JohnB's Games

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====== Hiring Troops ======

===== Overview =====

A PC might want to hire, or upgrade, troops for many reasons -  here a few examples:

  * You want someone to act as a servant / footman / page. (Watch)
  * A business wants to improve security. (Watch, Guard)
  * A homeowner wants to secure their house. (Watch, Guard)
  * As a status symbol -  wealthy and important people/businesses have their own security.
  * A town needs guards. (Watch, Guard, Soldiers)
  * A merchant or ship's captain wants to protect their cargo. (Guard, Soldiers)
  * As a status symbol (2) -  Better equipped troops are higher status.
  * You want to clear or secure an area of countryside. (Various)
  * You need to fight a war. (Various)

===== Caveats =====

There are a couple of things to be aware of, when you look through the lists below.
  * As always, these standard NPCs are built with very ++simple profiles|(commoner abilities are all 11, other NPC class abilities are all 12, giving a +1 to each skill)++  
  * Unless you provide accommodation  (bunk or lodgings space) for your troops, they go home when they are off duty and are, effectively, part-timers.  That probably means one person on duty at any particular time, which is enough to raise the alarm and call the watch, but with no chance to call out the whole unit if you are attacked. 
  * Unless you have an armoury, troops come with the most basic equipment, and only have the minimum they need to do the job. You can buy extra gear for then, at cost  (remembering there are five in each unit)  which can be a cost-effective solution if the equipment come to less than 39gp per person.  However, if you want to employ a better, or higher status, guards an armoury (390gp) is the better option.  Be aware that an armoury will only provide for two units of experienced troops, or one unit of elite troops -  so you might find it beneficial to use different techniques for different troop types.

===== Recruiting =====

These rules fall some way between the Pathfinder Downtime system and the recruiting rules from Skull & Shackles. 

  - There is a cost associated with recruiting any team, which covers agents, money spent while looking and minimal equipment for new team members.  Team numbers, skills and costs reflect those in the Downtime systems, although there are minor differences.
  - You must also make a good impression on the team that you with to recruit, so there is also an Influence Check.  This can be a Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidation check, the DC is 10 plus 2xLevel of the team, with +2 if the team have a PC class.  A team of Watchmen (Commoner-1) has a DC of 12, a team of Elite Soldiers (Warrior-3) has a DC of 16, while a team of Artillerists (Fighter-2)  also have a DC of 16.
  - To recruit any  of the teams listed below, you must be in an appropriate town or city.  You won’t find a team of Elite Archers, etc, in a small village -  but you might find a team for The Watch.

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===== Troop Type & Cost =====

Guards & members of the watch protect things and expect to stay in civilized areas.  They are not deployed to fight wars or battles, and expect to spend the bulk of their time in ++secure areas|(This might be a walled enclosure in the wilderness or on the frontier)++.    All other troops can be ++deployed as guards|(in both civilised, frontier or wilderness)++ OR be sent to fight in battles or  wars.  

Members of the watch are Commoner-1, most other troops are Warrior-1, up to elite troops who are Warrior-3.  However, you should note that this is the average ability of the troop.  A 'standard' unit might actually consist of an 2xExperts(L1), 2xWarriors(L1) and 1xFighter(L2) -  but they will all be treated as L1 warriors.  An elite unit will follow a similar pattern.   However, no characters in the unit ever have individual character sheets, and they are not considered individually - unless an individual becomes a more important recurring character.

