Re: Hireling growth?
Also, be aware that a hireling or mercenary who serves for pay isn't the same as an ally or sidekick who serves out of devotion. The latter kinds of NPCs can have any point value, aren't subject to Loyalty rolls (make appearance rolls instead: "Sorry, chief. Death in the family."), and don't demand pay (though they still need to upgrade and replace gear, find a place to stay, etc., so the PCs should ensure these NPCs receive shares of the loot if they want to keep them around). They're more like GM-controlled junior delvers, and they ought to earn points at the same rate as the PCs.
In GURPS, such NPCs would cost somebody points as Allies. In practice, this is hard to assess when devotion is to the whole party rather than to a single PC. There's nothing wrong with just having somebody like this accompany the party as a de facto full group member controlled by the GM, but such dedication ought to be earned by saving the follower's life, accepting a mission to save that person's entire village, or completing a quest that has someone's faithful service as a reward (possibly in lieu of cash or goods).
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