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:
—
Monthly Wage:
60 gp
Alchemist
Class:
Skills:
Alchemist's Supplies (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
60 gp
Animal tender/groom
Class:
Skills:
Handle Animal (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Apprentice spellcaster
Class:
Wizard
Skills:
Arcana (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
60 gp
Architect/engineer
Class:
Skills:
History (+3), Mason's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
30 gp
Artisan
Class:
Skills:
Painter's Supplies (+5) / Mason's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
25 gp
Bartender/Innkeeper
Class:
Skills:
Persuasion (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Butler
Class:
Skills:
Diplomacy (+3), History (+2)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Riding (Horse) (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
682 gp
Monthly Wage:
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:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Cook
Class:
Skills:
Cook's Utensils (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Entertainer/Performer
Class:
Bard
Skills:
Performance (+5) and/or Musical Instrument (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Perception (+5), Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
90 gp
Monthly Wage:
8 gp
Equipment: chainmail (75gp), guisarme (10gp), heavy pick (5gp)
Laborer
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Librarian
Class:
Skills:
Knowledge (History, Arcana or Religion) (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Maid
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Craftsperson (i.e. Mason)
Class:
Skills:
Associated Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
15 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Level 2, Weapon and Armor Proficiencies, Persuasion (Diplomacy) (+5)
Equip Cost:
427 gp
Monthly Wage:
30 gp
Equipment: breastplate (400gp), large steel shield (10gp), longsword (15gp), dagger (2gp)
Sage
Class:
Skills:
Knowledge (any) (+7)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
90 gp
Scribe
Class:
Skills:
Calligrapher's Tools (+3), History (any) (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Servant
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
63 gp
Monthly Wage:
8 gp
Equipment: leather armor (10gp), longbow (50gp), 20 arrows (1gp), dagger (2gp)
Smith
Class:
Skills:
Smith's Tools (+5)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
20 gp
Torturer/Inquisitor
Class:
Skills:
Intimidation (+5), Medicine (+3)
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
12 gp
Valet/Lackey
Class:
Skills:
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
6 gp
Any PC Class
Class:
Varies
Skills:
Varies
Equip Cost:
—
Monthly Wage:
60 gp
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
75 gp
Monthly Wage:
8 gp
Equipment: scale mail armor (50gp), large wooden shield (10gp), longsword (15gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
225 gp
Monthly Wage:
8 gp
Equipment: splint mail armor (200gp), large wooden shield (10gp), longsword (15gp)
Class:
Fighter
Skills:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies
Equip Cost:
106 gp
Monthly Wage:
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
Monthly Wage:
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
Monthly Wage:
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.
