Retainer - Revision history

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2023-06-22T15:30:45Z

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2023-06-19T03:21:16Z

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1d4chan>Zimriel: shuffling it up a bit

2021-08-24T23:36:45Z

shuffling it up a bit

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:36, 24 August 2021
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	'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-rent in role-playing games.		'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-rent in role-playing games.

	~~Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, is~~ the ~~'''henchman'''. He is a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out~~ of ~~"admiration" for the PCs~~. ~~Henchmen don't flock to Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, and~~ [[Tom Moldvay]] ~~and~~ [[~~Frank Mentzer~~]] ~~both thought they were stupid~~. ~~But in~~ [[~~Advanced Dungeons & Dragons~~]] they'~~re a thing in both 1e and 2e~~. ~~Once~~ the ~~party gains~~ a ~~rep~~ - as in~~, they're Expert level -~~ the ~~henchies will~~ be ~~coming. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call~~.		Retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Tom Moldvay]] detailed them in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons\|his red Basic book]] but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For Moldvay-n'-[[Frank Mentzer\|Mentzer]], they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer (nor henchman - we'll get to him) will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay in particular believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity.

	~~As intimated above~~, ~~retainers have helped out undermanned gaming~~-~~tables since~~ the ~~old days~~ of ~~[[Dungeons~~ & ~~Dragons]]~~. ~~Moldvay~~ in [[~~Basic~~ Dungeons & Dragons]] ~~detailed them~~ in ~~his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]~~. ~~For M&M~~, they ~~are NPCs with their own~~ level-~~progression; but they don't make~~ their ~~own decisions~~, ~~so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer (nor henchman) will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty~~-~~check mechanic. Moldvay in particular believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity~~. And if the retainer thinks the party is [[awesome]] enough he might end up a henchman.		Related, in ''older''-school D&D, is the '''henchman'''. He is a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. Henchmen don't flock to Basic-level parties like those which Eric Holmes was serving, and M&M both thought they were stupid. But in [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] they are a thing in both 1e and 2e. Once the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the henchies will be coming. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call. And if the retainer thinks the party is [[awesome]] enough he might end up a henchman.

	Moldvay tried to distinguish "retainer" from "hirelings", the latter which he promised for the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc". And oops, "forgot" to mention henchmen.		Moldvay tried to distinguish "retainer" from "hirelings", the latter which he promised for the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc". And oops, "forgot" to mention henchmen.

1d4chan>QuietBrowser at 00:24, 23 August 2021

2021-08-23T00:24:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:24, 23 August 2021
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	Moldvay tried to distinguish "retainer" from "hirelings", the latter which he promised for the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc". And oops, "forgot" to mention henchmen.		Moldvay tried to distinguish "retainer" from "hirelings", the latter which he promised for the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc". And oops, "forgot" to mention henchmen.

			The rules survived in a somewhat simplified format in [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]], and were largely gated behind [[feat]]s.

			[[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]] left them out of the [[Player's Handbook]] and [[Dungeon Master's Guide]], but added them back in with an [[Unearthed Arcana]] article in [[Dragon Magazine]] #397 - [[Stronghold]]s having returned in Dragon #395.

	As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline (usually technically Retainers) became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.		As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline (usually technically Retainers) became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.

1d4chan>Zimriel at 17:42, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T17:42:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:42, 22 August 2021
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	'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-~~hire~~ in role-playing games.		'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-rent in role-playing games.

	Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, is the '''henchman'''. He is a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. Henchmen don't flock to Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, and [[Tom Moldvay]] and [[Frank Mentzer]] both thought they were stupid. But in [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] they're a thing in both 1e and 2e. Once the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the henchies will be coming. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call.		Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, is the '''henchman'''. He is a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. Henchmen don't flock to Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, and [[Tom Moldvay]] and [[Frank Mentzer]] both thought they were stupid. But in [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] they're a thing in both 1e and 2e. Once the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the henchies will be coming. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call.
Line 5:		Line 5:
	As intimated above, retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. Moldvay in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For M&M, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer (nor henchman) will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay in particular believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity. And if the retainer thinks the party is [[awesome]] enough he might end up a henchman.		As intimated above, retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. Moldvay in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For M&M, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer (nor henchman) will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay in particular believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity. And if the retainer thinks the party is [[awesome]] enough he might end up a henchman.

