Complicated situation: Town with people ready to fight and nobody to lead. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Complicated situation: Town with people ready to fight and nobody to lead. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GoofsterStud
07-28-05, 05:06 PM Brief Analysis on the situation:

I am a playing a paladin. I’m a young boy with an incredibly high charisma. He is a 16 year old from a strong family heritage that he is just becoming aware of since his core family lived in the woodlands and did not socialize with the outer family. CHA = 25. With a maxed out diplomacy.

My character is a Paladin of Helm. The Head Priest of the my local church requested me to send message about this stronghold of evil near their small town. Along the rought To notify the other helm temple and get assistance. Along the way we warned all the churches about the issue. In the process we met up with an arcane NPS that could use the spell teleport and the journey became incredibly quick.

Current Delima:

Our crew has now made our way back in town weeks ahead of schedule. The head priest left in the opposite direction, to request help from another temple in the opposite location. The dilemma is that now we have many adventurers in town and people willing to fight and nobody to lead them. Nothing is really happening, they all are just settling in the time being. My character is ready to do something about this and try to be leader. He is now feeling the need to take center stage and make speeches…etc to help put the show on the road. Is this a bad idea? Do you have any better ideas on what my character could possibly due pertaining to this situation. I was thinking about discussing with the cleric in the temple to help prepare a speech and maybe include rewards for a few finds. Such as a hidden entrance into this evil stronghold.

How would you go about this and wording your speech…etc.
GoofsterStud
07-29-05, 01:38 PM I hate to do post again so soon, however we are playing this weekend and I really am interested in picking your minds.
CzarGarrett
07-29-05, 01:57 PM He's a charsimatic leader, he should be making speeches and trying to get people to do stuff.

If I were in such a situation, here's what I would do:

I would try to give one big motivational speech. While making this speech, have my fellow party members be out in the crowd, listening to responces, even if they are snide and under their breath. Try to pick out the other 'leader types.' Then later than night, send messages to these other leader types and meet with them. Try to organize some sort of mini-army. Rogues, Rangers, Scouts, etc- convince them to scout out the stronghold. Get patrol routes, supplies coming in, location of possibly weaknesses, stuff like that. The arcane casters, if possible, organize them to make some scrolls and have plenty of buff or nuke spells available to them. Clerics can prepare by making scrolls and praying for divine favor. Stuff like that. Then you can organize a small army, and as soon as the other Helmites get there, attack.
Gedrin
07-29-05, 03:29 PM I'm not sure what your actual question is. Are you wondering how to go about launching an attack on the enemy stronghold, or are you wondering about how to go about establishing leadership among a disparate group of volounteers.

I'm guessing it's the second.

My first concern is that you might not be the actual leader for the town. You may be an able diplomat, but you might not have the actual standing to lead such a fight. This should be a concern for a paladin. It sounds like the high priest is the one who'd actually be the person in charge, so you shouldn't launch an attack while he's away. He's the High Priest for a reason, so we can assume he might have some ideas about that sort of thing.

I'd recomend using your natural leadership ability to make ready for the comming battle. Prepare your forces, and the town, in such a way that when the high priest returns, you will be ready to act on his orders. Additionally, send runners (or Sending) to communicate with the high priest, and let him know you're back. There is a lot of work to be done before any assault, so starting that work seems like a good idea.
GoofsterStud
07-29-05, 03:45 PM You are correct on this. I was more looking for how to get the adventures gathered and start to form a some order. I want to gather information on the place, motivate the people, and group them while we wait. How to create some order and get major reps for the parties when the priest is available...etc. I really am not this type of person so I need help figuring key things to mention in a speach things to do in the mean time, how to gather, be a rep of the people for the time being. Right now the temple is basically closed while the high priest is gone and they are telling us to do something in the mean time because they weren't expecting this so quick.

I do have a few questions for you.

Prepare your forces, and the town, in such a way that when the high priest returns, you will be ready to act on his orders.

This is where I really need help. What can we do to help get order and understanding throughout the comunity in the mean time. Shouldn't somebody be motivating people trying to gather information in the meantime.

Additionally, send runners (or Sending) to communicate with the high priest, and let him know you're back.

The problem...none of us really know where she is? Advice would help.

There is a lot of work to be done before any assault, so starting that work seems like a good idea.

