Jailbirds

[Chaz]

I don't think there's a way around this (combination of efforts.)

[Silversunset]

I agree chaz, that locks up the whole thing (unless you've got jailbirds made out of stupid-sauce).

the only way the other ideas would work is if the tallest person didn't care about being shot and moved anyways. Then yes, the rest could let him go and walk out afterwards when the jailor is out of bullets.
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as you wish....

[Icarus]

[Chaz]

Yup. They would have to be stupid (and, really, they probably are, but, really, the guard would have a machine gun.)

If the premise holds true (that each prisoner would act on any chance of positive escape), then those rules would lock each of the prisoners in turn starting with the highest number (though the effect would be instant.)

Unless they were stupid.
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The enemy's base is down.

[Chuck]

If they think the guard might be lying then whoever thinks of it first might risk trying to leave figuring the guard won't shoot him and lose all but one prisoner when he can keep two prisoners by holding his fire until only two are left. If only two are left then the guard has nothing to lose by shooting the one who tries to leave and letting the other escape because if that happens he can't keep more than one prisoner whether he shoots or not. The remaining two prisoners know this so neither will try to leave. As long as there are at least three prisoners in the cell, one should try to leave.

[Chaz]

If they think the guard might be lying, then it doesn't matter what he says.
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The enemy's base is down.

[Chuck]

Yes, but the guard's desires still matter. If a prisoner thinks the guard might want to prevent as many escapes as possible and more the two prisoners are in the cell then he should try to leave.

[Chaz]

Only if they'd be willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

Oh. Plus, they'd have to trust that others would as well.
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The enemy's base is down.

[Chaz]

Nope. I take it back.

As long as it's calculated "who" will die, none of them will move.

Assuming they're all infinitely smart, and capable of reason, which I think the riddle does.
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The enemy's base is down.

[Icarus]

I get what the spirit of the puzzle was meant to be, and I get what the spirit of the answer was meant to be.

So what if you change the original phrasing of the puzzle?

There was a riot in the prison. All but one of the guards was subdued/disarmed. The lock on the prison gate was broken during the riot. A single guard, who escaped being subdued, is down to his last bullet (he shot the first x prisoners who already attempted to escape).

It will take 5 minutes (use whatever time frame you think is "realistic") for a replacment lock and reinforcements to arrive (additional guards and ammo). The prisoners know the guard will shoot.

Each prisoner acts independently, only concerned about their own self preservation (will not sacrifice for the better good).

How can the lone guard keep the remaining prisoners from attempting to escape?

[undecidedlyme]

If the guard tells the prisoners that the gate will be opened for one second and then tells them he will be firing a bullet through it during that one second then they won't attempt it because there will be no probability of success, since the first guy through the gate would die, and somebody would have to be the first guy through the gate.?. Then the guard wouldn't actually have to fire the bullet and the repairman can safely cross through the gate to make the repair.

I should sign this "a day late and a dollar short".