Finding a Job

A PC seeking a job that requires an employer (that is, one at which
he is not self-employed) may roll against IQ once per week to see if he
finds work. The Laziness disadvantage gives -5 here! Apply the follow-
ing modifiers:
City Size: The more people
in the town or city, the better
his chances (see table).
Overqualification: If his
skill exceeds the minimum
level required by the job, he is
more likely to find work: +1 if
his skill is one level higher, +2
if two or more levels higher. The GM may give further bonuses if the
job hunter has additional abilities that would logically help him do the
job (or impress a potential employer).
Advertising: He can advertise that he is looking for work: +1 if his
budget is 5% the monthly pay of the job sought, +2 if 50%, +3 if 500%,
and so on. This money might be for bribes, “business clothing” for
interviews, handbills, placement fees, etc., depending on the job and
the setting.
Scarcity: Higher-paying jobs are harder to find. Subtract twice the
typical Status level of the job sought from the roll; e.g., a “Filthy Rich”
job typically accompanies Status 4, so it would give -8. Negative
Status gives a bonus! For instance, roll at +2 to find a “Struggling” job
(Status -1).
Multiple Jobs: A seeker who is qualified for more than one job can
look for more than one job at a time, at a cumulative -1 to all rolls per
job after the first.
Advertising: +1 if the advertising
budget is 50% the monthly pay of the
job, +2 if 500%, +3 if 5,000%, and so
on. This money covers the expense of
business lunches, handbills, newspa-
per ads, “recruiting parties,” etc.
Money Offered: +1 if the pay is 20%
higher than normal for the job, +2 if
50% higher, and +3 if 100% higher or
more.
Risk: -2 to find a hireling for a job
that involves obvious risk of combat,
unless seeking a guard, mercenary, or
other “combatant” hireling. The GM
decides which potential hirelings are
“combatant.”
Legality: -5 to find a hireling for an
illegal job – and any critical failure on
the roll results in legal complications.
The GM may waive this -5 when the
employer uses Streetwise skill for the
search, but the critical failure result is
the same!
Population
Modifier
Less than 100
-3
100-999
-2
1,000-4,999
-1
5,000-9,999
0
10,000-49,999
+1
50,000-99,999
+2
100,000 or more
+3
On a success, the PCs find a candi-
date. The GM describes the potential
hireling to the players, and can even
take his part for an “interview.” The
players must then decide whether they
actually want to hire that person. If
they decide not to, they must start
their search over again.
A failure might mean that a
hireling simply is not available – espe-
cially in a small town. It is up to the
GM whether to allow repeated
attempts.
Of course, the GM is free to “load”
the roll, if he feels the PCs absolutely
should have (or should not have) a
hireling of a specific type! For instance,
if an adventure calls for a particular
hireling, the GM can ensure that the
hireling will appear. He may do this
overtly (the NPC approaches the party
in a bar and asks for a job) or covertly
(the players say that they are looking
for hirelings; the GM pretends to roll,
but gives them a preplanned NPC).