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Intimidation and threat are the classic duo for getting foes to do something you want. Many games have mechanics specifically to handle such situations, such as an explicit Intimidation skill that you can use. How good you are at intimidating someone may depend on various factors, such as size, muscle, reputation, force of personality, and additional inducements such as weapons.
Force of personality is an important one, not to be underestimated. The scrawny gnome who comes across as insanely murderous is probably a lot more intimidating than the beefy but good-natured fighter with a heart of gold.
Commentary by memnarch (who has not seen the movie)
Man, but the GM is impressive with the wordsmithing. I wonder how much practice they do to be able to come up with phrases like this on the fly, or if this is just something they've picked up with all of the voice acting they've done over the years of playing. Even with that experience though, I imagine it takes a bit of time to add in a new way of speaking.
I would also argue that Finn has it wrong here. Phasma has no reason to assist in bringing the shield down as there wouldn't be any reason to keep her alive afterwards. Plus, the shield going down would be inviting an attack that could kill her or those she's responsible for, making her current actions the opposite of insane. I don't think she'll be seeing the end of the movie at this rate with how her comic convictions are being presented.
Huh. I just noticed there's a couple trooper bodies on the floor in the second to last panel there. Unseen awesomeness off-screen? Cut from comic scene intro? Phasma rescue party ambush? Nobody would think to check for lifesigns of bodies lying on the ground in this universe.... Mmm, probably not that reason, except potentially later as a comic joke.
Transcript
GM: Finn has found a room with a station status screen and computer terminal.
Finn: All right, Phasma. Can you disable the shield from here?
General Phasma: To what purpose?
Chewbacca: That’s none of your business.
General Phasma: Whose aegis is the First Order under but mine? Ergo, manifestly, it is!
Finn: Just lower the shield or we shoot.
General Phasma: All my life men like you have sneered at me, and all my life I’ve been knocking men like you into the dust.
Finn: Chewie, keep her covered.
Finn: {to Zeppo} She’s not gonna do it. She’s insane.
Zeppo: Don’t take her for an idiot.
Chewbacca: Yes, that’s his job.