In what situations would players use a coup de grace?

Question

I'm kind of confused as to the usage of coup de grace. Is the usage of a coup de grace basically limited to when a power, such as the wizard's sleep spell or a non-lethal hit (the player declares the creature was knocked unconscious)has rendered the target helpless?

Answer 1

Lots of situations for a coup de grace in D&D...

1. A spell or power has rendered the target unconscious.
2. The target is out of hit points but isn't (sufficiently) negative and so isn't dead. Yet.
3. the target is held tightly bound by chains, ropes, strangle vines, webs or some other form of binding.
4. the target is asleep. (Can we say, "Assassination"?)
5. the target is deeply engrossed in some other activity that isn't physical (perhaps due to a spell, perhaps not)