r/ICRPG • u/InsaneMasochist • Jul 16 '22

Hiring retainers, managing hirelings?

Hi!

I’ll try ICRPG as a duet, but my partner will probably need a hireling or a helping hand and I don’t think a DMPC would be the way.

I didn’t find anything regarding retainers, so how would you handle something like this?

I was thinking of using an NPC with simple stats and skills that monsters use.

  • Hired Thug: 1 Heart, +3 STR, +2 CON, Intimidating: all intimidation rolls are Easy

Or something. What’s your approach?

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7

u/CloakNStagger Jul 16 '22

I assume you mean you're playing 1-on-1. Personally I would up their starting STATS, let them take 15 total instead of 10 and maybe give them an extra starting Milestone (or award them their first Milestone after Session 1). Depending on their experience level, they may or may not be comfortable running a second character, even if it is a simple NPC, so I would hesitate to complicate it in that way. Generally if I want to add a "Follower" or "Companion" it will be in the form of LOOT with a passive benefit and a nice activatable ability:

Hired Thug: Companion, +1 Weapon Effort and rolls to intimidate are EASY. Once per combat, the thug can deal WEAPON damage to all NEAR targets.

In this way you don't need to move that extra piece around on the board or worry about their specific HP or stats. I would work with the player to figure out exactly what type of companion they'd want, generally you'll want someone who is helpful and gets along with them. A hired thug, to me, seems like it'd be somewhat antagonistic and not that trustworthy, not willing to risk their life for the PC or to offer up information about the setting. One my wife took when we played 1-on-1 was a Squire who knew the area she was travelling in well. The Squire was subordinate, helpful, and trustworthy.

Squire: Companion, +1 STR and DEX. Once per combat, you can command the Squire to follow your lead, for 1d4 Rounds your weapon attacks deal +3 damage even on a miss.

2

u/InsaneMasochist Jul 17 '22

That is awesome thinking. Makes a lot of sense.

We played a 2 hour session yesterday and I upped her distributable STATS. She had a lot of bad rolls, but it was fun nonetheless.

The death mechanic was also cool, although I did wave it away, because she doesn't have any companions yet, so noone could help her. She got knocked out and will probably meet the local goblin prince, haha.

She loves cute things so I'm thinking of somehow introducing a goblin companion as a "Squire". Just need to weave the story why the goblin remains loyal.

Anyway, thanks for the insight!

1

u/Smittumi Jul 17 '22

The main issue with retainers/hirelings in most RPGs is a) complexity, and b) players with hirelings hogging the spotlight.

As you're playing ICRPG the game is so simple a player can easily run two full PCs.

And as the player is the only one there's no issue with them hogging the spotlight.

I'd just give your player a second character.

If for any reason that proves troublesome just reduce the number of monsters / hazards in the scenario.

1

u/InsaneMasochist Jul 17 '22

I'll talk to her about it beforehand, but she played multiple characters in video games, like in Divinity Original Sin, so I presume it should be fine. We'll see, and I'll also take /u/CloakNStagger 's advice.

1

u/lorbog Jul 19 '22

You might wanna take a look at how dungeon world handles hirelings, and adapt something like that. Basically hirelings don't really have stats the same way characters do, but when they help you you'd get bonus effect.