Iren's PbP - Fantasy Rules

[Irenaeus]

You can order your dog to bark, jump, or attack a different target as a distraction, using the Animal Training proficiency or the loyalty granted by a familiar/totem animal.
However, mechanically, this distraction would generally not translate into a direct, guaranteed attack bonus for your character unless the Judge determines that the maneuver successfully created a state of surprise or distraction great enough to apply a penalty to the enemy (effectively raising their AC or lowering their saving throws) or confer an advantage (like an Ambush bonus) based on the combat situation.
If the distraction involved the dog engaging the opponent physically, the dog would typically be making an attack itself, rather than granting a bonus to the character

This is more or less what the book says on dogs creating distractions, I'll have to think about it. What are your ideas and suggestions?

[DemoGraph]

@Irenaeus would you follow ACKS henchmen rules?
Because if yes, then max number of henchmen is 4 + CHA mod, so Felix can get only 2 out of 5 kids he got. Sad, I'll have to sell some of them for organs.

Also, I assume that kids are 0th level commoners. What are their stats?
ACKS core has attack rolls for 0th level chars on p. 102 (11+), saving throws on p. 108 (15-18+).
It doesn't have their HPs, and quick google shows that there's no definitive answer. It's either 1d4 - lowest among character classes OR 1d8 - p. 149 states that hit dice for monsters is 1d8 and that includes random humans.
Also there's this

I wondered about the hit points myself, so asked the writers over on the ACKS forums. They never did point me to a page reference, but did confirm that Level 0 guys have 1d4 hit points, and added that you should give soldiers/mercenaries 4 hit points, laborers/farmers 3 hit points, sedentary people 2 hit points, and total non-combatants 1 hit point.

Also, in ACKS Imperial Imprint (I have v120), p. 11 states that 0 levels roll 1d6 HP.
Negligent design notwithstanding, is it 2 or 3 + CON or something else?

[Irenaeus]

@Irenaeus would you follow ACKS henchmen rules?
Because if yes, then max number of henchmen is 4 + CHA mod, so Felix can get only 2 out of 5 kids he got. Sad, I'll have to sell some of them for organs.

Didn't you agreed to them being in equal standing with you and the rest of the party, let me re-read that part. As commoners they probably have 1d4+con modifier hp, they are certainly not "human monsters" which I imagine is for generic bandits or guards.

[Irenaeus]

@Irenaeus would you follow ACKS henchmen rules?
Because if yes, then max number of henchmen is 4 + CHA mod, so Felix can get only 2 out of 5 kids he got. Sad, I'll have to sell some of them for organs.

Didn't you agreed to them being in equal standing with you and the rest of the party, let me re-read that part. As commoners they probably have 1d4+con modifier hp, they are certainly not "human monsters" which I imagine is for generic bandits or guards.

I'm reading the recruitment process at the end of Chapter 1 and it seems I forgot to formalize it in a post, which means I'll just go with what you proposed to them since that's what makes sense now. Let me look up the details then.

Oh, I did it in the beginning of Chapter 2:

► Show Spoiler

Elsewhere in Vertidor, Flipping Felix, despite his notably poor charisma, had been busy. He moved through shadows and side-streets, seeking out the bold, the foolish, and the hungry-eyed with a blend of flashy card tricks, tales of worldly wisdom, and appeals to patriotism, glory and greed, anything that could stick. He successfully recruited Jarlo, Rikko, Clem, Leno, and Ionus, promising them an equal share in profits and hinting at "further rewards" if the delve into the rat's nest proved successful. His conditions were clear: he would command this auxiliary force, and they were to bring their own weapons – prioritizing shields, short spears, javelins, nets, and anything flammable or holy. Rags to cover faces and any available armor were also mandated.

Felix tasked Rikko, known for his local knowledge, with sharing all he knew of the town's underground and its rat infestation. The kid told him that he knew cellars, basements and other of the town's older foundations that could be access points at a street level. Rikko also told him about where mutated rats were most frequently sighted, as he had observed the increasingly aggressive nature and unusual size of the rats. He had heard and helped spread tales of the "King Rat" to other kids. Rikko told Felix that later they could talk more about local stories of of what lies beneath certain parts of Vertidor and unsettling rumors about hidden stashes and strange local groups and odd behaviors — places people avoid due to stories of disappearances or strange occurrences.

With his new recruits instructed to gather their gear and meet at the inn later that evening for further discussion, Felix planned to join Kal Arion. T

Now how to square this recruitment of 5 henchmen with the limit of 2 from Felix's charisma?

[DemoGraph]

@Irenaeus would you follow ACKS henchmen rules?
Because if yes, then max number of henchmen is 4 + CHA mod, so Felix can get only 2 out of 5 kids he got.

Didn't you agreed to them being in equal standing with you and the rest of the party, let me re-read that part.

I actually haven't read ACKs rules when I've tried to hire more people in the team. I did what seemed reasonable for Felix (including promising them equal loot shares).
Then I've read the rules and assumed that these guys should be henchmen, ergo CHA limit should apply.
If you consider them GMPCs, that's fine by me.

Edit.

Now how to square this recruitment of 5 henchmen with the limit of 2 from Felix's charisma?

I see three options.
- Consider them GMPCs.
- Give them to someone else.
- Houserule ****, because ACKs rules as written are unnecessary strict in this regard for whatever reason (probably some balance consideration for rule lawyers). According to them it's impossible for experienced dude to gather a dozen people on a venture without GM fiat (or unless they're PCs). So, e.g. village hunting parties can't be organized.

[Irenaeus]

@Irenaeus would you follow ACKS henchmen rules?
Because if yes, then max number of henchmen is 4 + CHA mod, so Felix can get only 2 out of 5 kids he got.

Didn't you agreed to them being in equal standing with you and the rest of the party, let me re-read that part.

I actually haven't read ACKs rules when I've tried to hire more people in the team. I did what seemed reasonable for Felix (including promising them equal loot shares).
Then I've read the rules and assumed that these guys should be henchmen, ergo CHA limit should apply.
If you consider them GMPCs, that's fine by me.

Edit.

Now how to square this recruitment of 5 henchmen with the limit of 2 from Felix's charisma?

I see three options.
- Consider them GMPCs.
- Give them to someone else.
- Houserule ****, because ACKs rules as written are unnecessary strict in this regard for whatever reason (probably some balance consideration for rule lawyers). According to them it's impossible for experienced dude to gather a dozen people on a venture without GM fiat (or unless they're PCs). So, e.g. village hunting parties can't be organized.

Unless someone else wants them as hirelings (or PCs), I'm considering giving you 2 of your choice as henchmen and the rest can be "ruffian" specialists who will not actively adventure in dungeon but may engage in "hijinks". Or the last 3 can become NPCs that I control as level 0 adventurers if the rest of the group agrees. Either way is fine by me. How about that?

[DemoGraph]

Ideally I'd take Jarlo and Rikko. We'll be dump CHA bastards.

But we'll definitely need twins for shield wall, because right now we have only clerics, rangers and dogs there. So if nobody takes them, and we play strictly by the rules, I'll take them as henchmen and leave Jarlo and Rikko for hijinks.

The fifth guy is extra, he may drop.

[swbgtoc]

I could take some but I don't feel like playing multiple characters honestly.