Numenorean said:
Upon turning 12th level my human ranger took the leadership feat.
The rules in the DMG seem a bit vague as to what type or number of followers/cohorts you get. Correct me if I'm wrong but they leave that question in the hands of the DM?
We're also looking at how best to handle it. We've thought about using the old 1st edition tables to generate a follower/cohort or two (sorry no Storm Giants, or Copper dragons though).
How do you handle the leadership feat in your game? I'm looking for ideas, examples, etc.
When I DM, these are the rules I use.
Cohorts: 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.
Followers: Followers are much more limited than cohorts. Followers may be commoners, experts, or warriors, (and, in rare cases, with my approval, adepts) and usually of the same race and alignment as their leader (there may be exceptions this rule, when appropriate, although followers must always be a member of one of the standard races found in the
Player's Handbook). Their statistics are generated using the following method: 3d6, six times, in order. A follower is equipped with gear appropriate to his level when recruited (as set out in the
Dungeon Master's Guide on page 127). You are responsible for generating the statistics of your followers, subject to my review and approval: if you don’t make them, they won’t show up. Once you have put together your followers, give their character statistics to me, and I’ll introduce them to the campaign when appropriate. Alternatively, you may try to recruit NPCs you meet as followers. Once a follower has been inserted into the campaign, he will be an NPC under your control, though, as with cohorts, I reserve the right to take control of these NPCs whenever I think I should and run them directly.
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