Team Tactics

[Lyle H Janney <lhjanney@adpc.purdue.edu>]

First off, I'm not sure you guys (Steve, Greg, and Rob) understood me.  What
I said was, and I quote, "I will not allow its use on any game I moderate until
Dan gives the go-ahead."  Seems pretty clear to me that if this was ratified under
Dan (as Greg puts it), then I would, by my own words, allow its use since Dan
has already given the go-ahead.  However, I would want to see a detailed write
up of what it can be used for beforehand.  But then, I suppose the point is moot
since Steve wouldn't consider the skill to be necessary while I was GM'ing.

As for the example Greg gives about Erica and Dusk moving through a door, one
is 10' away, the other is 50' away and both have the same movement rate, of course
there is no AGI roll required.  Duh!  I was responding to Wright's example with the
assumption that there was a question about whether, in fact, there would be any
collisions.  If this example you gave is a real one, Greg, and the moderator at the
time required an AGI roll, or worse, caused real trouble by simply stating that Dusk
is unable to get through the door, or even worse yet, Dusk and Erica collide, then
that moderator has a problem.  If this is a real situation, please let me know who
that moderator is and I will take them aside and speak with them about the proper
use of common sense while moderating.

Also, perhaps I wasn't clear in my statement regarding programmed actions.  Or,
perhaps it has been too long since I've played under Dan.  By programmed actions,
I was referring to the players agreeing on a code word/phrase and a particular set
of actions each will perform when that word/phrase is stated.  This is one of the few
ways in which an ambush can actually be successfully performed and is easily within
the bounds of acceptable character action in my book.  Heck, if jocks can memorize
a play book and work in unison when the QB calls out a code phrase, then there is
no reason why adventurers cannot do the same.  Another application of 'programmed
actions' as I was referring to them would be, "Okay, I'll open the door and the three of
you (who are all lined up right in front of the door) all rush in."  That, too, would work
in my book unless circumstances on the other side of the door where such that your
marvelous plan was screwed from the beginning do to inadequate intel.  If Dan has
banned both of these types of coordinated actions, then I guess I need to have a chat
with him to find out why.  I certainly am not aware of any rules in the AQ manual that
state that such actions are not allowed, nor have I seen any errata on the subject.

Finally. I've sent mail to Dan telling him of a seldom used feature of MS-Outlook that
will allow him to redirect mail sent to the GMList to a specific mail folder (I've done it
myself just to keep my mail somewhat organized).  Hopefully he'll do this and be able
to deal with the volume of mail we generate a bit better.  By the way, were you guys
aware that the past 2 and half months have seen nearly 750 mail messages sent to
the gmlist?  Sheesh!

Anyway, I still feel the 'group tactics' skill is a crutch, but if it is been okayed by Dan
and I get a detailed write up of it, then I'll allow it to be used when I moderate (_if_ it
is ever necessary).

Lyle