How Do You Use Cohorts?
- Thread starter airwalkrr
- Start date
I voted 3rd option, as what I think it should be, however I don't use the feat when I DM (yet strangely I use it lots and lots when I play). As a DM I don't want players abusing the cohorts or just using it because "OMGz I get another WHOLE CHARACTER for the cost of JUST A FEAT!" (which unfortunately at least one player is doing in a game I am playing in... giving my cohort in that game a bad name).
Cohorts generally better have a darn good story reason too (something which is important to me as a player. I can't stand the idea of just taking a feat and magically a willing servitor shows up)
Cohorts generally better have a darn good story reason too (something which is important to me as a player. I can't stand the idea of just taking a feat and magically a willing servitor shows up)
Dog Moon
Adventurer
I chose the 4th option. Our group figures as long as the Cohort is played true to how the Cohort should be, the player can do everything dealing with him/her.
Also, our group tends to only allow Leadership and thus Cohorts when we need it [Like not enough players or we keep triggering traps and need the services of a decent Rogue], so it doesn't matter as much if the player controls him/her.
Also, our group tends to only allow Leadership and thus Cohorts when we need it [Like not enough players or we keep triggering traps and need the services of a decent Rogue], so it doesn't matter as much if the player controls him/her.
BlueBlackRed
Explorer
I have a cohort in my current game; a walking band-aid.
He's a pure healer and doesn't do combat (he's only hurt a monster once, and that is only because there was an undead conveniently nearby when he cast a mass cure light wounds).
I made up the cohort, I control the vast majority of the cohort's actions, the DM controls him in any role-playing capacity.
He's the PC that no one wants to play.
He's a pure healer and doesn't do combat (he's only hurt a monster once, and that is only because there was an undead conveniently nearby when he cast a mass cure light wounds).
I made up the cohort, I control the vast majority of the cohort's actions, the DM controls him in any role-playing capacity.
He's the PC that no one wants to play.
lukelightning
First Post
A cohort is run by the player. The DM should not interfere with this. If the DM wants to control the cohort, then it shouldn't cost a feat.
People worry too much about PCs "abusing" cohorts as if they were expendible cannon fodder, but I have never seen a player do this, any more than wizards or druids "abuse" their familiars/animal companions. The PC has spent a feat to get a cohort, and there is repercussions if the cohort dies, so it is in the best interest of the player to keep the cohort alive and play them as if they were a PC.
People worry too much about PCs "abusing" cohorts as if they were expendible cannon fodder, but I have never seen a player do this, any more than wizards or druids "abuse" their familiars/animal companions. The PC has spent a feat to get a cohort, and there is repercussions if the cohort dies, so it is in the best interest of the player to keep the cohort alive and play them as if they were a PC.
I, as a player, created the cohort with some input from the DM (I had a couple of ideas and the DM gave input on the final choice and gave some background to help the cohort enter the game without too much trouble).
I level up the cohort.
I control the cohort in combat.
My DM gives voice to the cohort in non-combat situations.
(I picked option 3)
I level up the cohort.
I control the cohort in combat.
My DM gives voice to the cohort in non-combat situations.
(I picked option 3)
kigmatzomat
Legend
I chose 3. The Cohort is under player control 90% of the time, 5% I recommend alternate actions that the cohort could have thought of, 4% I speak as the cohort providing the information that I would give any character of the cohort's background, and 1% of the time I tell the player he's nuts and the cohort has a much saner idea.
Cohorts won't betray PCs but PCs can betray cohorts, driving them away. Dead cohorts may not come back from the dead if they died a particularly heroic death, were fairly religious, and the PC doesn't explicitly need them. Cohorts from foreign lands or of different races may also have a different vantage point on societal issues.
Cohorts will also have their own baseline for "good idea/bad idea" that I try to make clear early on. One of the key points tends to be that cohorts may make decisions that favor their Leader more than the party, such as abandoning the party by teleporting a mortally injured leader to safety. They generally aren't selfish but IMO the cohort will give their Leader the same priority someone would give their siblings.
Cohorts won't betray PCs but PCs can betray cohorts, driving them away. Dead cohorts may not come back from the dead if they died a particularly heroic death, were fairly religious, and the PC doesn't explicitly need them. Cohorts from foreign lands or of different races may also have a different vantage point on societal issues.
Cohorts will also have their own baseline for "good idea/bad idea" that I try to make clear early on. One of the key points tends to be that cohorts may make decisions that favor their Leader more than the party, such as abandoning the party by teleporting a mortally injured leader to safety. They generally aren't selfish but IMO the cohort will give their Leader the same priority someone would give their siblings.
BlueBlackRed
Explorer
Here I disagree with you. Cohorts are with the PC for a reason, and that reason isn't always a pure one.kigmatzomat said:
A PC that has an evil cohort might find himself betrayed if the cohort has a good reason to do so.
Vecna and his vampire-fighter buddy are an example.
Possibly Bilbo & Gollum are another.
