Swords & Wizardry House Rules: Retainers

Hiring retainers is an essential survival tool. Their principal virtue is mathematical: the more bodies there are on your side, the less likely you are to be hit personally. Why take that arrow to the knee when a henchman can?

Retainers

A variety of retainers may be available for hire in taverns and other locales. They are zero-level hirelings. If retainers are available for hire, roll 1d8 for each available retainer to determine his type:

#	Type	Hit Points	Equipment	Cost/Day
1.	Archer	d3	short bow, 20 arrows, leather armor	2 silver pieces
2.	Man-at-Arms	d3	spear, leather armor	2 silver pieces
3.	Porter	d2	backpack, large sack	1 silver piece
4.	Shield Bearer	d3	short sword, leather armor, large shield	1 silver piece
5.	Surgeon	d2	surgeon’s tools, medical supplies	1 gold piece
6.	Swordsman	d4	long sword, leather armor, shield	2 silver pieces
7.	Torch Bearer	d2	tinder box, flint and steel, torches	1 silver piece
8.	Weapon Bearer	d2	short sword, leather armor	1 silver piece

• these retainers are 0-level mercenaries that may be hired for their base salary, food and lodging, plus a percentage of their employer’s share of monetary treasure
• combatants—archers, man-at-arms, swordsmen—are entitled to a 10 percent share of their employer’s monetary treasure; all others are entitled to five percent
• a shield bearer protects his employer, increasing his armor class by one; a weapon bearer may immediately hand his employer a weapon, if he drops his weapon or is disarmed, or other item
• porters provide muscle for carrying equipment and treasure—200 pounds per porter; porters also reduce the risk of becoming lost during overland travel
• a surgeon may treat a wounded creature, permitting it a saving throw; if successful, the patient regains d2+1 hit points; a surgeon may treat a patient who otherwise would be dead, if done shortly after death
• all retainers other than surgeons become first-level fighters with d8 hit points and 0 XP if they survive a foray into the wilderness or dungeon; their cost per day is then 1 gold piece/day
• an adventurer's charisma score limits the number of retainers he may employ at once (see page 8 of the rulebook for charisma-based retainer limits); an adventurer may not employ a retainer whose level exceeds their own

Just because a retainer is available does not mean he will accept employment. Adventures should roll 2d6. On a result of 2-6, the would-be retainer declines employment. On a result of 7-9, he is uncertain; he'll decline employment unless the adventurer sweetens the deal (e.g., increased salary, furnishing equipment in addition to the retainer's starting equipment, or increased treasure share). On a result of 10-12, he accepts employment. An adventurer wishing to increase his chances of hiring a given retainer may offer to sweeten the deal before the initial roll; if he does so, add an appropriate modifier, such a +1 or +2 bonus, to the adventurer's roll. An adventure also may gain a +1 bonus by purchasing a potential retainer food or drink in a tavern or inn. Adventurers with a Charisma score of 13 or higher also gain a +1 bonus to their roll.

These house rules are a modified version of the retainer rules in Jimm Johnson's Planet Eris house rules.