Torchbearers and other non combat henchmen

Just wondering how other DMs price out henchmen/hirelings for non-combat adventuring duties, such as torchbearers, mappers, etc.  Still a very dangerous role, so likely to attract only the very desperate, but would you expect the PCs to give them a share of the treasure or just a flat fee, or do you just treat them as any other Henchman hired by the party?

 

My stance has always been that if they're expected to come into the dungeon, they get a share.  Now, all the mercs you hire to stand outside the dungeon and watch the horses, they just get a wage, and if you get into a fight in the wilderness they'll contribute, but they're not going into some deathtrap without a promise of loot.

Now, if that's a bit pricey for a torchbearer, keep in mind that A) they can still help carry loot and B) there are plenty of combat roles that can be filled with one hand: 2nd rank spearman, slinger, javalin tosser, mage, the guy who only came because he has rank 3 healing, etc.

We just use level 0 henchmen, with typical L0 henchman pay.

[quote="Jard"]

My stance has always been that if they're expected to come into the dungeon, they get a share.  Now, all the mercs you hire to stand outside the dungeon and watch the horses, they just get a wage, and if you get into a fight in the wilderness they'll contribute, but they're not going into some deathtrap without a promise of loot.

Now, if that's a bit pricey for a torchbearer, keep in mind that A) they can still help carry loot and B) there are plenty of combat roles that can be filled with one hand: 2nd rank spearman, slinger, javalin tosser, mage, the guy who only came because he has rank 3 healing, etc.

[/quote]

 

This is my group's approach. Dan the lantern-bearer has mapmaking, animal husbandry, and healing, and is basically the unversal intern.