Can you suggest a bodyguard cohort for this situation?

[azmodean]

One suggestion, if you do go the route of the fighter/devoted defender (this class seems designed for use as a spellcaster cohort) all it takes is point blank shot, precise shot, and a decent dex bonus to make them a decent archer too. If you want, you could even equip them with a shield and throwing weapons for max defense as well as ranged attack. (with quick draw this also leaves the defender with a hand free for use with deflect or snatch arrow) Even better is you are targeted with a thrown weapon, they could use the spiffy ability where they snatch the weapon and throw it back at the attacker.

 

[dagger]

I put a similar thread over on the WoTC min/max board and got some interesting responses. One was a Warlock/Devoted Defender build, pretty neat. Only problem with that build (and most builds on that board) is that it was built for 20th level and takes a very high level before the 'fruits' are realized. I needed a cohort who could do a job starting at 6th level.

A cleric with high HP's and Shield Other spell would be good route to go.

 

[Liquidsabre]

Well thankfully not everyone plays the same way or 'by the book'.

Hssssss, to say such things in the rules forum - blasphemy!

Though, that could be why folk tend to complain about the Leadership feat when players simply use the feat to get an "extra" character.

 

[xazil]

Hssssss, to say such things in the rules forum - blasphemy!

Though, that could be why folk tend to complain about the Leadership feat when players simply use the feat to get an "extra" character.

Yeah, I didn't understand the complaints after I got a Cleric 1/ Bard 3 who ran around with a dire flail as a cohort. He jumped into combat despite his low AC and HP and the ensuing fight caused a near TPK, including my character at the time.

 

[cmanos]

Hssssss, to say such things in the rules forum - blasphemy!

Rule Zero

 

[exile]

I won't venture into mechanics so much, but some concepts that seem neat to me are a paladin devoted to a god(dess) of magic. A cleric or cleric/fighter devoted to said deity could fill essentially the same role.

In an earlier incarnation of Ars Magica, one of the sample characters in the rulebook was a 'shield grog'. He/she was basically a burly fighter that used a fairly heavy (one-handed) melee weapon and a tower shield. He was devoted to the protection of a single mage. One detail that I thought was pretty neat was that the character was mute. I can't recall if his tongue had been cut out or if the muteness was due to more natural causes.

Chad

 

[Flying_Nimrod_3]

A fellow wizard might be able to help more than a bodyguard, especially an illusionist. With such spells cast on your person as Invisibility and Displacement, attackers have a much lower chance of finding you, let alone hitting you. And with their spells that can attack (Phantasmal Killer for those pesky big-hitters) and distract (Rainbow Pattern for example) you are sure to have fewer enemies actually getting to you or even him/her...

Of copurse... I'm not sure how well this will stand up in actual practise, but it's a good idea nonetheless...

 

[dagger]

One possible build.....


I'm looking at something along the line of a human Fighter 2/Paladin 3/Devoted Defender 1 , from the Dalelands (for regional feat) ...


The feats:

• Heavy Armor Optimization (races of stone)
• Allied Defense (Shining South)
• Alterness (for devoted defender)
• Weapon Focus (for devoted defender)
• Luck of Heroes (helps with saves & ac)
• Combat Expertise (needed for Allied Defense)

Str 16 Dex 16 Con 16 Int 8 Wis 12 Chr 16
Mithral Fullplate +1 (take advantage of Dex) and Large Shield +1
AC 27 (with luck of heroes and Heavy Armor Opti)


With this build I am worried about the Will save

F 15
R 10
W 6

I was also looking at various monk builds last night.

 

[Larcen]

...A cleric with high HP's and Shield Other spell would be good one route to go.

I wholeheartedly second that.

Beyond the awesome Sheild Other, this guy can can heal you, buff you, fight for you, use protection spells on you, divine for you, turn undead for you, cure you, remove curses for you, dispel magic for you, counterspell for you, etc, etc, etc...

If I were going into a dungeon I would definately want my own walking talking armed and armored spellcasting med kit.

 

[Nail]

I'm surprised it took this long for someone to suggest a Cleric.

In fact, at this level, a cleric is th' only good choice for a cohort.

Clerics are second to none at keeping people alive. Just look at their spell list! (Shield Other has already been pointed out. There are plenty more where that came from.) Moreover, with an elvish cleric, the archery stuff is covered. Back row artillery? Done.

At 8th level yer lookin' at a 6th level cohort, right? So, get a neutral good elf cleric, with the domains of Protection and Luck. Or, twink him out with elf and war domains so that he can be an uber archer. Simple.

Besides, wouldn't an extra cleric in your party be a Good Thing(tm)? Of course it would.