Me, normally not. But in some situations, it could have sense. I do not remember in my game any group simple contest with various opponents in both sides; I usually prefer abstract values for the overall resistance of NPC's in that case. Anyway, I have run most situations with ability tests, individual simple contests and extended contests.
For example, if a group of entertainers wants to impress the lunars, I don't use a resistance for each lunar, but only a target number: They Have Seen Everything 19 (or I could use the resistance of the leader augmented, if it has sense). They roll for they individual performance, but, if I need an overall result for the group, I use the group simple contest rule. If my barbarians wants to plunder a village, I find an abstract TN for the village resistance and each PC describes his action, and the overall result depends of the group simple contest rule. If I want to emphasize different values for different important NPC's I usually use Extended Contest system, or, if I have to emphasize individual performances without spending much time, I prefer to find a different resistance for each PC and use Individual Simple Contest Mechanics (if it's a combat, finding a rival or more for each PC). In that case, I would use penalties for multiple opponents if it's appropiate.
>This makes crits really powerful in simple group contests, for no
>matter how many fumbles you have on your side, the other side at
>best can hope for a narrator decides result
Normally, the narrator (me ;-) would apply a Crit vs Crit as a Success vs Success (if it has sense, of course). But yes, I agree with you.
>Then the conclusion of a GSC where there's a w2 character on each
>side is foregone: narrator determines. Isn't it the purpose of that
>rule to avoid these certain results?
Yes, perhaps the rule isn't very good. But if there's only a W2 character in each side, Benedict's rule is very appropiate. And if there's an abstract resistance for one side, you could cancel masteries with it. The problem is when you run groups simple contests with various opponents in both sides, you know I prefer to avoid these situations using other mechanics ;-)
Regards,
Antonio
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