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2.3 Hired Swords

📜 Hired Swords – Rules Summary​

📌 Hiring Basics​

  • May be recruited at warband creation or between games (pay hire fee).
  • Only one of each type per warband.
  • Do not count towards:
    • Maximum warband size
    • Selling wyrdstone
    • Post-battle exploration or rare items
  • Do count for rout tests, but their Ld cannot be used.

💸 Upkeep & Dismissal​

  • After each game (even the first), pay upkeep fee to retain.
  • If not paid, they leave with their experience, but can be:
    • Hired by other warbands
    • Re-hired by the same warband

📈 Experience & Advances​

  • Advance as henchmen (at 2, 4, 6, 7 XP)
  • Roll on the hero advancement table
  • Gain +1 XP for taking enemies Out of Action

⚔️ Injury & Equipment​

  • Roll for post-game injuries as henchmen (D12: 1-4 dead, 5-12 survive)
  • Cannot buy/sell equipment unless noted
  • Do not get free daggers
  • May swap equipment only if listed as an option
  • Cannot be mounted unless noted

🧝‍♂️ Hired Sword Profiles​

Ogre Bodyguard​

  • Hire: 50gc | Upkeep: 30gc | Rating: +25
  • Skills: Combat, Strength
  • Equipment: Two Clubs/Axes/Swords or one Great Weapon
  • Rules: Cause Fear, Immune to Panic
MAWTWSBSILd
823-16+-7+6+

Halfling Scout​

  • Hire: 15gc | Upkeep: 3gc | Rating: +5
  • Skills: Shooting, Speed
  • Equipment: Dagger, Short Bow
  • Rules:
    • Backstab: All wounds with Dagger = Critical (unless 12 needed)
    • Hide in Shadows: Always counts as in cover from missiles
MAWTWSBSILd
711+09+9+5+9+

Dwarf Slayer​

  • Hire: 25gc | Upkeep: 7gc | Rating: +10
  • Skills: Combat, Strength
  • Equipment: Two Axes or one Great Weapon
  • Rules:
    • Hates Monsters, Goblins, Elves
    • Immune to Fear & Panic
    • No Pain: Treats Stunned as Knocked Down
    • Leap: Can’t be intercepted when charging
MAWTWSBSILd
611-18+-9+2+

Elven Ranger​

  • Hire: 35gc | Upkeep: 15gc | Rating: +10
  • Skills: Shooting, Speed, Special
  • Equipment: Dagger, Sword, Elven Bow, Elven Cloak
  • Rules:
    • Eagle Eyes: Can shoot hidden targets
    • Expert Tracker: Modify one exploration die by ±1
    • Dwarf Grudge: +5gc upkeep with Dwarves
  • Special Skill – Sniper: +2 to Injury rolls from shooting when stationary and elevated with no enemies within 3”
MAWTWSBSILd
811+08+8+3+4+

Pit Fighter​

  • Hire: 40gc | Upkeep: 15gc | Rating: +15
  • Skills: Combat, Strength, Speed, Special
  • Equipment: Flail + Spiked Gauntlet or Spear + Net
  • Rules:
    • Pit Fighter: Ignores penalties from using multiple or cumbersome melee weapons
  • Special Skill – Jump Up: Ignores Knocked Down unless recovering from Stunned
MAWTWSBSILd
721-16+-7+8+

Warlock​

  • Hire: 30gc | Upkeep: 15gc | Rating: +10
  • Skills: Academic, Speed
  • Equipment: Dagger, Staff, Talisman (+1 to casting rolls)
  • Rules:
    • Wizard: Starts with 3 different Hedge Magic spells
    • May use Power Scrolls
MAWTWSBSILd
711+09+-7+8+

Freelancer​

  • Hire: 30gc | Upkeep: 7gc | Rating: +10
  • Skills: Combat, Strength
  • Equipment: Lance, Sword, Shield, Heavy Armour
  • Rules:
    • Suffers +2 Initiative due to Heavy Armour
    • May be mounted (exception to general rules)
MAWTWSBSILd
711+08+-5+4+

Skryre Engineer​

  • Hire: 35gc | Upkeep: 15gc | Rating: +10
  • Skills: Academic, Speed
  • Equipment: Halberd, Warplock Pistol
  • Rules:
    • Wizard: Knows Warp Lightning (no other spells)
    • Bionic Eye: Extra die for exploration (discard one)
    • Warp-Energy Condenser: If spell not cast, +1 WS / BS with Halberd or Pistol that turn
MAWTWSBSILd
811+09+9+5+9+