Some of the odd combat situations, and solutions I’ve found worked well. Your mileage may vary.

First off: the average length of a firefight involving civilians is about 3.2 seconds; lifted that one off of the Cyberpunk 2020 basebook — statistic still stands, oddly enough. Usually in dismal conditions, between two poorly trained amateurs with firearms rated above their comparable skill level; housewives with Glocks, soccer dads with twelve-gauges, and teenagers with submachine guns like the Tec-9 (known to melt the barrel shroud if fired on autofire).

So, I’ve come up with a list of possible Stress checks to use, if one finds them appropriate:

First shot of the combat occurs within 10 feet of witness:
Violence-4 (+1 if splattered; gross, but possible)

Knife stuck in victim, deeply imbedded:
Violence-4 (Helplessness-3 if it may be rusted, poisoned, etc.)

Thrown off of building, multi-story drop involved:
Helplessness-6 (with possible Violence-3 if 10+ wounds results from the drop)

Struck with a taser:
Helplessness-4 (ask someone who’s been nailed; ain’t fun)

Blinded by mace, tear gas, etc:
Helplessness-5 (+1 if further dangers exist)

Overwhelming odds are massed against victim:
Isolation-4 (+1 if jail time is possibly involved; +2 if torture is possible)

Handcuffed, strip-tied, riot-taped, etc.:
Helplessness-3, Violence-2 if done painfully (and intentionally) +1 if done to an immobile object, +2 if to a corpse (yes; this practice is used)

Manuel Noriega Treatment (Rock music or the like is blared at victims and perpetrators in a hostage situation):
Isolation-3, Helplessness-4

First hour in an interrogation room (by police):
Helplessness-4, Isolation-3

Good Cop, Bad Cop Routine:
Self-3, possibly with Violence-4 (+2 if a plunger is involved; if you don’t know, it’s for the best)

Taken down to the morgue to indentify a corpse:
Violence-2, with possibility of Helplessness-5 if it’s a family member, spouse, significant other, or victim of your’s.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood viewing:
Unnatural-8 (+1 if tied to chair)

You get the idea.

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“If you can’t beat ’em, outrun ’em.” — Slick; Annihilomancer