As a continuation (not really related to the initial point) you say:
... an issue aoccurs at promotion not being done through merit in LARP. No clear command structure is ever present due to everyone being mostly the same rank. Guard command doesn't start training a unit, then slowly promote a lieutenant, sergeant and two corporals to give it structure. I've always thought that other characters (especially justice priests and paladins) could be granted rank and help fill out a rank structure.
I would /love/ for all ranks to be awarded on merit but it would be hard to say who got to make the decision on whether a particular character sufficiently merited that promotion.
Also, to any GMs reading, I would love a game which allowed for the Defenders to act as a unit. fourmyle's Asylum game came close - a Pathfinder Acting-Lieutenant, two Pathfinder Corporals, a Warden Sergeant and a Warden Corporal, a Guard Sergeant and a Guard - but we didn't have the opportunity to take full advantage of this.
no subject
... an issue aoccurs at promotion not being done through merit in LARP. No clear command structure is ever present due to everyone being mostly the same rank. Guard command doesn't start training a unit, then slowly promote a lieutenant, sergeant and two corporals to give it structure. I've always thought that other characters (especially justice priests and paladins) could be granted rank and help fill out a rank structure.
I would /love/ for all ranks to be awarded on merit but it would be hard to say who got to make the decision on whether a particular character sufficiently merited that promotion.
Also, to any GMs reading, I would love a game which allowed for the Defenders to act as a unit.