful: Similar to Reinforced but on a larger scale. The attacker vows to never harm anyone, not just their current enemy, again once they realize how wrong they were.

Dismal: The attacker changes their mind because they figured they're Too Soft To Be Evil and may quit their job if it was their job to attack their target.