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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 6511852" data-attributes="member: 6696971">I would handle this one of three ways:1)  If they're just background color and truly have no impact on resolution (combat or noncombat), then I wouldn't do anything with them.  Treasure in 4e is just another aspect of PC build, so anything it is spent on needs to be an asset and  have legitimate impact in resolution for it to actually be allocated.  Handwave the payment.  It occurs in the fiction, basically as Shrodinger's $, but no mechanical exchange of PC currency.2)  If they're going to have an impact on resolution and you want to stat them out so they can be played by the PCs, then (a) treat them as a full standard creature of the PCs' level, (b) up the encounter budget by + 1 to account for them, (c) and just divide the xp gained by the party + 1.  They can be a group of minions divided by the xp budget of aforementioned standard creature.  You can give the PCs an encounter power that lets them reroll 1 skill check in a Skill Challenge that involves the vessel and/or the high seas.  Again, they're paid experts, but no exchange of PC currency.3)  Treat the crew as magic items so there is real exchange of PC currency for assets.  Let each PC access the effect of, say, 3 Elixir's of Aptitude (50 GP apiece) throughout the course of their journey at sea with the crew.  They're just tapping into the knowledge/expertise of the crew when they cash in their 50 GP currency and ticking off 1 of their 3 uses.  Just a little bit of pseudo-director stance player fiat that works within the PC build rules and is thematically coherent.</blockquote>

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