I have group of 4th PCs that will be looking for options to earn some gold while traveling North through semiwild lands. They will have at least 2 options. As guards for goods caravan traveling to their destination or as guards for a barge using the river to take them to the same place. My question is what fair pay to offer for either job? Should gp per day or a flat sum. The barge will be faster but the river is huge and does large predators but the caravan will be pitching camp each night. I've done a good job of keeping there wealth at a fairly low amount to keep them looking for new work and frankly working out of small villages they would not have been able to spend much. The are now heading to the capitol of the of the region and will have opportunity to by some expensive gear. They do have a Bard that has built up quite a reputation where they are coming from and the group has been heralded as great adventurers by several small communities over the last 6 months, if you think that should play into their pay. Thanks for the feedback!
Daily pay and it should reflect the local economy, value of goods, and overall threat level.
Drive a truck locally for walmart delivering food. Now drive a truck delivering food for troops in a warzone. Same work significantly different enviornment, and the pay reflects it. (I've know a few guys to do this IRL)
I don't know what low or high amounts of gold mean to you, but I will tell you what I did in a campaign I designed. The start was traveling to the first "home" town. They joined a caravan as escorts (guards) as far as the same town. Six players, level 1, going on horses provided by the caravan leader, bags in a cart, expected to be a four day trip. The caravan leader agreed to pay them 25gp for the group upon arrival at the other town. All food was provided during the trip. They were explicitly told that if anything happened, they were expected to defend the caravan along with the other men in the caravan.
So: 6 - Level 1 characters - Four days - anticipated risk bandits only - 25gp paid upon completion and all expenses paid.
The payment should be determined by the DM. However, it could be a good RP to have the price negotiated. The caravan leader wants to have security on this run. He probably knows what he paid for it many times in the past and what he got for the money. If he usually pays 25gp and gets the security he wants, then that will be his starting price, but he will offer less to start. Depending on the possibility of getting other "competent bidders" will influence the possibility of him going up or sticking to his first price. Second, he might go up if he believes the characters are worth more even if he doesn't need more. But there is a point where he will either go without security or wait a few more days for new adventurers to come along.
The negotiations and the trip can be fun. Enjoy.
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I have group of 4th PCs that will be looking for options to earn some gold while traveling North through semiwild lands. They will have at least 2 options. As guards for goods caravan traveling to their destination or as guards for a barge using the river to take them to the same place. My question is what fair pay to offer for either job? Should gp per day or a flat sum. The barge will be faster but the river is huge and does large predators but the caravan will be pitching camp each night. I've done a good job of keeping there wealth at a fairly low amount to keep them looking for new work and frankly working out of small villages they would not have been able to spend much. The are now heading to the capitol of the of the region and will have opportunity to by some expensive gear. They do have a Bard that has built up quite a reputation where they are coming from and the group has been heralded as great adventurers by several small communities over the last 6 months, if you think that should play into their pay. Thanks for the feedback!
Daily pay and it should reflect the local economy, value of goods, and overall threat level.
Drive a truck locally for walmart delivering food. Now drive a truck delivering food for troops in a warzone. Same work significantly different enviornment, and the pay reflects it. (I've know a few guys to do this IRL)
Ultimately you decide as the DM.
I don't know what low or high amounts of gold mean to you, but I will tell you what I did in a campaign I designed. The start was traveling to the first "home" town. They joined a caravan as escorts (guards) as far as the same town. Six players, level 1, going on horses provided by the caravan leader, bags in a cart, expected to be a four day trip. The caravan leader agreed to pay them 25gp for the group upon arrival at the other town. All food was provided during the trip. They were explicitly told that if anything happened, they were expected to defend the caravan along with the other men in the caravan.
So: 6 - Level 1 characters - Four days - anticipated risk bandits only - 25gp paid upon completion and all expenses paid.
The payment should be determined by the DM. However, it could be a good RP to have the price negotiated. The caravan leader wants to have security on this run. He probably knows what he paid for it many times in the past and what he got for the money. If he usually pays 25gp and gets the security he wants, then that will be his starting price, but he will offer less to start. Depending on the possibility of getting other "competent bidders" will influence the possibility of him going up or sticking to his first price. Second, he might go up if he believes the characters are worth more even if he doesn't need more. But there is a point where he will either go without security or wait a few more days for new adventurers to come along.
The negotiations and the trip can be fun. Enjoy.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt