Arms & Equipment guide : Price for mercenaries

[solous]

Hello everybody,

Reading, this book, I found the hiring prices for mercenaries. All well and good, but then i noticed that if you are to hire a level 12 warrior, you have to pay him 24sp a day. On the other hand, if you want to hire a level 1 fighter, it will cost you 1 gp a day, and 2gp for each supplemental level.
Now, unless I'm mistaken (and then everything would be fine with me) the 12th warrior is able to put a better fight than the lvl1 fighter, at least according to the BaB listed in the book ?


Could somebody please tell me where I'm wrong ?

Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[Fenes 2]

I solved that situation by virtually eliminating warriors in my game. Almost every trained melee fighter IMC is a fighter (or ranger, or barbarian), not a warrior.

Edit: IMHO, there is no need for warriors, and no logical reason. If you are not as well trained in fighting as a fighter, you are a lower level fighter.

 

[solous]

Agree (almost ...

Thanks for your answer, Fenes. I almost share the same point of view. almost because, perhaps somebody who isn't as good as a lvl 1 fighter (especially in 3rd edition) could still have some level of fighting experience/ability. But on the other hand, it seems the concept has been pushed too far, and now seems a little absurd now ?

Any other care to share their opinion about this ?

 

[Fenes 2]

If I want a "weaker" fighter than a standard level 1 fighter I choose non-combat feats like skill focus or alertness, or feats that affect saves etc. for him or her. Or I take an expert, or aristocrat, or even a commoner with a martial weapon proficiency.

 

[MarauderX]

Yeah, I do the same as Fenes 2, just took them out. The warrior explanation is fine, and that's how I play NPC warriors forced to fight, but for those that have any training or experience in an army become a 1st level fighter (or barbarian, depending on setting, etc.) I just go with the assumption for all NPCs, that they are either a Warrior lvl 1 or they fall into a default PC class. Shamans, craftsmen, the whole lot.

 

[Murrdox]

I, also have never really understood the difference between fighters and warriors.

If you need a fighter that's not quite as good as a level 1 fighter... then go ahead and make something up for it.

But I just don't see why this should be a CLASS you would actually gain levels in. A crappy fighter, no matter how crappy he is, if he trains he will eventually become a lvl 1 fighter. In the complete absence of training, it'd make sense that he'd become a barbarian.

You should never have your players running into lvl 2 warriors.

 

[maddman75]

Except a person doesn't think 'hmmm, what class should I level up in.' unless they happen to be player characters. Fighters are extremely capable warriors. They are the knights, the grizzled veterans of the field, the expert archers. Warriors are the guys on the wall that hold a spear. He might have held his spear long and faithfully, and defended the castle many times. But he isn't a knight, he simply hasn't had the training.

Don't assume that every NPC works just like a PC does. Then you'll start wondering how commoners ever get experience. (Answer, by overcoming challenges. Most farmers face different challenges than adventurers).

 

[solous]

Thanks for your replies, all

maddman75, if you indeed keep the warrior class, (which i'm not opposed to per se), does the price list for hiring a lvl 12 one
as compared to a lvl1 fighter seem right with you ? If yes or not could you explain your point of view, please ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Drew]

Am I the only one who doesn't understand this section at all? I don't have my book in front of me right now, so I can't remember exactly what it said. However, I was trying to puzzle the system out last night and honestly could not figure it out.

Would someone care to explain it to me? All I need is an example, I think. How much would it cost to hire a 5th level warrior with equipment? How about without equipment?

I actually concluded that the book must be missing some information or contain a typo...maybe I was wrong?

 

[AuraSeer]

The Ftr1 may expect to be paid more, but that doesn't mean he's actually worth more.

Last time I had to interview consultants, I talked to one guy who had ten years of experience but no education past high school. There was also a kid with a Masters degree from an ivy league university, who had no experience in the real world. Guess which had the higher salary requirement?