How do you handle hirelings in #bx #ose #osr?
I don't think the rules do a good job explaining what do you can use them for. I like a clearer distinction between something like a porter or torchbearer and a full blown retainer. My players really struggle to justify sharing treasure and therefore xp for a retainer no matter what advantages they could bring to the table.
I can also see the use of mercs and specialists but the whole domain play thing isn't really something we are utilizing
@elmcat you're right, this is left so loose in most systems. In my heartbreaker, I ended up splitting henchmen into two groups: hirelings and allies.
Hirelings will never fight in combat or risk their lives stupidly but only receive a daily wage rather than shares of treasure. These are usually torch bearers, scholars, lookouts, etc. Allies will fight, have a level and class, and demand a share of the treasure.
@imnotsupposedtogetjigsinit do you give your players a list of different hireling types? I think most of the time my players just don't know how to utilize them and I'm thinking of offering certain types to make it clear.
I do something similar with retainers/allies but couldn't convince the group to give up more shares. So my current solution is the npc gets a share from the person who is hiring them. In this way it doesn't need a group consensus to hire people
@elmcat I also do retainers on an individual, rather than group basis for exactly the same reason. The individual PC gives up treasure, not the group, and the ally is loyal only to that PC specifically.
As for types of hirelings, I do advertise it during rumor-gathering. The PCs might get hints as to what kinds of hirelings and gear would be useful.
@imnotsupposedtogetjigsinit okay cool! Don't know yet if I want to obscure too much what a hireling can do. So I'm thinking the hireling will introduce themselves as and say what they want to do/are good at.
But I like coupling it with some rumors and use it to find more specialized people!