Blood War Mercs - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Blood War Mercs

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Jul 25, 2003 8:26:22 Heya berks, quick question:

So I have some PCs that are considering signing on for the Blood War as mercs. Does anyone have any idea what is the going rate of pay for joining the Baatezu or Tanari, or signing on with a third party provider ('loths)?

They are all primies except for one, who used to be a proxy. The levels vary from low (3 to 9) and epic (25).

Any suggestions, and yes I plan on DMing the true nastiness of the BW.
#2
factol_rhys_dup
Jul 25, 2003 9:20:48 why would the characters want to sign on to the Blood War? I mean, one used to be a proxy, how clueless can they be? Seems to me that characters shouldn't be direct participants in the Blood War, especially not one who's 3rd level.

But anyway, that's all in your campaign. In regards to your question, I'd say that it'd be much more Planescape-esque to not give them a sign-on commission so much as the fiends providing them with something they really need. Maybe you could give them a template or special abilities or a prestige race, in exchange for their souls, which would of course be converted into some kind of casserole upon their untimely Blood War deaths and subsequently fed to the Canoloths... :D
#3
zombiegleemax
Jul 25, 2003 12:59:00 Yeah, just asking...what would lead your players to even want to participate in a mindless war where they are probably going to die, & if not - be tricked into giving up their freedom/soul/etc.?
#4
zombiegleemax
Jul 25, 2003 15:43:56 I believe the Baatezu offer a small sum of gold (something like 200 gold pieces) for recruits. The kind of money that an adventurer would turn his nose up to but that the average bum might be able to give to his hungry family before signing over his life.

The best way to get adventurers into the Blood War would be as field marshals. Rather than gold, adventurers would likely be offered positions of power and control. The demons and devils are likely to play to a basher's vanity before playing to his greed (though they're not above the latter).

Your 25th level guy, on the other hand, could get some tremendous offers. The Tanar'ri might offer him his own layer of the Abyss (but for how long?) or the Baatezu might offer to subvert some prime material holding to his will ("Want to rule Thaymount?") That kind of power isn't snuffed at; not even in the hells.
#5
zombiegleemax
Jul 25, 2003 17:45:50 Ya, so I'll do some more explaining.

The low level pc's are just stupid primies. They don't know what they are getting into. I am going to show them a battle and have them run away unless they are totally clueless.

The 25 ex-proxy is doing a more complex mission. Basically, she has to get close to an abyssal lord in a non-violent manner to trick him into destroying an evil artifact. Other than joining the Blood War on the side of the Tanari, what other way is there to do so? It is the only decent solution the PC could come up with. It will involve a ton of intrigue and not just be the basic - I go down and kill a bunch of **** and hope to meet the prince of demons, Demogorgon. It is going to be an epic adventure with a huge amount of risk. The PC is going to -try- and avoid loths.

I was just trying to gauge the reaction of a fiend recruiter when this character approaches. It is not a totally asinine thing that would happen - or maybe it is - that is why I posted. I was thinking that either side would not be adverse in helping, after all stranger things have happened on the planes. Belief makes strange bedfellows.

Take the Doomguard for instance - a ton of different ways of breaking down the concept of entropy and the various connotations that are invovled. Some think it is going to fast, others just right, and some too slow - but they are all in one single faction.

Anywho, I ramble onwards. Any further thoughts.
#6
kilamar
Jul 26, 2003 11:29:41 I think it just depends on the mood of the recruiter
Either he offers a resonable amount like the mentioned 200 GM or he promises them a fortune and assigns them to a suicide squad (you don´t pay dead people ).

Either way they probably wind up dead. Tanari do not retreat and normaly make sure that none of their hirelings do it and live.

A special mission for the epic guy is a good idea, but unless he specializes in solo missions they will not use him alone. I doubt they would waste such an important asset unless the mssion goal is signficant.

Kilamar
#7
zombiegleemax
Jul 26, 2003 12:26:25 Cool, the epic PC is a sorcercess that has epic leadership and legendary commander, so most likely she will be in charge of a division of troops or something. That is if she doesn't get killed by her own Abyssal forces.

Ta'nari generally dislike elves.