We have currently been gathering extra goods for the community.
Gedrin
07-29-05, 04:33 PM Sounds like you're underway.

Setting up patrols is important. It's probably your first job to assign.

Find someone with fast transportation to head to the temple to which the high priest was going. That's the best way to get in touch and pass on your current plans (aside form the numerous magical solutions). Try not to send someone with a unique and vital skill (other than the ability to go fast).

Since you say adventurers have arrived, I'm assuming they're already in parties. Don't try to break this up, you'll PO everyone and break up currently functional teams. Use the squad/party as your basic orginizational unit. If you can manage having a representative from each party, leave it at that. If not, you'll have to apoint leaders for groups of parties (Platoon Leaders). You should probably organize around the jobs. A leader for the supplies, one for the fortifications, one for patrols. You'll have to use some applied diplomacy, because some jobs aren't as glamorous as others, but they all need to happen. Orginizing people is difficult when they're all independent minded.

Emergency signals and a response force should be built. You should have a bell (or such) that you can ring and signal a call to arms. You should be able to call out a set phrase and get 20 fast moving, heavily armed, combat veterans geared up and ready to go as soon as possible. Use these forces and signals to make rapid response to trouble possible.

Scouting beyond the range of close patrols is a good idea too. Get people to learn the terrain so you'll avoid surprises when you move toward the enemy.

Supplies are a primary concern. First, the town population is probably swelling with the new arrivals, so you'll want to cover that. If you get cut off from trade, you could run into problems. Be certain you have materials to wage the battle.

Some sort of basic fortification would be a good idea too. Building a temporary fighting wall and a fortifying the temple (to shelter civilians) is pretty basic and could be done without much skill.

Arms and equipment will be needed. Make sure everyone has what they need to fight. You may even wish gather smoe militia that don't come with their own weapons. Preparing the town to help with its defense is a good way to take some of that burden off of the main force.

Aid station. Set up an area within the fortified territory, perhaps within the temple itself, to act as a recieving area for wounded. Keep a response medic on duty at all times who can go with the responders or respond to an emergency in town. There are many refinements possible here, but leave that to the adventurer doctors that may be there.

After all that is started, begin refining. Make sure it's the rangers on patrol. Don't exhaust your wizards building a wall. See if there are any helpful spells or powers among the adventurers. You don't really have an army. You've got a bunch of highly skilled irregulars, so there's a lot of "customization" you can do.

