I didn't say all quests should be managed by GM's. What I was trying to say is that any character works as a contractor in Valton. Danus gave Titus a quest for example. That's what I'm talking about. We should see more of that, instead of introducing a character specifically as a contractor. Alguidar should, instead of going to the contractor, but up the bounty himself. But he might not have the money for that, in which case the local authorities (the steward, the jarl= could provide the reward for a completed job. A contractor specifically isn't needed. But if it would be tied to a role, for example the steward, who also does other things, it might add something. Instead of everything going through a person, be it the steward, the jarl or a contractor, the players should give eachother quests instead. An RP where all the combat based characters go to one dude all the time to get a new assignment means they won't interact with other characters at all.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is to limit any interaction with the boring middle-hand and instead meet with the actual characters, if you get what I'm aiming at. Nothing at all stops us from having a "job board" just outside Hela's foly where anyone can put up a job request, with as much details as they want. That'd imo, be better than having it fo through an actual person.
I don't think that works, Gorbad.
For one a lot of characters in RPs split the social and combat aspects up. The social jobs like cleaning out chicken hutches, fixing roofs or
clearing out a kitchen of rodents is something that you could expect to be caught from a normal citizen. On the other hand, people looking
for jobs on the combat field go to a specialist. Be it a commanding officer, the jarl, a contracter, a patron, a listener (DB) or an innkeeper etc.
Your worry about a contracter eliminating character interaction is well founded, I admit. However, with the influx of such mercenaries and the
paying customers of the service, would it not become a second social hub (the tavern as the first) with the gathering of different kinsmen?
As well, the person I suggest for the position of playing such a character would be new to the RP, bringing about more interaction if anything.
Having you as the steward/contracter (which you seem to want to be), while organised, could prove to become stale in variety like you suggest.
Because both a blacksmith and a steward are well frequented people of interest. Which in my opinion can be a little on the greedy side of things.
On the subject of a contracter doing other things: the person's character is also an exporter, quaintly like my old sload was intended to be.
The profession should keep him busy with fulfilling orders, reorganizing packages or avoiding the government with contraband exportations.
If you are wondering if this person has a profile here, http://www.gamesas.com/user/794708-causa-k/. They just need to finish up their character sheet.