Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 1270468" data-attributes="member: 9254">I give them the character sheet.  Most combats they run the cohort but I tend to provide basic direction as the cohort's general reaction ("It's big, but nothin' too special" or "Holy freakin' crap!  I ain't goin near *that*!") and make sure the player reacts accordingly.Mmm.  I usually do base creation using PC rules.  Once the social interaction and "bonding" of the cohort is done I give the players the character sheet and a GP value and let them equip him.  Naturally I keep veto power.  I provide the cohort's attitudes and basic personality.  My players get a handle on it and generally autopilot the cohort within those guidelines (meaning when the cohort does scouting, goes on watch, etc).   Valorous cohorts charge into battle, more conservative ones use tactics like spring attack or ranged weapons to see if it's worth getting into a slugging match.  I maintain constant personality override and when the players start to have the cohort do something inappropriate (usually through inattention) I refresh them. It's.... hazy.  XP is pretty much whenever I feel like it, but I try to keep the cohorts a few levels back.  Treasure is also a bit odd, but that could be because the one cohort is an awakened dog.   Right now the player pays for the cohort's treasure out of his share but that's partially because the dog isn't materialistic.  He get's fed well and often, stays warm, has his own armor, and can take most any squad of town guardsmen.  Heck, Dowser generally considers the un-awakened riding war dog to be *his* cohort!  Depends.  If it is handled as an ultra-trustworthy hireling, yeah that turns into double-dipping.  But if it turns into a full fledged party member that puts the Leader as first priority there's no grief.  General guideline is if your cohort will only help you or help others when it directly helps you, no treasure.  If the cohort will endanger themself for other party members as a matter of course, treasure.  This is the same reason the ultra-greedy rogue in my game will buy healing potions to carry around so he can heal the cleric.  Every bit of loot that goes to the party-cohort ends up benefiting the party.  I'll have to wait and see.  I think one of the other PCs is going to pickup up Leadership, as the party's NPC.  After that I might change my mind.  Or lose it, as the case may be.</blockquote>

Verification