Get a Job!

[Thor]

Originally published at: https://www.torchbearerrpg.com/?p=801

Loot by Rebekah Bennington

Hello friends!

In the Guild Hall section of the Town chapter Torchbearer¹Page 91 we note that adventurers can use the Guild Hall to find work. It’s a great option if adventurers find themselves short of coin while in town, but as written the jobs only pay out a pouch of silver and there isn’t much guidance for GMs about what sorts of jobs the guilds might provide.

A while back, Luke was giving my adventure, The Secret Vault of the Queen of Thieves, a once-over, and got inspired by the two new town locations I include there: The Docks and the Thieves’ Guild. Here’s the result.

By default, these jobs are only available in the dwarven halls, bustling metropolis and busy crossroads because they’re the only settlements with guild halls. You could add these to other settlements with a bit of finessing though: In a religious bastion, perhaps various temples offer work in a fashion similar to guild halls, for instance.

Available Work

You can look to pick up a little work in this town if you have time to kill and a purse to fill. You need to know who to ask though. So finding work requires a Circles test. If you pass the test with extra successes, you’ve got multiple options: You may take your current result or choose the next higher or next lower job. If you meet the obstacle but don’t exceed it, you’re stuck with the result of the roll. If you fail the test, the GM gives you a twist or condition.

Dwarven Halls: Ob 4
Bustling Metropolis: Ob 2
Busy Crossroads: Ob 3

Finding Work Lifestyle Cost: +1 (this covers the Circles test; there are always bribes to be paid)

These jobs are the only ones on offer this town phase. The GM should generate the pay based on the appropriate entry. The employer will state what’s on offer, but payment is only made on completion of the job to the client’s satisfaction.

The task column describes possible tasks that will need to be completed to collect your pay. This could consist of a single test, a conflict, or even a side adventure.

Business is Business

Doing work in town (making tests to complete a job) counts as personal business and increases your lifestyle cost. Therefore you want to complete your work as efficiently as possible.

Available Work Table (2d6)

Roll	Job	Task	Pay (roll 1d6)*
2	Speak to rival guild leadership about harboring a criminal	Convince, Intimidate, Persuade	1: Large sack of copper 2-4: Satchel of silver 5-6: Satchel of gold
3	Speak to rival guild leadership about missing guild member or client	Convince, Intimidate, Persuade	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
4	Speak to rival guild leadership about missing shipment of materials	Intimidate, Search	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
5	Speak to rival guild leadership about outstanding debt	Convince, Intimidate, Persuade	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
6	Collect bills from wayward adventurers	Intimidate, Persuade, Shake down	1-3: Small sack of copper 4-5: Pouch of silver 6: Pouch of gold
7	Stand watch duty for wealthy guild member	Roll new Town Event	1-3: Small sack of copper 4-5: Pouch of silver 6: Pouch of gold
8	Transport an item from the guild hall to a hotel in town	Navigate, Carry, Guard	1-3: Small sack of copper 4-5: Pouch of silver 6: Pouch of gold
9	Transport an item from the guild hall to the town government	Carry, Guard, Convince	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
10	Transport an item to a home in a nearby settlement	Navigate, Carry, Guard	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
11	Borrow prized item from rival guild	Steal	1: Small sack of copper 2-4: Small sack of silver 5-6: Small sack of gold
12	Speak to temple priests about inefficacy of recent sacrifice	Intimidate	1: Large sack of copper 2-4: Satchel of silver 5-6: Satchel of gold

Note (*)

• Pouch of silver: 1D, pack 1
• Pouch of gold: 2D, pack 1
• Small sack of copper: 1D, pack 2
• Small sack of silver: 2D, pack 2
• Small sack of gold: 4D, pack 2
• Large sack of copper: 3D, Pack 6
• Satchel of silver: 3D, Pack 3
• Satchel of gold: 6D, Pack 3

What do you think? Let us know if you use any of this stuff. We want to hear about it!

[moconnor8 (Michael)]

These are neat.

I have only done work as a single test before. Do you have any recommendations on when a side adventure would be more appropriate?

Also, if a job requires leaving town (like a transport job) does that happen within the town phase and (and cost a lifestyle) or does the party do it after the town phase ends?

[luke (Luke Wheel)]

Jobs that require leaving town kick you out into the adventure phase.
And we’re working on examples of jobs. Most are going to be multitest events!

[d3n3b (Jason)]

This is fantastic. I’d love to see more stuff that makes town more interesting. A Torchbearer-specific carousing table and more stuff at the tavern would be great.

[luke (Luke Wheel)]

I think you’re going to like what we have coming.

[Jared (Jared A. Sorensen)]

10,000 recipes (with material components and obs) for the Cook skill!