How to write an ambush scene

[John_Black]

Well i have a question for all of you, how would you write a physical ambush scene using a pretty woman as a distraction?

 

[LWulf]

Well i have a question for all of you, how would you write a physical ambush scene using a pretty woman as a distraction?

You have to think like a china-man when taking care of "supplies!" (say it out loud, often enough, you'll understand)

As with telling a joke it is all about timing. I take it the ambush is for a dude, and not a dudette, based on the bait?

An appropriate location is primary. The less witnesses, the better. Also consider time of day. At night isn't always a better time of day, as most people are more at alert at night/dark shadowy places. They might be more relaxed during the day, but potentially more witnesses.

Consider ground cover, as that might alert the ambushee. The trouble with using a third person is their eyes flashing from the ambushee to the ambusher, then back, might likewise alert the ambushee.

The trouble with using another person as bait, is this person has become both witness and accomplice.

...is this for a story?

 

[SimonDoom]

Point of view is important. Will the reader be surprised by the ambush? If so, then it should be told from the point of view of the person being ambushed.

How much do you want to convey the ambushee's feelings about being ambushed, as opposed to emphasizing what's happening externally?

Focus on plausibility. Does the ambushee get away? If so then pay close attention to what happens and how the ambushee gets out of his/her ambush alive in a believable way.

 

[John_Black]

Yes it is for a story and yes the ambush is for a dude. The trouble is i might have to come up with three or four ways for the girls in the "harem" to ambush dudes. The trouble is i have no experience writing such things in my limited amount of writing experience. I suppose you could call this post my attempt to break the writer's block i've been having.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I suppose what sort of scene you are looking for. Long and detailed? A quick hit and fade into the crowd or big celebration for the winners afterwards? What's the intent of the ambush - capture or kill? How many people on either side? Is this a major part of the story or an incidental, something to play into something else, eg explain the presence of a captive.

Just for the female distraction bit, consider that classic woman in the red dress scene from The Matrix. Notwithstanding Morpheus' lesson in the clip, the takeaway for me in this case is that men are indeed visual creatures, easily distracted. Cute girl in sexy dress, just for a second or two, and you have his attention, an opening.

 

[davion2308]

It depends!

First, what's the objective of the ambush? Start there.

Are they robbing the guy? Beating him? Is it meant to be a 'sexy' ambush where a girlfriend surprises her bf while using a friend he doesn't know as bait? What's the point? That will go halfway to figuring out the rest of it. If it's an ambush to surprise him with a threesome, for example, it'll be a bar or a hotel pool, or at his house. If it's an ambush to do damage, pick a secluded spot, like an alley behind the building where he works, change from day to night, make it dark, and reduce the visual descriptions to sounds. You can't see much but you can hear the thud of a fist hitting a stomach or ribcage.

You haven't given us much to work with but those are two good places to start: Why ambush him and pick a believable setting for it.

 

[John_Black]

The objective is to subdue 3-4 men so they can be interrogated in the next scene. Well it's more of a hit and run thing, i figure since this is an adventure harem story i'm writing i need to involve the girls in the action.

 

[bettiezyx]

Whatever they do, they'll have to be unfair

Women in a straight-up "equal" mano-y-mano fight can not win. For example: https://medium.com/@progressivelypr...on-women-vs-men-in-combat-sports-6f3935e32dc6

However, as we all know that one way or another, there's nothing stopping us from grabbing the nearest tool-cum-weapon and getting aggressive. And the more deceptive we do it, the better. For example:
"In A Fight, Women Are Way More Terrifying Than Men

If you had a choice between breaking up a fight between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Steven Seagal, or a fight between two women whose combined weight equals one of Arnie's biceps, the women seem like the safe bet, right? You could probably just stand between them with your palms on their foreheads. Boom, fight over. Well, Cronk is picking Schwarzeagal every time. And not just because they're both now senior citizens.

You see, women are living in a world where it's increasingly dangerous just to be one. If they're attacked, there's a good chance they won't have a size advantage over their opponent, so they've come up with clever ways to even the playing field. The reason that "girl fights suuuuuck," according to Cronk, is simple: "Women carry mace." Hooray for equality! "I've been maced eight times as an adult man," he says. "I wouldn't wish mace upon my worst enemy. ... It's worse than the Devil's piss. I hate mace."
https://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1958-roadhouse-gets-lot-right-5-lessons-bouncer.html

 

[TarnishedPenny]

The objective is to subdue 3-4 men so they can be interrogated in the next scene. Well it's more of a hit and run thing, i figure since this is an adventure harem story i'm writing i need to involve the girls in the action.

