Smartest and dumbest decisions characters have made in the series

[Algonquin Assassin]

58 minutes ago, billiejoearmstrong8 said:

 

Agree with all this but also I never picked up on it the first time playing lol. It's sooooo obvious when you play it again but not so much when you don't know it's coming and it's the beginning of the game and you're focused on so many other things than just Niko's date conversations. I think in order to give some of the more sharp witted players a chance to notice it before the reveal they had to make it somewhat obvious.

To be honest before I played GTA IV I encountered a spoiler revealing that she was working for the government so I already knew and never got the chance to experience it first hand without any other knowledge.

 

Still for a first time player I seriously doubt they would’ve been able to

pick it straight away since the clues are done in such a way that they’re very subtle, but you have it in your mind that something could be up.

[Copcaller]

20 hours ago, Bigglo145 said:

Dumbest:id say niko trusting dimitri to kill faustin. Niko seemed smarter than that. He had no real reason to kill mikhael faustin other than whatever dimitri told him if i can recall, dimitri seemed very slimy at that.

Smartest:niko killing playboy x. Just like with faustin and dimitri, he had no reason to kill dwayne. Niko shouldve had the decision to kill dimitri like he did playboy

At the time dimitri definitely seemed to be the more level headed of the two. Niko really didn't have a choice the petrovic family would have folded the faustins and killed niko and roman. He may have even targeted nikos mother. 

 

Smartest- Claude killing kenji for donald love it got him a powerful ally against the cartel, kendel suggesting that cj use the garage as a business and hq instead of just whining about it. 

 

Dumbest- anything Lance does, trevor stealing the super weapon, lamar making a deal with D. 

[Spartak2811]

On 12/31/2020 at 6:19 PM, GhettoJesus said:

Smartest:
Tommy deciding to backstab Sonny by building an empire

CJ saving Madd Dogg and becoming his manager. CJ profited quite nicely from it.

 

Dumbest:
Catalina not killing Claude when she had two chances to do so. She could have put a simple car bomb under the car in Kingdom Come and be done with it or pop Claude after Grand Theft Aero

Tenpenny trying to tie up loose ends before escaping the city, CJ really wasn't all that important (and where the hell was Sweet anyways? Wasn't he outside? Didn't they notice him?)

Maria telling Salvatore that she and Claude was together

 

Dumbest decision: Salvatore Leone being a widower, he chose as his second trophy wife a young girl fit for his daughter only for the sake of status, prestige and ego, which was Maria. And poisoning and ruining her life. He lost his bread (first wife), he wanted some soft delicious bun and he got it. A cuckhold and a womanizer.

Start decision: Maria warned Claude about trap, saved him from inevitable death and escaped from Salvatore’s clutches and shackles to Asuka for new life. Giving an opportunity to smash the hell out Salvatore’s brains all over Liberty City, helping to find information about Catalina.

Edited August 16 by Spartak2811

[AkshayKumar]

Dumbest decision: when Roman got the insurance sum from the arson damage and instead of living his dream of starting a restaurant and moving on from the cab business, he starts another cab business. 

[ValerianMoog]

Smartest : Nobody prior to 5 starting a family

 

Dumbest : Michael (and I guess Franklin since the dlc) starting a family

[sabitsuki]

Smartest:

honestly, this one is tough. I don't think anyone other than Tommy in general has willingly made any rational decisions that have been beneficial to themselves reputation-wise and financially. One of the things I dislike about most Rockstar protagonists is that they're nothing more than lap dogs for someone else.

 

That said, definitely Niko killing Dimitri in A Dish Served Cold. Revenge and escape from a life of crime aside, Dimitri has proven time and time again to be untrustworthy so I definitely feel that it is more in character for Niko to take the path of revenge.

 

Also when Kendl suggests turning the decrepit San Fierro garage into a thriving business, which more or less functions as a stepping stone for CJ from becoming a gangster to a businessman. Kendl is easily the unsung hero of San Andreas imo and I feel she doesn't get enough credit for her role as the brains of the game.

 

Yusuf telling Luis to meet up with Tahir and Ahmed on behalf of him rather than go alone.

 

Dumbest:

Several particularly in the HDU.

 

Johnny trusting Billy and only going in with Jim to meet the Chinese for the heroin deal.

 

Johnny ripping off Ray when the Lost are at their lowest point.

 

Johnny doing anything for Ashley and getting tangled up in her mess, which even Malc throws shade at.

 

Luis taking the fall for Santo and not killing him.

 

Luis flirting with and f*cking Vic's girl in Boulevard Baby.

 

Michael impulsively pulling down the Madrazo bungalow (which pulls him back into the life)

 

Michael quoting a movie while pulling off the jewellery store heist.

 

Niko doing the deal with Dimitri.

 

CJ going alone to meet Tenpenny and Co. in the desert without backup despite earning alot of money by that point.

