Hire an assassin, how much?

[Bastoche]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. Felt it didn't belong in the rules forum.

Suppose I want a person dead. Suppose it's a 14ish level NPC who has intimate relations with one (or many) high level NPCs (let's say a 20th level or more wizard that may or may not want to participate in the following investigation). Let's say I hire 5 10thish level assassins.

How much would it cost? Please justify. In role playing terms rather than d20, 3.5 whatever rules preferable.

 

[shilsen]

There's not enough context to answer your question. What setting are you playing in? How common are 10th lvl characters (and 14th, and 20th) in the setting? If you're playing Eberron, for example, you are hiring some of the highest-lvl people in most given communities, if you want to find five 10th lvl assassins. And also have a very high lvl target and one of the three or four highest lvl wizards on the planet as a possible meddler. If you're playing FR, not so much. Context makes a big difference to a possible answer.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I think a good rule of thumb is 100 gp x level x level. So a 1st level nobody might cost 100 gp, while a 5th level person might cost 2,500, and a 20th level target would cost at least 40,000. I also use that guideline for when NPC's or PC's have a price put on their head by a government.

Adjust the level up for folks with big reputations or connections. If the King is only 5th level, it's still gonna cost more than 2,500 gp. And of course, "level" is subjective - it's the best guess of an NPC or PC - I rarely tell my players what level an NPC is, and never do with the important ones.

 

[Bastoche]

There's not enough context to answer your question. What setting are you playing in? How common are 10th lvl characters (and 14th, and 20th) in the setting? If you're playing Eberron, for example, you are hiring some of the highest-lvl people in most given communities, if you want to find five 10th lvl assassins. And also have a very high lvl target and one of the three or four highest lvl wizards on the planet as a possible meddler. If you're playing FR, not so much. Context makes a big difference to a possible answer.

1) While I can understand the difficulty to find (or ease) 5 10th level assassins, does this make the assassin's task any easier/harder? In that sense, I fail to see the importance.

2) but if it can help: Killing Carolyas Idogir (sp?) in Waterdeep.

 

[Bastoche]

BTW, the 5 "assassin" do not need to have levels in the assassin's class. They can be random hired killers.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

My system would put a price of between 25,000 and 30,000 gp, which to me sounds about right. To be split up amongst the multiple assassins.

 

[WayneLigon]

Hmmm. I'd say off the hand, that 30k sounds good not knowing a single thing about this guy other than he's a pretty damn tough customer. If he's a spellcaster, especially a pure spellcaster, I'd double the fee. I knew about those 20+ level guys that are best buddies with him, especially if they were wizards, then it would start at 100k and go up from there. Now, that's assuming you're getting some straight-up killers here.

If it's someone who knows the business, is a professional assassin, then no amount of money would get him to touch a guy like that with such powerful buddies unless (1) you have something the assassin loves more than his life and soul, like you've captured his wife or child or something, (2) the assassins have a deep personal hatred of this guy (which probably also drops the price a great deal) or (3) he's a little nuts and is one of these types who likes taking on crazy chances just to show he can do it.

 

[Buttercup]

I'm with Wayne on this one. I'd be surprised if you could find even one assassin to take out someone that well connected, let alone five people to do it. And I'd be prepared to pay at least 100k in gold or jewels, and I'd probably also be prepared to throw in secure transport out of town.

Now if it were the king who wanted the person dead, I'd think the price would still be high, but the liklihood of finding people to do the job would be greater, assuming the king has loyal subjects.

 

[jgbrowning]

If you gave the assassin that much money he'd be out of wack for the wealth-to-level mechanic, especially if he looted the body.

heh.

sorry, hadda be done.

joe b.

 

[Buttercup]

If you gave the assassin that much money he'd be out of wack for the wealth-to-level mechanic, especially if he looted the body.

heh.

sorry, hadda be done.

joe b.

That's ok. I think it substantiates my claim that you wouldn't be able to find anyone to do it.