BY MICAH J.

TILL

CREW MEMBERS
In the course of their adventures, players may require non-
player characters (NPCs) to staff a castle, man a ship, or
otherwise be in the players’ employ over a lengthy period of
time. These characters are not additional party members per
se, but a crew of often specialized non-combatants. The
dungeon master (DM) can simplify these NPCs down to
statistical bookkeeping by counting them as skilled and
unskilled hirelings as outlined in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide but doing so threatens to obscure their unique features
and personality traits that spark memorable roleplay.
This rule set adds a third hireling category, crew members,
to address this need. Each crew member has a single
mechanical feature that defines their role and can be easily
integrated into a short description for the DM and players to
review as needed.
RECRUITING C REW MEMBERS
Crew members may be recruited in a variety of ways. If the
players are forming a team with a specific task in mind, they
may choose to seek out certain skill sets: military leaders,
arcane practitioners, expert artisans, etc. It is also possible
that based on the narrative of the game, NPCs with certain
features seek out the player characters instead. Of course,
NPCs can also be selected randomly by rolling on the Crew
Member tables below each time the party reaches a new tier
with narrative justifications invented based on the results.
Most crew members require housing and a minimum wage
of 5 gp per day, but alternate arrangements are also possible
depending on the goals of the character in question. The crew
member might require a share in the earnings of an
establishment, a specific item or piece of information, or the
completion of a task.
There’s no limit on the number of crew members players
may recruit but, as a rule of thumb, the party should have
access to a number of crew members equal to three times the
current tier of play. (As an example, a party of 8th-level
adventurers would have access to six crew members.) There
may be many non-crew member hirelings under the players’
command, but this number is usually sufficient to allow
interesting interactions to take place without overwhelming
the DM or players with a host of named NPCs.
ANATOMY OF A CREW MEMBER
Each crew member should have the following information:
• Name
• Classification (gender, race, etc.)
• A short description
• Crew member feature
• Personality trait, bond, ideal, and flaw
Write the crew members information on a card for players
to reference during play. If you are playing in-person, this
card serves as a tangible reminder for players of the NPC’s
existence. A digital note can function much the same on a
virtual tabletop.
Except as noted by its classification and crew member
feature, each crew member uses the statistics of a commoner.
CREW MEMBER FEATURES
The list of crew member features is presented here in
alphabetical order. While the options cover many possible
roles, the list can be expanded as needed to fit your campaign.
Aide. Once per week, the crew member can provide a
player character advantage on a roll using the specified skill.
If the activity tied to the roll is not time-sensitive, the player
character can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Arcanist. Once per week, the crew member can cast the
specified spell as a ritual requiring no material components.
The level of the spell determines the spell's saving throw DC
and attack bonus as if using a spell scroll.
Artillerist. The crew member can direct an appropriately
sized team of willing allies to operate a siege weapon during
combat.
Informant. The crew member is familiar with the factions
and politics of a certain area. It also knows at least one
sanctuary or safehouse where food and rest can be found.
Master Trainer. The crew member can train other
creatures in the specified proficiencies or spells in half the
normal time for twice the normal total cost.
Pathfinder. The crew member is familiar with the flora,
fauna, geography, and climate of a certain area. It can
navigate to any major landmarks and knows at least one
hidden location or path.
Pilot. The crew member has a +4 bonus to all rolls using
the specified vehicle proficiency and can control those vehicles
both under normal conditions and during stressful situations
like combat.
Quartermaster. Once per week, this crew member can use
an action to produce any single piece of non-magical
adventuring gear listed in the Player’s Handbook from its
pack or pockets.
Sidekick. The crew member gains sidekick levels as an
expert, spellcaster, or warrior to match the lowest level
appropriate for the tier of play. See Tasha’s Cauldron of
Everything for the rules on sidekicks.
Squire. Once per week, when a player character rolls
initiative, that player may declare that this crew member
previously aided in changing which armor, weapons, and/or
magic items the player character has equipped. This feature
cannot bypass the equipment’s requirements or restrictions,
curse effects, or other usage limitations.
