When the adventurers are just starting out, they will find it very beneficial to bring along a few hirelings—if they can find anyone willing to risk life and limb in the sorts of places adventurers go. As the characters gain levels, although it may no longer be so important to bring along men-at-arms or torchbearers (who likely wouldn’t survive in the deeper levels of dungeons), they may begin routinely employing spies, servants, and guards while outside of the dungeon, and at higher levels yet they may find themselves needing the services of small armies of sailors, soldiers, and servants for their ships, caravans, or castles.
As a general rule, the upkeep for a single person in a rural community such as a castle or village is about 1gp per month and perhaps twice that in a city. This “upkeep” covers food and incidentals, and does not include lodging, wages, or the purchase of equipment. Note that for some professions the “incidental” cost can be quite high: blacksmiths use up a quantity of supplies just to keep a forge running. The cost of lodging (assuming the character does not own a stronghold where he can house his servants and followers at no cost) is up to the referee, but staying in an inn, even in a stable, will cost at least 1 sp per night. Purchase of equipment should be calculated using the equipment tables, and if the hireling requires a great deal of initial equipment such as a forge or a library, the Referee will adjust the costs as needed. Wages depend upon the type of services being sought.
Upkeep Cost: 1,000 gp/month
Wage: 500 gp/month if the alchemist maintains his own laboratory. Half that cost if the character provides one for the alchemist.
Initial Equipment: Fully equipped lab costs 1,000 gp.
Upkeep Cost: 500 gp/month
Wage: No cost if he is a part of the character’s stronghold retinue; 20 gp/month otherwise.
Initial Equipment: This depends on the animal.
Upkeep Cost: 100 gp/month
Wage: None, if the armourer is a follower of a character with a stronghold. If not, wages are 100 gp/month, over and above the cost of upkeep.
Initial Equipment: A fully equipped forge costs around 100 gp.
Upkeep Cost: N/A
Wage: 2,000 per mission
Initial Equipment: None.
Upkeep Cost: 25 gp/month
Wage: 10 gp/month
Initial Equipment: A fully equipped forge costs around 100 gp.
Upkeep Cost: 1 gp/month in camp or castle. Standard costs of rations if operating in the field (reduced to 10 gp/month if the character is fielding an army with adequate wagons to purchase in bulk).
Wage: If the man-at-arms is a part of the character’s stronghold retinue, he costs nothing. Mercenary infantry cost around 2 gp/month, archers 4 gp/month, and calvary costs 8 gp/month. Sergeants (one required for every 10 men-at-arms) cost twice as normal. Lieutenants (required for every 20), cost three times as normal, and Captains (required for every 60), cost four times as normal.
Initial Equipment: Determine from equipment list.
Upkeep Cost: Cost of rations.
Wage: 2 gp/day or upwards of 5 gp/day
Initial Equipment: Determine from equipment list.
Upkeep Cost: 2,000 gp/month
Wage: N/A
Initial Equipment: Small library costs 2,000 gp.
Upkeep Cost: 10 gp/month
Wage: 2 gp/month
Initial Equipment: None.
Upkeep Cost: 1 gp/month
Wage: 5 gp/month
Initial Equipment: None.
Upkeep Cost: 50 gp/month
Wage: 250 gp/month
Initial Equipment: A ship.
Upkeep Cost: 750 gp/month
Wage: 250 gp/month
Initial Equipment: None.
Upkeep Cost: 10 gp/month
Wage: 500 gp per mission
Initial Equipment: None.
Upkeep Cost: Cost of rations.
Wage: 1 gp/day
Initial Equipment: Determine from equipment list.