SCHEDULE
Our next game is a week from today: 17:00 on July 15. All characters in Erin require downtime orders for the period July 11 through July 27, as the game date on Tuesday will be July 28, 1479. Please submit your orders no later than Saturday evening, July 12, at 18:00 whether you are joining the Tuesday session or not. (Please RSVP for the session at your earliest convenience.)
I mentioned after the last session that we now have characters on the continent, in Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, specifically. This turn of events highlights the fact that new characters can start anywhere (but not any-when!) the players like. In this case, it was an area I had not prepared to play in ahead of time, but I was able to learn a little bit about it in order to referee the session.
RULES UPDATE
In order to both be in better alignment with the AD&D 1e rules-as-written, and to allow greater player control over their game, dead characters' ratings will no longer be counted toward their player's average rating. This includes characters lost through in-game action and those who choose to "drink the hemlock" and be eliminated from the game. This change has only affected three players as the other characters knocked out of the game were killed in their first sessions, before they had contributed any ratings to their players' averages.
As with all rules variations, I would like your critical analysis, suggestions, questions, objections, and debate.
TIPS & TRICKS
Hirelings & Henchmen
These are two different types of employees that characters may have. Hirelings are usually zero-level (or in a few cases leveled, but incapable of advancement) humans (or semi-humans) filling a wide variety of roles from house servant, to lantern-bearer, to soldier, to sage. There is no limit on the number of hirelings that a character may employ, but soldiers, in particular, have some limitations. Hirelings will refuse to delve deeper than the third level of a dungeon. The number of mercenaries a character can command is limited to 5 for non-fighters, 10 per level for fighters below 4th level, and 20 per level for fighters above 4th (the rules are silent on how many troops a 4th level fighter may command). Hirelings may be commanded by players, but are controlled by the referee.
Henchmen are leveled characters in the employ of player characters which provide much greater benefit to players, though they also come at greater costs. Henchmen are effectively secondary player characters as they are under the players' direct control. Henchmen may accompany their liege character in sessions allowing the player to directly control more than one character at a time. Henchmen are capable of advancement. When accompanying their liege, they only earn 1/2 XP, but if converted to a primary PC, they may earn full XP.
The number of henchmen a character may have is limited by the liege character's charisma. Normally characters attract first level henchmen when searching for them, but it is possible to seek higher level henchmen. A prospective henchmen must be offered at least 100 gold per level and may be offered more to improve the chances that the offer is accepted. Likewise, all equipment must be provided for the henchman, living quarters, food, and clothing are all expected. The character must also explain the activities in which the henchman should expect to be engaged and what share of treasure he will be given. These factors affect the likelihood of the henchman accepting the character's offer as well as their base loyalty to the liege character.
A henchman will not normally accept employment with a character who is not at least 3 levels higher, but such leveled characters might be hired for a specific task or as a temporary associate. The rules are detailed on pages 34 - 37, and it's a good idea to read them in detail before attempting to attract any henchmen.