score array of 13,12, 11, 10,9, and 8 for nonelite NPCs (adept, aristocrat, commoner, expert, and warrior). the highest score (13) is always in the hireling’s key ability, which grants a +1 bonus on skill checks. For example, an average blacksmith has a 13 Intelligence, because it is the key ability for the Craft (black- smithing) skill. Finally, assume that the hireling has Skill Focus for his primary skill as one of his feats, showing his dedication to his profession, ‘The typical ist-evel hireling has a total bonus of +7 oon checks involving his primary skill (¢ ranks, +2 for Shall Focus, +4 for ability score modifier). Hirelings increase their primary skill by +1 rank every level (the maximum allowed). They always increase their key ability as they progress through levels, which ‘TaBLe 4-2: PRIMARY SKILLS FOR HIRELINGS. Hireling Alchemist Animal tender/groom Animal trainer Animal trainer, exotic Apothecary Appraiser Architect Acmoter Barrister Blacksmith Bookbinder Bowyer Brazier Brewer Butler Carpenter Cartographer Cartwright Chandler Clerk Cobbler Coiffeur Coffinmaker Composer Cook Cooper Courier (in town) Courier (out of town) Primary Skills Alchemy Handle Animal Handle Animal, Animal Empathy Handle Animal, Animal Empathy Knowledge (herbs). Alchemy Appraise Profession (architect) ‘rat (armorsmithing) Diplomacy ‘Craft (blacksmithing) ‘Graft (bookbinding) Craft (bowmaking) Craft (brassmaking) Craft (brewing) Diplomacy, Profession (butler) Craft (woodworking) Craft (mapmaking), Forgery Craft (woodworking) Graft (candlemaking) Profession (clerk) ‘Craft (shoemaking) Profession (hairdresser) Craft (woodworking) Perform (any) Profession (cook) Craft (woodworking) Knowledge (local area), Run feat Knowledge (local area), Ride Craft (coppersmithing) Intuit Direction raft (dyemaking) Profession (embalmer), Alchemy Profession (engineer) Knowledge (tactics) Perform (any) raft (bowraking) Diplomacy, Knowledge (nobility) Craft (gemecutting) ‘Craft (goldsmithing) Diplomacy, Knowledge (nobility) Engineer, siege Entertainer/performer Fletcher Footman Gemcutter Goldsmith Governess Guide (wilderness) Guide (city) Haberdasher Healer (spelleaster) Horner Knowledge (local), Diplomacy Craft (hatmaking) Heal, cure light wounds Craft (hornvworking) Knowledge (local), Wilderness Lore {grants an additional +1 bonus on checks using skill at 4th, 12th, and 2orh level ‘An artisan is considered an apprentice until he gained 7 ranks in his primary skill. At chat point, artisan community that he belongs to grants him th title of journeyman. When the artisan has gained ranks in his primary skill, he earns the title of mase ‘These titles have no game play effect but greatly inl cence how the artisan is treated in social situations sth level and higher, an artisan is likely to have h ‘own set of masterwork tools (ifthe skill uses too See Special and Superior Items in Chapter 7 of Players Handbook for the benefits of masterwork tool Table 4-2: Primary Skills for Hirelings gives variety of laborers, artisans, and other hirelin Key Typical Abilities NPC Class Int Expert Cha Commoner Cha Expert Cha Expert int Expert Int Expert Wis Expert Int Expert Cha Expert Int Expert Int Expert Int Commoner or expert Int Expert Int Commoner or expert Cha, Wis Expert Int Expert Int Expert Int Commoner or expert Int Commoner or expert Wis Commoner or expert Int Commoner or expert Wis Commoner Int Commoner or expert Cha Expert Wis Commoner or expert Int Commoner or expert Int, Con Commoner Int, Dex Commoner Int Expert Wis Commoner or adept Int Expert Wis, Int Expert Wis Expert Int Expert Cha Commoner or expert Int Expert Cha, Int Commoner Int Expert Int Expert Cha, Int Expert Int, Wis Commoner or expert