Does the party need a leader?

[Silver Moon]

Our gaming group is now in its 22nd year without a leader. One particular character is the "unofficial" leader, in that he is usually the one who initiates the group's actions, but that is more due to his lack of patience than anything else. I am the primary DM, but even when I am on the player's side of the table I seldom try to lead (enjoying the chance to be an "indian" rather than a "chief"). However, the characters as a whole do work as a team rather than a collection of random individuals, so I guess you might call it management-by-committee.

 

[S'mon]

In reality, a party - of soldiers, say - definitely does need a leader. In a PBEM or LARP a party probably does need a leader to be effective. In tabletop play the players can often coordinate well enough to do without a leader, if they're all on the same page. It's still helpful though to have someone who can resolve disputes and make decisions. IMC my current players' group seems to have a de facto unofficial leader PC for most purposes, by a process of elimination - it's easy to see that PCs A B C D E & F are _not_ the party leader, hence player G must be.

 

[Hand of Evil]

This is where I use charisma and/or leadership, mostly the person with the highest CHR will be the natural leader of the party and in most cases people will follow his ideas, no matter how good or bad.

Leadership takes a rolls and effort and in some cases has to overcome someones high CHR.

 

[Umbran]

IME, some parties need (or would much benefit from) a leader. Others don't need them. It depends on the campaign, the characters, and the players involved.

As an example, an intrigue based, role-play heavy campaign could well be hurt by a leader. And a small, experienced group of tactically minded players can usually manage very well without a leader, no matter the game style. A large group of people who don't care much about tactics in a combat-heavy game, on the other hand, often does well to have a leader. It is very much a case of "your mileage may vary".

 

[Celtavian]

re

I don't know about the original poster. But when I say a party needs a leader, I definitely mean a "combat leader, motivator" type, not a "follow my orders" or "democratically voted" leader-type. Bascially, someone to get things rolling and to make sure things stay rolling when the game is slow or rough. Someone the DM can rely on to help the party make good decisions when it seems like they are going to "buy the farm" or seriously screw up the story.

 

[Desdichado]

I've never played with a leader per se. Then again, though, someone who informally takes it on himself to make sure everyone stops and thinks before going into battle and comes up with a plan -- that can't be a bad thing.

 

[Bagpuss]

If you are waiting for the scout to do his job, you agree on a time before you go and look for him. Seems like the DM wasn't too strict on using metagaming knowledge, given that half the party decided to wander off anyway.

Sorry I'm going off on a tangent but out of interest how do you tell the time in D&D? I'm not aware of wrist watches in any D&D games I've played in.

 

[Gnarlo]

Sorry I'm going off on a tangent but out of interest how do you tell the time in D&D? I'm not aware of wrist watches in any D&D games I've played in.

They pick up the phone and call time table, silly.

 

[diaglo]

Sorry I'm going off on a tangent but out of interest how do you tell the time in D&D? I'm not aware of wrist watches in any D&D games I've played in.

same way they did before the wrist watch was invented. they use the Sun.

or Stonehenge-like structures or similar means if you believe the scholars.

 

[diaglo]

Do party's need a leader?

sounds to me like you want a Caller for your group.