Technologist. The crew member has a +4 bonus to all rolls
with the specified tool proficiency and may perform related
crafting or downtime activities. Additionally, once per week,
the crew member can provide a player character advantage
on a roll using the specified tool proficiency.
TIERS OF P LAY
Tier PC Levels Crew Members Sidekick Level
1 1–4 3 1st
2 5–10 6 5th
3 11–16 9 11th
4 17–20 12 17th
1
“ONCE PER WEEK” FEATURES
The assumption of “once per week” crew member features is
that each will be available every three to six hours of play
time. Not every campaign uses a seven-day week and not
every group plays adventures at the same rate though. The
DM can replace “once per week” with another option from the
list below if it will work better at your table:
• Once per tenday
• Once per session
• Once per every four hours of play
• Once per every five long rests
• Once per adventure
• Once per hardcover chapter
Another option is to allow players to spend DM inspiration
to trigger “once per week” features in place of gaining
advantage on a roll. This may result in certain crew members
being used more often than others but bypasses any
interparty conflict over who gets to use favorite features each
time they become available.
ROLEPLAYING CREW MEMBERS
While the DM retains ultimate control over what a crew
member’s personality and actions, players should be
encouraged to step into roleplaying the characters as an
extension of the adventuring party. There are many ways to
do this. Here are some options:
• The DM plays all crew members but accepts suggestions
from players on how to adjudicate each scene.
• Each player is assigned one or more crew members to play
every time that character appears in a scene.
• When a player starts a conversation with a crew member,
the player to their left assumes the role of that character,
continuing around the table until all crew members are
accounted for.
• Players each suggest and vote on the attitude or actions of
a crew member during the current scene. The player with
the most popular suggestion is responsible for playing out
the result.
The optional loyalty rule from the Dungeon Masters Guide
and/or the quality rule from Ghost of Saltmarsh can be
implemented to track crew member morale individually or as
a group. A crew member who becomes disloyal may leave the
party or act against their interests. If crew members mutiny,
their actions against the player characters may be overt or
covert, as appropriate to the situation.
CREW MEMBERS IN COMBAT
Most crew member are not trained combatants. Unless
massive battles are a highlight of your game, it is
recommended that only crew members with the Sidekick
feature be represented as individual creatures in combat.
While additional crew member features my impact combat,
those effects may be narrated as part of the scene description.
2
C OMMONER SRD 398
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 4 (1d8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 0 (10 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
ACTIONS
Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit:
2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage.
CREW MEMBERS AS PLAYER CHARACTERS
Since each crew member has a fully fleshed out personality,
they can be used as temporary player characters should a
new player join or an existing player character die. They can
also be used to set up shorter adventures that flesh out the
game world.
While an adventuring party of all crew members can
function with commoner statistics, adding sidekick levels per
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything that match each crew
member’s theme is strongly recommended. If a player will use
a crew member to adventure alongside characters created
with the rules in the Player’s Handbook, sidekick levels—or
class levels—are required. In either case, crew members can
either be assigned a level equal to the average party level
(APL) or the lowest level appropriate for the tier of play.
If a player wishes to convert a crew member to a player
character under their permanent control, they may do so at
the DM’s discretion. The player should work with the DM to
assign appropriate sidekick or class levels to the character.
The player must forfeit the character’s daily wage, but the
DM should consider the character’s background and the
nature of the campaign to determine what equipment and
knowledge, if any, the player gains as part of assuming
control over the character.
LEGAL
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast,
Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon
ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of
Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of
the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with
permission under the Community Content Agreement for
Dungeon Masters Guild.
All other original material in this work is copyright 2021 by
Micah J. Till and published under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.