	Moldvay ~~promised~~ "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".		Moldvay tried to distinguish "retainer" from "hirelings", the latter which he promised for the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc". And oops, "forgot" to mention henchmen.

	As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline (usually technically Retainers) became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.		As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline (usually technically Retainers) became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.

1d4chan>Zimriel at 17:39, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T17:39:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 22 August 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games.		'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games.

	Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, ~~was~~ the '''henchman'''. He ~~was~~ a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. ~~This was so laughable, especially for~~ Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, ~~that it quietly slipped out of the game~~. ~~Although once~~ the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the ~~groupies~~ will be coming ~~anyway~~. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call~~. And make 'em carry your loot~~.		Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, is the '''henchman'''. He is a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. Henchmen don't flock to Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, and [[Tom Moldvay]] and [[Frank Mentzer]] both thought they were stupid. But in [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] they're a thing in both 1e and 2e. Once the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the henchies will be coming. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call.

	As intimated above, retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. ~~[[Tom~~ Moldvay]] in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For ~~Moldvay~~, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity.		As intimated above, retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. Moldvay in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For M&M, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer (nor henchman) will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay in particular believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity. And if the retainer thinks the party is [[awesome]] enough he might end up a henchman.

	Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".		Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".

1d4chan>Zimriel at 17:29, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T17:29:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:29, 22 August 2021
Line 7:		Line 7:
	Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".		Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".

	As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.		As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline (usually technically Retainers) became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.

	[[Category:Roleplaying]]		[[Category:Roleplaying]]
	[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]		[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]

1d4chan>Zimriel at 17:28, 22 August 2021

2021-08-22T17:28:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 22 August 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games~~. Often playfully nicknamed "henchmen" but that term is vague~~.		'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games.

	~~Retainers~~ have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Tom Moldvay]] in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For Moldvay, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity.		Related, at least for Eric Holmes in 1977, was the '''henchman'''. He was a ... groupie. Seriously: he serves for free out of "admiration" for the PCs. This was so laughable, especially for Basic-level parties like those which Holmes was serving, that it quietly slipped out of the game. Although once the party gains a rep - as in, they're Expert level - the groupies will be coming anyway. Listen for their "NOTICE ME, SENPAI" mating-call. And make 'em carry your loot.

			As intimated above, retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Tom Moldvay]] in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster\|DMs]] [[What\|away from using them yet]]. For Moldvay, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity.

	Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".		Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".

1d4chan>Zimriel: Created page with "'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games. Often playfully nicknamed "henchmen" but that term is vague. Retainers have helped out underm..."

2021-08-22T17:04:07Z

Created page with "'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games. Often playfully nicknamed "henchmen" but that term is vague. Retainers have helped out underm..."

New page

'''Retainers''' or '''hirelings''' are backstops-for-hire in role-playing games. Often playfully nicknamed "henchmen" but that term is vague.

Retainers have helped out undermanned gaming-tables since the old days of [[Dungeons & Dragons]]. [[Tom Moldvay]] in [[Basic Dungeons & Dragons]] detailed them in his red Basic book but warned inexperienced [[Gamemaster|DMs]] [[What|away from using them yet]]. For Moldvay, they are NPCs with their own level-progression; but they don't make their own decisions, so make only half the XP. Which is not to say that the retainer will obey every ''command''; there's a loyalty-check mechanic. Moldvay believed that the hiring of retainers should itself be a roleplaying opportunity.

Moldvay promised "hirelings" at the Expert level. The actual blue book we got detailed all sorts of specialists and mercenaries that might be hired to work on specific tasks beyond "take the pie away from the orc".

As lower-deck sorts of NPC, traipsing around a party of characters whose players tended either very young or socially-inept, the farcical potential of a "henchman"-focused storyline became too good to pass up. [[Knights of the Dinner Table]] and (especially) [[Nodwick]] explored these themes to great effect, landing both comics runs in ''[[Dragon Magazine]]''.

[[Category:Roleplaying]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]