[@redxiii]......... It can be all three. I prefer to only get involved if there is an issue... but if someone goes out of their way to set another character up, role plays out say over like 12 posts, and the other player doesn't do anything about it or logically gets trapped in a checkmate situation but still doesn't want to die, I expect the attacker to contact me first and I will decide if it was logically set and there is no other option and give them my blessing. But if the victim then says "OH WAIT, my character is going to do XYZ to get out of it" and it make sense, then I will rescind my blessing and allow for the victim to live. [b]BUT[/b] say they couldn't come up with a way out of it but still didn't want to die, the last resort is going to be to roll a dice to see if they succumb to their wounds. 

Does that clear it up? 

As for battle, that is all going to be a game of chance unless you go in like "I want my character to lose an arm...." or "I want him to die on the battle field". But by riding your character off to war or willingly participating in a duel, you understand (like you would if you were the person doing the activity) there is a risk you won't come back from it.