Who’s the Boss?
by Santyn on Mar.16, 2009, under Random
When you run an instance, who is the boss of the group? Is it the tank? The healer? One of the DPS? In my experience as a Hunter that role is most often filled by the tank, and if not then it is the healer. It never bothered me. I am more than happy to sit back and just kill things, leaving the details of strategy to others. But last night that all changed.
I was on my Shaman healing Nexus for some friends. By far, I had the most experience running the place (all of it on Santyn). I started the run pretty normal. I just stood in the back and did my best to keep everyone alive. It wasn’t long though before it became different though. We hadn’t even gotten to the first boss before I was telling people how to position for pulls. Then I was calling out CC duties. This was soon followed by me telling kill orders. By the time we got to the third boss I was calling out what abilities for people to use.
It was at that point that it hit me what I was doing. I was telling other people how to play their class. Needless to say the thought made me somewhat uncomfortable. I quickly apologized, and luckily no one was offended (the joys of running with friends).
It seems they were so quick to listen to me because I had so much experience in the instance. They just assumed I knew what I was doing and went along with it. I really should have recognized this since it is what I do when I raid. When the raid leader gives an order, I follow. They are the raid leader for a reason, so I don’t tend to question them.
This was the first time I ever felt like I was in that position. It kind of scares me how naturally I took to ordering my friends around, but I would like to think that in doing so I helped the run end successfully. This is something I will have to keep an eye out for in the future. The last thing I want to do is go to far and piss someone off. But if taking charge leads to a successful run then maybe it is a good thing.
I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this. Or even acounts of similar situations you may have been in.
2 Comments for this entry
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March 17th, 2009 on 12:39 am
I have had to take charge sometimes, but never in big raids, just wee 5 mans. Just when people are too stupid to mark things (back when marking was a necessity).
I think so long as you are fair to everyone as best you can be you won’t go pissing anyone off. Some people are just never happy though so if anyone goes in the huff don’t worry to much. You can’t please everyone.
Often if you scream, well you take charge, they will back down.
/win
March 17th, 2009 on 6:51 pm
it is sometimes required to take charge, even if you are just dps’ing. Some groups just do not know enough about the fights to make it through safely. Though it is usually the tanks job to lead the instance, since they are the first to go in anyways (and thus dictates when the fight starts).
if you dont want to offend others when you are in the leader position, make sure to include others in process of choosing a strategy. I find out that if you do that, the friends will know the fights better in the end, and you can sit back and let the tank/healer set the pace.
it is fine to say the pointers of a fight and ask people to do a job, as long as you make sure you dont insult their intellect or their ability to play.