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High-level options for Name-level fighters
The sturdy fighter so common to the OD&D game need not accept the upper-level "sub-classes" of Paladin, Knight, and Avenger (qq.v.). If, instead, the fighter is simply a trained warrior who finds his niche as a man-at-arms, soldier, mercenary, bandit, street tough, or thug, he may continue his training beyond Name level and ignore the feudal or liege-vassal obligations of bonded warriors. The high-level options below reflect this.
As per the RC/16-7.
As per the RC/17.
Upon reaching Name level, the fighter may choose to either build a stronghold of sorts or remain as an itinerant. Those fighters who construct fortifications are known as Warlords, while those who do not settle are called Mercenary Lords.
A warlord attracts up to 50 followers (as outlined on RC/138), and the type of stronghold he builds is typically in keeping with the nature of his earlier career. For example, a soldier or man-at-arms may build a fortified manor house on a parcel of granted land, or he might construct a small keep in the wilderness, effectively carving out his own dominion from scratch; a mercenary might build a military academy; a bandit could build a fastness in the wilderness from which to launch raids. Regardless, the fighter continues to attract followers at a rate of 21-40 (1d20+20) per additional experience level earned after Name level. Note that all followers require payment at the standard mercenary rates (RC/133).
A mercenary lord earns his living through mercenary contracts or adventuring, and attracts only 7-12 (1d6+6) followers who sign on to fight or adventure with the character. The class and alignment of each follower can be determined using the Castle Encounters table (RC/98); level is equal to 1-4 (1d4). Additional followers are gained at the rate of 1d2 per earned experience level of the mercenary lord. Unlike a warlord's followers, those who follow a mercenary lord do so for free (or, at least, a fair share of the payoff or treasure gained). Naturally, the mercenary lord can swell his ranks with hired muscle, though such followers are retained by coin instead of loyalty.
As per the RC/16.