[JenBurdoo] Probably a Quickie? (SOLVED)

[JenBurdoo]

Able sneaks up on Baker, preparing to kill him. While Able could kill Baker at anytime, he deliberately waits an hour before doing so. He has not been instructed to do so, nor does anything prevent him doing as he wishes. Explain.

Both are HAM.

[irishelk]

Do we need to know anything more about the situation? If so, is this wartime? rival gangs or criminal enterprises? spies? an assassination? Was Able instructed to kill Baker at all?

Does Able observe something within the hour? Learn something?
Does waiting help him commit the murder? Help him get away with it? Could it be seen as merciful in any way?

[JenBurdoo]

Do we need to know anything more about the situation? Yes. If so, is this wartime? Assume this. rival gangs or criminal enterprises? spies? an assassination? Was Able instructed to kill Baker at all? Irr.

Does Able observe something within the hour? Yes. Learn something? No.
Does waiting help him commit the murder? Help him get away with it? Could it be seen as merciful in any way? No to all.

[TDGperson]

Hamlet has an opportunity to kill Claudius when he is praying, but decides not to, since he think that killing someone when they are praying will cause them to go to heaven.

Otherwise:

Is it because of a physical reason? Psychological reason? Religion relevant at all?

Should he have waited? Did he do it for his own benefit? Someone else's benefit?

Are there certain conditions attached to the killing? (such as : He wants to only kill him under certain conditions, such as when he's not praying.)

Is he killing because of anger? hatred? political reasons? For life insurance?

Does he expect to get away with the murder?

[GalFisk]

Does Able do this in order to gain something for his side? For himself? Cause a problem for the other side? Did he suspect he might do this before he started sneaking up? Relevant how he will kill? What will happen to the body? How he will proceed afterwards?

[JenBurdoo]

Hamlet has an opportunity to kill Claudius when he is praying, but decides not to, since he think that killing someone when they are praying will cause them to go to heaven. No, but you have the right idea. I probably should have named these characters Ham and Claude.

Otherwise:

Is it because of a physical reason? Psychological reason? Could be regarded as either. Religion relevant at all? No.

Should he have waited? Yes, with luck. Not given his Did he do it for his own benefit? This. Someone else's benefit?

Are there certain conditions attached to the killing? (such as : He wants to only kill him under certain conditions, such as when he's not praying.) Yes, for SVV of "condition."

Is he killing because of anger? hatred? political reasons? For life insurance? Irr. Assume they are enemies.

Does he expect to get away with the murder? Yes.

Does Able do this in order to gain something for his side? For himself? He waits to kill for his own purposes. Why he kills is irrelevant. Cause a problem for the other side? Did he suspect he might do this before he started sneaking up? No. Relevant how he will kill? No. What will happen to the body? No. How he will proceed afterwards? Yes.

[irishelk]

This puzzle actually sent me into a memory trip about the times I have seen Hamlet on stage, waiting to kill Claudius while he's not praying! Glad TDG mentioned it.

Is a third person involved? If so, does the third person interact with Baker?

Does Able enter the situation with another goal in addition to killing Baker? Does he need to learn some kind of information?

[JenBurdoo]

Is a third person involved? Irr. If so, does the third person interact with Baker? No.

Does Able enter the situation with another goal in addition to killing Baker? No.. Does he need to learn some kind of information? No.

[GalFisk]

Does waiting cause something good? Avoid something bad? Promotions or medals relevant? Relevant which war they're in? Bodily functions relevant? If so: his own? The victim's? Food or drink relevant?

[JenBurdoo]

Does waiting cause something good? This. Avoid something bad? Promotions or medals relevant? No. Relevant which war they're in? No. Bodily functions relevant? No. If so: his own? The victim's? Food or drink relevant? Yes.

[Hobbsicle]

Was food being brought to his target? Was his target cooking something? Animals relevant?

[JenBurdoo]

Was food being brought to his target? Was his target cooking something? This. Animals relevant? No.

[TDGperson]

Was Able hungry? Did he want to eat what Baker is cooking? Would killing someone when they are cooking cause a bad outcome? Did Able eat the cooked food? Did Baker?

Is the food poisoned? Otherwise inedible?

[JenBurdoo]

Was Able hungry? Yes. Did he want to eat what Baker is cooking? Yes. Would killing someone when they are cooking cause a bad outcome? Yesish. Did Able eat the cooked food? Yes. Did Baker? No.

Is the food poisoned? Otherwise inedible? No to both.

SPOILER:

Baker was preparing a meal for himself. Able waited patiently until it was done cooking, then killed Baker and ate it.