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Gerrard was never the right choice for a lawless tournament, and certainly not to be a captain. I said it in the run up to the game, and then again during it. I signed him up because once he knew about it, he would not only go, but apply for captaincy. Thyrian is a mind-numbing no-hoper, Watcher wouldn't commit himself in isolated cover, and Vilnius was injured, so it was him or monster. On balance, I should have chosen to monster, as both he and I had an utter nightmare all weekend.
How badly he performed under these circumstances, and how badly his poor performance and the reaction to it of the other characters caused me OOC stress, has gotten me thinking. With so many characters mechanically powerful enough and IC inclined to act individually outside of the command structure, either in deliberate subversion of the patrol leader or simply not needing anything the commander can provide, and the lack of recourse for those in command that does not leave them looking like petty-minded tossers (and doesn't work to boot), the question arises as to whether there is a place for a nominal party commander (not just a Defender, but a Marshal, Paladin or anyone else) within a modern TL party.
What role do party commanders fulfil to the majority of characters these days? Is there any positive contribution they provide to the party dynamic, or are the contributions all negative (either to them or the party)?
Before that statement appears too ridiculous, consider the evidence. The commander doesn't glue the party together (that's the charismatic or sympathetic character), or provide the rallying point (that's the strongest warrior), or protect others (as the protection isn't required). Therefore, what contribution are they making that could not be made by their acting as another cog in the machine instead? There are enough patrols that succeed resoundingly by mutual consensus, so I do not agree with the notion that the patrols would simply fall apart or assign a decision maker internally.
Looking back over the last two years of reports, IC opinion has not been positive towards those in charge, the best a commander can hope for being to be invisible and not incur the ire of those patrolees that submit reports. When called upon to point out what the commander is achieving that isn't handled by the rest of the patrol, it is getting harder to come up with anything.
Is it time to do away with them entirely, or perhaps only have them for campaign years? Turn the Defenders into a benevolent organisation, dedicate to protecting everyone as the Bladesingers are to those of elven heritage? Send out patrols without a nominal commander, and let the independent characters go and do the job they are going to do anyway whether there was someone giving the commands or not? Would this work? If not, why not? To the huge number of entirely indepeneant characters, is having someone in charge no more than holding them back?
I know Watcher could perfectly happily operate in the absence of a patrol commander, and there are now dozens of characters who, when the opportunity arises, act outside the chain without consideration for the rest of the party (consider the 'hunting party' that went after the drow in the darkness on Saturday night. They were powerful enough to be in no danger whatseoever).
What use is a nominal leader to these characters?
How badly he performed under these circumstances, and how badly his poor performance and the reaction to it of the other characters caused me OOC stress, has gotten me thinking. With so many characters mechanically powerful enough and IC inclined to act individually outside of the command structure, either in deliberate subversion of the patrol leader or simply not needing anything the commander can provide, and the lack of recourse for those in command that does not leave them looking like petty-minded tossers (and doesn't work to boot), the question arises as to whether there is a place for a nominal party commander (not just a Defender, but a Marshal, Paladin or anyone else) within a modern TL party.
What role do party commanders fulfil to the majority of characters these days? Is there any positive contribution they provide to the party dynamic, or are the contributions all negative (either to them or the party)?
Before that statement appears too ridiculous, consider the evidence. The commander doesn't glue the party together (that's the charismatic or sympathetic character), or provide the rallying point (that's the strongest warrior), or protect others (as the protection isn't required). Therefore, what contribution are they making that could not be made by their acting as another cog in the machine instead? There are enough patrols that succeed resoundingly by mutual consensus, so I do not agree with the notion that the patrols would simply fall apart or assign a decision maker internally.
Looking back over the last two years of reports, IC opinion has not been positive towards those in charge, the best a commander can hope for being to be invisible and not incur the ire of those patrolees that submit reports. When called upon to point out what the commander is achieving that isn't handled by the rest of the patrol, it is getting harder to come up with anything.
Is it time to do away with them entirely, or perhaps only have them for campaign years? Turn the Defenders into a benevolent organisation, dedicate to protecting everyone as the Bladesingers are to those of elven heritage? Send out patrols without a nominal commander, and let the independent characters go and do the job they are going to do anyway whether there was someone giving the commands or not? Would this work? If not, why not? To the huge number of entirely indepeneant characters, is having someone in charge no more than holding them back?
I know Watcher could perfectly happily operate in the absence of a patrol commander, and there are now dozens of characters who, when the opportunity arises, act outside the chain without consideration for the rest of the party (consider the 'hunting party' that went after the drow in the darkness on Saturday night. They were powerful enough to be in no danger whatseoever).
What use is a nominal leader to these characters?
