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Mercenary Group

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
monchothehorse
Jun 09, 2009 15:36:29 In my dnd group we recently started a new campaign and decided we wanted to do a mercenary style thing. Theres 3 of us plus the Dm We came up with a name and charter, but I'm not sure how to go about playing a neutral mercenary group, anyone have any cool ideas?
#2
Ka_D-Argo
Jun 09, 2009 16:57:42 Adventuring parties are kind of mercenaries anyway, as far as taking jobs for money. A lot of campaigns start out this way, though often grow into a "greater concern" for the PC's.

And by Neutral, do you mean you don't care what the job is as long as it pays?

If thats the case, then simply look around. There are always jobs to be had for money.

You could also go the scam route (i.e. the movie Dragonheart).

You could specialize in something particular (i.e. Dragons, Undead, extra-planar abominations).
#3
monchothehorse
Jun 09, 2009 18:00:17 Yeah Thats pretty much what I mean by neutral, the specific monsters thing sounds good too. We tried to write down some parameters for jobs we'll take, like nothing directly harming nature (our party consists of a scout, barbarian and favored soul, all who worship obad-hai...), but pretty much anything else.
But I'm trying to figure out how to make our group unique and good ideas for us to go by and/or use
#4
monchothehorse
Jun 09, 2009 18:06:45
You could also go the scam route (i.e. the movie Dragonheart).
QUOTE]
By the way, I've seen the movie dragonheart but not in a long time, what do you mean by the scam route?
#5
prator_the_golden
Jun 09, 2009 18:11:58
By the way, I've seen the movie dragonheart but not in a long time, what do you mean by the scam route?

You might remember that, in the beginning parts of the movie, the main character (Bowen, I think) was running a scam in which he'd "slay" a dragon that would pretend to menace a peasant village and frighten nobles. He'd set up a ballista, shoot at the dragon, watch as the dragon pretended to get hit and fall in a lake, and then claim victory. The dragon and and dragonslayer team made a fair bit of gold that way.
#6
entropy_judge
Jun 09, 2009 18:12:06 RE: Scam: IIRC, the main character and Draco would team up by having Draco 'attack' a village, and the main character would come along and 'kill' him with his great big ballista.

Edit: Ninja'd.
#7
Ka_D-Argo
Jun 10, 2009 11:48:09
Yeah Thats pretty much what I mean by neutral, the specific monsters thing sounds good too. We tried to write down some parameters for jobs we'll take, like nothing directly harming nature (our party consists of a scout, barbarian and favored soul, all who worship obad-hai...), but pretty much anything else.
But I'm trying to figure out how to make our group unique and good ideas for us to go by and/or use

If you can provide a little more info on your campaign world, it might be helpful.

Otherwise, I'd suggest you come up with a basic tenant as to how your group operates (i.e. whether they knowingly take advantage of the townspeople or not, are your prices firm no matter what, etc...).

If your group truly doesn't care where the money comes from, then it makes it a little harder to do anything interesting in my opinion. If they feign like they don't care, but really do. Then you can have some interesting character development.

If you haven't already, i invite you to watch the series Firefly which has some great examples of a mercenary group
#8
monchothehorse
Jun 16, 2009 10:23:39 I'm not really sure what the DM has in mind actually, we're doing the pre-made adventure barrow of the forgotten king
#9
ciaran
Jun 17, 2009 19:38:16 Heres an idea. Lets say that in your setting, there is a call for a great deal of pay-to-slay work. Lets say that some kind of monstrous beast has had some very productive years and have become a great and dangerous nuisance. Maybe its Owlbears, maybe its Goblins, maybe its Dire Lions. Whatever. The local military doesn't want to deal with it. A whole bunch of mercenary groups start popping up. You could include some interactions with these other groups, be they good or bad. The creature type isn't important, as long as you can weave it into the grand plot that unveils...
#10
Ka_D-Argo
Jun 18, 2009 12:30:01
Heres an idea. Lets say that in your setting, there is a call for a great deal of pay-to-slay work. Lets say that some kind of monstrous beast has had some very productive years and have become a great and dangerous nuisance. Maybe its Owlbears, maybe its Goblins, maybe its Dire Lions. Whatever. The local military doesn't want to deal with it. A whole bunch of mercenary groups start popping up. You could include some interactions with these other groups, be they good or bad. The creature type isn't important, as long as you can weave it into the grand plot that unveils...

Good idea, but I don't think that is what he is asking. Adventure hooks are plentiful for a mercenary group, as I pointed out before, DnD groups are kind of mercenaries anyway. They accept jobs in exchange for rewards.

What I think the OP is asking for is a modus operandi for his group. Being neutral means they will probably look the other way when hired by evil people. However, what do they do when they find out that the job they were hired for is negatively effecting another group of people? Do they try to make it right? or Do they keep doing it, because thats what they were paid to do?

If it's the latter, in my opinion, all they will ultimately be looking at is a bunch of small one shot adventures where each time they gain money or not.

The group needs to find out what it is they "care" about. Whether its money, fame, or just doing the right thing.
#11
entropy_judge
Jun 25, 2009 21:20:45
Being neutral means they will probably look the other way when hired by evil people. However, what do they do when they find out that the job they were hired for is negatively effecting another group of people? Do they try to make it right? or Do they keep doing it, because thats what they were paid to do?

If they're (as a group) Lawful Neutral, they'll look the other way - and if they're closer to Good than Evil, they won't sign up with that particular employer again. If they're (again, as a group) Chaotic Neutral, they stand a good chance of breaking the deal *if* what's going on is distasteful to them (slavery, forced sacrifice, etc). If they're CN (or TN), they could also work both sides - keep working for their current boss, but help the people they're working against in their 'down time.'

