Old but good thread. I have lead many teams, some of them have been bad, some of them have been much worse, but many have been great.
Here are some tips:
1. Team should have fun. This is not army, you are not general. Sometimes big chaotic fight is good for team spirit.
2. Learn patience, stay calm, be fair, be merciful, stay logical and stay firm. Leading MMORPG team is one of most stressful things that you can do. You have allkind immature kids, morons, power players, casual players, geeks, sexy females, drooling guys and people playing from diffent kind countries and cultures, mixed to chaotic team that is trying to have fun.
3. Communicate. Discuss, tell jokes and plan what is team going to do next.
4. When team is about to starting its first mission or new player has joined to team, go through rules/guidelines:
- No scouting, unless asked. There is definately need for scouting in some missions, but scout who is running around 3 floor when team is fighting in first floor is not helpful.
- If there is tanker, then he is allways going frontman and others are following. If there is no tank, then the team leader assigns frontman.
- Frontman decides which group to attack first and what is tactic: charge, pull or herding.
- When groups are packed, one group is pulled nearer to team. Team should avoid contact with other groups.
- All players should avoid extra agro from other groups, when team is fighting against another group.
- Players that are misbehaving, arguing and/or constantantly breaking of rules are kicked out from team after warning or instantly. If two players argue with each other, then both are kicked out from team.
5. If someone is breaking rules, explain rules again and give them warning. Sending private tells for bad players is also pretty effective. However, there are also situations when you should forgive mistakes (we are humans after all - and we should have fun). There are also extreme situations when you need to kick players out from your team without warning. You are dictator in your team - break your own rules when needed. It is YOUR team.
6. KICK players. Learn to use kick - don't afraid to kick bad players from your team. It is your responsibility to kick bad players.
7. Don't create full 8 player blaster/scrapper teams. They need at least 2-3 defender/controller. Smaller size teams 2-4 are normally allways working. Use sidekicks, but remember that hazard zones have level requirements. Also try avoid teams where all potential mentors have sidekick (when mentor leaves, your team is forced to stop, because you need to find new mentor).
8. Try to find instantly or just after missions, replacements for players who have been kicked or left.
9. Keep team running. Don't wait forever some player who is in another zone. Most of players don't have patience to stand outside missions and do nothing. Maximize time used in action, minimize time used to travelling, waiting and planning.
10. Don't select too hard missions. They are either too slow or your team is dying too many times. Normally best missions are 3 levels above your team average level. Start from easy missions and move toward harder missions, if they are too easy.
(maybe it is me)