OOC Discussion

I’ll start by offering 15% of my own share of treasure, plus 12 gold a month salary. I’ll outfit with leather armor, spear and javelins before we set out. (Or if I can find a mercenary willing to sign on as a henchman with his own arms I’d pay a signing bonus of 25 gold.)

[If a prospect seems doubtful I’ll try going up to 20% of my share of treasure, but I don’t really have room to go higher on a bonus.]


-Dave R

So, I don’t know how you want to do this, but I’ve always assumed the henchmen’s share comes out of the group treasure, and not the individual’s.


-thirdkingdom

Hmm, looking a bit deeper. Page 50 states that henchmen work for “a share of treasure (at least 15% of their employer’s income)”, which seems to imply that they do get part of their employer’s share. However, p. 113 states: “The totals for each monster defeated are calculated and added to the value of all XP from treasure, and the sum for all XP is divided among all surviving party members and henchmen evenly, with henchmen receiving a ½ share each. For example, if the group kills a 5 HD monster worth 200XP, and finds a gold statue worth 500gp and a gem worth 250gp, these are added up to 950XP, and divided evenly between the characters.”

So, based upon this, it looks as though henchmen receive a 1/2 share of the total party XP, which totally makes the math easy. However, in my games I tend to allow henchmen to get a 1/2 share of monster XP and a 1/4 share of treasure (and XP from treasure). However bobloblah wants to do it is fine with me, but after reading p. 113 it seems clear the intention is for henchmen to receive a share of the party treasure, not the individual’s.

That’s correct, Henchmen receive a share of party treasure. Otherwise, a full complement of Henchmen could mean you owe more than your share.

Which god would be most appropriate for a bladedancer to worship?


The Gods worshipped in the region of the Smoking Bay are many and varied, with various groups bringing their deities with them as the immigrated to the region. From the Bright Empire, the old gods of Thoth, Set, and Marduk, from the Ostrobards, the deities Mitra, Solis, and Venus, and from the Vasans, Thor, Wotan, and Loki. The dwarves worship Vaul, god of the forge and father of the dwarves, while the elves do not appear to pay any reverence to the divine.


I don’t see an Ishtar equivalent. Mitra? Venus? Marduk?

I don’t have the information on Ishtar (Ianna?) available to me at the moment. I’ll be providing write-ups on the gods listed once I’m back to my regular computer and internet connection. However, Marduk is the Neutral god of war (or any violent conflict; he’s not particular), Solis is the Lawful goddess of the Sun, Agriculture, Civilization, and Law, and Venus is the Neutral goddess of Love, Sexuality, Fertility, and Vengeance. All three count Bladedancers amongst their Clergy.

You first attempt is to recruit Dagmar, a skinny girl you’d guess is of no more than 19 summers who comes bearing her father’s spear…

When she seems reluctant, you offer to sweeten the pot… with the extra money likely being more than she’d see in a year in the fields, she happily accepts, although you catch her mooning after you when she thinks you’re not looking.

Alright! If she’s unarmored I’m buying leather armor for her.

And now, to re-open marching order. :slight_smile: I’d like her in second rank, where she can fight with a spear and perhaps carry a torch. Rear or middle is possible but splits her off from Hengist’s immediate command, which seems counter to best morale. So I’m thinking bump Gwydion from the second rank, and possibly Kaul with faithful hound can form the single rank. So something like:

Miska (Cleric) | Hengist (Fighter)
Aria (Bladedancer) | Dagmar (Henchwoman)
Gwydion (Elven Enchanter) | Masov (Bard)
Kaul (Thief) and wardog
Kerrick (Paladin) | Andrew (witch)

i would put the wardog in the place of the witch, in case of a rearguard attack the dog has more hp.

Alright! If she’s unarmored I’m buying leather armor for her.

And now, to re-open marching order. :slight_smile: I’d like her in second rank, where she can fight with a spear and perhaps carry a torch. Rear or middle is possible but splits her off from Hengist’s immediate command, which seems counter to best morale. So I’m thinking bump Gwydion from the second rank, and possibly Kaul with faithful hound can form the single rank. So something like:

Miska (Cleric) | Hengist (Fighter)
Aria (Bladedancer) | Dagmar (Henchwoman)
Gwydion (Elven Enchanter) | Masov (Bard)
Kaul (Thief) and wardog
Kerrick (Paladin) | Andrew (witch)


-Dave R

I’m going to vote no to this proposal. We’ve got plenty of fighters – even without Dagmar – that can occupy the second rank to attack with spears. However, I really feel that having a spellcaster in the second rank – especially if he is able to pick up Sleep, but even with Choking Grip – I think greatly outweighs an extra spear attack. Bobloblah has stated that Gwydion – under most circumstances – can cast spells at enemies from the second rank, which if he moves back to the third rank is not possible.

Therefore, my suggestion would be to put Dagmar in the third rank, next to Masov.

I’ll take Venus, goddess of love and vengeance. That seems brilliant.

Therefore, my suggestion would be to put Dagmar in the third rank, next to Masov.


-thirdkingdom

Where she will be regaled with tales of heroes and heroines of old; legends of yesterday to bolster the hearts of today’s recruits.

I don’t believe I ever said spells couldn’t be cast from the third rank… I only said it might be somewhat dependant on circumstances from the second rank.

Hmm. I kind of wish I knew this before spending time on the marching order. So, are you saying that a spellcaster in the third rank can cast over the first two ranks at an enemy engaged in melee?

I’m saying it’s not impossible, by any means, and is going to be dependant on circumstances; trying to cast on the front rank of human-sized enemies? No problem. Trying to cast on the goblin shaman in the third rank of the enemy? Not so likely. Don’t assume you (or your character) are always going to know exact answers to these kinds of questions in advance, as they will simply be dependant on the specific situation.

On another note, I’m traveling today, but I’m hoping to get the final posts I want up by tomorrow night so we can get started.

Well, if this is the case I think Gwydion should move back to the third rank, Dagmar take Kerrick’s place and the paladin with AC 5 and 7 hp move to the second rank, taking Gwydion’s place.

The paladin has no objection to this change.

(I’m pretty much fine with anything that isn’t 3rd or 4th rank, which I don’t think anyone would suggest, given that it’s kind of a complete waste to put a high-damage reasonably-survivable fighter-type in the ‘protect the soft targets’ area.)

Take four:

Miska (Cleric) | Hengist (Fighter)
Aria (Bladedancer) | Kerrick (Paladin)
Gwydion (Elven Enchanter)*
Kaul (Thief)* and wardog | Masov (Bard) *
Dagmar (henchman) | Andrew (witch)

Hey, can we curse on this forum?

That’s a stronger front, but a weak rearguard if someone comes up behind us. I’d swap ranks four and five entirely if Kaul is willing, but at the least switch Masov and Andrew.

having only 4 hp i dont like my chances in close combat. but i offer my dog to take the rearguard.

Sure. I’m just imagining Lamech feels the same way about his 4 hp healer, and I’m guessing 4’s the upper bound on my henchwoman’s starting hits.

Something like this?

Miska (Cleric) | Hengist (Fighter)
Aria (Bladedancer) | Kerrick (Paladin)
Gwydion (Elven Enchanter) | Andrew (Witch)
Kaul (Thief) | Dagmar (henchman)
Wardog | Masov (Bard)