The general guide to leadership for the would-be Generals.

Animus0724

All too many times I have found myself in Cyrodiil under a weak party leader that would often rage at his own party, lack the knowledge of basic siege or counter-siege tactics, fall under pressure from overwhelming odds or lack motivation to push his party toward victory. So I decided to put together a little guide for the aspiring Napoleons looking to step out of the foot soldier status and try their hand out at leadership.

Let us take a look at what makes a good leader.

• A good leader will put all self interest aside for the benefit of those they are leading.
  Do not lead your entire party to a keep that has no strategic value just so you can get back at the VR12 DK that dropped you earlier.
• A good leader must have adequate knowledge of the battlefield
  Learn basic tactics such as how to fight around oil pots. Yelling "CHARGE!" as soon as a wall or a door comes down is guarantee to provide plenty of AP for that VR12 DK defending that keep. This also goes for learning how and when to use different siege weapons.
• A good leader must have a good balance of assertiveness and compassion
  Know when to be assertive and use compassion when you need too. When group members are chasing down that one sorc who's BE happy, and you have 3 NBs cutting down your healers, you need to take control and demand that your team start acting like a team. Threaten to kick them if you have to, and remind them they are easily replaced with better, more coordinated members.
  When your healer has to go feed their dog, do not let lassie starve to death just because you don't like the look of the VR12 DK staring at you like a piece of meat.
• A good leader must be confident
  Be confident in what you are doing, the biggest mistake I've seen so far is when a group leader pops the question, "so..what do you guys want to do next?" This shows you might not have an idea what you are doing, although people will probably stay in your group, they are less likely to listen to you when you call on them in battle.
  You are the leader, you should know what should be done next. It isn't a democracy, you are PvPing to win.
• A good leader must keep a level head at all times
  Rage, we all go through it, but as the leader you are to be above it and direct your team as needed. When that VR12 DK decides to use your face to clean his gentleman parts, don't turn on cap locks and lecture you party on that DKs sexual preferences. Raging at your own party will result in zone chat lighting up warning people not to join your group.
• A good leader must have a good attention span
  As a leader, you are expected to know as much as you can about the current situation of the map, where are enemy forces at, where are they going, what keeps need to be defend in order to halt enemy advances, and most importantly, where is my group needed the most. If another group is doing fine with their siege, don't provide unnecessary reinforcements, instead attack another keep, maybe one ahead of that group, this keeps the enemy forces divided and confused.
• Charisma
  This is what can make or break a leader, charisma, the ability to motivate your team. Now it isn't a necessity to be William Wallace, it really helps to have the ability to motivate your team to stand up against overwhelming odds, I'm not saying be reckless and yell "CHARGE!" at every zerg you see, but if you know your team can make it if they tried, don't be afraid to yell "FREEDOOMM!" and oil pot spam that VR12 DK to death. Should you fail and be castrated in the process, a statue will be risen in your honor and Mel Gibson will play as you in a movie.

And lastly, learn from others, take notes from good group leaders and disregard bad habits of the bad ones. Don't rush to become a leader, take your time and learn. And remember, knowledge is no excuse for experience.

If you have any thoughts on what you think makes a great leader or have any stories of group leaders converting their members into AP for the enemy feel free to post them.

Edit for more lulz, hopefully

IKilled007

The Primary Leadership Develop Course for the US Army (now called the Warrior Leader Course) outlined the following 11 leadership traits:

1. Be technically and tactically proficient
2. Know yourself and seek self improvement
3. Know your soldiers and look out for their welfare
4. Keep your subordinates informed
5. Set the example
6. Ensure tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished
7. Train your soldiers as a team
8. Make sound and timely decisions
9. Develop a sense of responsibility in your subordinates
10. Employ your unit in accordance with its capabilities
11. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions

IcyDeadPeople

This is a helpful topic, and you've raised some good points. ESO is my first MMO, and I haven't played any other games with a pvp user experience quite like this.

I've been fortunate to play with some very talented group leaders who always seem to keep calm and prevail in challenging battles against larger enemy forces.

/Is it just me, or do you have something against DKs? ;-)

heng14rwb17_ESO

Well indeed there is a few tell tale sign whether he is a good leader.
1. His group will put down more than 10 seige machines when atking a keep
2. His group got healer who can mass heal & purge
3. His group can provide barrier & rapid maneuver when entering keep
4. His group can effective wipe other enemy impulse team
5.His group can steal scroll from the temple/keep.
6. Once his group arrive,u can be sure that the enemy at the bridge are all death.
7. You keep seeing in zone chat that 9999 people want to join his group.
8. Last but not least, the map slowly turn into all yellow.
Hurray to AD, AD is the best!

Rylana

The best leader is the level 10 guy that wants desperately to take drakelowe because he got the mission for it.

ArcanusMagus

I like your list, OP.

I would suggest that asking for input from the group does not necessarily display a lack of confidence - it's situational. If I'm grouped with guildies or veteran pvpers, I won't hesitate to ask for thoughts because it doesn't undermine the integrity of the group (I'm still in charge). Moreover, those people are likely to have good insights - I don't know everything (see point 1 in the original list). If the group is full of people I don't know, are inexperienced, or act childishly, I absolutely would not field that question because it would undermine the group as a whole.

I think it's important to keep in mind that this is a game and there is a certain amount of psychology that must be used to keep pugs (most of Cyrodiil) together and headed in the same direction. Some groups do well with the military-style approach, but I submit to you that most in Cyrodiil lack the discipline or inclination for that.

