Folk-at-Arms are the various soldiers, warriors, and sailors that PCs may hire to perform routine martial duties. They will not go into a dungeon or on fine-grained adventures, but they will march around the hex map and get into battle with monsters and clear out small lairs.
Serjeants, Lieutenants, and Captains
Folk-at-Arms tend to be an unruly bunch, and thus must be supervised by a higher ranking officer.
Serjeants are required to command bands of 10 folk-at-arms.
Lieutenants command up to a number of serjeants equal to their level (2-4).
Captains may lead a number of lieutenants equal to their level (5-8).
Player characters may take on the role of any of the above, with corresponding level constraints.
Any band not led by a leader must make a morale check when operating, with a penalty of -1. See Mass Combat for more details.
Hiring
PCs must spend 1d6 + 15sp and 1d6 + 1 days soliciting for a group of folk-at-arms.
Availability will be rolled with a 5-in-6 chance in cities that 1d4 + 2 bands are available, and an automatic 1d4 + 2 in any location with a fort.
The referee determines any special qualities, quirks, or qualifications (see Random Tables).
The PCs may briefly interview the band, and make an offer (the default is the below month wage plus equipment per individual).
Roll on the Recruitment table, modified by the PC's Charisma score, the Party's Region Reputation, and any situational modifiers.
If hired, the referee secretly rolls 3d6 +/- Loyalty Adjustments from the Recruitment Roll and/or the PC's Charisma score, and records this as the Band's Loyalty Score.
The player should keep an index card to keep track of the band.
There is no maximum amount of folk-at-arms that may be hired.
Recruitment
Recruitment Roll
Reaction
≤ 2
Refuses & slanders the party (−1 to Party Regional Reputation)
3–5
Refuses
6–8
Must be provided a sweeter deal, rerolling on this chart with +1
9–11
Accepts
≥ 12
Accepts with +3 Loyalty Adjustment
Loyalty
Loyalty Score
Effect on Morale
≤ 3
Will desert as soon as possible
4–6
−2 on morale checks
7–8
−1 on morale checks
9–12
—
13–14
+1 on morale checks
15–18
+2 on morale checks
≥ 19
Never check morale
Type & Amount
The following tables are split between Mercenaries and Sea Crew.