How do associates differ from normal members of the Black Company?

Associates are not badged members. They are allies of the Black Company and aid us in return for our protection. While they do not need to follow orders in the same way that badged members do, they don’t get paid or receive any of the other benefits that badged members do. Associates are OC friends of BC or players who don't want to do the whole military roleplay, or maybe do not want to get into combat.

To ensure that associate players get to hang out with BC they must have an IC reason to be in their camp. So before the game starts we discuss with the player why their character is there and help them prepare. Usually this involves creating a phys rep contract that can be signed IC during the game.

The contract might have the associate providing a service e.g trader, cook, Blacksmith, fletcher, armouer, leather worker, camp follower, diplomacy, courier, or alternatively hiring the Black Company for a small job or for some support e.g protection, training, scouting.

All the contracts are signed off by the Quartermaster and usually only last for that event (some exceptions exist). BC is a mercenary group and the 'contract' is therefore a big theme that the group likes to roleplay with. If you are playing an associate we'd like you to bring that theme into your own roleplay somehow.

A good way of doing this is by handing over your starting coins to the quartermaster OC before play commences. The quartermaster will then 'pay' you those coins, IC once the game starts and agree a 'contract' for your service. Alternatively, if you are hiring BC, we'd like you to do that IC too and 'agree' a contract with the quartermaster. The purpose here is to get you more involved in the group as a whole and it's better roleplay for everyone. Don't worry if you are starting a new character with no wealth or resources, we can make up a way that you can afford to hire the BC.