OSR, Siblings, Hirelings, and Henchmen

Hirelings (a brother and classmates) are the first details I remember about DnD. Looking at Mike Carr’s, “Special Instructional Dungeon Module #B1 IN SEARCH OF THE UNKNOWN,” I remember why. You walked inside an inn and there was “Wilberd the Silent” (human cleric), Pendor (the Halfling fighting man), and “Ralt Gaither” (a human magic user).

It seemed as though the world was already happening. Already, the world was sorting me. As Carr, on pg.3 wrote:

Seeking hirelings and henchmen is a matter to be handled by the Dungeon Master. A player’s success in attracting either will depend upon the financial rewards offered...or the charisma of the seeker...

How keenly the issue of charisma settled in. Carr, on pg. 26 wrote:

Hirelings, although not always plentiful, are nonetheless easier to find than henchman. They will serve for a fee….[however,] Henchmen are usually characters who will be willing to serve a particular character out of admiration or respect…in any case, with only first-level characters, players cannot expect to attract henchmen until they have accomplished enough to gain a bit of a reputation and notice.

Carr, on pg. 27, says if three of us enter an inn, mill-about a bit, we’ve got a 75% chance to draw in a few. Carr, on pg 27 reports:

Any hireling surviving an adventure, if well-treated and amply rewarded, may decide to become a follower (or loyal henchman) of one or more player characters.

And yet, he adds, “This will depend on many factors…”

[Image from TSR's B1, but I could not figure out who drew it, just great]
 

For a Dungeon Master, B1 has wonderful rules for hirelings and henchmen (pp, 27-30). Great tables on pg. 27 for “Non-Player Character Personality,” such as attitude, courage, disposition, and loyalty. I had not seen these before and very strongly recommend them.

Thieves, fighting men, clerics, magic users - somehow already there.

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