This page is useful for calculating staff wages and equipment. Most stronghold staff are commoners (level 0), although some are level 1 in specific classes (for example, guards are level 1 fighters). For a list of mercenaries,
click here.
Wages: Each staff member has a monthly wage, which must be paid promptly or your staff may seek employment elsewhere. Default cost for hiring unskilled labor is 2sp/day (6gp/month). This should be considered a "minimum wage" and is enough to pay for basic living expenses and not much else. This is considered a "Poor" lifestyle in D&D. In poor kingdoms this may be less (1sp/day) and in wealthy areas, this can more (as much as 5sp/day). The default cost for skilled labor is 2gp/day (60gp/month).
Uniforms and Gear: Your staff can wear their regular clothing, but many choose to have their staff wear an appropriate uniform [common uniform (7sp), fancy uniform (5gp)]; Guards, soldiers and cavalry must be armed with the appropriate equipment (costs and items are listed below).
Staff
Class
Skills
Equip Cost
Monthly Wage
Acolyte
Class:
Cleric
Skills:
Religion (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
60 gp
Alchemist
Class:
Skills:
Alchemist's Supplies (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
60 gp
Animal tender/groom
Class:
Skills:
Handle Animal (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Apprentice spellcaster
Class:
Wizard
Skills:
Arcana (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
60 gp
Architect/engineer
Class:
Skills:
History (+3), Mason's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
30 gp
Artisan
Class:
Skills:
Painter's Supplies (+5) / Mason's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
25 gp
Bartender/Innkeeper
Class:
Skills:
Persuasion (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Butler
Class:
Skills:
Diplomacy (+3), History (+2)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Riding (Horse) (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
682 gp
Equip Cost:
20 gp
Equipment: light warhorse (400gp) with studded leather barding (180gp), bit and bridle (2gp), military saddle (20gp), scale mail armor (50gp), large wooden shield (10gp), heavy lance (10gp), light flail (10gp)
Clerk
Class:
Skills:
Knowledge (History, Arcana or Religion) (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Cook
Class:
Skills:
Cook's Utensils (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Entertainer/Performer
Class:
Bard
Skills:
Performance (+5) and/or Musical Instrument (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Perception (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
90 gp
Equip Cost:
8 gp
Equipment: chainmail (75gp), guisarme (10gp), heavy pick (5gp)
Laborer
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Librarian
Class:
Skills:
Knowledge (History, Arcana or Religion) (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Maid
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Craftsperson (i.e. Mason)
Class:
Skills:
Associated Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
15 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Level 2, Weapon and Armor Proficiencies, Persuasion (Diplomacy) (+5)
Equip Cost:
427 gp
Equip Cost:
30 gp
Equipment: breastplate (400gp), large steel shield (10gp), longsword (15gp), dagger (2gp)
Sage
Class:
Skills:
Knowledge (any) (+7)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
90 gp
Scribe
Class:
Skills:
Calligrapher's Tools (+3), History (any) (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Servant
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
63 gp
Equip Cost:
8 gp
Equipment: leather armor (10gp), longbow (50gp), 20 arrows (1gp), dagger (2gp)
Smith
Class:
Skills:
Smith's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
20 gp
Torturer/Inquisitor
Class:
Skills:
Intimidation (+5), Medicine (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
12 gp
Valet/Lackey
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
6 gp
Any PC Class
Class:
Varies
Skills:
Varies
Equip Cost:
—
Equip Cost:
60 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
75 gp
Equip Cost:
8 gp
Equipment: scale mail armor (50gp), large wooden shield (10gp), longsword (15gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
225 gp
Equip Cost:
8 gp
Equipment: splint mail armor (200gp), large wooden shield (10gp), longsword (15gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
106 gp
Equip Cost:
8 gp
Equipment: studded leather armor (45gp), buckler (10gp), shortbow (25gp), 20 arrows (1gp), scimitar (25gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Riding (Horse) (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
957 gp
Equip Cost:
30 gp
Equipment: heavy warhorse (400gp) with chainmail barding (300gp), bit and bridle (2gp), military saddle (20gp), banded mail (200gp), large wooden shield (10gp), heavy lance (10gp), longsword (15gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Riding (Horse) (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
504 gp
Equip Cost:
30 gp
Equipment: light warhorse (400gp), bit and bridle (2gp), military saddle (20gp), studded leather armor (45gp), shortbow (25gp), 20 arrows (1gp), quiver (1gp), short sword (10gp)
* Full-time guards for a stronghold get paid 8gp per month (just under 3sp per day). However, hiring a guard for short-term work (only a few days) can cost more.