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 monchothehorse Jun 09, 2009 15:36:29	In my dnd group we recently started a new campaign and decided we wanted to do a mercenary style thing. Theres 3 of us plus the Dm We came up with a name and charter, but I'm not sure how to go about playing a neutral mercenary group, anyone have any cool ideas?
#2 Ka_D-Argo Jun 09, 2009 16:57:42	Adventuring parties are kind of mercenaries anyway, as far as taking jobs for money. A lot of campaigns start out this way, though often grow into a "greater concern" for the PC's. And by Neutral, do you mean you don't care what the job is as long as it pays? If thats the case, then simply look around. There are always jobs to be had for money. You could also go the scam route (i.e. the movie Dragonheart). You could specialize in something particular (i.e. Dragons, Undead, extra-planar abominations).
#3 monchothehorse Jun 09, 2009 18:00:17	Yeah Thats pretty much what I mean by neutral, the specific monsters thing sounds good too. We tried to write down some parameters for jobs we'll take, like nothing directly harming nature (our party consists of a scout, barbarian and favored soul, all who worship obad-hai...), but pretty much anything else. But I'm trying to figure out how to make our group unique and good ideas for us to go by and/or use
#4 monchothehorse Jun 09, 2009 18:06:45	You could also go the scam route (i.e. the movie Dragonheart). QUOTE] By the way, I've seen the movie dragonheart but not in a long time, what do you mean by the scam route?
#5 prator_the_golden Jun 09, 2009 18:11:58	By the way, I've seen the movie dragonheart but not in a long time, what do you mean by the scam route? You might remember that, in the beginning parts of the movie, the main character (Bowen, I think) was running a scam in which he'd "slay" a dragon that would pretend to menace a peasant village and frighten nobles. He'd set up a ballista, shoot at the dragon, watch as the dragon pretended to get hit and fall in a lake, and then claim victory. The dragon and and dragonslayer team made a fair bit of gold that way.
#6 entropy_judge Jun 09, 2009 18:12:06	RE: Scam: IIRC, the main character and Draco would team up by having Draco 'attack' a village, and the main character would come along and 'kill' him with his great big ballista. Edit: Ninja'd.
#7 Ka_D-Argo Jun 10, 2009 11:48:09	Yeah Thats pretty much what I mean by neutral, the specific monsters thing sounds good too. We tried to write down some parameters for jobs we'll take, like nothing directly harming nature (our party consists of a scout, barbarian and favored soul, all who worship obad-hai...), but pretty much anything else. But I'm trying to figure out how to make our group unique and good ideas for us to go by and/or use If you can provide a little more info on your campaign world, it might be helpful. Otherwise, I'd suggest you come up with a basic tenant as to how your group operates (i.e. whether they knowingly take advantage of the townspeople or not, are your prices firm no matter what, etc...). If your group truly doesn't care where the money comes from, then it makes it a little harder to do anything interesting in my opinion. If they feign like they don't care, but really do. Then you can have some interesting character development. If you haven't already, i invite you to watch the series Firefly which has some great examples of a mercenary group
#8 monchothehorse Jun 16, 2009 10:23:39	I'm not really sure what the DM has in mind actually, we're doing the pre-made adventure barrow of the forgotten king
#9 ciaran Jun 17, 2009 19:38:16	Heres an idea. Lets say that in your setting, there is a call for a great deal of pay-to-slay work. Lets say that some kind of monstrous beast has had some very productive years and have become a great and dangerous nuisance. Maybe its Owlbears, maybe its Goblins, maybe its Dire Lions. Whatever. The local military doesn't want to deal with it. A whole bunch of mercenary groups start popping up. You could include some interactions with these other groups, be they good or bad. The creature type isn't important, as long as you can weave it into the grand plot that unveils...
#10 Ka_D-Argo Jun 18, 2009 12:30:01	Heres an idea. Lets say that in your setting, there is a call for a great deal of pay-to-slay work. Lets say that some kind of monstrous beast has had some very productive years and have become a great and dangerous nuisance. Maybe its Owlbears, maybe its Goblins, maybe its Dire Lions. Whatever. The local military doesn't want to deal with it. A whole bunch of mercenary groups start popping up. You could include some interactions with these other groups, be they good or bad. The creature type isn't important, as long as you can weave it into the grand plot that unveils... Good idea, but I don't think that is what he is asking. Adventure hooks are plentiful for a mercenary group, as I pointed out before, DnD groups are kind of mercenaries anyway. They accept jobs in exchange for rewards. What I think the OP is asking for is a *modus operandi* for his group. Being neutral means they will probably look the other way when hired by evil people. However, what do they do when they find out that the job they were hired for is negatively effecting another group of people? Do they try to make it right? or Do they keep doing it, because thats what they were paid to do? If it's the latter, in my opinion, all they will ultimately be looking at is a bunch of small one shot adventures where each time they gain money or not. The group needs to find out what it is they "care" about. Whether its money, fame, or just doing the right thing.
#11 entropy_judge Jun 25, 2009 21:20:45	Being neutral means they will probably look the other way when hired by evil people. However, what do they do when they find out that the job they were hired for is negatively effecting another group of people? Do they try to make it right? or Do they keep doing it, because thats what they were paid to do? If they're (as a group) Lawful Neutral, they'll look the other way - and if they're closer to Good than Evil, they won't sign up with that particular employer again. If they're (again, as a group) Chaotic Neutral, they stand a good chance of breaking the deal if what's going on is distasteful to them (slavery, forced sacrifice, etc). If they're CN (or TN), they could also work both sides - keep working for their current boss, but help the people they're working against in their 'down time.'