D&D 5E Henchmen

[txshusker]

One of our dragon eggs hatched a black dragon, who's attached himself to the parties wizard. After a week in game - 3 sessions - it's basically as powerful as my 4th level Ranger. I'm not sure I'm in love with NPC rules. That might be a DMing thing though... I think he enjoys watching the dragon he hatched more than the PCs.

 

[Dausuul]

Off Topic: Please join me in requiring the word Minion to replace Henchman. That is all.

I'd go with "cohort," as it was in 3E. "Minion" was the 4E term for one-hit-point mooks designed for use in large groups, and is still generally used to refer to weenie monsters accompanying a boss-type monster.

 

[jrowland]

...and is still generally used to refer to weenie monsters accompanying a boss-type monster.

Thus Henchmen = Minion (weenie "monster" accompanying a "boss-type" player) lol.

Sorry for threadjack. please continue.

 

[Riley37]

Hey, in Nethack, your horse CAN level up, into a warhorse!

But the low-level apprentices who maintain Concentration on your buffs can hang way back from the combat; since they take less risk, they should get less XP.

 

[Fanaelialae]

I came up with the following rough estimate, which has worked so far in my game (but the highest level PC is only level 6). Creatures with a CR of 0 or 1/8 require 300 XP to "level up" to the next CR, but aren't considered level 1 until they reach CR 1/4 (so it takes 900 XP for a CR 0 to reach level 2, and they gain 3 HD over that course).

I haven't allowed monsters to take class levels, but instead they gain 1 HD every level, and an ability score increase every 4th level (plus proficiency bonus increase based on the creature's new level). Admittedly, I designed it so that a creature whose CR is equivalent to the PCs' level would be effective, but would start to fall off at higher levels. That's because for this particular campaign, I want the PCs to want to seek out more powerful allies as they progress. I expect that giving them class levels would keep them roughly equal to the PCs.

|Level|CR|
|1 |1/4|
|2 |1/2|
|3 |1|
|4 |2|
|5 |3|
|6 |3|
|7 |4|
|8 |4|
|9 |5|
|10 |5|
|11 |6|
|12 |7|
|13 |7|
|14 |8|
|15 |8|
|16 |9|
|17 |9|
|18 |10|
|19 |11|
|20 |12|

 

[Gilladian]

I have a mental separation between henchmen and hirelings. I would say that a henchman is someone who CAN and WILL contribute during all 3 of the pillars of the game; they fight and explore and interact as well as any other PC. Therefore they should receive XP (full share or half share depending on the DM's decision) and be able to level up. Once they begin adventuring on their own, they're PCs and get treated like a PC. Hirelings (and animal companions and mounts) do NOT contribute on at least 2 of the pillars (usually they don't do much in combat, and do little or nothing for social interaction); they are there to do one limited thing, they don't really contribute to anyone's survival; they're color, character flavor, and an occasional useful tidbit of action. So they don't get experience, and never advance in level. Their abilities are fixed, or change a little due to the PC's growth, not their own.

It is up to the DM and the PC together to decide on each specific case whether someone like a squire is a hireling, or a henchman. If he's a henchman, he deserves XP. He also deserves treasure, and must be taken care of to ensure loyalty and trust. A hireling doesn't get treasure, and frankly, his ongoing loyalty is always at least somewhat questionable; the bad guy can almost always pay a larger bribe than you are paying in wages.

 

[Beleriphon]

IIt is up to the DM and the PC together to decide on each specific case whether someone like a squire is a hireling, or a henchman. If he's a henchman, he deserves XP. He also deserves treasure, and must be taken care of to ensure loyalty and trust. A hireling doesn't get treasure, and frankly, his ongoing loyalty is always at least somewhat questionable; the bad guy can almost always pay a larger bribe than you are paying in wages.

I like to look at it this way. The henchmen are the same as Robin is to Batman, a useful and functional member of the team that isn't as strong as his boss.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I like to look at it this way. The henchmen are the same as Robin is to Batman, a useful and functional member of the team that isn't as strong as his boss.

DM " Let me get this straight, your a stealth based multi classed monk rogue who is always hidden and a master of martial arts, you want a young boy to dress in bright colors and be your distraction..." looks at character sheet "I think you miss spelled chaotic evil on that alignment line..."