As for leadership advice, remember, you're making ready for the return of the high priest. You're one of her apointed emesaries, so you can act in her stead. However, one of your important jobs is to make sure the people know she's the one in charge and that being loyal to her is important. You don't want to make her a miracle worker, in case she's dead on the road, but portraying her as someone with the vision to bring this all together is both useful and accurate. Not her power, but her vision. She can be killed, her vision lives on.
Also, adventurers are not soldiers. Soldiers follow orders, care what rank you are, and know they're a cog in a larger machine. Adventurers do what they want, care if they like you or not, and think they're the center of the universe. Your diplomacy is much more important with adventureres than it is with soldiers. Foster the relationship on mutual respect and trust. You may need to stroke their ego, but you can do that in a way that emphasizes your gratitude for their contribution to the cause.
GoofsterStud
07-29-05, 05:01 PM The majority of the gathering is made up of adventurers. The town is way to crowded. I assumed a speach to at least gather the people up outside the town in a nice hut with food and drinks to start a speech and get a feel for each other would be the best start.
Arquinsiel
07-29-05, 09:58 PM I'd take a different track. First I'd see if I could gather information on party leaders and authority figures and suchlike so as to know who's in charge. Once I've figured that out I gather the most influential and/or powerful together and propose an alliance for mutual defence while in the town under teh proviso that command is immediately turend over to the high priest when he returns. Possibly, if these people include some of the town merchants of publicans, try to arrange a system of discounts for those who sign up. Having gathered at least a small coalition of like minded people I now gather the less influential but still important leaders and present the idea to them making it perfectly clear that they still maintain their current status but now are expected to pull their weight in guard and scouting duties and emphasise the benefits garnered with the town's suppliers. Those who agree should be asked to sign some document laying out the terms and to note their numbers beside their name and present them with some minor token of their acceptance. Afterwards devide the responsability on a group-by-group basis amongst the other leaders by lot and inform everyone of the new situation and who they are responsible to. Then get to the defensive measures that Gedrin suggested. Start small, work your way up. Party by party if necessary.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoofsterStud 07-28-05, 05:06 PM	Brief Analysis on the situation: I am a playing a paladin. I’m a young boy with an incredibly high charisma. He is a 16 year old from a strong family heritage that he is just becoming aware of since his core family lived in the woodlands and did not socialize with the outer family. CHA = 25. With a maxed out diplomacy. My character is a Paladin of Helm. The Head Priest of the my local church requested me to send message about this stronghold of evil near their small town. Along the rought To notify the other helm temple and get assistance. Along the way we warned all the churches about the issue. In the process we met up with an arcane NPS that could use the spell teleport and the journey became incredibly quick. Current Delima: Our crew has now made our way back in town weeks ahead of schedule. The head priest left in the opposite direction, to request help from another temple in the opposite location. The dilemma is that now we have many adventurers in town and people willing to fight and nobody to lead them. Nothing is really happening, they all are just settling in the time being. My character is ready to do something about this and try to be leader. He is now feeling the need to take center stage and make speeches…etc to help put the show on the road. Is this a bad idea? Do you have any better ideas on what my character could possibly due pertaining to this situation. I was thinking about discussing with the cleric in the temple to help prepare a speech and maybe include rewards for a few finds. Such as a hidden entrance into this evil stronghold. How would you go about this and wording your speech…etc.
GoofsterStud 07-29-05, 01:38 PM	I hate to do post again so soon, however we are playing this weekend and I really am interested in picking your minds.
CzarGarrett 07-29-05, 01:57 PM	He's a charsimatic leader, he should be making speeches and trying to get people to do stuff. If I were in such a situation, here's what I would do: I would try to give one big motivational speech. While making this speech, have my fellow party members be out in the crowd, listening to responces, even if they are snide and under their breath. Try to pick out the other 'leader types.' Then later than night, send messages to these other leader types and meet with them. Try to organize some sort of mini-army. Rogues, Rangers, Scouts, etc- convince them to scout out the stronghold. Get patrol routes, supplies coming in, location of possibly weaknesses, stuff like that. The arcane casters, if possible, organize them to make some scrolls and have plenty of buff or nuke spells available to them. Clerics can prepare by making scrolls and praying for divine favor. Stuff like that. Then you can organize a small army, and as soon as the other Helmites get there, attack.
Gedrin 07-29-05, 03:29 PM	I'm not sure what your actual question is. Are you wondering how to go about launching an attack on the enemy stronghold, or are you wondering about how to go about establishing leadership among a disparate group of volounteers. I'm guessing it's the second. My first concern is that you might not be the actual leader for the town. You may be an able diplomat, but you might not have the actual standing to lead such a fight. This should be a concern for a paladin. It sounds like the high priest is the one who'd actually be the person in charge, so you shouldn't launch an attack while he's away. He's the High Priest for a reason, so we can assume he might have some ideas about that sort of thing. I'd recomend using your natural leadership ability to make ready for the comming battle. Prepare your forces, and the town, in such a way that when the high priest returns, you will be ready to act on his orders. Additionally, send runners (or Sending) to communicate with the high priest, and let him know you're back. There is a lot of work to be done before any assault, so starting that work seems like a good idea.
