1E/2E/OD&D Reading AD&D 1e Again for the First Time

[Simon Atavax]

Originally Posted by Nikosandros

There is nothing to reward players who dump charisma like having a henchmen flee in the middle of combat...

Heh heh. That is probably the main "cultural shift" I'm getting used to with 1e--the assumption (and importance) that PCs will be hiring mercenaries, bearers, pack handlers, and so on.

It really makes Charisma a surprisingly important attribute. The distinction between an 8 CHA and a 16 is FIVE frickin' henchmen (i.e. with CHA 8 you can have a maximum of 3; with a CHA 15 you can have a maximum of 8). Plus, once you get into 15/16 territory for CHA, the reaction adjustment (for morale checks, etc.) gets some pretty significant bonuses: +25% (!) for a 16, for instance.

OTOH, a PC, even a butt-ugly moron with a CHA of 5, can always hire hirelings . . . as long as they can afford to pay. But unlike with henchmen, don't expect a shred of LOYALTY.


"Henchmen, whether male or female, are greatly desired by the discerning players, for they usually spell the difference between failure and success in the long term view. . . ." (Gygax, DMG, 34)