Question Regarding Mercenaries

[Craig Greeson]

Greetings all,
I've never liked the fact the BR Rulebook basically says a character can
hire an unlimited number of mercenary units as long as his gold holds out.
I'm creating some rules to somewhat limit the availability of "general"
mercenary units in my campaign and make standing mercenary companies more
in demand. I have a question for you military historians, and for anyone
else who would just like to throw their 2GB in. Of the various mercenary
units, which do you feel would be more readily available than others, and
which could be formed together quickly vs. requiring long training
together? Here's what I was thinking:

Merc. Irregulars: Common / virtually no training required
Merc. Archers: Uncommon / little training required
Merc. Infantry: Uncommon / some training required
Merc. Pikemen: Rare / training required
Merc. Cavalry: Very Rare / training required

Currently, I'm leaning toward making only Irregulars, Archers, and Infantry
available via a general call for mercenaries. It seems to me these units
could be put together relatively quickly from freelancing men at arms.
Pikemen and Cavalry, on the other hand, seem to me to be more specialized.
It doesn't seem like you should just be able to throw together some guys
who have handled a pike before and say "OK, go stand fast against a charge
by Ghoere's Iron Guard." Plus, as I said earlier, I'd like to see some
standing mercenary companies I'm developing get more involved in the
campaign.

Any opinions?

Regards
Craig

[darkstar]

Craig Greeson wrote:
>
> Greetings all,
> I've never liked the fact the BR Rulebook basically says a character can
> hire an unlimited number of mercenary units as long as his gold holds out.
> I'm creating some rules to somewhat limit the availability of "general"
> mercenary units in my campaign and make standing mercenary companies more
> in demand. I have a question for you military historians, and for anyone
> else who would just like to throw their 2GB in. Of the various mercenary
> units, which do you feel would be more readily available than others, and
> which could be formed together quickly vs. requiring long training
> together? Here's what I was thinking:

What I have always done is only make a set number of mercenary armies
avalible for hire at any one time. That way no-one can hire an unlimited
number, only the currently avalible units.
Below is the sort of information that I wrote up.

List of Mercenary Companies.

- - The Silver Knights
COSTS: 20 GB/Year
TYPE: Specialist Bodyguards (3rd-5th level fighters)
SIZE: 1 Unit (45 men)
LEADER: Husien Jurntien (MA; F10; An, tainted, 10; Age 47)
BASED: The Imperial City
EMPLOYER: Avanil

- - The Blood Swords
COSTS: 2-3 GB/Month (each unit)
TYPE: Infantry and Cavalry
SIZE: 3 units of Infatry, 2 of Cavalry
LEADER: Tern the younger (MA; F6; Unblooded; Age 54)
BASED: Ghoere
EMPLOYER: Ghoere

- - The Ghoerean Militia
COSTS: 2 GB/Month (each unit)
TYPE: Infantry and Scouts
SIZE: 3 Infantry, 1 Scout
LEADER: Stiele Tiegren (MA; F2; Unblooded; Age 23)
BASED: Ghoere
EMPLOYER: None

- - The Forest Wardens
COSTS: 4 GB/Month (each unit)
TYPE: Elven Knights
SIZE: 2 units
LEADER: Eagadagiht Fionelina (MEf; F7; Unblooded; Age 454)
BASED: Elinie
EMPLOYER: None

- - The Axes of Baruk-Azhik
COSTS: 3 GB/Month (each unit)
TYPE: Dwarven warriors and crossbows
SIZE: 2 infantry, 1 archers
LEADER: Kuldzir Wainier (MDw; F5l Unblooded; Age 132)
BASED: Coeranys/Baruk-Azhik
EMPLOYER: None

- --
Ian Hoskins

e-Mail: hoss@box.net.au
Homepage: http://www.box.net.au/~hoss

ICQ: 2938300 AIM: IHoskins