Hiring NPCs
Player characters can hire several types of NPCs, or hirelings, in their travels.
Some examples are retainers, mercenaries, and specialists.
Retainers
Retainers are NPCs that are hired by characters to accompany them on an adventure to accomplish different tasks.
A character is limited to a number of retainers equal to the character’s Charisma score.
Applicants are recruited through negotiation, in which the PC explains what the job entails, and both parties agree on duties and wages.
Stronger retainers will want a higher rate of pay, whereas unskilled hirelings, like torchbearers, will have lower demands.
Retainers will usually want a guaranteed daily or weekly wage and a share of treasure recovered (at very least a half share).
For example: a fee of 1gp per day plus a half share of treasure.
The hiring PC must also pay for the retainer’s daily upkeep (food and lodgings) and for any new adventuring gear, weapons, or mounts the retainer requires.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries are hired soldiers who will guard, patrol, and otherwise serve in wilderness settings, but only as part of a larger force, not an adventuring party.
Mercenaries do not accompany characters on adventures.
Note that as mercenaries are hired by a character to perform specific services, they are not treated as retainers and thus do not count toward a character’s maximum number of retainers.
Specialists
Specialists are all types of characters that PCs may wish to hire for non-combat and non-adventuring purposes, such as craftspeople, navigators, cartographers, oarsmen, builders, and spies.
Note that as specialists are hired by a character to perform specific services, they are not treated as retainers and thus do not count toward a character’s maximum number of retainers.
Animals
PCs may also purchase animals, such as dogs, mounts, falcons, mules, and oxen.
Animals can function as combatants, transportation, hunting aids, or simply companions.
Animals require feed and care, and may demand the attention of a full-time handler.