From: [d--r--r] at [mustang.uwo.ca] (Dave Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd
Subject: Armies and PCs - Enlistment
Date: Sat, 09 Nov 1996 08:14:50 GMT

6.3.3.1  Enlistment

          Any character of any class can enlist in a militia/army and
gain employment and equipment so long as they meet the ability
requirements (Str 10, Sta 10).  Characters unable to meet these
requirements can spend six months in basic training, which allows them
to take a skill in Weight Lifting or Athletics to raise these stats
(only if they have a skill slot free); this can be done only once, and
the character is not paid for this training time (when they can also
learn other soldier-related skills if they have the slots free).

6.3.3.1.1  Benefits of enlistment

          Characters who enlist not only get paid a minimal stipend
and free room and board, but also receive their arms and armor for
free once their enlistment term is over.  Obviously, characters who
reenlist or who enlist for long periods of time are offered better
equipment to keep such experienced soldiers.  Characters may use the
gold piece value of this equipment to purchase armor and weapons,
including adding any starting gold from class or social class to this
sum to purchase superior quality goods.  This is a result of trading
(and gambling) their equipment among their fellow soldiers, and
characters cannot ever gain full value for their equipment when sold
normally (50% is average selling price on the open market).
          Soldiers are paid 1 gold sovereign every season, but can
request up to a month's pay in advance, and may receive small bonuses
during leave or after a successful campaign, typically 1-10 silver
pence.  Soldiers have the option of having some or all of their pay
and/or enlistment bonuses paid to their family to support them while
they are off on campaign or otherwise serving in the military.  With
the exception of already well-trained troops, all soldiers go through
6 months of training and receive pay as a green soldier (1 gold a
season, 2 gold in wartime) until their first year is over and they are
considered veterans, regardless of actual combat training.  Other
armies or governments will not consider a soldier to be veteran until
he has spent at least a year in a border area or six months in combat.
        Veterans earn 2 gold a season, up to 3 gold in wartime.  Mercenaries
earn twice what a regular soldier makes, but do not receive room and
board when not working for a customer and never receive arms or armour
for free.  Most mercenaries start off as part of a regular army
somewhere and use the arms and armour from their term of duty to start
them in their new career.
          Armies pay large sums for weapons and armour, often more
than they do in wages, food and supplies for their troops.  The total
cost of fielding one soldier for a year averages up around 35 gold!!
During wartime, the extra cost of wages, supplies and repairing
damaged or lost equipment raises this cost to 40 gold.  As a result,
the military dislikes seeing trained soldiers walk off after only a
few months or years of service with valuable weapons and armour.  Upon
enlisting, every soldier receives their first season's pay immediately
("the king's coin") and their new armour and weapons.  However, they
may also receive a larger bonus for enlisting longer.  Armies offer
the following enlistment bonuses in addition to the king's coin:

          6 months: Characters who enlist for 6 months do not get paid
at all, the army considering such time to be "training at the crown's
expense".  They do, however, get to keep their armour and weapons.
Veterans who enlist for only six months can skip this training period
by displaying their prowess and get paid normally for this period.
They still receive no bonus, however.  The army actively discourages
people from enlisting for only six months, but will accept it if
pressed.  Characters enlisting for longer terms still receive this
training, but get paid during it.  The enlister gains no bonus for any
such enlistments.
          1 year: The character receives the king's coin (1 gold) but
does not otherwise get paid.  At the end of the year, characters are
encouraged to re-enlist as veterans with a high rate of starting pay
(16 gold a year).  During wartime the government offers an additional
gold upon enlistment as an added encouragement and will pay a wage of
1 gold a season (4 gold for the year).  The enlister gains no bonus
for enlistments of this term.
          2 years: 1 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of half a gold.  This is considered to be the
"norm" or average for individuals who want to earn a living for a few
years, but aren't sure they want to be in the army.  Career soldiers
usually enlist for as long as possible, usually 20 years at a time.
The enlister gains a bonus of 1 gold per such enlistment gained
through his services (i.e. for every person the enlister managed to
sign up through whatever means).
          4 years: 1 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of 3 gold.  The average city guard probably
enlisted at this level.  The enlister is paid 2 gold for each such
enlistment.
          8 years: 2 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of 3 gold.  Troops who enlisted for 8 years or
more are the front-line troops of any army, and make up the
experienced backbone of any corps.  The enlister is paid 4 gold for
each such enlistment.
          10 years: 5 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of 5 gold.  The enlister is paid 8 gold for
each such enlistment.
          15 years: 10 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of 8 gold.  The enlister is paid 20 gold for
each such enlistment.
          20 years: 16 gold is paid upon enlistment and retirement, as
well as an annual bonus of 10 gold.  The enlister is paid 32 gold for
each such enlistment.