==== Basic Troops ====
 
These troops are the starting point for most people, and probably all the middle classes need.  They offer security for upmarket families, homes and businesses  in towns, making them less prone to burglaries and theft.  Unless you have accommodation space (either Bunks or lodgings) available -  these troops go home overnight.  The Watch all have Perception-4, while Guards and Soldiers have Profession(soldier)-5
^Name^Class^Description|
|Watch|Commoner-1 |It costs 70gp (DC12) to recruit a unit of 5x Watchmen, although one unit comes free with buildings that include a //Gatehouse// or a //Guard Post//.  They wear a uniform and might carry a truncheon (club), although that is for their personal defence rather than anything else. They do not have any profession or craft skills.  This profile can be used for a Town Watch, private security guards, footmen or other such NPCs.|
|Guards|Warrior-1|It costs 100gp (DC12) to recruit a unit of 5x house guards.  This includes buying them the most basic of equipment (Leather Armour and Spear).  Guards can only be used to defend something - a town gate, a house, a caravan, ship etc.  This includes low-level policing actions, but does not cover serious fights or large brawls.|
|Soldiers|Warrior-1|It costs 220gp (DC12) to recruit a unit of 5x Soldiers, who are prepared to go to war and fight.  These are the most basic foot troops and are equipped with Leather Armour and Spears.  This is the absolute minimum require to meet the definition of ‘Soldier’.  Soldiers can be deployed to deal with larger fights and brawls if employed by a town or city, or provide more proactive defences for homes, businesses or caravans. \\ **Note:** Basic soldiers can be upgraded to Experienced Soldiers, Skirmishers or Archers.|
^Upgrades |You can improve equipment, by paying for the cost of new equipment for each member of staff.  Note that there are five troops in each unit.   Conversely, you can add an armoury to your building to give your troops the same equipment as listed for their Experienced and Elite equivalents (but not the levels) - this can be a much cheaper option. \\ **Note:**  Commoners (Watch) do not have weapon or armour proficiencies, and it is not good economic value to upgrade them via an armoury.||

==== Experienced Troops ====

Experienced Troops are not covered by the Downtime Rules, which jump straight from Basic Troops (L1)  to Elite Troops (L3). However, other occupational roles include L2 NPCs, some of which (eg Pirates and Marines) impinge on descriptions. . 

You must have an armoury, before you can recruit Experienced Troops.  (except for members of The Watch as detailed below)

|Watch (Trained) |Commoner-2|It costs 90gp (DC14) to recruit trained members of the watch, or 20gp to upgrade existing members of the watch.  Experienced member of the Watch are equipped with (and can use) Padded Armour, Truncheon (club) & Sling.   They patrol the town or act as a security guard in a building, will add support to ranged defences - but call out the guard to deal with troublemakers and do not (generally) get involved in a melee. \\  [[http://rp.baileymail.net/doku.php?id=pathfinder:fst:commoner_traits#house_ruled_military_traits| See The Watch, Commoner Trait]] \\ **Note:**  Commoners (Watch) do not have useful weapon or armour proficiencies, and it is not good economic value to upgrade their equipment via an armoury. |
=== Armoury ===

You must add an Armoury before you can recruit experienced  troops, as they expect to be issued with proper equipment by their employer.  An armoury costs 390gp and can provide weapons and armour for up to ten troops.  If you wish to employ more than ten experienced troops, you need more armouries.  An armoury can serve different troops and, for example, a single armoury might serve a unit of Experienced Guards and a unit of Experienced Archers at the same time.  The Watch do not really benefit from an armoury, and it is better to equip them individually.  

Unless you tell me differently, troops will be issues with the equipment listed below.  You can develop your own weapon set for troops, however the cost must not exceed 100gp per individual. This is the minimum gear that a professional guard or soldier would expect to be issued with -  although you can enhance your troops by spending extra GP, if you want to.

