How do you handle cohorts?

[pogre]

Yeah - I meant cohort - I should remember 3E has definite terms and to be much more careful with my terminology - good advice.

I do need to assert a bit more control over cohorts and I like the idea of the DM running the cohort except for combats - except that makes for more work...

My real concern has to do with combats though - I have a lot of players and these followers cohorts are going to add to the length of a round. Particularly as one is a wizard and the other is a paladin.

Arkhandus check out FranktheDm's post experience for cohorts does not work that way. You did qualify your contribution with IIRC

I like Herremann the Wise's Game Master's solution, which mirrors the attitude shared by S'mon. Keeping the PC in the dark about some of the cohort's abilities and allowing them to just run them during combat might work.

Thanks for the feedback - now to make a few adjustments to how I'm running cohorts...

 

[Zenodotus of Ephesus]

I say, let the player run his cohort unless his PC orders something akin to suicide. He's got to waste a feat on it at a higher level, it's a drain on party resources, magic, and experience, and every time the DM runs the cohort the player is going to feel like he's getting the shaft otherwise. It's not that much control for a DM to give up, and it really isn't like you're giving the player that much of a net advantage, so let it go and save yourself all of the headaches. I've seen PCs get much, much more out of an intelligent sword than they ever get from a cohort.

 

[Storm Raven]

Here are the rules I use for cohorts in the game I DM:

Cohorts may be members of any standard class, and any standard race. If you desire a cohort with an ECL (who may be added under the same conditions as a player could bring in a new character from a race with an ECL), the cohort must be eligible to enter play at least twice as high in level as his ECL (i.e. if you want a cohort from a race with an ECL of +2, your Leadership score must be no lower than 6). Cohorts may multiclass and take prestige classes just as PCs may. As elite individuals, their statistics are generated using 4d6, six times, arrange to taste. A cohort is equipped with gear appropriate to his level when recruited (as set out in the DUNGEON MASTER’S GUIDE on page 127). You may build your preferred cohort, subject to my approval, who will be introduced to play when it makes sense for them to show up. Once the cohort comes into play, he or she will be an NPC acting under your control for the most part, but if I think I should (for whatever reason), I may take control of the cohort and run him or her directly.

 

[S'mon]

Right, that's usually best, though lifting heavier players so you can properly drop them certainly requires some strength.

I also recommend dropping snarky moderators (from a great height).

 

[stevelabny]

I've already givien the OK to a character concept in my next campaign where a PC will have a cohort. The cohort is already being worked in to the characters backstory, will be written out in the first session of the campaign, and will return as a cohort once the leadership feat is taken.

I'm seeing the cohort as no different than an animal companion or familiar. The player will roll for it, the PC (and thus the player too) will tell their cohort what to do. And as long as it isn't suicidal or outright stupid, I'm not gonna step in.

Yes its a powerful feat, and yes its can be annoying if the other players haven't agreed to it, BUT I can't imagine not giving the player control of their cohort. A DM doesn't need anyone extra characters to contol, and since most players arent gonna to comand their cohorts to be trap-finders, I don't see much of a problem.

Although it probably is best to limit the amount of players who can take the leadership feat in a campaign.

 

[S'mon]

I like Herremann the Wise's Game Master's solution, which mirrors the attitude shared by S'mon. Keeping the PC in the dark about some of the cohort's abilities and allowing them to just run them during combat might work.

This won't work because the player won't know all the cohort's combat abilities. I recommend giving the player full access to the cohort's combat stats but you keep all the personality & background info etc to yourself.

From past experience I recommend that the GM, not player, generate the potential cohort(s) and the PC be required to recruit them in-game. IME player-generated cohorts are always beautiful sexy Clerics (or Bards) in love with the male PC... *yeuch*

 

[PieAndDragon]

If you feel one of them is capable, give one of your other players the cohort to control in combat.
This way the Leader can give orders, but doesn't have control of 2 PCs.

This is what I plan on doing this afternoon when we start a new campaign at 11th level.

 

[S'mon]

Yes its a powerful feat, and yes its can be annoying if the other players haven't agreed to it, BUT I can't imagine not giving the player control of their cohort. A DM doesn't need anyone extra characters to contol, and since most players arent gonna to comand their cohorts to be trap-finders, I don't see much of a problem.

I thought this at first... maybe you have really good players. The problems I saw:

1. Either cohorts are silent, or they're indistinguishable from the main PC and the two act as a gestalt. I was always asking "So, who said that, you or your cohort?"

2. Players create cohorts as wish-fulfilment fantasies - sexy bard in love with PC. Player tells GM "No you can't play my cohort, that'd be weird". Story hours are, eh... unpleasant.

3. Players make Cleric cohorts, so you end up with 4 Clerics in a party of 4 PCs & 4 Cohorts. & Clerics are far more powerful than other PCs, especially when they don't need to use up their slots on healing, so it unbalances the game.

 

[S'mon]

If you feel one of them is capable, give one of your other players the cohort to control in combat.
This way the Leader can give orders, but doesn't have control of 2 PCs.

This is what I plan on doing this afternoon when we start a new campaign at 11th level.

That's a really good idea which I may well use in my current campaign.

 

[krichaiushii]

Would it be going to far for the DM to provide a list of responses to certain triggers to the player controlling the cohort?

For example, the cohort fights defensively and seeks healing when below 1/2 his HP total.