Cohort Level when Leader has Level adjustments

[Halivar]

Sorry. 3.5.

The quote from the SRD is inclusive, not exclusive. Saying the minotaur is equivalent to an 8th-level character is pretty much all-inclusive.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I think I just found my answer (Savage Species)

Use character level for all game functions except awarding experience, determining starting equipment, and determining how much experience the character needs to gain a new level.

Comments?

AR

 

[Halivar]

I concede the point, AR. Cohorts should be based on character level, not effective character level. Now the question is: does character level include monstrous hit-dice, or is it only the sum of class levels? I cannot find a definition for character level anywere; only effective character level. Anyone else have any insight?

PS: I will say that I think the rule quoted from SS is silly and underpowering. The definition in the MM for ECL is also misleading and needs to be changed. But that's just my gripe. ;P

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

In SS there is a definition of Character Level. Let me type it up:

When a creature's description refers to character level, add any class levels it has to the base creature's HD to determine the character level. This is not the same as Effective Character Level (see below), which also includes a level adjustment. The creature's base save and base attack bonuses are based on its character level. Thus, character level is a good measure of basic effectiveness in adventuring

I agree that the Leadership score should be based on Effective Character Level. If Bob the 10th level human can have an 8th level cohort, why could Sblorg the 7th level half-dragon, who is supposed to be equivalent, power-wise, to Bob, only have a 5th level cohort? Nevertheless, IMO, as presented, Sblorg's cohort is screwed.

AR

 

[Mr. Kaze]

If Bob the 10th level human can have an 8th level cohort, why could Sblorg the 7th level half-dragon, who is supposed to be equivalent, power-wise, to Bob, only have a 5th level cohort?

Or more precisely, if Bob the 10th level human can have a half-celestial half-dragon were-Tarrasque level 8 cohort, then what's the rest of the party going to be doing?

ECL should be read as CL, just without the hit dice (for spells that note the differences between HD quantities). If not, I want my were-Tarrasque cohort.

::Kaze

 

[atom crash]

I agree that the Leadership score should be based on Effective Character Level. If Bob the 10th level human can have an 8th level cohort, why could Sblorg the 7th level half-dragon, who is supposed to be equivalent, power-wise, to Bob, only have a 5th level cohort? Nevertheless, IMO, as presented, Sblorg's cohort is screwed.

I agree. That 5th-level cohort is going to last about as long as the surprise round.

ECL = CL for Leadership in my campaign, just because it makes more sense to me. Why count that level adjustment in some cases and not in others? If that counts as a house rule, then I guess I've house-ruled my game and *gasp* don't run the RAW where I find them inadequate or dumb.

 

[shilsen]

I agree. That 5th-level cohort is going to last about as long as the surprise round.

ECL = CL for Leadership in my campaign, just because it makes more sense to me. Why count that level adjustment in some cases and not in others? If that counts as a house rule, then I guess I've house-ruled my game and *gasp* don't run the RAW where I find them inadequate or dumb.

I agree. I believe this is just another of those areas where the people creating the rules didn't think of a particular - and IMO, necessary - application for ECL instead of CL.

 

[Tatsukun]

I dodged the issue by requiring cohorts to have the same level adjustment as the leader. If a Level 6 half dragon wants a cohort, he gets a level 4 half dragon.

On the other hand, if a level 6 human wants a cohort, he can't have a level 4 half dragon.

It's restrictive, but until all this CL / ECL / HD / Whatever stuff gets a whole lot clearer, I will stick with it. Also, makes some sense flavor-wise. If you are a young (4th level) half dragon and looking for a master, why wouldn't you follow the powerful half dragon?

-Tatsu

 

[atom crash]

Tatsu, that's a novel solution. If the level adjustments are the same, then they can be effectively ignored.

The only character in my campaign with a cohort has a +1 LA, and things haven't gotten too strange or unbalanced yet. Since the character with Leadership is one level above party average, the cohort is merely one level below party average. Therefore, the party is fairly well balanced.