Stronghold Hirelings

[Lampros]

Are they needed? If so, how many? They are expensive, so I am wondering if I am going to bankrupt if I hire too many.

[Gregorovitch]

Basically they increase your stronghold security or prestige (or in some cases both). The higher prestige and security are the less bad things happen and more good things happen at the stonghold. Even the good ones aren't that expensive in the grand scheme of things, I just hire the best ones available.

[Rin]

And the level of the security and prestige influences what you will get in the ending. Your stronghold might become everything from a beacon of stability to sitting uselessly in what turned into lawless lands no one dares to travel.

[Lampros]

Ok, ok; I will hire them then! ;)

How many do I need to be safe? 5?

[Rin]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Ok, ok; I will hire them then! ;)

How many do I need to be safe? 5?

Your problem is that you can only hire a certain number of people and that they all give different amounts of security and prestige. So you need to look at what combination of people will give you the numbers you want to have. And yes, you want to hire as many as you can.

Also beware that they can die if something or someone attacks your stronghold. And if you leave them to defend it alone, you are more likely to loose a few (I always tried to get back to the stronghold when I got a notice about impending attacks. You always have enuogh warning and I think the higher the security, the less likely attacks happen, but I am not sure about that)

And eventually new hirelings appear that might have higher bonuses or a number combination you might find better suited for what you want. Keep an eye out and check the notices from the stronghold as they tend to stay for only a few days and leave again if not hired.

[Lampros]

The heck. I hired 5 of them (Archer, Skald, Soldier, Warden, and Shock Mage). Everyone but the Soldier died immediately when a few Forest Lurkers and Shades invaded. Which ones actually can last through a fight?

[Rin]

Originally posted by Lampros:

The heck. I hired 5 of them (Archer, Skald, Soldier, Warden, and Shock Mage). Everyone but the Soldier died immediately when a few Forest Lurkers and Shades invaded. Which ones actually can last through a fight?

They are rather weak on their own. Having almost all die is relatively rare I would say but can happen. I lost three in my first fight I think ... plus some damage to the fort ... what made me decide to always come back and fight myself.
The hirelings are some nice support then but might of course also die if you are not yet that well vered in using your own heros and abilities.

But, the first hirelings you get are rahter weak compared with those that will eventually appear in your sronghold. But even those will always only be support troops.

Edit:
You can see them as those people who take care of the day to day operations of the fort (prestige and security ratings) but need your help when something extraordinary like a big attack happens.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Rin:

They are rather weak on their own. Having almost all die is relatively rare I would say but can happen. I lost three in my first fight I think ... plus some damage to the fort ... what made me decide to always come back and fight myself.
The hirelings are some nice support then but might of course also die if you are not yet that well vered in using your own heros and abilities.

But, the first hirelings you get are rahter weak compared with those that will eventually appear in your sronghold. But even those will always only be support troops.

Edit:
You can see them as those people who take care of the day to day operations of the fort (prestige and security ratings) but need your help when something extraordinary like a big attack happens.

Ah, ok. So I do get stronger ones - albeit they are, I presume, going to be more expensive ;)

[Gregorovitch]

Originally posted by Lampros:

The heck. I hired 5 of them (Archer, Skald, Soldier, Warden, and Shock Mage). Everyone but the Soldier died immediately when a few Forest Lurkers and Shades invaded. Which ones actually can last through a fight?

Normally you get a message something is going to attack you so you can turn up yourself and deal with whatever. I can't remember the last time I lost a hireling, I only fire the useless ones.

Note this may be becasue I also build my stronhold up PDQ, so that adds to security obviously and I probably get less invaders that way.

I always get a full compliment of 8 hirelings. The more you have the higher your security and prestige so the less invaders and the more profitable stronghold events and quests.

Originally posted by Lampros:

Ah, ok. So I do get stronger ones - albeit they are, I presume, going to be more expensive ;)

Yeah, but it's really chicken feed in the overall context of the game. Scrimp on it and, well, you get trashed by lurkers or whatever :)

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Gregorovitch:

Originally posted by Lampros:

The heck. I hired 5 of them (Archer, Skald, Soldier, Warden, and Shock Mage). Everyone but the Soldier died immediately when a few Forest Lurkers and Shades invaded. Which ones actually can last through a fight?

Normally you get a message something is going to attack you so you can turn up yourself and deal with whatever. I can't remember the last time I lost a hireling, I only fire the useless ones.

Note this may be becasue I also build my stronhold up PDQ, so that adds to security obviously and I probably get less invaders that way.

I always get a full compliment of 8 hirelings. The more you have the higher your security and prestige so the less invaders and the more profitable stronghold events and quests.

Originally posted by Lampros:

Ah, ok. So I do get stronger ones - albeit they are, I presume, going to be more expensive ;)

Yeah, but it's really chicken feed in the overall context of the game. Scrimp on it and, well, you get trashed by lurkers or whatever :)

All right. If I go broke, then I am coming for you for loans! ;)

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Which ones actually can last through a fight?

Not on their own. Maybe on Easy mode or Story Time, but I don't know anything about the latter.

If you return to the stronghold and resolve an ambush manually, some of the hirelings will be available in the area - great hall or courtyard - and join the fight, but they don't fight well and need massive support to be kept alive.