Hiring NPCs

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

DwarfFighter

Jun 16, 2009 9:07:21		Let's say my wealthy PCs decide to buy a mansion, and figure they need some staff: a butler, a maid, a groundskeeper, a secretary and a security guard. Obviously, he isn't going to buy these people, and some of these may be hired through an appropriate agency rather than being a direct employee of the character.

Possible class combinations for these ordinaries:

* Butler: Tough/Charismatic
* Maid: Fast/Charismatic
* Groundskeeper: Strong/Dedicated
* Secretary: Smart/Dedicated
* Security Guard: Strong/Tough

Now, since my players aren't going to take the Minions feat (or whatever it's called) from d20 Past, I figure it would be nice to have some sort of benchmark purchase DC for hiring personnel.

I'm thinking something along the lines of this:

Purchase DC to hire an NPC = character level or skill value + x

If the NPC's role can be easily defined by an appropriate skill (e.g. Survival for an game keeper) then use that. Otherwise you can fall back on Profession. If the role is better defined by other factors than skill, (e.g. a mercenary) then perhaps the character's level is better suited.

So, how much should my PCs pay to hire a butler?

-DF
#2

backstabbist

Jun 16, 2009 11:41:31 		I thought Butlers were like the gas, oilchanges, and tires of buying a car...
the one time PDC includes the upkeep like butler groundskeeper and water/phone/electic bill.




The hard way: Reverse Engineering the Wealth to PDC for hirelings 'Profession checks'.
Figure the build and skills for the Butler.
Assume the 'leveling' paycheck Profession Check is done at hire.
Have the Butler roll his profession check, and determine what Wealth he gains.
Figure what PDC the butler would have to sell to gain that Wealth,
... that is the cost to the Player each time the Butler levels.

Just award Job XP to the butler so he can level every few years, and the Player will have to pay the new PDC it takes to raise the butlers wealth for that new level.

It is a Zero Sum economy,
the Player cannot spend PDC on the butler without the butler gaining that PDC.
If you have the butler getting paid insane PDCs by the players, you are only encouraging the players to quit adventuring and join the millionaire butler club to be on the receiving end of that PDC exchange.