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Table of Contents
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)
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.
Troops
Troops listed in the Guards section can only be employed to protect something and cannot be deployed to search out your enemies, fight wars or battles. They expect to be based in a secure areas .
Troops listed in the Military expect to be sent on wilderness patrols, to find and tackle an enemy, or be sent to fight in battles. However, they can also be used to guard something, if you think that is appropriate.
The troops, listed below, are described with a class and a level, however you should note that this is the average ability of the unit. 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.
Wages
Troops need paying! If they are employed in a successful and viable business, or by a ruler who collects taxes, they are pay for by the business or the taxes. If not, you have to make regular payments to cover their wages. For example, a well run town guard, a toll booth in the right place or a city museum can cover the cost of their guards. However, if you employ house guards or any sort of private army - YOU have to cover their wages. However, if you pay 100gp/month in Cost of Living expenses, you might be able to negotiate a discount with your DM :)
Each troop type has a note of the minimum daily, and monthly, wage for a five-person unit. This assumes they are based in a safe area with small risk (even Military troops). However, the further you get into the wilderness, the nearer you get to a border, the more lawless your town - the risk increases, and the troops want higher pay. Your DM will be able to tell you what each troop type costs, in a particular circumstance - check with them before you start recruiting!
Armory
An armoury costs 390gp and can provide weapons and armour for up to ten troops - and for guards and soldiers it is much cheaper than buying equipment for the troops separately. However, some types of guard (mainly based on Commoners or Experts) are cheaper to equip individually, and have the cost of basic gear included in their entries.
If you wish to employ more than ten 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.
Guards
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.
Troops listed in this section can only be employed to protect something and cannot be deployed to search out your enemies, fight wars or battles. They expect to be based in a secure area, although that might be a walled enclosure in the wilderness or on the frontier.
| Name | Class | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Watch | Commoner-1 5sp/day 15gp/month | 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. Their main role is to scare intruders and call for the guard. |
| Attendant | Expert-1 6.5sp/day 20gp/month | It costs 90gp to recruit a unit of 5x attendants. They are household servants, who serve at dinner, answer the door, run messages, accompany family members on shopping trips and provide limited personal protection. They are among the best trained of the junior servants and can hope to progress into the role of Bodyguard, Valet or even Butler. They are often skilled boxers and may be provided with a club, should a weapon be required. They wear your house livery, rather than armour. |
| Watch (Trained) | Commoner-2 1gp/day 30gp/month | It costs 125gp (DC14) to recruit trained members of the watch. Experienced member of the Watch are equipped with (and can use) Padded Armour, Truncheon (club) & Sling. This profile can be used for a Town Watch, private security guards, footmen or other such NPCs. Their main role is to scare intruders and call for the guard. See The Watch, Commoner Trait |
| Bodyguards | Expert-2 1gp/day 30gp/month | It costs 120gp (DC14) to recruit a team of five bodyguards. Bodyguards are equipped with a Reinforced Tunic, Brass Knuckles and club. They work in a variety of settings, and all have a skill point in Prof:Soldier, Sense Motive, and Perception. They can provide unobtrusive personal protection, if required. Note: Bodyguards have simple weapon and light armour proficiencies, and it might be worth upgrading their gear, via an Armoury, if you want obvious, and more effective, protection. |
| Auxiliary (Trained) | Commoner-2 1gp/day 30gp/month | It costs 130gp (DC14) to recruit Auxiliaries. Auxiliaries are equipped with (and can use) Leather Armour, Truncheon (club) & Darts. They work in military bases, and all have skill point in Prof:Soldier and a useful craft or profession. They do a lot of the basic work in military bases - cook, stable hand, odd jobs, etc - and assist with guard duties. See The Auxiliary 1, Commoner Trait |
| House Guards | Warrior-1 1.5gp/day 45gp/month | It costs 200gp (DC12) to recruit a unit of 5x house guards. This includes buying them the most basic of equipment (Leather Armour and Short Sword). They provide basic security and guarding services for homes, shops and the like. You can buy better gear (at your own expense) or equip them from an armoury as an upgrade. |
| The troops described below are costed as if you have an armoury to supply their gear. If not, you have to pay for the for their gear as an extra cost. Generally, an armoury is cheaper. | ||
| Town Guards | Warrior-1 1.5gp/day 45gp/month | It costs 100gp (DC12) to recruit a unit of 5x guards, BUT, they expect to be equipped with scale mail and either a glaive or a heavy wooden shield and shortspear from an armoury. Guards can only be used to defend a town, patrol the walls and deal with low-level policing actions, but does not cover serious fights or large brawls. |
| Elite Guards | Warrior-3 2gp/day 60gp/month | It costs 560gp (DC16) to recruit a unit of elite guards, BUT, they expect to be equipped with chain shirt or banded mail and a heavy steel shield and shortspear, a guisarme, or a halberd from an armoury. They can be deployed as wall guards, gate guards, civic guards or to assist a street patrol with difficult policing actions. |
Soldiers
Soldiers expect to be sent on wilderness patrols, to find and tackle an enemy, or be sent to fight in battles. However, they can also be used to guard something, if you think that is appropriate. Because of this extra risk, soldiers expect to earn more than guards of the same ability. It can get more expensive as the risk increases, and the costs shown are for a civilized area, when there is no war.
Done to here
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.
| 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. |
| Archers | Warrior-1 | - - |
| Artillerist | Fighter-2 | It costs 320gp (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). 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 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. |
| Skirmishers | Warrior-3 | – |
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. |