For those who took the Leadership feat: tell me about your cohorts!

[zyzzyr]

Simulacrum wrote ...

Leadership allows you to attract followers and cohorts.
The feat should only be taken by players who can lead and use recources in an intelligent way.
And should only be allowed by a DM that who can handle this feat in an intelligent way. (not a tool to make players angry etc)

etc.


Thanks ... I mentioned that I know how the mechanics work. What I'm saying is that I don't understand the need for it.

When I say "someone's interested in following the PC", I don't mean a "hireling". I mean a "cohort" for all intents and purposes. They fight the same cause. (which you refer to as "100% loyalty").

As for points 1, 3 (I don't even know what you're getting at here), 4, 5 - I don't see what any of these have to do with my point that I don't understand why the Leadership feat is necessary. I could do away with it completely and still have cohorts in my game. I don't think it fair to restrict characters without the feat from having cohorts.

As to ...

If you dont have this feat the DM could deny you such high quality underlings that follow every whim of yours.
Normal NPC's should never follow an pc blindly or lend him to much power for no reason, even more when the PC is a dumb fighting machine with 0 sozial skills.


What? No NPC, cohort or not, leadership feat or not, shoud *ever* follow a pc blindly. *never*. That's even outside of the bounds of the cohort granted by the leadership feat, as far as I understand it. I think it even refers to "the cohort should be played by the DM for a while unless the player will play him appropriately". You can't command the guy to stick his hand in the fire. He just won't do it.

I'm not suggesting that the Leadership feat is useless - what I'm saying is that you could do away with it in your game, still have cohorts, and have the exact same benefits. The only difference is that people who don't have this feat aren't restricted.

 

[MerakSpielman]

My DM made my go and find a cohort based on what was available in the small town I was in, so it ended up like this:

ME: A 6th level halfling paladin named T'rell Aspendale with a loyal pack mule named "Mojo". I am followed everywhere by an annoying halfling bard (from my town) whose style of performance is something new called "Stand up Comedy" (played by another player)

MY COHORT: A 5th level Half-Orc Fighter named "Hof" (for Half-Orc Follower). He is 1 point smarter and wiser than T'rell, and 3 STR points stronger. He takes great offense at the steriotype of Half-Orcs being stupid and there was a recent incident where the party wizard, forgetting about Hof, started explaing why we should torch a local Half-Orc villiage ("well, they're just stupid savages, and they're draining the swamp. Why not burn them alive?")

 

[Simulacrum]

I'm not suggesting that the Leadership feat is useless - what I'm saying is that you could do away with it in your game, still have cohorts, and have the exact same benefits. The only difference is that people who don't have this feat aren't restricted. [/B]

Hey I just wrote what came to my mind.
Sorry when I didn't get you the answer you wanted to read.
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I think that Leadership does make sense, and I don't think thats a good idea to let everyone have cohorts.
I explained the important factors that go with it.
Just call the Feat: "Person of power and attraction" or "Even if my DM is lame this feat gets me what I want/need"
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Leadership is a bit confusing.
Yes of course you could give everyone cohorts without the feat, but as DM I'd would make the relationship to the cohort slightly ambivalent or include it in a hierachical system where the PC isn't on top of the chain....clear?
Leadership makes you being on top, without having to read the smallprinted stuff...If you know what I mean!

 

[Simulacrum]

A good example tight out of my campaign.

Taleth who enjoys playing with recources and political powerstruggle has attracted a small army of elite followers and two cohorts that give him considerable tools to work with.
In addition he managed to impress a powerful Warriorking/Lord who wants to strengthen his position against his political enemies and competition. To gain Taleths trust he gave him his personal advisor and councilor as cohort and 100 superbly trained men as *gift*
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Now you see what I mean.
They both want the same, and Taleth could use the lords men without having to ask, but still the mighty lord is the true ruler behind the scenes. Taleth could finaly never be sure if the men he got and the advisor cohort would not ultimately undermine his position or make him weak and controlable etc...
But in his *leadership* men (48 all in all) he can trust 100%
because he earned them through *the feat* that gives him *personal power and the social competence* to lead.
His followers not only believe in his ideals, even more they believe in his persona.
The kings men dont have to do neither of the two.
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[Dr. NRG]

I play a cleric/fighter/templar of Tyr (7/1/2), and have a cleric of Tyr (8) as my cohort. Logistically, it has been very useful getting specific buff spells from him according to the situation. In game terms, it makes perfect sense that a relatively high level champion of Tyr would naturally attract like-minded individuals, and that a particular fellow believer might become a cohort.

The same applies to followers. The party retook a keep from the baddies, and founded a Tyr temple. When 10 followers appeared, they became the core of the temple guards.

This is the first time I've explored the Leadership feat, and so far I'm finding it both interesting and fun to play with.

 

[zyzzyr]

Well...

I don't want to take up this thread trying to sort this out, Simulacrum.

I guess we're just on two very different wavelengths.

 

[Sir Edgar]

Cohorts seem to be too close in level with the PC's to me.

 

[Balrog]

My character:

Anarion Suntoucher, Cleric 6/ Fighter 1/ Radiant Servant of Pelor 7/ and Contemplative 1.

My cohort:

Bannor Bloodguard, Fighter 13.
S 20
D 14
C 18
I 13
W 14
Ch 9

Both my character and cohort have been primarily in the RttTOEE, and I mainly added him becuz our party was lacking in fighting power. He was an NPC soldier whose life my character had saved with healing a long time ago, in my background. He is now semi-retired from soldiering and he promised long ago I could call on him if i needed. He is kind of the gruff, veteran soldier type who doesnt put up with a lot of nonsense and is just smart enough to stay alive. I make sure I keep him buffed with alot of spells and that are usually within 20 feet of each other in combat.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The cohorts only get really close with an impressive Charisma and a few extra bonuses.

The thing is, in my summer campaign, the players found out how to milk Leadership for all it's worth.

You're about 8-9th level. You have leadership.

Your cohort reaches about 6-7th level. They take leadership.

Add a few levels.

Your cohort gets a cohort at about 6th level. They take leadership.

Repeat ad nauseum.

One PC can build a substantially small military this way. It's delightfully expandable.

 

[Simulacrum]

Re: Well...

I don't want to take up this thread trying to sort this out, Simulacrum.

I guess we're just on two very different wavelengths.

Duh, sorry you kinda sound pissed. I'm not sure what your problem is.
It could be the language barrier that keeps us from undestanding each other fully. Still I think I made some good points.
But if you prefer you could write your own answer if you like.
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laters!