Mercenary outfits.

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Does anyone have any interesting mercenary groups they've used?

Just looking for something different than X guys with sword and shield...

How much should they expect to get paid in a standard wealth DnD game?


For starters: got a group of 12 hobgoblin 'knights', together with their squires. They're organised, deadly, always honour their contracts and offer cut price rates if they get to butcher elves or orcs.

 

[Morrus]

Mercenary outfits? I think they tend to look better in neutral colours - greys, browns and greens. Nothing too flashy, of course. Not much standardisation - mercenaries don't usually adopt a uniform of any kind, although an emblem may be appropriate.

 

[Hand of Evil]

The Hard Boots: They tell you they are the good guys and they do get results but at what cost? They work inside the 'rule of the law', hire thugs and mercenaries that remove by force any foe in your way as long as you have the legal system on your side. This group is kind of based on the Pinkertons, they come into an area, kill or run off any chaotics, impose your laws and rules and leave.

Make up:
Captain: Mid-level LN Fighter
2nd in command: Mid-level LN Fighter
Scout
3 to 5 Sergeant based on need - 3-5th level
10 Hobgoblin Warriors per Sergeant

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Mercenary outfits? I think they tend to look better in neutral colours - greys, browns and greens. Nothing too flashy, of course. Not much standardisation - mercenaries don't usually adopt a uniform of any kind, although an emblem may be appropriate.

Careful now, or I'll throw all of my pointiest toys out the pram.

Man, that's a bad pun. It caused actual physical pain when I read it. Tell me you havn't been stealing material from early evening light entertainment shows (again)?


On reflection, I supose a 60's style psychedelic colour scheme could set them apart from the usual merc crowd?

 

[diaglo]

and you need a medic... adept

edit: and support logistics system... supply office and stables. so you need experts and miners/sappers too.

artillery... archers and evokers

 

[diaglo]

not all of an army are special forces....

remember you are only as strong as your weakest link.

 

[Piratecat]

Damn it. Morrus stole my joke.

 

[Turanil]

If someone comes up with acutal stat-blocks of mercenaries, this would be even better. Then, submit them to my NPCs thread (see links below).

Thanks

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Hand of Evil - those guys are great. They're a definite.

Background is a group of PCs that will be running a small but very difficult barony. They'll have no troops of their own to start with, so it's off to the swordhall for mercenaries... at least until they can recruit their own troops. The Hard Boots would work perfectly - undoubtably effective, but do they really want to go down that route?


Diaglo - very good point. I'd guess the logistical tasks are the sort of things the mercenaries would take care of themselves. However the PCs will need to provide for their own forces later...

A long ranged group would be rather useful. Perhaps a militant wizard with a collection of archers...

Perhaps a selection of miracle workers from the God of Wealth. Mercenary lifestyle might be compatible with their religion?


Piratecat - so you get your gags from the same early evening light entertainment shows as Morrus. Interesting... Is another part of the great EnWorld moderator conspiracy(tm)?

 

[alsih2o]

I had a mercenary company once that faked its way across town as a funeral procession. When they enared their target the musician playing the dirge started his bardic music, the all used ranged weapons and scattered, leavin the 1-4 coffins busted on the street and the undead contained within to finish off the locals.

Of course this only works if you are tryig to disrupt/bully a neighborhood, hard to hit specific folks this way. Unless you are just EVIL and don't care in the least about bystanders....