Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 RavenRin Sep 08, 2014 14:36:17	In a couple of weeks I'm going to be starting my players in a new quest in a realm I created. Most of my future quests will take place in this realm and this particular quest will take months to complete. I was wondering how other DMs include hirelings into there towns? I've never used them as a player or a DM and neither have any of my players. Does anyone have an interesting way that they work them into their quests? I've got a couple of ideas but I'm looking for more inspiration.
#2 bawylie Sep 08, 2014 14:47:07	Generally I employ various guilds, appropriate to the settlement.    Seaside towns have sailor guilds, things like that.    I start hirelings as first level and whatever info they need goes on an index card. They get basic stats, virtues, vices, a picture, and a motivation.    If you spend more than about 6 minutes making a hireling, you're doing too much.
#3 iserith Sep 08, 2014 18:36:55	Hirelings are just that - people the PCs hire to do stuff. The commoner stat block will suit most hirelings. Give them proficiency in a particular skill (maybe Expertise even) suitable to their trade and a name and quirk the players will remember and you're good to go. If the players don't have interest in hirelings, then they won't hire them and you won't have to worry about it. If you want the players to do that, talk to them about it and offer them an incentive for doing so. One incentive is to include and telegraph particular complications that will be in an upcoming adventure for which the PCs don't have a particularly good skill set to handle. Others offer in-game upsides, such as a linkboy to carry the lantern which frees up one PC's hand (same as a shieldbearer with the added trouble of needing to keep that guy alive). They can also do the Help action which gives the PCs advantage.   One thing hirelings (and henchmen) are good for is creating a "trap door." When a character dies or otherwise is removed from play, a hireling that's already been introduced and is traveling with the party can easily be "promoted" to the rank of a PC and the player can jump right back into the game with a seamless transition.
#4 OrwellianHaggis Sep 09, 2014 0:07:03	I've wondered if by spending more gold you could get upgraded hirelings e.g. extra strength or constitution to affect melee and HP. Plus buy proficiencies for them (although I suppose more expensive hirelings should come with some) so they can use armours and weapons.
#5 Thoughts_My_Aim Sep 09, 2014 4:28:50	OrwellianHaggis wrote:
#6 RavenRin Sep 10, 2014 9:51:50	All great ideas.  My player's are spend thrifts when it comes to their gp and basically I want to make them have more expenses.  Two areas where I've decided to use hirlings; the first is a meal delivery service, since I require PC's to eat once a day, and the other is that after a time they will have the opportunity to buy businesses and they will have to pay employees to work for them.  I'm trying to find ways to make them need hirelings but in ways that won't be tedious to them.