 

Diaz trusting Lance and Tommy.

 

Jizzy B trusting CJ.

 

Aztecas and the Lost trusting Trevor.

Edited August 2 by sabitsuki

[E Revere]

15 hours ago, sabitsuki said:

Jizzy B trusting CJ

Always wondered how that didn't come up during Loco Syndicate meetings and Ryder didn't know about it.

[Ondr4H]

I would like to say two mistakes that strikes me in HD era.

 

Firstly Nico with huge criminal backstory with russian mafia jump out of boat and started blasting anybody for few bucks in russian mafia territory. His first mistake was killing Vlad just because he had allegedly romance with Mallorie.Just hot head move .He had more luck than brains in that chapter, especially when Dimitri betrays him and ambushed him... He put into danger Roman, his whole bussines if insurance company didnt make mistake. Probably even Mallorie.

 

GTA V .Again woman is involved, one of biggest mistake of all was Michael handling infidelity with tennis coach. If he not torn down that house, story of GTA V will never happen. That house destruction ruined his retirement, because he needed to pay Mandrazo for new house thanks to jewelery store heist and that brings attention from Trevor and FIB, because he was not in witness protection he was easily blackmailed.

If he was killed at the end, it will be perfect tragic story.

 

Every bad things started with woman in GTA .

 

 

 

[E Revere]

3 hours ago, Ondr4H said:

Firstly Nico with huge criminal backstory with russian mafia jump out of boat and started blasting anybody for few bucks in russian mafia territory. His first mistake was killing Vlad just because he had allegedly romance with Mallorie.Just hot head move .He had more luck than brains in that chapter, especially when Dimitri betrays him and ambushed him... He put into danger Roman, his whole bussines if insurance company didnt make mistake. Probably even Mallorie.

I gotta say. I think it was Niko's plan from the very beginning (from Uncle Vlad onwards) to do what he did, even though it does tie into luck. He explains it as such to Roman. Given how he isn't even a tad worried when he's tied up in Faustin's basement, it's very likely. It's like he knew Faustin would employ him rather than avenge Vlad. A lot of characters (especially Roman) treat Niko like a village idiot in the beginning, not realizing this criminal environment is exactly what he's been accustomed to back home for the last ten years.

Edited August 4 by E Revere

[Ondr4H]

37 minutes ago, E Revere said:

I gotta say. I think it was Niko's plan from the very beginning (from Uncle Vlad onwards) to do what he did, even though it does into luck. He explains it as such to Roman. Given how he isn't even a tad worried when he's tied up in Faustin's basement, it's very likely. It's like he knew Faustin would employ him rather than avenge Vlad. A lot of characters )especially Roman) treat Niko like a village idiot in the beginning, not realizing this criminal environment is exactly what he's been accustomed to back home for the last ten years.

He was soldier from Ex-Yugoslavia genocidal war. He probably even didnt care about Roman, as Roman care about him.

He probably did very wrong things in that war that completely changed him and he act like that all game. People were just number of dollars he gets after he kill them.

 

When he arrived to LC, Roman depict america as fairy tale land. He was shocked and angry at him firstly. So he probably dont care at all when he was shot and also dont care if they kill him.

 

[E Revere]

2 minutes ago, Ondr4H said:

He was soldier from Ex-Yugoslavia genocidal war. He probably even didnt care about Roman, as Roman care about him.

He probably did very wrong things in that war that completely changed him and he act like that all game. People were just number of dollars he gets after he kill them.

 

When he arrived to LC, Roman depict america as fairy tale land. He was shocked and angry at him firstly. So he probably dont care at all when he was shot and also dont care if they kill him.

 

I was talking about his involvement with "the wrong kind" and having to join the merchant navy. Niko was as a well-connected criminal back in the Adriatic as he was in LC, working for Bulgarin and whatnot. He knows how they work. Somehow, he knew what the exact consequences of killing Vlad would be.

Edited August 4 by E Revere

[Americana]

He absolutely did. What was he supposed to do, mow his lawn? 

 

I'm sure that Niko could work for Vlad and even become his second hand, but clearly he didn't need to. This wouldn't get him anywhere.

[Comrade Monke]

Smartest: everything Tommy did in Vice City

 

Dumbest: Trevor not shooting that rat Michael immediately when he found him (thankfully Franklin took care of that in ending B)

 

Claude not shooting Catalina In every chance he had (back robbery, Grand Theft Aero, cutting the grass).

[sabitsuki]

On 8/3/2022 at 3:39 AM, E Revere said:

Always wondered how that didn't come up during Loco Syndicate meetings and Ryder didn't know about it.

He was probably too egotistical to notice the cracks in the armor and likely thought that CJ was just another noname rent-a-thug. The fact that Jizzy never questions the veracity of CJ's constant asskissing speaks volumes about his pride and the lack (or decay of) street smarts.

