Basic Fantasy RPG Forums

Ok, I think I got it now. I had put the tumble skill in there, you must have just missed it.

Okie Dokie. As long as everything looks good.

Can I get HP rolls for a man-at-arms hireling and a mage henchman, please.

Hirelings: Characters can hire mercenaries, laborers and neophyte adventurers to aid them on their adventures.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT THIS BE DONE.

You have something evil planned.

I got the point that the henchmen are needed for the scenario, but what is the rational for my 1st level little thief, actually hiring people?
I mean he barely has the means to keep his ale/wench bill paid, and now he is trying to be the big cheese and have his own little army? I am gonna get my face smashed like that kid in "Carlito's Way". And then (to his thinking) he now has to share his spoils with some greedy little hangers on. You could say he hires a hedge mage to assist in his adventures that require a bit of magical assistance, but again, he is only 1st level. So the best he can hire is another 1st level or lower little minion.
Me personally, my guy would have way to much pride to hire out to another 1st level, I mean it is like taking orders from another private, ain't gonna happen. Well OK it might happen probably once or twice since he is paying me, but in reality when the stress level starts to rise, you would be bucking against that real fast and hard and it would fall apart til one of you walked away in disgust or one was dead.
Now one could argue that you are hiring a B type personality that is going to follow your every order like a puppy, but that is not what I would want in a hireling, I want someone who is going to think and act on his own when needed, someone that can come up with a rescue plan if needed without me being there (cause I am the one needing rescuing).
So Mr. Coppola, what is my motivation for doing this?

Nekron99 wrote:So Mr. Coppola, what is my motivation for doing this?

The cinematic analogy is particularly apt. Given that this is a low "leveled" setting (Kings rule by political power, not by being 9th level fighters), level is less of a measure of "rank" as "importance to the story." So yeah, your hirelings carry the same relative clout in the telling, but may not in the ranking. Sarge and Private both being level one means that while life experience and position may vary, their direct capability (heroic potential) and story weight are about the same. Either one dying has an impact.

If you want to look at this from a capability perspective, your character is the lieutenant, the hench is the private. Neither of you knows what the hell you're doing - you just happen to be an officer.

Also, consider that a "hireling" may not involve direct payment of currency. This could be someone who owes you a favor (taken out of your starting allowance for balance reasons).

Hey no need to get one if you don't want to Nekron. Its just a recommendation after all. I just suggested people get one in case your primary character bites the bullet. So their essentially there as emergency back-up characters. I wouldn't want to get caught 10 levels deep in a dungeon with no character to play when my main guy gets beheaded by some diabolical trap. Playing a man-at-arms or a henchman would temporarily fill the void until the party could get back to town.


Also jcm your character looks good. But you left off the amount of HP your character is dead at and your second wind.

Your hirelings hit points are 5 for the man-at-arms, and 3 for the henchman.

You also didn't list what spells your magic-user henchman had so I rolled randomly for one. He knows Read Magic and Ventriloquism. You can of course swap spells with him as per the normal rules.

EDIT
Also jcm your character has the eldritch bolt and weapon specialization special abilities. In case you missed those.

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You just listened to the sound of nothing happening.

If I get a chance here soon I am going to post what I came up with character wise. That is all.

Added the stuff you mentioned, let's play!

Hey a reminder to everyone who has hirelings. Remember that they get their own money to buy their equipment. This includes backpacks, food (required) and other adventuring gear. Make sure they have the basic essentials. I would look at Joe's hireling for an example. Also if you want to have an animal companion talk to me as you can have one under the hireling rules. Joe has a wolf for example.