So, folks...

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I want you to take a look at this footage from Polaris and Cable's session this evening. I've given you all access, even the trainees, from whom I'm particularly interested in hearing. The reason it goes black abruptly would be because someone decided that cutting power to the Danger Room was a suitable way to end the scenario. (Hands up if anyone else sees the lack of field applicability for the 'shutting off the world' tactic?) Also, I wasn't able to clean up the audio properly, so what they're saying to each other isn't always audible over the gunfire and so forth. I'll just say that they were doing entirely too much talking, from my perspective in the control booth.



1) Opinions on the approach they took? Notice that they didn't start doing serious damage to the drones until nearly the end-of-scenario. Trainees, any thoughts on why?
2) Watching the footage cold, what do you think the purpose of the scenario was? (Nathan, Lorna, no explaining.) Based on your best guess, were their tactical choices appropriate?
3) Any observations on their level of teamwork?
4) Thoughts on the powers-applications they demonstrated?
5) Look at the readings I attached on their power usage. Notice any spikes? What were the results?
6) Put yourself in the scenario with them; what would your role have been?

Keep any comments constructive, people; questions are also more than welcome, whether it's for me (since I designed the scenario) or for the two who ran it. Trainees, you especially should feel free to ask as many questions as you like, as always.

Nathan, Lorna? Whatever does come out of the conversation - and I know I can trust you to take criticism well - I'll just reiterate that you both did pretty well, especially since you're both just getting off injured reserve. I do however want self-assessments on the subject of whether or not you figured out the purpose of the scenario that I didn't mention in the initial description.

Comments

[x-kylun.livejournal.com]

I am still learning to interpret the graphs, so I will be of little help with that portion of the discussion.

However, what struck me most about the video footage was that, until the difficulty level went up, both of them were paying far more attention to their conversation, whatever it was, than they were to their training. When my warriors let their attention lapse like that at the monastery, I reacquired it by the swiftest means.

If I had been designing that scenario, looking at the design and number of the drones, and keeping Polaris and Cable's abilities in mind, the goal would have been to force them to work at range, preventing the foe from closing. The wall turrets seemed to be little more than distractions to vary the exercise; it was the hand-to-hand drones that posed the greater threat. If their opponents had possessed greater skill than the Danger Room drones can be made to display, their inattention could easily have proved deadly.

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

When my warriors let their attention lapse like that at the monastery, I reacquired it by the swiftest means.

That was the question I was trying to ask! Thank you!You have suggested to me before that casual conversation is distracting from swordwork, so I thought perhaps it would be distracting in the scenario as well.

[x-kylun.livejournal.com]

Their performance certainly suggests so, does it not? Combat is chaos, whatever our best intentions may be in the planning stages, and chaos is difficult enough to manage if one does not intentionally splinter one's focus.

[x-tarot.livejournal.com]

Chaos is difficult enough to manage if one does not intentionally splinter one's focus.

I noticed that. The bruise on my shoulder is still very much a reminder of how I should not let myself get distracted during practice drills.

[x-kylun.livejournal.com]

At least it is only your shoulder? At the monastery obstacle courses, I generally instructed the archers to leave bruises my students would remember every time they sat down; the embarrassment (and the teasing of their peers, for most of them were some years younger than the trainees here) was as effective as the lesson itself.

And I admit to secret amusement at watching them hop when the lesson arrived. I am--how do you say it?--occasionally five years old. But I do not need such measures with you; your focus does not usually require very much help.

[x-cable.livejournal.com]

Kylun's absolutely right, Angie. Lorna and I provided a very effective example there of what not to do even when it is "just" training. Simply put, we got cocky.

[x-polarisstar.livejournal.com]

We weren't paying attention like we should have. Both our faults.

And ironically, considering the topic of our distraction, we weren't even being efficient about being distracted.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

I wish I could say that I'd scaled the difficulty upwards in response to the fact that they weren't paying attention, but it was in fact part of the plan from the beginning.

I did however, indulge in a little improvisation. The wall turrets.

[x-kylun.livejournal.com]

Ah--that was to be my next question, which of the wall turrets or the difficulty scale-up was your attempt to bring their minds back to the task at hand. At the monastery, it depended on the type of course--in a straight spar, blade-slaps were quite useful, but on obstacle courses I usually had one or more archers hidden, with fowling arrows at half-pull. Either way, bruises make excellent reminders.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Different methods, same result?

I imagine I'd be being a little harsher about this if they weren't just coming off the injured list and I hadn't thrown them into a scenario designed to mimick what put them there.

[x-kylun.livejournal.com]

It has been very reassuring to find that, no matter the sophistication of the training field, the principles remain the same.

I begin to wonder, however, how we ever managed without video playback, especially with multiple viewpoints--it makes these after-session discussions so much easier.

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

It's invaluable, yes. Allows cross-evaluation without actually having to have the rest of the team standing there watching.