But hey, it is epic, so it has to be near impossible for any type of experience to be gained.
#8
zombiegleemax
Jul 28, 2003 17:44:04 just a note... the sorceress technically cant have legendary commander (30 ranks of diplomacy required)... its a cross class skill etc... mind you... you really dont need leadership to lead troops... you can do it all by your lonesome... leadership just helps acquire more reliable followers. Also the mix in the level of the pcs might provide some conflict... or perhaps jealousy.. characters feel kind of helpless when their companion can slay 10-20 balors... while all together they couldnt slay 1 even on a very good day. It might have seemed a good idea in the beginning but even the best role player will feel a bit of resentment (unless of course she is an npc... in which case its all good). Just simple advice, follow it if you wish, dont follow it if you wish either way just remember if its fun for everyone who cares what other people say

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jul 25, 2003 8:26:22	Heya berks, quick question: So I have some PCs that are considering signing on for the Blood War as mercs. Does anyone have any idea what is the going rate of pay for joining the Baatezu or Tanari, or signing on with a third party provider ('loths)? They are all primies except for one, who used to be a proxy. The levels vary from low (3 to 9) and epic (25). Any suggestions, and yes I plan on DMing the true nastiness of the BW.
#2 factol_rhys_dup Jul 25, 2003 9:20:48	why would the characters want to sign on to the Blood War? I mean, one used to be a proxy, how clueless can they be? Seems to me that characters shouldn't be direct participants in the Blood War, especially not one who's 3rd level. But anyway, that's all in your campaign. In regards to your question, I'd say that it'd be much more Planescape-esque to not give them a sign-on commission so much as the fiends providing them with something they really need. Maybe you could give them a template or special abilities or a prestige race, in exchange for their souls, which would of course be converted into some kind of casserole upon their untimely Blood War deaths and subsequently fed to the Canoloths... :D
#3 zombiegleemax Jul 25, 2003 12:59:00	Yeah, just asking...what would lead your players to even want to participate in a mindless war where they are probably going to die, & if not - be tricked into giving up their freedom/soul/etc.?
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 25, 2003 15:43:56	I believe the Baatezu offer a small sum of gold (something like 200 gold pieces) for recruits. The kind of money that an adventurer would turn his nose up to but that the average bum might be able to give to his hungry family before signing over his life. The best way to get adventurers into the Blood War would be as field marshals. Rather than gold, adventurers would likely be offered positions of power and control. The demons and devils are likely to play to a basher's vanity before playing to his greed (though they're not above the latter). Your 25th level guy, on the other hand, could get some tremendous offers. The Tanar'ri might offer him his own layer of the Abyss (but for how long?) or the Baatezu might offer to subvert some prime material holding to his will ("Want to rule Thaymount?") That kind of power isn't snuffed at; not even in the hells.
#5 zombiegleemax Jul 25, 2003 17:45:50	Ya, so I'll do some more explaining. The low level pc's are just stupid primies. They don't know what they are getting into. I am going to show them a battle and have them run away unless they are totally clueless. The 25 ex-proxy is doing a more complex mission. Basically, she has to get close to an abyssal lord in a non-violent manner to trick him into destroying an evil artifact. Other than joining the Blood War on the side of the Tanari, what other way is there to do so? It is the only decent solution the PC could come up with. It will involve a ton of intrigue and not just be the basic - I go down and kill a bunch of **** and hope to meet the prince of demons, Demogorgon. It is going to be an epic adventure with a huge amount of risk. The PC is going to -try- and avoid loths. I was just trying to gauge the reaction of a fiend recruiter when this character approaches. It is not a totally asinine thing that would happen - or maybe it is - that is why I posted. I was thinking that either side would not be adverse in helping, after all stranger things have happened on the planes. Belief makes strange bedfellows. Take the Doomguard for instance - a ton of different ways of breaking down the concept of entropy and the various connotations that are invovled. Some think it is going to fast, others just right, and some too slow - but they are all in one single faction. Anywho, I ramble onwards. Any further thoughts.
#6 kilamar Jul 26, 2003 11:29:41	I think it just depends on the mood of the recruiter Either he offers a resonable amount like the mentioned 200 GM or he promises them a fortune and assigns them to a suicide squad (you don´t pay dead people ). Either way they probably wind up dead. Tanari do not retreat and normaly make sure that none of their hirelings do it and live. A special mission for the epic guy is a good idea, but unless he specializes in solo missions they will not use him alone. I doubt they would waste such an important asset unless the mssion goal is signficant. Kilamar
#7 zombiegleemax Jul 26, 2003 12:26:25	Cool, the epic PC is a sorcercess that has epic leadership and legendary commander, so most likely she will be in charge of a division of troops or something. That is if she doesn't get killed by her own Abyssal forces. Ta'nari generally dislike elves. But hey, it is epic, so it has to be near impossible for any type of experience to be gained.
#8 zombiegleemax Jul 28, 2003 17:44:04	just a note... the sorceress technically cant have legendary commander (30 ranks of diplomacy required)... its a cross class skill etc... mind you... you really dont need leadership to lead troops... you can do it all by your lonesome... leadership just helps acquire more reliable followers. Also the mix in the level of the pcs might provide some conflict... or perhaps jealousy.. characters feel kind of helpless when their companion can slay 10-20 balors... while all together they couldnt slay 1 even on a very good day. It might have seemed a good idea in the beginning but even the best role player will feel a bit of resentment (unless of course she is an npc... in which case its all good). Just simple advice, follow it if you wish, dont follow it if you wish either way just remember if its fun for everyone who cares what other people say