GoofsterStud 07-29-05, 03:45 PM	You are correct on this. I was more looking for how to get the adventures gathered and start to form a some order. I want to gather information on the place, motivate the people, and group them while we wait. How to create some order and get major reps for the parties when the priest is available...etc. I really am not this type of person so I need help figuring key things to mention in a speach things to do in the mean time, how to gather, be a rep of the people for the time being. Right now the temple is basically closed while the high priest is gone and they are telling us to do something in the mean time because they weren't expecting this so quick. I do have a few questions for you. Prepare your forces, and the town, in such a way that when the high priest returns, you will be ready to act on his orders. This is where I really need help. What can we do to help get order and understanding throughout the comunity in the mean time. Shouldn't somebody be motivating people trying to gather information in the meantime. Additionally, send runners (or Sending) to communicate with the high priest, and let him know you're back. The problem...none of us really know where she is? Advice would help. There is a lot of work to be done before any assault, so starting that work seems like a good idea. We have currently been gathering extra goods for the community.
Gedrin 07-29-05, 04:33 PM	Sounds like you're underway. Setting up patrols is important. It's probably your first job to assign. Find someone with fast transportation to head to the temple to which the high priest was going. That's the best way to get in touch and pass on your current plans (aside form the numerous magical solutions). Try not to send someone with a unique and vital skill (other than the ability to go fast). Since you say adventurers have arrived, I'm assuming they're already in parties. Don't try to break this up, you'll PO everyone and break up currently functional teams. Use the squad/party as your basic orginizational unit. If you can manage having a representative from each party, leave it at that. If not, you'll have to apoint leaders for groups of parties (Platoon Leaders). You should probably organize around the jobs. A leader for the supplies, one for the fortifications, one for patrols. You'll have to use some applied diplomacy, because some jobs aren't as glamorous as others, but they all need to happen. Orginizing people is difficult when they're all independent minded. Emergency signals and a response force should be built. You should have a bell (or such) that you can ring and signal a call to arms. You should be able to call out a set phrase and get 20 fast moving, heavily armed, combat veterans geared up and ready to go as soon as possible. Use these forces and signals to make rapid response to trouble possible. Scouting beyond the range of close patrols is a good idea too. Get people to learn the terrain so you'll avoid surprises when you move toward the enemy. Supplies are a primary concern. First, the town population is probably swelling with the new arrivals, so you'll want to cover that. If you get cut off from trade, you could run into problems. Be certain you have materials to wage the battle. Some sort of basic fortification would be a good idea too. Building a temporary fighting wall and a fortifying the temple (to shelter civilians) is pretty basic and could be done without much skill. Arms and equipment will be needed. Make sure everyone has what they need to fight. You may even wish gather smoe militia that don't come with their own weapons. Preparing the town to help with its defense is a good way to take some of that burden off of the main force. Aid station. Set up an area within the fortified territory, perhaps within the temple itself, to act as a recieving area for wounded. Keep a response medic on duty at all times who can go with the responders or respond to an emergency in town. There are many refinements possible here, but leave that to the adventurer doctors that may be there. After all that is started, begin refining. Make sure it's the rangers on patrol. Don't exhaust your wizards building a wall. See if there are any helpful spells or powers among the adventurers. You don't really have an army. You've got a bunch of highly skilled irregulars, so there's a lot of "customization" you can do. As for leadership advice, remember, you're making ready for the return of the high priest. You're one of her apointed emesaries, so you can act in her stead. However, one of your important jobs is to make sure the people know she's the one in charge and that being loyal to her is important. You don't want to make her a miracle worker, in case she's dead on the road, but portraying her as someone with the vision to bring this all together is both useful and accurate. Not her power, but her vision. She can be killed, her vision lives on. Also, adventurers are not soldiers. Soldiers follow orders, care what rank you are, and know they're a cog in a larger machine. Adventurers do what they want, care if they like you or not, and think they're the center of the universe. Your diplomacy is much more important with adventureres than it is with soldiers. Foster the relationship on mutual respect and trust. You may need to stroke their ego, but you can do that in a way that emphasizes your gratitude for their contribution to the cause.
GoofsterStud 07-29-05, 05:01 PM	The majority of the gathering is made up of adventurers. The town is way to crowded. I assumed a speach to at least gather the people up outside the town in a nice hut with food and drinks to start a speech and get a feel for each other would be the best start.
Arquinsiel 07-29-05, 09:58 PM	I'd take a different track. First I'd see if I could gather information on party leaders and authority figures and suchlike so as to know who's in charge. Once I've figured that out I gather the most influential and/or powerful together and propose an alliance for mutual defence while in the town under teh proviso that command is immediately turend over to the high priest when he returns. Possibly, if these people include some of the town merchants of publicans, try to arrange a system of discounts for those who sign up. Having gathered at least a small coalition of like minded people I now gather the less influential but still important leaders and present the idea to them making it perfectly clear that they still maintain their current status but now are expected to pull their weight in guard and scouting duties and emphasise the benefits garnered with the town's suppliers. Those who agree should be asked to sign some document laying out the terms and to note their numbers beside their name and present them with some minor token of their acceptance. Afterwards devide the responsability on a group-by-group basis amongst the other leaders by lot and inform everyone of the new situation and who they are responsible to. Then get to the defensive measures that Gedrin suggested. Start small, work your way up. Party by party if necessary.