Here's my draft. I think keying follower level directly off PC level is the way to make followers stay relevant & useful to the PC. His personal guard could ultimately become an Epic-level legend in their own right, like the Malgedan Sunguard IMC.
'NAME LEVEL' & DOMINIONS
All self-respecting red-blooded heroes of the Wilderlands wish to reach 'Name Level' (9th) and found their own Dominion, centred on a Castle, Fortress Temple, Thieves' Guild, or Wizard's Conclave, attracting loyal followers (soldiery are usually at least Experienced level 5 minion warriors), and earning an individual 9th level Major Quest Award (2000 XP to that PC alone). PC rulers typically receive a yearly tax income from their domain of around 2 gp per inhabitant in cash and materials, feudal warrior service (usually 10% of the population for 2 months each year, self-equipped). Untrained feudal levy are typically Human Rabble (minion-2) or similar, but the Lord can train and supply them to a higher standard, and some areas produce superior levy troops such as the Skandik Landsmen (Human Warrior minion-5 soldier) and Altanian Tribesmen (Human Barbarian minion-5 skirmisher). Some PCs receive additional benefits from their connection to their domain. The Lord may also employ permanent mercenary soldiery to secure his domain. Human Warrior minion-5 men-at-arms typically cost 6gp/month in garrison, or 72gp/year each, plus an initial outlay of the cost of their equipment - half this cost if the men bring their own gear. Elite troops, where available, cost more, while minion-1 rabble such as typical Goblins cost 3gp/month, or 36gp/year.
Troop (minion) Level Cost modifier Infantry Cost
1 (Novice) 0.5 3gp/m
2-3 (Trained) 0.75 4.5gp/m
4-5 (Experienced) 1 6gp/m
6-7 (Veteran) 1.5 9gp/m
8-9 (Elite) 2 12gp/m
10-11 3 18gp/m
12-13 4 24gp
+4 x2
Domain Example: Lord Brood Starfire is a 9th level Fighter Knight, ruling a 1-hex domain (roughly a 7 miles radius of his castle), of some 150 square miles. The domain has a population of 1500 inhabitants in several hamlets and villages, and Lord Brood receives a yearly income of 3000gp. Lord Brood is also entitled to raise a feudal warrior levy of up to 150 men for 2 months of every year.
Followers for Dominion Ruler PCs.
On establishing his/her Dominion, at 9th or higher level, the following seek service with the PC. Followers must be paid normally, but bring their own gear, do not require a mercenary signing-on bonus, and are highly loyal. Minion role/class is determined by the DM and may include cavalry, infantry, archers and possibly even battlecasters (usually no more than 5% of the total). The PC normally receives full XP for battles in which his/her minions assist, as long as he/she is commanding them personally.
Bodyguard: 10d6 minions of level equal to PC level.
Followers: 4d6x10 minions of level equal to PC level-4.
Captain: Companion NPC (Cohort) of level equal to PC level-2. Pay: Follower Pay x6.
Lieutenant: Companion NPC (Cohort) of level equal to PC level-4. Pay: Follower Pay x4.
All Followers level up alongside the PC; the player may track their combat statistics once the DM has generated them.
Quarterly Recruitment
Every 3 months the PC may normally replace either his Captain or Lieutenant. A PC who gets a reputation for ‘wasting’ his cohorts may have trouble recruiting more, or they may be of lower level.
Every 3 months the PC may normally recruit an additional 2d6 Bodyguards, and 2d6x4 Followers. All must be paid normally. The PC may choose not to recruit, or to recruit fewer than the number rolled.
Troop Recovery
If the PC holds the battlefield after a battle, they may normally recover 2/3 of their fallen minions. These men are initially incapacitated, and need rest and healing. It takes 1 month of good rest before these wounded troops are sufficiently recovered to fight again.
'NAME LEVEL' & DOMINIONS
All self-respecting red-blooded heroes of the Wilderlands wish to reach 'Name Level' (9th) and found their own Dominion, centred on a Castle, Fortress Temple, Thieves' Guild, or Wizard's Conclave, attracting loyal followers (soldiery are usually at least Experienced level 5 minion warriors), and earning an individual 9th level Major Quest Award (2000 XP to that PC alone). PC rulers typically receive a yearly tax income from their domain of around 2 gp per inhabitant in cash and materials, feudal warrior service (usually 10% of the population for 2 months each year, self-equipped). Untrained feudal levy are typically Human Rabble (minion-2) or similar, but the Lord can train and supply them to a higher standard, and some areas produce superior levy troops such as the Skandik Landsmen (Human Warrior minion-5 soldier) and Altanian Tribesmen (Human Barbarian minion-5 skirmisher). Some PCs receive additional benefits from their connection to their domain. The Lord may also employ permanent mercenary soldiery to secure his domain. Human Warrior minion-5 men-at-arms typically cost 6gp/month in garrison, or 72gp/year each, plus an initial outlay of the cost of their equipment - half this cost if the men bring their own gear. Elite troops, where available, cost more, while minion-1 rabble such as typical Goblins cost 3gp/month, or 36gp/year.
Troop (minion) Level Cost modifier Infantry Cost
1 (Novice) 0.5 3gp/m
2-3 (Trained) 0.75 4.5gp/m
4-5 (Experienced) 1 6gp/m
6-7 (Veteran) 1.5 9gp/m
8-9 (Elite) 2 12gp/m
10-11 3 18gp/m
12-13 4 24gp
+4 x2
Domain Example: Lord Brood Starfire is a 9th level Fighter Knight, ruling a 1-hex domain (roughly a 7 miles radius of his castle), of some 150 square miles. The domain has a population of 1500 inhabitants in several hamlets and villages, and Lord Brood receives a yearly income of 3000gp. Lord Brood is also entitled to raise a feudal warrior levy of up to 150 men for 2 months of every year.
Followers for Dominion Ruler PCs.
On establishing his/her Dominion, at 9th or higher level, the following seek service with the PC. Followers must be paid normally, but bring their own gear, do not require a mercenary signing-on bonus, and are highly loyal. Minion role/class is determined by the DM and may include cavalry, infantry, archers and possibly even battlecasters (usually no more than 5% of the total). The PC normally receives full XP for battles in which his/her minions assist, as long as he/she is commanding them personally.
Bodyguard: 10d6 minions of level equal to PC level.
Followers: 4d6x10 minions of level equal to PC level-4.
Captain: Companion NPC (Cohort) of level equal to PC level-2. Pay: Follower Pay x6.
Lieutenant: Companion NPC (Cohort) of level equal to PC level-4. Pay: Follower Pay x4.
All Followers level up alongside the PC; the player may track their combat statistics once the DM has generated them.
Quarterly Recruitment
Every 3 months the PC may normally replace either his Captain or Lieutenant. A PC who gets a reputation for ‘wasting’ his cohorts may have trouble recruiting more, or they may be of lower level.
Every 3 months the PC may normally recruit an additional 2d6 Bodyguards, and 2d6x4 Followers. All must be paid normally. The PC may choose not to recruit, or to recruit fewer than the number rolled.
Troop Recovery
If the PC holds the battlefield after a battle, they may normally recover 2/3 of their fallen minions. These men are initially incapacitated, and need rest and healing. It takes 1 month of good rest before these wounded troops are sufficiently recovered to fight again.
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