Using mercenaries in adventures?

[S'mon]

Example: Hiring a first level warrior costs 40gp/day, that's a factor of x200 compared to the 2sp/day from the DMG.

One is hiring someone to help you rob a bank, the other is hiring someone to be a security guard at that bank. If I'm putting my life on the line I want more than minimum wage...

 

[LeapingShark]

Arms & Equipment Guide goes into more detail about mercenaries, hirelings, and the costs involved. That was my favorite section of the book. It was 3.0, but the NPC section should be about the same.

 

[talien]

Isn't that like this pdf:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4024&

Hi Cergorach,

Actually, it's a variant. The original mercenary book covered three eras (historical, present, and future). Modern: Mercenary Manual focused just on present. It doesn't include all of the historical mercenary info that's useful for D&D. I suspect you were looking for fantasy merc info.

I do wonder if it's worth updating the remaining information from the original book to D20 Fantasy 3.5...

 

[Storyteller01]

Are there any D&D/D20/OGL sources that deal with this subject?

The Quintessential Fighter, MGP. It goes through purchasing a variey of mercs (foot soldiers, calvery, skirmishers, archers, etc), as well as costs for singular mercs and units. It also goes through loyalty and how to keep it (so a good bard and some good previous experiences might get the cost down).

It also gives a decent mass combat system, but that wasn't your question...

 

[Kilmore]

I would suggest that most mercenaries would consider working for an adventuring party such a different experience than what they are used to that there would really be no set standards for such a job.

Hiring a merc on this basis would be more of a roleplay encounter in my campaign rather than saying, "Okay Nigel, you drop fifty gold each for three 2nd level fighters". If there is anyone willing to do adventuring-for-hire, it would be worthwhile to figure out their motives and desires and how an adventuring career would effect them.

Most mercenaries would probably refuse the job except if the reward was exceptionally generous. However, the party could probably find a few who seek adventure and are simply biding the time with mercenary work. One could probably just as easily find qualified adventurers who are not mercenaries, especially if the party has made a name for itself.

 

[Infernal Teddy]

This is going to help nobody, but I still use my Rules Cyclopedia (Old D&D) for stuff like hireing mercs...

 

[Cergorach]

This is going to help nobody, but I still use my Rules Cyclopedia (Old D&D) for stuff like hireing mercs...

Nah... But your right, i was thinking about the D&D0E (what was it) expert box that had rules for hiring mercs, i loved that!

 

[Tonguez]

Nah... But your right, i was thinking about the D&D0E (what was it) expert box that had rules for hiring mercs, i loved that!

Hirelings were pretty much the same thing in Basic wern't they.

and considering that PC adventurers generally are the 'Mercenaries' that NPCs hire to clean out dungeons are they going to find anyone willing to go with them who isn't likewise an 'adventurer?'