OK, less of a classic ambush, more of a multiple kidnapping. So, it can be Mace or pepper spray or a Tazer. It could be a net (which offers some interesting writing possibilities, of course). Or it could simply be intimidation or threat - pointing a gun. The distraction element? I don't know - maybe to get them into the right location?

 

[Shoukoushi]

Well i have a question for all of you, how would you write a physical ambush scene using a pretty woman as a distraction?

So, to summarize the aspects to consider, and some possible choices.



1. Initial strategy (Violence, Blackmail, luring the men to a specific place at a
specific time, etc)

2. Time of day (late night or before dawn if you want it to be dark, but it doesn't
have to be)

3. Location (Somewhere isolated, like a park or alley; Somewhere private, like a
house/backyard; Somewhere crowded so chaos prevents attention,
like a concert or event)

4. Method of distraction (Damsel in distress, like a rape victim or someone whose
car broke down; Clumsy/accidental exposure; The
lunatic, where she acts crazy or angry; Simple straight up
seductive, dressed up and acting alluring)

5. Methods of subduing (Overwhelming with pure numbers; Drugging food or drink
in a bar; Tranq darts; Some sort of knockout gas;
Intimidation - guns/knives; Simple hit on the back of the
head or choke hold; Blackmail - tricking the men into
doing something wrong like a car accident or recording
them saying/doing something they shouldn't)


P.S. I'd just like to point out how awesome it is that people are actually being constructive and
helping out on this site instead of criticizing the idea or talking instead of giving ideas. Good
job, guys

 

[LWulf]

Everybody pitched in on other thoughts I was going to add, so, not much more to say. I'd also like to point out I'm loathe to write it for you, which is why I was trying to point out objectives instead of fleshing out a scene.

Just because vimen are the "weaker sex" doesn't mean they can't be threatening. When strength or strength of numbers isn't possible then cunning steps in, and vimen can be exceedingly cunning. The objective is to ambush three men together??? Well, obviously, you need to separate them.

Vimen are fast too, but men are adrenaline pumping testosterone driven machines, and when we see prey, ...er, I mean viman and feel shame or see someone mocking us, spurs us on to take them down. Put them in their place as it were. And therein is the weakness vimen would exploit: overeager confidence.

Pride goeth before the fall. Hubris.

Mace would make me go berserker. I might not be able to see, but I'd want to tear anybody in reach; limb from limb. A net would work better, but securing a person while they are netted is another matter. There's too much chance for escape to occur. An injection to knock them out is potentially fraught with harm. Is the intent to not harm? (You mentioned "ambush" which, to me, suggests intent to capture, otherwise you would have asked "how to kill? or how to maim?") A person with a needle needs the person to not thrash about while injecting them, or the needle might break off, and they potentially never get the full dosage to knock them out. You could use a swift blow to the head to knock a person out, but the vimen would need to be skilled in "combat of arms" to know exactly how much of a blow stuns/knocks out, opposed to a killing blow. People who don't know, usually fail, or fail miserably (accidentally kill).

Subtle would be better. Or, better yet subtle, with a couple of "plan B's."

A mickey finn, or a "good night kiss" works, but these tropes have already been done to the death. Likewise a ring with a knockout agent on a pointed barb; one scratch, and it's "lights out Irene." While being given a massage...

The point is using surprise, which means catching a person while they are unawares. I highly doubt vimen would take three guys on, all at once. That has the greatest chance to fail. However, this is critically important, you want to make it believable, yeah? So make it believable. Rarely do plans go without a hitch! Especially when the vimen aren't off-duty commandos, or ninjas; trained in the art of the take down. It doesn't mean they are incapable, it just means they might be a little inept.

"Hit him!"
"I did hit him, but that only made him angrier."
"Then hit him again, harder!"

Frustrated, and potentially, persona B might then initiate a flurry of blows that might not only render unconscious, but dead to boot. You have to make it believable by showing a potential, and allow for risk that harms not only the ambushee, but also the ambusher.

Most importantly, the point of a successful snatch and grab, must be in a location where the ambushee has the least chance of rescue from any form of support structure.

Also, the simplest plan has the greatest chance of success.

Also, if you are going to use a trope, you might as well go a little campy with it.

"I think we should break his chair so he falls off it, and knocks himself unconscious."
"That will never work!"
"It worked on that movie '9 to 5'."

 

[LWulf]

um... the most subtle way you might restrain someone is by first suggesting it as kinky play! heh heh