CREW MEMBER RACE AIDE SKILL P ROFICIENCY MASTER TRAINER SUBJECT
d100 Race d100 Skill Proficiency d100 Proficiencies or Spells
01–04 Dragonborn 01–05 Athletics 01–05 Armor, light
05–13 Dwarf, hill 06–10 Acrobatics 06–10 Armor, medium
14–21 Dwarf, mountain 11–15 Sleight of Hand 11–15 Armor, heavy
22–25 Elf, dark 16–20 Stealth 16–20 Armor, shields
26–34 Elf, high 21–25 Arcana 21–25 Gaming set, all
35–42 Elf, wood 26–30 History 26–30 Instruments, all
43–46 Gnome, forest 31–35 Investigation 31–32 Languages, all
47–52 Gnome, rock 36–40 Nature 33–36 Languages, all standard
53–56 Half-elf 41–45 Religion 37–40 Languages, 1d4 exotic
57–60 Half-orc 46–50 Animal Handling 41–45 Skills, any one (roll on the Aide
61–68 Halfling, lightfoot 51–55 Insight table)
69–76 Halfling, stout 56–60 Medicine 46–55 Spells, 2d6 from one tradition
77–96 Human 61–65 Perception 56–60 Spells, 2d4 with the ritual tag
97–00 Tiefling 66–70 Survival 61–70 Tools, any 1d4 (roll on the
71–75 Deception Technologist table)
CREW MEMBER FEATURE 76–80 Intimidation 71–75 Vehicles, land or water
d100 Crew Member Feature 81–85 Performance 76–80 Weapons, all
01–10 Aide 86–90 Persuasion 81–85 Weapons, martial
11–20 Arcanist 91–00 Roll again 86–90 Weapons, melee
21–25 Artillerist 91–95 Weapons, ranged
26–35 Informant ARCANIST SPELL 96–00 Weapons, unarmed strikes
36–45 Master Trainer Spell
46–50 Pathfinder d100 Level Spell TECHNOLOGIST TOOL P ROFICIENCY
51–55 Pilot 01–10 1 Ceremony d100 Tool Proficiency
56–60 Quartermaster 11–20 1 Identify 01–03 Alchemist’s supplies
61–70 Sidekick 21–30 2 Augury 04–06 Brewer’s supplies
71–75 Squire 31–40 2 Darkvision 07–09 Calligrapher’s supplies
76–00 Technologist 41–50 2 Nystul’s magic aura 10–12 Carpenter’s tools
51–60 2 Skywrite 13–15 Cartographer’s tools
61–70 2 Zone of truth 16–18 Cobbler’s tools
71–75 3 Nondetection 19–21 Cook’s utensils
76–80 3 Remove curse 22–24 Glassblower’s tools
81–85 3 Sending 25–27 Jeweler’s tools
86–90 3 Speak with dead 28–30 Leatherworker’s tools
91–95 3 Tongues 31–33 Mason’s tools
96–00 3 Water breathing 34–36 Painter’s supplies
37–39 Potter’s tools
40–42 Smith’s tools
43–47 Tinker’s tools
48–50 Weaver’s tools
51–53 Woodcarver’s tools
54–58 Disguise kit
59–63 Forgery kit
64–65 Gaming Set
66–70 Herbalism kit
71–75 Musical instrument
76–80 Navigator’s tools
81–85 Poisoner’s kit
86–90 Thieves’ tools
91–95 Vehicles (land)
96–00 Vehicles (water)

3
 B AUER
Female Stout Halfling
Bauer understands that sometimes
you need a fresh start. Sometimes
you need to fake your death, move
far away, and use a new name.
When the time comes, she can help
you make that happen.
Bauer has the Arcanist (feign
death) feature.
Personality. “Every been to Old
Xoblob Shop in Waterdeep? Yeah,
me neither, obviously. But it’s
worth a visit.”
Ideal. “Excitement is worth a
little danger.”
Bond. “We all have enemies; I’m
just blessed with a wealth of them.”
Flaw. “I refuse to form close
attachments. That’s just asking for
trouble.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
RAXIT SINGHAL
Male Red Dragonborn
Raxit is slow to speak unless
discussing one of his many, many
weapons.
Raxit has the Master Trainer
(any martial weapon) feature.
Personality. “Perfection is our
goal. Excellence will be tolerated.”
Ideal. “If I am skilled at my
craft, I prove my moral virtue.”
Bond. “My blade is my life and I
constantly practice and improve.”
