Scare Tactics: Different forms of delivering Fear and Shock

[DIGI Byte]

~FEAR~

I recently got onto discussion about 'fear vs shock'

To make in clear, Fear is not shock and shock is not fear, but use both of them together to achieve a scary situation

there are numerous different ways to incite fear on someone, I'll list a few

Deadly shadows
A common formula used to bring about fear, the idea is to let speculation run wild after seeing a frightening figure or shape move about or show in the players view. It relies on "less is more", hence by seeing only a little, your mind runs with ideas and often gives you a gasp when you notice this figure.

Silent Stalker
The most subtle and evil killer of them all, you'll laugh, tilt your head and question life before its over, This is the most sinister techniques I have ever seen, based purely on shock and surprise a key figure, something that innocently appears and teleports behind the person while they are facing away or not looking at it, eventually making some sort of indicator it means trouble, forcing the player to run as the inanimate object stalks them before the time is up.
what makes this so effective is that the object has a powerful feeling about it as it can defy physics and surprise the player, even when hiding in a cupboard

Foresight
This is one of the longer types of fear techniques that takes time to deliver, relying on a heavy shock at first. it is achieved by showing a person how they would 'die' and then threatening them with the fate, its a bolder technique that lets itself known clear, its also unfortunately used in real life in hostage/captive situations, using one persons death to enforce the danger and risk

Deadly reminder
one of the greatest and most horrible fear techniques, hard to perfect but beautifully evil at the same time, it involves throwing the person into a situation where they have to solve a puzzle or traverse an obstacle course with a constant threat stalking you, not to be mixed up with traps that are trigger based (i.e. spinning blades over head), instead too either force the player too hurry up or take care when traveling, one mistake will result in death.

Run
Name says it all, putting a person in immediate danger, forcing them to flee as they are caught off guard, effective if you want the person to make a run for it or seek an alternate route

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~Shock~

a good quick scare approach, to make a person jump without the full effect of fear, making the player gasp like a small mammal to a pair of head lights

often best done when the player is not alert like when they are exploring, playing with their levels of alertness as well as teasing their hunger for exploring


Mysterious stranger
have you ever walked into a random room, and where a figure suddenly jumps from the shadows, making you gasp in fright to realize its nothing?
this is effectively done when the person is exploring around in a dark place and everything is peaceful and quiet when a silent mysterious figure appears before them

Ghostly trickers
Ever perk your head in surprise as something moves unexplained and right in front of you?, often seen when the person is investigating an area when a random object nearby moves slightly, enough to be noticed but not to dramatic, unless the ghost wants to throw it at the person, which will not only shock but alert the player


Little birdy
A bellowing of a great beast, stomping footsteps or just a harsh breathing down your back, catching a person off guard and forcing them to be alert as the unknown teases the hairs on their neck
its a sound delivery shock that can push players over their limit as unknown shrieks chase them down halls or cries of help pulls them into a trap, this bird means business and make you believe anything

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