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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormborn" data-source="post: 4721853" data-attributes="member: 14041">The way I handle it is this:Hirelings do not effect XP at all.  The reason being is that the PCs have already lost gp to use them, they should not loose XP as well.  As someone else pointed out, hirelings are expendables just like scrolls or potions.  However, if the hirelings are particularlly effective, or contribute significantly, then they naturally cost more.  In my opinion, the 3sp per day trained hireling mercenary is a 1st level Warrior given guard duty.  If you send him on caravan duty in a dangerous area he should get at least 5 - 6 sp.  If you expect him to go into a dungeon then he should be asking for at least 1gp per day, rations, and maybe some share of any valuables recovered -although he is probablly not worth it.  The 1st level fighter is going to start out at a higher rate and just go from there.   Basically, have the effectivness of hireling reduce the PC's gp, not XP; or, as is sometimes the case in my games, have them added as a roleplay reward (the PC's convinced the captain of the guard there was danger to the city so he send some of his best men along, etc.).EDIT: If they are spell casters its going to cost a whole lot more.  Why should those wizards in town get such nice boons for spellcasting services and the mercenary sorcerer get a pittance?  Generally spellcasters in my games are not available for hire on more than a spell by spell basis, although at higher levels a large squad of hirelings might include a low level cleric, whose job it is to take care of his squad and not the PCs, or a sorcerer whose job is to buff the squad.Allies are a different matter.  I count them as party members for the purposes of XP.  I frequently use them to shore up defeciences in the party on a case by case basis.</blockquote>

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