Sidebar #7 – Hirelings & Followers by Taylor C. Huber is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin Games for use with Pathfinder. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
This is a six page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $3 but was purchased at the greatly reduced price of $0.11 as part of a special bundle. One page is the cover and front matter and one the Open Game License.
The opening paragraphs state that players often forget that characters can have hirelings, skilled NPCs paid for said skills, and followers, skilled NPCs recruited by those with the Leadership feat, and more often than not treat such hirelings as simply fodder. If the character has a high enough cost of living, they do not need to pay for some hirelings, as these would be included in the cost. There are also suggestions on when to use them in game.
The main section is Hirelings and Followers. Each is laid out in a similar way; their name (not actually there name but their skill), price (at common rates), benefit gained from hiring them, the level of follower that the hireling can be recruited to fill and the follower benefit, which is what someone with the Leadership feat gains from having them.
There are eleven followers, which are handily summarised in a table, as well as being described in more detail.
Chroniclers can create stories, songs and poems that can provide Charisma benefits. Companions give a single morale bonus. Chefs/cooks can provide bonuses to Fortitude and Constitution; skilled chefs a bonus to Charisma. Fences help sell goods. Lawyers help moderate criminal charges. Mercenaries fight. Messengers deliver messages. Nurses have healing skills. Physicians have better healing skills. Porters carry stuff. Valets reduce the cost of room and food at places stayed at.
Sidebar #7 – Hirelings & Followers in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, at six pages, does not really need them. The text maintains a two column colour format and appeared to be free of errors. Bar on the front cover, the supplement lacks anything in the way of illustrations. Presentation is okay.
These sort of hirelings are more commonly founded in original and OSR game systems compared to modern ones, where characters were expected to have hirelings. Better lists of such can often be found in said systems; however, newer games are far more complicated so there are more mechanical bonuses that can be gained from followers. Converting an old list would take time. The supplement does give some definite game benefits for hiring people to aid characters. At full price, this is a little expensive for what it is. At the price paid, it was a bargain. A preferred price would probably be between the two. Sidebar #7 – Hirelings & Followers is a decent enough but potentially expensive supplement that can be found by clicking here.
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