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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 7753021" data-attributes="member: 42582">A retainer in B/X or RC = a henchman in AD&amp;D. They get a share of XP (which is then halved when it is added to their total). But hirelings do not get a share of XP, as they are mostly zero-level, and even if not (sages (who generally won't come on adventures in any event), mercenary officers) are unable to gain levels.Having read your later post with the quote from RC, I can only say that it seems confused compared to the clearer distinctions in AD&amp;D and B/X.And having read [MENTION=55149]R_Chance[/MENTION]'s post, the only thing I think that is wrong there is that there is no half-level limit on henchman/retainers. Gygax's DMG has various rules about henchman level relative to circumstances of recruitment, but no level cap that I could find on a quick scan. The PHB says nothing about it. Basic (p B21) says that a retainer (henchman) can't be higher level than the PC leader.In practice, I think the half XP rule (which is clearly stated in both AD&amp;D and B/X) is going to mean that levels of henchmen/retainers don't exceed those of the PCs who retain them.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 7753021, member: 42582"] A retainer in B/X or RC = a henchman in AD&D. They get a share of XP (which is then halved when it is added to their total). But hirelings do not get a share of XP, as they are mostly zero-level, and even if not (sages (who generally won't come on adventures in any event), mercenary officers) are unable to gain levels. Having read your later post with the quote from RC, I can only say that it seems confused compared to the clearer distinctions in AD&D and B/X. And having read [MENTION=55149]R_Chance[/MENTION]'s post, the only thing I think that is wrong there is that there is no half-level limit on henchman/retainers. Gygax's DMG has various rules about henchman level relative to circumstances of recruitment, but no level cap that I could find on a quick scan. The PHB says nothing about it. Basic (p B21) says that a retainer (henchman) can't be higher level than the PC leader. In practice, I think the half XP rule (which [I]is[/I] clearly stated in both AD&D and B/X) is going to mean that levels of henchmen/retainers don't exceed those of the PCs who retain them. [/QUOTE]

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