Quote Originally Posted by SteveMB View Post
"Incompetent" is a relative term (specifically, relative to the demands on you). Stanley could be a classic case of the Peter Principle, and rose from competence as a soldier and as a warlord to incompetence as an overlord.
That could be true; however, Wanda tells us that the problems didn't start with his rule, but with the direction of his rule. Stanley began losing when he started hunting Arkentools Page 5.6. Stanley was competent as a ruler before, but his problems began with his conviction that he had a particular destiny. This implies it is his megalomania that made him appear incompetent, and that is not consistent with the Peter Principle.

At worst, King Saline IV had accepted Stanley as Chief Warlord, and had enough confidence in him there that Stanley was made heir. He was at least competent to lead armies. We know from the early comic that the Ruler can run turns: Parson doesn't run one until his second full day in Erfworld, and even then, Stanley was planning on running that one, Things may have gone differently if Stanley had payed closer attention to the choices of his Chief Warlords, but if you go back to my previous statements, the delusion of destiny inspires the lack of need for intelligent choices. Detsiny cannot be avoided, so you don't need to pay attention to things you don't want to.

If Parson succeeds, Stanley may get the evidence he needs to put PAID on that bill. He can safely ignore Parson and continue with his own tasks. Ironically, this delusion works when you actually have an overcompetent Chief Warlord. And with the training wheels off, Parson runs rampant across Erfworld. Stanley may actually become increasingly incompetent, but it will be irrelevant, since Parson will win for him anyway. Of course, if old Stanley sits up and pokes himself, Stanley may return to competency and actually make Parson's chances a whole lot better.