Killing the Beast \ Getting a Paycheck

[FCWesel]

Hey all.

One of the thing that my group is starting to do, specifically cebtered around one of the PCs, is being "exterminator of beasts." They take care of all animals and beasts (magical and mundane) for folks.

What I wanted to get was some opinions on how to establish a solid set "loose standards" for paymet for services rendered.

I was thinking it should revolve around the CR of a creature, as that's a general guideline of the toughness of a beast. But it seems that the level of the character should also come into play. After all, you always pay more for a guy who knows more.

Thoughts?

 

[Peterson]

Something I've done for an old game (a few examples):

A few examples of Bounties (price is per ear)

Kobold 1 silver piece
Goblin 2 silver pieces
Orc 3 silver pieces
Hobgoblin 4 silver pieces
Bugbear 1 gold piece
Troll 8 gold pieces
Ogre Mage 64 gold pieces
Very Old Red Dragon 1,638 platinum pieces

I'm trying to remember how I figured it though...I know it had something to do with either Hit Die or CR....

If I find the notes, I'll let you know.

Peterson

 

[Herobizkit]

You might want to just pick an arbitrary amount, ie whatever the market (and the poor peasants) will bear. Perhaps payment on a sliding scale, or barter, would be acceptable for those REALLY poor peasants.

Or, you could make up a formula.

(PC average level * 10) * (CR * 10) * 10 sp

A coven of kobolds adding up to a CR 3 versus a group of level 1 PCs... 1000 sp, or 100 GP.

A CR 16 dragon versus a group of 16th level PCs... 256,000 sp or 25,600 GP. Not a lot, until you consider the dragon's hoard...

Or something like that.

 

[frankthedm]

There were bounties posted by the Karameikian crown, but these were established while a ‘silver standard’ pricing was in effect. Deep One gold has inflated the goods prices over the last 3 decades, but the old bounty values are still on the books.

.
Ogre: 100 Silver
Warg: 100 Silver biggened to 120 silver by the Karameikian crown 20 years prior to current time line.
Gnoll: 50 silver
Orc: 20 silver biggened to 50 silver by the Karameikian crown 20 years prior to current time line.
“Kobold” {Tough as 3e goblin}:10 silver

 

[dave_o]

Don't forget who's paying. The humble and proud folk of East Willington may not have a trove of gold to spend, but they do have the recipie for their famous ale. The group of royal spies impeded by the territory of that ex-dragon perhaps don't have much coin on them, but they do have a royal favor to call in. (That is, if they aren't just lying to placate the PCs.)

Aside from the that the forumlas presented look rad. But I'd still make them fluctuate based on abundance, actual threat posed to the area, and possible profit to be made from the use of the corpse. Stuff like that.

 

[Numion]

A few examples of Bounties (price is per ear)
.
.
.
Troll 8 gold pieces

Anyone who pays per Troll ear is a damn fool!

 

[Reynard]

Anyone who pays per Troll ear is a damn fool!

In the very first adventure of one of my best long running campaigns, there was this cntest called the Heroes' Fest, where four groups of adventurers randomnly drew tasks. One of those groups was the son of the local lord and his lackey's. They drew "bring back ogre ears". The PCs finished their quest -- losing a member -- and returned, only to find that the local lord's son had already won. Later, they discovered that the draw had been fixed, and that the lord's son had 'bought' the ears from a local ogre clan. That kid, the ogres and the one who fixed the draw were long time enemies in hat campaign.

Anyway -- on topic: If the primary adventuring that the PCs will do is based upon monster hunting, I suggest using the DMG guidelines for treasure found based on CR/EL to determine payment, and then forgoing 'found' treasure usually. This way, you stay in he guidelines but you don't have to have the PCs find a stash of loot when hunting down the Dire Weasel. The only problem with this model is when there is an exception - such as the 'poor townsfolk' -- it might be hard to get the PCs to ccept lesser payment, depending on how mercenary they are.

 

[FCWesel]

Hey Guys! Thanks for the replies, thus far.

The group isn't primarily into this "exterminating gig" it's one character in particular, who is a Ranger/Wizard “Observer & Cataloguer of Magical Flora & Fauna.” He's like a arcane-naturalist, like a spellcasting croc-hunter.

They are in a city, and as will be the case, many beasts he might be tasked with taking out (and the group dragged along with him), there's very little actual treasure. And since John the Merchant really doesn't want Dire Rats in his warehouse, he's gonna pay someone to get ride of them...thus the “Observer & Cataloguer of Magical Flora & Fauna” is called in. (The nice things is, he trys to trap and study, thus getting some specimens and getting paid for taking them.)

And as a rule, the player is very fair, he charges those that he knows can afford it and 'helps' those that need it.


@ HEROBIZKIT

I like your formula. [ (PC average level * 10) * (CR * 10) * 10 sp ] seems like a decent work out.

So the time he took out a nest of skiggs (we play in the Iron Kingdoms; skiggs are rabiit-rat like creatures that gorge on gun powder and explode if hit or jarred too much) it would have been: [ (50)*(40)*(10) = 20,000 sp or 2,000 gp ]. It was relavtively easy, so I might drop it down to 5 times instead of ten times on that last part. That would drop it to 1,000.


Thanks again all!

 

[Shadow145]

Sean Reynolds worked something up awhile back

http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/misc/bountiesformonsters.html

 

[Sigurd]

Naturalist collection, Taxidermy and Trophy Hunting makes this more challenging. You have to bring back a specimen without the scars and blemish of battle.

Killing to rid a region is much more straitforward. I imagine every local peacekeeper might have rewards for criminals captured and monsters slain.

Sigurd

An active board makes things more reliable and realistic for a player. Maybe they can bag two trophies in the same expedition.