When in doubt, though, I think it's best to make the call yourself.

Valn

IKilled007 wrote: »

The Primary Leadership Develop Course for the US Army (now called the Warrior Leader Course) outlined the following 11 leadership traits:

Warrior leader course ... That's so American lol why not call it the warrior apache freedom eagle destroyer juggernaut rail gun honor duty course !

Pancake-Tragedy

Valn wrote: »

IKilled007 wrote: »

The Primary Leadership Develop Course for the US Army (now called the Warrior Leader Course) outlined the following 11 leadership traits:

Warrior leader course ... That's so American lol why not call it the warrior apache freedom eagle destroyer juggernaut rail gun honor duty course !

We call that "Air Assault School".

Animus0724

Valn wrote: »

IKilled007 wrote: »

The Primary Leadership Develop Course for the US Army (now called the Warrior Leader Course) outlined the following 11 leadership traits:

Warrior leader course ... That's so American lol why not call it the warrior apache freedom eagle destroyer juggernaut rail gun honor duty course !

Freedom fries anyone?

FREEDUMB

Cody

don't say "we cant do it, this is too hard, if we go, we will die, we are f****". I see this a lot:(. lol.

timidobserver

I find some of the "leaders" out there to be hilarious. They act like screaming and cursing at people is going to get them to fall into line.

philip.ploegerb16_ESO

I liked the list.

Anyhow, there's a difference, between someone who incorporated those things over a long time and via a natural way, towards someone who learns such things, and tries to act fittingly in certain situations, because one needs to exhaust himself to judge on what is happening, while the other one reacts intuitively, causing no stress .

I write this, because many people underestimate, how much effort it actually takes to lead a group, or even a zerg. Many want to lead, few are capable, but usually only the ones not wanting to lead initially, are really up to the test in practice ^^ .
If I only can give 1 advice, then "listen to your people and treat them the best you can, they'll give you back what they can, even if it's negative, try to see the positive" , because both, your an their best, will make your team successful.

Vivecc

success proves a good leader.
all others : read "the art of war" - sun tzu

Last but not least, the map swiftly turn into all red
xD

ArcanusMagus

philip.ploegerb16_ESO wrote: »

I liked the list.

Anyhow, there's a difference, between someone who incorporated those things over a long time and via a natural way, towards someone who learns such things, and tries to act fittingly in certain situations, because one needs to exhaust himself to judge on what is happening, while the other one reacts intuitively, causing no stress .

I write this, because many people underestimate, how much effort it actually takes to lead a group, or even a zerg. Many want to lead, few are capable, but usually only the ones not wanting to lead initially, are really up to the test in practice ^^ .
If I only can give 1 advice, then "listen to your people and treat them the best you can, they'll give you back what they can, even if it's negative, try to see the positive" , because both, your an their best, will make your team successful.

This.

Vampiresbane

Posts #1 and #2 are great. Just add a good dose of Sun Tzu and lots of practice leading and fighting to the mix, bake for a year, let cool for 3 months, clean off the dirt, grime, & blood, and then enjoy your new, very well rounded leader.

All us PvP guild leaders want more of these!

PS I should add all of the OP's points can be learned except for perhaps Charisma. You can get better at it, but some folks just innately have more than others. If you don't have great charisma, make up for it in technical knowhow and expertise (well...to a point...don't be THAT guy..."oh boy he's talking about how to use oil perfectly again...I'll be back in 15 minutes").

SwampRaider

i'm good at pvp leading(I have the tactical mindset down/ ult combo's and class combos), though people tell me im too "soft". Apparently you have to be an *** to lead effectively?

siledre

trust in the proven subordinates to get the job done. cultivate the ones that can follow orders.

quakedawg_ESO

Nice list!

Animus0724

SwampRaider wrote: »

i'm good at pvp leading(I have the tactical mindset down/ ult combo's and class combos), though people tell me im too "soft". Apparently you have to be an *** to lead effectively?

You don't have to be an ass, but you do have to display some authority. Thats the price of leadership, you will be hated by some.

Halrloprillalar

Rylana wrote: »

The best leader is the level 10 guy that wants desperately to take drakelowe because he got the mission for it.

Naw the one spamming zone chat with completely arbitrary, random instructions and directions... yea that person you know who I mean.

Agrippa_Invisus

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

Rylana wrote: »

The best leader is the level 10 guy that wants desperately to take drakelowe because he got the mission for it.

Naw the one spamming zone chat with completely arbitrary, random instructions and directions... yea that person you know who I mean.

So THAT'S why yellow keeps taking that keep.

Lowbei

heres a protip. if you are taking orders from someone who isnt in your smallman, you are probably zerging, and should stop.

Halrloprillalar

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE

Agrippa_Invisus

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE

There's only one vote that matters AND IT'S MINE!

Halrloprillalar

Agrippa_Invisus wrote: »

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE

There's only one vote that matters AND IT'S MINE!

as long as there is stuff and things to do

Agrippa_Invisus

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

Agrippa_Invisus wrote: »

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE

There's only one vote that matters AND IT'S MINE!

as long as there is stuff and things to do

There's always the stuff and the things, with the things and the stuff.

Halrloprillalar

Agrippa_Invisus wrote: »

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

Agrippa_Invisus wrote: »

Halrloprillalar wrote: »

THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY ANYMORE

There's only one vote that matters AND IT'S MINE!

as long as there is stuff and things to do

There's always the stuff and the things, with the things and the stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU-TXhV020U