Encumbrance and Hirelings in Organized Play

[Geoffrey Warne]

Are hirelings allowed in Organized Play? Will I need one? How long will it take to find one?

My problem is that I have a level-1 female cleric character that isn't very strong. Her strength score is only 10. I think this means that she can only carry up to 33 lbs as a light load. I want her to have enough equipment to be prepared, but she can't really carry much without getting into a medium load and being slowed down.

I am thinking about hiring someone to carry an extra pack for tools and such. Is this legal and would it take a long time? I don't want to slow the party down, especially when the scenario requires haste.

Additionally, if she can hire someone to carry a pack, would it also be possible to find a porter that can also fight?

[Brian Lefebvre]

There is no way to pay NPCs to accompany you while on missions. The only way to do this is to find a boon that grants a NPC's help, or buy the Porter Vanity from the Pathfinder Society Field Guide for 5 PP.

You could always prioritize buying magical storage like a handy haversack for the character.

[Leathert]

Easier option, buy a donkey. It's cheap (6 gp), and medium-sized. My str 10 cleric had one for lower levels before he could afford a haversack.

[Dragnmoon]

Once you get 5 prestige points you can spend it and get a follower called a porter who can carry up to 100 lbs. This is in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting - Pathfinder Society Field Guide book which you will need to own. You can find followers in the vanities section.

[Geoffrey Warne]

Okay... Great advice! Thanks a lot! :)

[Mystically Inclined]

Porters can't fight for you (or hand you things in battle), but they also cannot die. There is at least one book that might let you get around that limitation, but once you put a token down on the map you are giving your GM permission to target it. :)

[FLite]

Giant Geckos make even better pack mules as they can go anywhere you can go. (Medium sized, permanent non magical spider climb.) Bit more expensive though. They should survive about up to when you can afford a handy haversack. (At which point area affect traps start killing the poor things.)

[Nefreet]

Gormheir, whose name went from "Whose feet never touch the ground" to "Sacrificer of Geckos!" over the span of a few levels.

=P

[FLite]

Yes, that was a sad, sad day.