Tavern recruiting is predictable and delayed. Rival poaching is immediate when it succeeds, but cost, loyalty, renown, the transfer window and roster-protection rules can stop it before the roll. Start from party coverage and a real free bed, then choose the market that fits the deadline.
Checked against v3.0.0
Tavern: known pool, delayed arrival
The pool holds 5 + Tavern level candidates. A signing travels for one day, so the contract does not solve today's fixture. Fees rise with CA, climb faster from 70 CA and sharply above 90, add a PA premium above 130, and multiply monstrous heroes by 1.3 before recruitment discounts. The Tavern ignores the transfer window.
Quartermaster and Guildmaster recruitment modifiers multiply separately. The staff modifier cannot fall below 0.5. Tavern ratings are capped by division, summit to Backwater: 91, 88, 84, 79, 74 and 70. A kin-led patron sends only its own kindred, and four or more of your own dead in the last year shows one fewer, weaker face on the board until the deaths age.
Rival Guild: hidden risk, immediate join
Poach cost starts from role rating, ability and Veterancy, then rises for talent above your standing. Every hero you have poached and not yet re-signed adds 15%, and each of those taken from the same guild adds another 35%; one who re-signs with you stops counting. League fame (fixtures and standout games) adds up to half again, and the target guild's conviction moves it a little. A target guild in crisis cuts cost to 60% and refusal chance to 40% of normal. Success adds the hero to your roster immediately, with any wound they carry and without their old guild's kit.
A delver a rival has listed for sale is cheaper: about 78% of the poach price, with half the renown premium. Wanderers cost no transfer fee, only a sign-on bonus of half their Tavern value (at least 10g).
What scouting tells you before you bid
Scouting reveals Loyalty, Consistency, Mettle and Adaptability. Its cost is50 + 12 × Veterancy, discounted by Scry bonuses up to 40% and by 15% for each of the first two Tavern Wing levels, 60% at most. Loremaster skill therefore makes information cheaper; scouting itself does not improve the poach chance, though a scried rival delver is easier to hit, and lands softer, in a fight that year. Loyalty is the refusal input worth revealing before a large bid.
Check these gates before chasing a formula
1The Archive’s roll is closed. Guild-to-guild deals happen only in the first eight days of each 30-day season, unless your charter swore No windows.
2You are drawn against that hall in a cup tie; the books reopen once the tie is played.
3That guild holds a grudge against yours (Long Memories) and will not deal with you.
4The Rule of Nine would leave the rival with six or fewer on their books.
5Your patron, a challenge house, a kin vow or Dungeonborn rules exclude that recruit.
6The delver rates above what your division attracts. This gate does not apply at the summit or under Power Fantasy.
7Their ability stars sit 1.2 or more above what your renown attracts (1.5 + 0.6 per renown band), unless they are a former member or their guild is in crisis.
8You cannot pay the quoted gold cost, or the Hall has no free bed (part-exchange can offer up to three of your delvers toward the deal).
9They already turned you down this year.
Recruit in this order
1
Gap. Name the role the next party lacks.
2
Bed. Confirm Hall capacity before spending.
3
Clock. Allow one day for Tavern travel; rival deals wait for the window.