Int, Cha Commoner or expert Int Commoner or expert Wis Adept Int Expert Active) Per Day? Sedentar Vep 1s 8p 1 gp+ Vee 35p 5p 35p Vep 35p 35p 35p 35p 3p 5sp 3sp 4sp 2sp 2p 4sp 35p 2sp 35p 4sp isp 33 2eps 2eps 33p Vep 2p 3p 5p 2 gp 4p 3p Vsp 45p 4sp 4sp 35p 35p 2sp Ssp2 aspg commonly employed spellcasters. It also ides the primary skill used by 2 given hireling, Hey ability for that skill,and the average wage per ay for that hireling. nless otherwise specified, assume that the g also has the Profession skill in his related K. $o, an armorer would have Craft (armor: his primary skill, governing his ability to anufacrure armor, and Profession (armorer) for his owledge ofthe field, types of armor, and so on. and Profession Skills hen creating characters, players usually focus on ghing ability. They sometimes skimp on certain that may not seem glamorous but can prove very indy. The Craft and Profession skills in particular are 4-2: Primary SKiLts FOR HiRELINGS (CONT.) ary Skills Speak Language Craft (jewelmaking) Craft (any) oF none Profession (launderer) Craft (painting) Craft (iocksmithing) Profession (maid) Profession (masseuse) Diplomacy, Sense Motive Profession (midwife) aft (milling) Intuit Direction, Profession (sailor) Profession (nursemaid) raft (painting) raft (parchmentmaking) Gat (pewtermaking) Profession (cleaner) Graft (any) oF none Craft (potterymaking) Knowledge (any) Profession (sailor) Profession (sailor), Intimidate Profession (scribe) Craft (sculpting) Handle Animal Craft (shipmaking) ‘Craft (silversmithing) Graft (skinning) ‘Graft (soapmaking) Scry divination aft (tanning) Handle Animal, Ride Diplomacy Caat (winemaking) Craft (weaponsmithing) Craft (weaving) aft (wheelmaking) Sailor (mate) ribe Sculptor Shipwright mith Skinner "Scapmaker Soothsayer (splleastr) Tanner Teamster Valet Vintner Weaponsmith Weaver Wheelwright excellent for defining what the character does and ‘what sort of background she came from. Pethaps shes 2 fighter who learned to wield a sword that she created herself while working as a blacksmith’s apprentice. Alternatively, maybe she’ a rogue who learned the intricacies of locks and traps while under the tutelage of alocal locksmith, ‘There may be times during a game when a PCs Craft or Profession skill can shine. A character with any sort of Craft skill, such as smithing, carpentry, or stoneworking can create items on the fly when needed. In addition, such characters can possess cru- cial information about the properties of objects such as doors, walls, and tunnels. A fletcher can provide the party with a ready source of ammunition. A weaponsmith can construct swords and spears to Typical NPC Class Expert expert Commoner Commoner ‘Commoner or expert, Exper ‘Commie Exper Commoner Commoner or expert, Commoner or expert Expert Commoner Expert Expert Expert Commoner Commoner Commoner Expert Commoner or expert Wage Active) Per Day Sedentary 3p asp 138 1p bsp 43 15p 2ep 2s isp 2sp isp 1p Tgp 35 3sp ap Isp asp Des 1p Int Int Str Wis Int Int Wis Wis Cha, Wis Wis Int Wis Wis Int Int Int wis Str? Int Int Wis Wis, Cha Wis lat Cha Tat Int Int Int Int Int Cha, Dex Cha Tat Int Int Int Expert Expert Expert Commoner Expert Expert Commoner Commoner or expert Expert or adept Commoner oF expert Commoner Commoner Expert Expert Commoner or expert Expert 4sp 3p 6sp 1p lp 4p 35p 1sp 1 gp? 2sp 3p 2sp 4sp Asp 2sp 3p WOME r>nnnODE>VAr>DVUO>BOBHE>HHBEDOOHEOY ‘fa hireling is being paid to create a specific item, use item prices and working times instead. Wage given is for long. ‘tm retention of services. Wages do not include the cost of materials or tools, “Laborers and porters commonly have a Craft skill but are hired for their strength and endurance. 