Flaw. “I’m quick to pass
judgement on others and fear that
their failure to live up to my perfect
standards taints my own efforts.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
STEVE JAKKI
Male Human
Steve is always working a heist. He
has an eye for detail and absorbing
complex information. His schemes
work surprisingly well for how
hairbrained they usually are.
Steve has the Sidekick (scout
expert) feature.
Personality. “I’m flattered you
sought me out, but I’m on the
straight and narrow now. But, uh,
while you’re here, how big did you
say the haul is again?”
Ideal. “No heist is too difficult for
me. Simple jobs aren’t even worth
it at this point.”
Bond. “I am aggressively proud
of Cormyr’s history and culture.”
Flaw. “Everyone has a price,
including me.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
RETHA HIBO
Female Half-orc
Retha enjoys debating philosophy
and the nature of mortals. She
tends to do so while chain smoking
cheap pipe weed and double fisting
the strongest ale available.
Retha has the Artillerist feature.
Personality. “Do you think
meeting violence with violence only
serves to perpetuate hatred? Hold
on—WE NEED MORE BALLISTA
BOLTS OVER HERE!—Sorry, you
were saying?”
Ideal. “Logic, rationality, cause
and effect—these are the only
things one can truly trust.”
Bond. “I write my daughter a
new letter every evening.”
Flaw. “Priests are all charlatans
and need to be exposed.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
“HURRICANE” B ECKETT
Female Half-elf
Hurricane appears windswept and
tired. She can read the wind better
than any sailor on the sea though
and always seems to know when
other ships are close by.
Hurricane has the Pilot (water
vehicles) feature.
Personality. “We sail for
treasure, but we sail by fraternity.”
Ideal. “Laws and regulations are
simply guidelines.”
Bond. “I served my captain
faithfully and he marooned me in
return. I will repay that deed.”
Flaw. “I struggle to trust people
in positions of authority.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
GWENDAL FRAÑSEZ
Male Rock Gnome
Gwendal’s full head of black hair
makes his stark white beard look
especially odd. Tattoos of religious
iconography cover his arms
beneath his sleeveless tunic.
Gwendal has the Technologist
(alchemist’s supplies) feature.
Personality. “Mortals cannot
understand the secrets of the gods,
but we can try.”
Ideal. “Knowledge is the only
treasure worth dying for.”
Bond. “I regularly send my
fieldnotes to Candlekeep.”
Flaw. “It’s an irrational fear, but
I feel I must placate each and every
god in this world or end up
suffering their ire.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
ELWIT ULDAIR
Male Half-elf
Elwit is an apprentice in the
Arcane Brotherhood. He is viewed
as an accomplished young mage, a
reputation that fast tracks him
both for promotion and for
assassination attempts.
Elwit has the Master Trainer
(graviturgy spells) feature.
Personality. “If you are not
useful, you are useless.”
Ideal. “Power is not a means; it
is an end.”
Bond. “One of the Hosttower
Overwizards promised his
patronage should I discover the
machinations of his rival.”
Flaw. “Any collateral damage in
my ascent to greatness is
acceptable loss.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
MALICIA GRIM
Female Human
Malicia looks like the kind of
person who asks questions. Her
hair is too red, and her nose is too
long. No good comes of that sort of
thing.
Malicia has the Quartermaster
feature.
Personality. “If you don’t turn
your life into a story, you just
become part of someone else’s
story.”
Ideal. “Everyone can be
understood—and controlled—if you
know the right story.”
Bond. “The women in my family
were great storytellers. I must be
as well.”
Flaw. “I cannot leave a mystery
unsolved.”
● CREW MEMBER ●
AELYNNA M OSSWIND
Female Wood Elf
Aelynna works as a caravan guide
and has stories of her adventures
from all across Faerûn.
Aelynna has the Informant
(Emerald Enclave) feature.
Personality. “Every day on the
road is completely different. Or
perhaps it is we who are different
each day we spend traveling it.”
Ideal. “Both the sheep and the
lion have their proper place in the
circle of life.”
Bond. “I have sworn to defend
both wilderness and civilization
from one another.”
Flaw. “I want to see the best in
people and as a result often accept
obvious lies and jokes as reality.”
● CREW MEMBER ●