Edited August 7 by sabitsuki

[AlexGTAGamer]

Smartest: 

 

The smartest decision that any character can make is to “get out of the game” so to speak. Escape from their life of crime. One character is particular I think of is Mike from GTA Advance he jumps on a private jet and escapes Liberty City with cash in hand to live a quiet life in Colombia. 
 

Dumbest: 

 

Jimmy Pegorino thinking that Dimitri could ever be trusted. He knew of Niko’s history with Dimitri and knew the Commission was never going to take the Pegorinos seriously. The writing was on the wall with the amount of police and fed activity closing the net in around the Pegorinos.
 

But then again I suppose when you are blinded in the pursuit of power and fame, you do make foolish mistakes… though some more deathly than others. 

[Ondr4H]

2 hours ago, AlexGTAGamer said:

Smartest: 

 

The smartest decision that any character can make is to “get out of the game” so to speak. Escape from their life of crime. One character is particular I think of is Mike from GTA Advance he jumps on a private jet and escapes Liberty City with cash in hand to live a quiet life in Colombia. 
 

Dumbest: 

 

Jimmy Pegorino thinking that Dimitri could ever be trusted. He knew of Niko’s history with Dimitri and knew the Commission was never going to take the Pegorinos seriously. The writing was on the wall with the amount of police and fed activity closing the net in around the Pegorinos.
 

But then again I suppose when you are blinded in the pursuit of power and fame, you do make foolish mistakes… though some more deathly than others. 

Nico get out of game too, but he paid high cost...

[Homicidal Hipster]

How does stealing the super weapon backfire epically? They give it back before it has a chance too. 

 

Dumbest decision has to be Michael using his catchphrase during the jewel store job. What a dumbass. Way to tip off anyone who knows you. May as well of left a note saying "Michael Townley was here" 

 

Niko working with Dimitri in the deal ending is pretty numbskulled. Luckily it's avoidable. Killing Vlad also wasn't the smartest decision. Especially given how glib he is about it afterwards. He should of known Faustin was going to retaliate. 

 

Smartest decision. Lester suggesting to lead Merryweather and the FIB to the foundry was dammed ingenious. I'd respect Franklin a lot more if he came up with it. And the trio taking out all the threats they faced during the story was smart. Especially how they sent Michael to kill stretch and Franklin to kill the Cheng's so they wouldn't see it coming. 

[wise_man]

Cesar showing CJ that Ryder and Big Smoke betrayed him is one of the smartest decisions not mentioned yet. Not only it made Kendl and his Aztecas gangs safer, it indirectly led to him earning legitimate money in San Fierro together with CJ.

[theGTAking101]

Smartest:

- Niko seeing the good in Dwayne and seeing that Playboy was superficial and fake

 

Dumbest:

- Isaac hiding under the table from Luis while he was still in plain sight. Even Luis made a hand gesture towards him that was like "Seriously dude, that's your hiding spot?"

- Johnny stealing the money from Ray

- Johnny simping for Ashley

- Niko killing Vlad without thinking of the consequences, although you could consider that more naïve than dumb, since he was new in town and didn't know how powerful the Faustin Mafia was

- Niko announcing his presence at Lyle Rivas' house allowing him to escape through the window, instead of coming in silently and killing him

- Niko telling Gracie he was kidnapping her in the middle of the drive rather than subtly continuing the "test drive" to the apartment

Edited August 18 by theGTAking101

[Algonquin Assassin]

2 hours ago, theGTAking101 said:

Smartest:

- Niko seeing the good in Dwayne and seeing that Playboy was superficial and fake

 

Dumbest:

- Isaac hiding under the table from Luis while he was still in plain sight. Even Luis made a gesture towards him that was like "Seriously dude, that's your hiding spot?"

- Johnny stealing the money from Ray

- Johnny simping for Ashley

- Niko killing Vlad without thinking of the consequences, although you could consider that more naïve than dumb, since he was new in town and didn't know how powerful the Faustin Mafia was

- Niko announcing his presence at Lyle Rivas' house allowing him to escape through the window, instead of coming in silently and killing him

- Niko telling Gracie he was kidnapping her in the middle of the drive rather than continuing the "test drive" to the apartment

Welcome back.

 

Been a long time since I’ve seen you around these parts.

[theGTAking101]

7 minutes ago, Algonquin Assassin said:

Welcome back.

 

Been a long time since I’ve seen you around these parts.

Thanks, it feels good to be back!

 

I haven't been on here in over 2 years so I decided I'd come back and check the place out. Would be nice to get back to my consistent posting from 2015-2016. Lots of new faces around here but I still recognize some of the OG IV fans that are still around .

 

Daddy's back you b*tches!

Edited August 18 by theGTAking101