2 Daily wage only. Each casting of a spel costs additional money (see Hiring Spellcasters, below) otic animal trainers and sages often charge more than this for their services. {Minimurn daly wage;TABLE 44: SAMPLE MERCENARY EQUIPMENT Base Attack “Troop Type Level Bonus Cost ‘Skirmishers, Foot Padded, buckley, sling, halfspear Ist 3 21 gp Padded, throwing axes (3), dagger Ist 8 330 Leather, large wooden shield, javelins (5), short sword ist 8 32 gp Padded, shortbow, light mace Ist a 41 gp Leather, ight crossbow, handaxe Ist 3 51 gp Studded leather, buckler, shortbow, scimitar ist 8 86 ap Skirmishers, Mounted Studded leather, sling, light pick, light war horse ath 46 2058p Studded leather, small wooden shield, javelins (5), short sword, ath 46 2198p light war horse Leather, composite shortbow, light mace ight war horse ath 46 2668p Light Foot Leather, small wooden shield, battleaxe, throwing axe Ist 8 31 ep Studded leather, large wooden shield, shortspear, ight hammer Ist 8 35 gp Studded leather, longspear, short sword ist 8 4080 Leather, heavy crossbow, dagger Ist 8 63 ep Leather, longbow, dagger Ist 8 88 gp Leather, composite longbow, dagger Ist 43113 gp Light Mounted ‘Studded leather, small wooden shield, shortspear, light fail, ath 46 (24 gp light warhorse swdded leather small wooden shield ight ance, light mace ah 45 25g light warhorse Leather, buckler, scimitar, dagger, light warhorse 4th 14 46 218 gp Medium Foot Scale mail, halberd, morningstar Ind 14 44 68 gp Scale mail, ranseur, longsword and 1434 75 8p Scale mail, small siel shield, longsword, dagger and 1544 76 gp ‘Chainmail, longspear, short sword 3rd 1545165 gD Splint mail, guisarme, heavy pick Sth 16 47217 gp Breastplate, small steel shield, wathammer, dagger Sth 1647 223.gp Medium Mounted Chainmail, small steel shield, longsword, dagger, heavy warhorse 8th 1611/46 ——602g0. Scale mail, small wooden shield, trident, short sword, heavy warhorse, 8th 16 +11/46 604 gp studded leather barding Breastplate, small steel shield, light Mall light pick, heavy wathorse, Sth 16 —«+12/47._— «687 gp leather barding Heavy Foot Splint mail, greatsword, dagger Sth 16 47 252¢p ‘Splint mail, large steel shield, heavy mace, short sword Sth 18 +7242 gp Banded mail, heavy fal, dagger Sth 16 47 267¢p Banded mail, large steel shield, batleaxe, throwing axe Sth 18 47 288gp Splint mail, greataxe, short sword Sth 16 47 2308p Heavy Mounted Banded mail, large steel shield, warhammer, short sword, Toth 19 413/48 916 gp heavy warhorse, scale barding Halfplate large steel shield, heavy pick, battleaxe, heavy warhorse, 10th 18 +13/+8 1,664 gp chainmail bardin Haléplate, large steel shielé, heavy lance, longsword, heavy wathorse, 12th 20. +16/+10)/+61,57 gp chainmail barding ‘equipment, usually the better the warrior. Ifyou hire better equipment (assuming they obtained it throug mercenaries who have expensive equipment (espe-_spoils of war, by formerly working as guards, or i cially mounted troops), be prepared to pay more per some other reason). They still demand the wage d day. The equipment on the table does not include any the level corresponding to their equipment, so its magic items, which should be very rare among regu- to the PCs to decide if they want to pay that d Jar mercenaries. Typically, a warrior should be atleast wage for less able troops. 7th level before owning some kind of magic weapon You can hire troops with no arms or armor af or armor, equip them yourself. The daily wage for these mer If troops of a particular level are not available in _naries is 2 sp X level for foot troops and 4 sp x k the area, the DM can allow lower-level troops to have for mounted ones. Of course, you have to provid