Mercenary
A mercenary is any monster designated by the M2_MERC flag:
- @ soldier
- @ sergeant
- @ lieutenant
- @ captain
- @ guard
- @ watchman
- @ watch captain
Contents
Common traits
All mercenaries are human and considered part of the Yendorian Army. The M2_MERC flag is involved in both the starting weapons and armor of mercenaries (which is actually directly handled by the macro is_mercenary and their ability to be bribed.
Starting inventory
Soldiers start with weaponry varying from short swords to silver sabers, and armor varying from leather armor to crystal plate mail; most can also be generated with gloves, boots, helmets, shields, and wands. Mercenaries that are normally randomly generated (i.e. Yendorian army soldiers) may also receive C- or K-rations. The exact contents of each trooper's inventory is dependent on their experience and rank.
Weapons
Ordinary soldiers and watchmen have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a random weapon from the set of all polearms, plus lances and mattocks. If this is the case, they will always get a secondary weapon: either a knife or a dagger (50% chance each).[1] Otherwise, a plain soldier's primary weapon will be either an ordinary spear or an ordinary short sword, with equal probability. These soldiers have a 3⁄4 chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon, or else have no secondary weapon at all.
Higher-ranked soldiers randomly take one of two primary weapons, with equal probability. Sergeants choose either a flail or a mace. Lieutenants choose either an ordinary broadsword or a long sword. Captains (including watch captains) choose either a long sword or a silver saber. All of these higher-ranked soldiers also have a 3⁄4 chance of taking a knife as a secondary weapon.
Like many other monsters, soldiers of all ranks are eligible to be given a random offensive item, such as an attack wand or an offensive potion. This will occur if the monster's level is greater than or equal to the roll of a d75.[2]
Armor
Each rank of soldier has a particular target AC as follows:
| Rank | Target AC |
|---|---|
| soldier or watchman | 3 |
| sergeant | 0 |
| guard | −1 |
| lieutenant | −2 |
| watch captain | −2 |
| captain | −3 |
The game uses a complicated procedure to outfit each soldier with a selection of armor giving roughly the target AC. If the soldier is unlucky, they might be given less armor; if they are lucky, they might be given enchanted armor that takes them beyond the target.
Each soldier is generated with one suit of body armor, and will always at least receive leather armor. All ranks are eligible for ring mail or studded leather armor; sergeants and above, including guards, are eligible for splint mail or banded mail; and lieutenants and captains, including watch captains, are eligible for (but not guaranteed) plate mail or crystal plate mail.
In addition, soldiers of all ranks may be randomly generated with any of the items from the following list: helmet, dented pot, small shield, large shield, low boots, high boots, leather gloves, leather cloak. There is no guarantee that any particular slot will be filled, and soldiers will be given multiple items for any slot.
Other equipment
Yendorian soldiers of all ranks have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a K-ration, and an independent 1⁄2 chance of being generated with a C-ration. Sergeants and above also have a 1⁄3 chance of being generated with a bugle.[3] Unlike all other monster types, ordinary soldiers have a 12⁄13 chance of missing all of the rolls for being generated with random defensive items, miscellaneous items, and gold;[4] other ranks are unaffected.