|Guards|Warrior-2|It costs 140gp (DC14) to recruit a unit of experienced guards, they expect to be issued with Studded Leather Armour, a Buckler, a Bardiche and a Light Crossbow.   However, they will only carry one of the weapons at a time, depending on their duty allocation. They can be deployed as house guards, wall guards, gate guards, civic guards or to assist a street patrol, but not to fight on the battle field. |
|Soldiers|Warrior-2|It costs 220gp (DC14) to recruit a unit of experienced soldiers, they expect to be issued with Scale mail, Heavy Steel Shield, Long Sword & 5x Javelins.  The classic FRP ‘Sword and Board’ soldier and mainstay of an army.|
|Skirmishers|Warrior-2| It costs 280gp (DC14) to recruit a unit of experienced Skirmishers, they expect to be issued with Studded Leather Armour, Buckler, Short Bow & Hand Axe.  The classic FRP ‘Skirmish’ soldier with Ranger-like skills, who normally act as missile or ambush troops. \\  **NOTE:** This is a change from the normal PF Downtime Rules.|
|Archers|Warrior-2|It costs 310gp (DC14) to recruit a unit of experienced Archers, they expect to be issued with  Leather Armour, Buckler, Long Bow & Short Sword.  The classic FRP ‘Archery’ soldier who expects to be deployed towards the rear of the battlefield, and only get involved in melee  as a last resort.|
|Artillerist|Fighter-2| It costs 300gp (DC16) to recruit a team of artillerists, who capable of firing siege weapons effectively.  Most are Ballista operators, although you can get catapult crew for an extra 50gp (retraining cost) PER HEAD.  They expect to be issued with Scale mail, Buckler, Short Sword and Halberd.  They will fight to defend their siege weapon, and only enter melee when required to. \\ **Note1:**  Fighters have a slightly different build to warrior, although this makes little difference in real terms. \\ **Note2:**To be effective, a siege engine needs a crew, although (apart from a single artillerist) the crew can be of any class, including commoners. \\ **Note3:**  There is little point recruiting artillerists if you do not have the artillery for them to use.|



==== Elite Troops ====

Elite Troops are all Warrior-3  and expect to have better equipment than their junior counterparts.  Therefore, a single armoury can only support **one** unit of Elite Troops.

**NOTE:**  This is a change from the downtime rules and an easy way to factor in the extra costs of employing better and more sophisticated troops

=== Armoury ===

You must add an Armoury before you can recruit elite troops, as they expect to be issued with proper equipment by their employer.  An armoury costs 390gp and can provide weapons and armour for one unit of five Elite Troops.  If you wish to employ more than one unit of Elite Troops, you need more armouries.    

Unless you tell me differently, troops will be issues with the equipment listed below.  You can develop your own weapon set for troops, however the cost must not exceed 200gp per individual. This is the minimum gear that a professional guard or soldier would expect to be issued with -  although you can enhance your troops by spending extra GP, if you want to.

|Elite Guards|Warrior-3|All together, it costs 560gp (DC16) to recruit a unit of elite guards, they expect to be issued with a Chain Shirt, a Buckler, a Bardiche and a Heavy Crossbow. However, they will only carry one of the weapons at a time, depending on their duty allocation. They can be deployed as house guards, wall guards, gate guards, civic guards or to assist a street patrol.  |
|Elite Soldiers|Warrior-3| All together, it costs 720gp (DC16) to hire a unit of Elite Soldiers, who expect to be issued with chain mail, a heavy steel shield and a long sword.  They are your frontline troops on the battlefield.|
|Elite Archers|Warrior-3| All together, it costs 770gp (DC16) to recruit a team of Elite Archers, who expect to be issued with a chain coat, a longbow, a buckler, and a longsword.  Elite archers are often deployed closer to the  front line and are more prepared for melee.|

==== Cavalry ====

=== Armoury & Stable ===

Cavalry are expensive.  Very expensive.  Not only are they Elite Troops and, therefore, need an armoury (390gp) per unit -  they also need a stable(1,710 gp) per unit and a light war horse (110gp)  for each rider.  This means you must spend 2,650gp as part of your recruitment drive for each unit.

Unless you tell me differently, troops will be issues with the equipment listed below. You can develop your own weapon set for troops, however the cost must not exceed 200gp per individual - but this will buy you less than the standard equipment issue.  You can enhance your troops by spending extra GP, if you want to. 

However, they are the best fast response troops available to you -  which is why Mercenary PC groups often get sent on that type of mission  :)


|Light Cavalry|Warrior-3| In all, it costs 3,000gp (DC16) to recruit a unit of Light Cavalry and equip them with a breastplate, a longsword, a lance, a heavy steel shield and a combat-trained light horse.   |
|Cavalry Archers|Warrior-3| In all, it costs 3,250gp (DC16) to recruit a unit of Cavalry Archers and equip them with a breastplate, a short bow, a longsword, a lance, a heavy steel shield and a combat-trained light horse.|