Followers vs. Henchmen

[Cergorach]

Can someone explain to me what exactly the difference is between the followers i get when i get the Leadership feat, and the people i hire (hirelings)?

I figure i still need to pay my followers, the same amount as i would pay hirelings would seem fair. But then what exactly is the advantage of having followers? Do they have a higher loyalty 'value'?

 

[Crothian]

The henchmen follow becasue they are being paid, the followers follow becasue they like and respect you. Might be only a small difference, but in role playing situations it can be very important.

 

[Cergorach]

That would then be the "higher loyalty 'value'". I would suspect that followers would likely be fanatical NPCs...

 

[candidus_cogitens]

Huge difference! Hirelings could turn out to be thieves or backstabbers. Also, with hirelings, the more danger you encounter, the more they will want to get paid. But with followers, the more danger you encounter and survive, the more they will admire you and trust you to get them safely through future dangers.