Let's discuss the economics of adventuring and a world that

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Actually, at what point do we call these people hired muscle, or mercenaries? Professional heroism at its best, huh?

>>53976623
>Maybe the adventurers belong to a guild, that insures for them for any maimings and losses in return for a cut of their profit.
I actually do this in my games. Guilds take a flat percentage from every contract fulfilled. Certain high level contracts have a fee in order to take it. And in order to even be part of the guild, you have to pass a test of trials, which itself is bogged with an entrance fee. However in return for that, the guild gives you free transportation and rations, guarenteed repairs of armour and weapons, stocked up with quality brand potions and other adventuring gear, and covers half of a person's restoration/esurrection fee.

There are two primary ways to handle a setting where "adventuring" is a legitimate profession.

The first is the AD&D way, where the world is post-apoc. That is, there was once a grand flourishing high magical civilization that dominated the region, but then The Bad Thing Happened and now everyone is feudal serfs and there is no king only a large group of clashing warlords and any fighting man worth his iron can try and tread their kingdoms beneath his sandaled feet. There are dungeons and ruins because the once great realm of Good King John, or the Second Age of the Elves, or the Halls of Dwarven Kings have all fallen and their stuff is ripe for the taking [and the monsters had the same idea]

The second is the Spain way. You, like a true white man, are sent out to explore new lands, kill and oppress any natives you can find, and seize their booty [both kinds].

The starting money usually comes from inheritances, family savings, or whatever your backstory says. After that, you pay for your gear with the proceeds of your successful quests.

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>>53976686
I restrict the word mercenary to the usage of being involved in national conflicts such as providing security in a hostile state or acting as the acting army for a country to use against another country. Adventurers are offered a wider breath of options, such as mapping areas of the world or a dungeon with the Cartographer's Guild, searching for missing persons or , killing monsters plauging an area, or investigating mysteries with law enforcement.

>>53976779
Sounds like a way of life. I imagine these guilds have in-house or contracted local blacksmiths/alchemists/whatever for cheap rates in return for good business and connections.

>>53976623
>But what about the income? Where do they get this money from?

Usually the powers that be pay good money on all the bounties posted up for various bandits, humanoids, and monsters. All those things really inhibit trade, and trade can produce some serious money.

It's a beautiful circle; trade - > taxation - > protection - > trade.