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The trolley problem is a thought experiment that presents a person with a hard moral choice. You are in an out-of-control trolley that is going toward 5 people on the tracks, and the only way to save them is to change tracks, thus killing one person on the other track. It’s an ethical conundrum. Now, Helldivers 2 developers have presented the players with a Major Order in the shape of a trolley problem.
Players Have a Tough Decision to Make For a New Major Order
On June 11, after a glorious victory over Automatons, Helldivers received a new Major Order. The official Helldivers 2 account on X stated: “Helldivers, a difficult decision lies ahead. Will you save the trapped survivors on Vernen Wells or the raw ingredients for the MD-17 Anti-Tank Mines on Marfark?”. Unlike the others, this one gave the players a choice, do the right thing and lose the mines, or get the mines but face the possible consequences.
Now, if you thought even for a moment that this was a tough choice, well, you were wrong. According to Reddit, most players immediately chose to fight to save the children on Vernen Wells. Of course, their motivations vary, but the final answer is what matters the most. You know, like using the wrong formula in a math problem and getting the correct solution.
Most Redditors agreed that it would be pure comedy gold if the AT mines got delayed yet again. Eshgrim said: “At this point, I’d laugh my liberty off if always failing/postponing whatever anti-tank mines related s**t became sort of a running gag”. ThumbGuide added: “I’m going to Vernen Wells, I just think this is hilarious and delaying mines again it’s just gold comedy. Let’s save the kids”.
Several players pointed out that AT mines could be useful and maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to fight for them. DarkPDA explained: “Morality is fun but this is just a game and isn’t a movie plot, so I’m sticking with the mines”. Another player, o8Stu, added: “If the mines would only detonate on medium and heavy enemies, sure, go for them. They’ll just get cleared by chaff and teammates, like the other mines”.
Some Helldivers Don’t Have a Problem With the Major Order
Others theorized why it was important to save the children. CheekandBreek said: “This whole MO is bait. I feel like if we choose the mines, we’ll get the mines, but going the route of saving these kids will give us something better”. Proper-District-7944 suggested: “Saving the kids will probably reestablish the Vernen Wells liberation buff. Which if we push back the automatons enough won’t be at risk of being captured”.
SimpleManga offered another perspective. They said: “Saving kids means they are inspired to hell dive. Saving children means more SEAF/Helldivers. More manpower or funny Anti-Tank mines that might not be useful for even 30% of our enemies”.
Of course, you can always count on true heroes, like fearless-potato-man in this case. They stated: “I don’t even need a reward. Mankind > AT mines. That’s enough for me”. Inalum_Ardellian added: “I just wanna live by the: Become a Hero! Become a Legend! Become… a Helldiver”.
At the time of writing this article, players are still liberating the previously fallen Aesir Pass to establish a route to either of these planets, so we don’t have the in-game data to confirm that most players have chosen to fight on Vernen Wells. We think that liberating Vernen Wells is the obvious choice, morally speaking. Helldivers 2 players should know that this whole Major Order trolley problem is practically unsolvable, so don’t feel bad whatever you pick. Just enjoy the game and we are sure that whichever planet the players liberate, they’ll get something cool out of it.