Hirelings: morale issues

Some of the most memorable moments in my current Glint RPG campaign have come from hirelings failing morale checks. The morale system transforms hirelings from robots into living beings, who have to be looked after and occasionally bargained with when they decide they've had enough.

In other OSR systems, PCs' charisma stats affect their employees' morale scores. However, Glint has no charisma score. So what do we do instead?

In Glint, morale is driven by PCs' words and actions, not their charisma

Hireling morale normally starts at 7 and can never exceed 11. The following factors can affect it:

• Pay: Every doubling of the hireling’s pay increases morale by 1. A missed payment drops morale by 1 per day until the shortfall is made good.

• Loot share: A half share of loot will increase morale by 1. A full share will increase morale by 2.

• Treatment: Consistently better than usual treatment or a single moment of exceptional care (e.g. a PC risking their own life for the hireling) can increase morale by 1. A pattern of poor or callous treatment can reduce morale by 1, even if it never reaches the level of requiring a morale check.

• Experience: Every time a hireling gains a level with the party, their morale increases by 1.

• Rousing speeches: If a PC gives a particularly inspirational speech before a battle or another moment of peril, the GM should feel free to give the hireling a temporary +1 morale bonus. The speech must be given in full by a player, not just described.

• Bold or cowardly action: A particularly brave action from a PC in combat can inspire the party’s hirelings, giving them a +1 morale bonus for the rest of the battle. On the other hand, commanding hirelings to remain in battle while the PCs flee will reduce their morale by 3 and force an immediate morale check.