Rules Arguments and Negotiation

We'll keep this as a side channel for "making this game our own." I'm considering a new blog post about not "rulings over rules" so much as what I would call "emergent mechanics." We will decide what "ruling" a certain situation may require and perhaps formalize that into a proper "rule."

Maybe this kind of play isn't ideal for Play by Post. I like the immediacy of the innovation and negotiation in a traditional game. But we'll see...

Sounds good. Bear in mind we can break out and discuss in more real-time fashion in Discord, then memorialize the house rules here.

That's definitely a better way to do it. That would probably even approximate well enough what I love so much about forging rules in real time at a real table of S&W.

Yep, agree. Discuss over on Discord, formalize here.

So, before we go much further, I again want to consider the S&W rules for Hirelings and Special Hirelings.

As I mentioned, I consider Special Hirelings to be "classed characters" who, as such, are drawn to Ulfarr as independent actors on their own. XP would be divided evenly, as if they are part of a party, but it would be up to Ulfarr to reward his followers with any treasure that is recovered (which is likewise XP).

Common Hirelings, however, may be an anomaly in the Northlands, outside of the freemen (bondi) laborers. It is much more likely that Ulfarr already has--or may obtain--thralls, though the fiction of the Northlands Saga seems to suggest that nearly all thralls are sourced from Saegestreland and that all proper "Northlands" characters are more or less free.

My question: Does Ulfarr perhaps already have a thrall or more in his retinue, perhaps gifted to him by Vidar from his household? Are we interested in exploring this aspect of "northern culture?" If not, how do we want to handle Hirelings, and does the question even matter at this point in the game?

I'm not so sure it matters yet, but it might not be long before it does.

Generally speaking, very much on board with the dividing line between hirelings / thralls and what I would simply call 'companions.' Those who are along of their free will, or who have tasks by the same powers to accomplish the same tasks.

Are you just thinking of ways to fill out the party? To have his group be a bit more survivable? To offer up RP opportunities because it'll be boring if he's just alone?

A foil / companion from the old homestead could be cool, but the thought of him having a thrall... I don't know that that fits my mental image of him. I've been thinking he'll pick these folks up once he gets to the Jarl's hall, but let's talk it out...

Your response is all I need here.

Mostly: Having thralls or even a free companion right now is not the mental image you have for Ulfarr.

Yes, I fully expect a "party" to form before too long.

K. I don't hate the idea that someone came with him -- my very original idea was that he had two companions -- but I'm liking his current wariness about the whole situation he's wandering into, and it's heightened if he's alone.

And it will be plenty cool for him to meet new friends and old in the hall...

I'm obviously okay with at least trying it, but it does but a fair bit of load on the GM if you're re-calcing a bunch of ACs...