RSS
Not only do players often fail to see the solution to a problem that the GM has carefully laid out for them (see the previous strip commentary), they often become fixated on the "wrong" idea. Almost to the point of comedy in some cases.
Now, we must point out that "wrong" is in quotes there because maybe it's actually a good idea! Just not the one "true" solution that the GM had planned for.
The moral here is not that players are stupid. It's that they're clever - but clever in different ways to what the GM can predict.
For this reason, when you as the GM create a problem to be solved in the game, don't create a solution. Or more specifically, don't create the solution. If there's only one way the players can solve the issue, then it can easily turn into a frustrating experience, for both players and GM, when they come up with other potential ideas, but they don't work.
Instead, the GM should be open to alternatives. Sure, maybe have a solution in mind, just to prove that it can be done, but be aware that the players might well think of something more creative, at least equally clever, and that when they do, it should work for them.
Reward your players for being clever, don't punish them. (This is probably not the first time we've said this, but it's a good mantra to have.)
Commentary by memnarch (who has not seen the movie)
Yep, there's the idea for lightspeed ramming and now it seems unlikely to happen. No surprise there, I did say it doesn't fit the aesthetic. And probably no trebuchet stick as well. That's actually more of a shame; it would have been fun to try and guess what it was meant to be.
I don't know what the admiral is annoyed about, but that is a perfect face for this case. Maybe Poe is yelling about something and she doesn't like it? That would be accurate for the military, but the Rebellion/Resistance has never seemed like it had a huge amount of military presence of officers and enlisted where that would cause friction. Or maybe that's actually a thing here? Admiral Holdo has just taken the lead after the Raddus's bridge was blown up, Poe doesn't like the decisions being made, and so she's dealing with him to cement her new position by removing him. Yeah, I guess that could work for some extra drama. Potentially even kicking Poe off of the ship as a way to keep everyone (Rey, Finn, and Poe really) split up longer for some reason.
Transcript
Admiral Holdo: I meant we could evacuate everyone to Crait in the shuttles, turn the Raddus to point at Snoke’s flagship, and go to lightspeed. Kaboom.
Poe: Hmmm. I don’t like it.
Admiral Holdo: But... it was such a good plan of yours.
Poe: Right! Yeah! Let’s do it!
Poe: Only...
Admiral Holdo: What?
Poe: If this ship is pointed at Snoke’s ship, the trebuchet will fling the asteroid in the other direction.
{beat}
Admiral Holdo: Security! Get this man off my bridge.
Security Guard: Certainly, Ma’am! Any particular reason?
Admiral Holdo: He’s so high density, he’s overbalancing the ship.