Determining abilities for cohorts?

[Dwimmerlied]

How do you determine the ability scores for cohorts? Also, with special cohorts, how do you determine starting gear/wealth?

 

[frankthedm]

No real specifics, so the DM designs the NPC like any other, so the elite array is a good choice

 

[Dwimmerlied]

sounds good to me! thanks!

 

[delericho]

They're NPCs like any other, so that would suggest using the NPC array: 13/12/11/10/9/8. That is equivalent to a 15-point buy in 3.5e, or rolling 3d6 and arranging to suit. There's a table giving NPC wealth per level, which I believe is on p.127 of the 3.5e DMG.

 

[Jacob Marley]

I wanted a little higher power game for my current campaign so:

• PCs: 32-point buy
• NPCs with PC classes (including cohorts): 28-point buy
• NPCs with NPC classes (including followers): 25-point buy

So Cohorts would be built using the 28-point buy. As far as wealth, I use the recommended NPC wealth-by-level chart.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

You're in "Negotiate with your DM" territory.

 

[Dwimmerlied]

They're NPCs like any other, so that would suggest using the NPC array: 13/12/11/10/9/8. That is equivalent to a 15-point buy in 3.5e, or rolling 3d6 and arranging to suit. There's a table giving NPC wealth per level, which I believe is on p.127 of the 3.5e DMG.

Thanks for the help! Although its not necessary and I'm being pedantic, I was looking for a rule somewhere that stated it absolutely, hoping someone knew where it could be found. Your response makes sense though.

Regarding the wealth by level, I'm sure I read somewhere that there was a different way to establish wealth if using an NPC who's level was partly determined by the fact that they were a monster. I can't for the life of me find it now tho, and the wealth by level table should do the job.

Cheers!

 

[Dwimmerlied]

You're in "Negotiate with your DM" territory.

Might come across as kinda schizophrenic if I do that at the table

 

[delericho]

Thanks for the help! Although its not necessary and I'm being pedantic, I was looking for a rule somewhere that stated it absolutely, hoping someone knew where it could be found.

Try the "Monster Manual", in the appendix about advancing monsters. I think what you're looking for is there.

Regarding the wealth by level, I'm sure I read somewhere that there was a different way to establish wealth if using an NPC who's level was partly determined by the fact that they were a monster. I can't for the life of me find it now tho, and the wealth by level table should do the job.

I think that one is in the text around the NPC Wealth per Level table. I might be wrong, though - I don't have the book to hand.

 

[delericho]

I don't have the book to hand.

Okay, I have now checked the MM and DMG, which has cleared up a few things.

Firstly, on the topic of ability scores, the MM recommends that NPCs built with "PC classes" (which would generally include cohorts) should probably use the elite array* - 15/14/13/12/10/8 (or 4d6-drop-lowest). And, per the DMG on NPCs**, such 'elite' characters would receive max hit points for their first die.

On the topic of gear, the MM says to determine the creatures ECL*** (that is, level plus level adjustment, if any; if it's a monster with monster hit dice, add those too), and use that as the "level" for the table on p.127.

* MM p.290
** DMG p.110
*** MM p.291

You're in "Negotiate with your DM" territory.

Not really - per the DMG (p.106), "the DM determines the details of the cohort.", though the PC can try to attract a cohort of a particular race, class, and alignment.

All of which made for quite an interesting read. Seems I've been doing some stuff wrong...