Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MaximumPain Jun 12, 2015 7:40:00	I want to run a solo or two player game where the party has hired NPCs to beef up their numbers/ needs. I would like most of these NPCs to be temporary hires picked up in the local area so they fit the local flavor. I want them to stick with the party for a while but eventually fade out to be replaced by new hirelings which will have higher CRs based on the party level. I also want these followers to level up in some form with survivors becoming NPCs that could add to the campaign later such as a hired guard encountered years later is now the captain of the guards ect.    For these hirelings and followers I wanted to use monster type stat blocks with the potential for the creature to get tougher by adding hit dice and combat bonuses above their normal stats and even capabilities with experience and even training. Of course many will be normal sentient races especially at the start but as levels progress some will actually be monsters/ fantastic creatures and races. Once our players advance beyond first level I want to give them the possibility of having lieutenants who are modeled after regular characters but are lower level then the player characters. These would tend to stick with the party longer and would get experience like the characters and would advance along the character classes. Of course all of these NPCs would join and leave often based on players behavior and treatment of them. I want a component of this to be follower moral and interaction with the players and other followers. This will help keep the followers cycling based on the phase of the campaign. It will also encourage the players to not just sacrifice the followers or they may have trouble finding and keeping new ones based on reputation. My first issue with this idea is encounter balance. For example how do 4 CR 1/8 guards mixed in with a couple player characters affect how difficult I should make the encounter. Follower death is something I want to happen but I want to keep it balanced so as not to wipe all the followers every mission but to add some drama when the party loses a few guys creating an issue with those who remain and causing them to adjust tactics and take care of their followers. Figuring out how to mix in CR rated monsters and leveled characters will be a major step in keeping this balanced. Second Id love suggestions as to what would work and what might not as far as different types of followers are concerned. I was thinking this would be a good way to get some of the lesser used skills like nature, animal handling, religion, arcane into play. I want to figure out how they would be used to find, recruit, and retain followers of specific types. I already see charisma as the most important mental stat so I would prefer if this whole idea didn’t make that even more important. Thoughts, suggestions, problems?
#2 CCS Jun 12, 2015 9:30:09	Personally I'd just make them exactly like I would a PC. Just several lvs lower & with (mostly) average (ie:+0) Stats & whatever hps the story needed.
#3 xanral Jun 12, 2015 9:45:40	If I was going to do this as a GM I'd probably split the NPCs up among the players to control in combat with veto rights given to me to prevent them from being treated as suicidal fanatics, for 2 reasons: A) It is boring watching the GM roll against themselves B) Less I have to worry about   Out of combat then they fall back under full GM control.   I'd probably say the NPCs add to the adventuring day their xp in what the PCs could deal with.  Their effectiveness depends quite a bit on the PCs, if the PCs can AoE buff everyone then the NPCs are going to be able to hit above their weight class a bit but that falls under good tactics in my mind.   While charisma can play a big part, remember that money talks.  A mercenary is going to be fine working for a soft spoken boss that pays well.  I think having some form of reputation system would work that would be based on how well they're paided, how many have died (offset by any the party brings back from the dead), and general treatment.   Also keep in mind that you can go for irregular followers as well.   A druid or ranger could feasibly befriend wild beasts or fey.   A wizard might find a way to create constructs (and don't forget that there are more than just golems and shield guardians but weaker constructs too).   A cleric or paladin might have followers of their faith join.   A warlock might gain an ally from their patron.   That might spark new adventures and subplots as well and serve as rewards for the party.
#4 MaximumPain Jun 12, 2015 11:00:35	CCS wrote:
#5 MaximumPain Jun 12, 2015 11:13:55	xanral wrote:
#6 OGRE1984 Jun 12, 2015 12:02:30	check out the Loyalty and Morale optional rules in the DMG. i would juat level the NPC when the PC level. Hirelings only a HD every level and a feature every other level. features i would use are easy low level class features such as fighting style, second wind, action surge, first tier stuff. Henchman i would have as lower level PC's, they could then be used as replacement PC if character dies. they are more expensive than hirelings. special followers create special drama. cloud giant may not fit into dungeon, city gaurd freak out, etc. have them as special guest stars for a few sessions then leave. smaller crearures might cause a special tax to be levied to allow them into town.also i wouldn't level them. don't forget to role up some personality traits for memerable NPCs.
#7 BRJN Jun 12, 2015 17:32:49	If you have access to the 3/3.5 PH and DMG, look up the Leadership feat.  If you don't just import it, it should serve as a springboard to get where you want.