How Do You Use Cohorts?

[Nonlethal Force]

I chose answer 1 out of my perspective as a player - although I qualify it. I didn't feel exactly right in choosing the sencond choice, but maybe I should have. When I play, I like to focus on my character. And as a player, I hate the feeling of taking a cohort just so I can have someone to "patch my character's weaknesses." Not saying that's what it is, but it is saying that is sometimes how the decision feels.

[Aside] I think player's use the cohort feat too often this way. If you think about real like, cohorts are more likely to be similar characters than opposites. A fighter is likely to attract a warrior-cleric, a paladin, ranger, fighter, etc. Probably not a mage. A mage is unlike to attract anyone that doesn't share with their arcane interests and abilities.[/Aside]

This is why as a player I like the DM to control the cohort with the understanding that the cohort wants to be a follower of my character and thus will likely listen to my character the majority of the time. But with the DM playing the cohort it makes me feel like the cohort is more real and not simply a "free" second character or a "patch" for my current character.

I think the DM should play the cohort, the DM should make all final decisions, but In Character the cohort can get sugestions from my character for advice on what my character would think wise.

I realize the RL argument doesn't transcribe well to RPs .... but how many of us get to be our own best friend? IRL we have the human element to deal with - other people think differently. That is the aspect I like most about having a cohort. The potential to think differently about a topic but having the same desire outcome.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I do not use the Leadership feat in my game.

If a player wants a cohort - then it has to come up in-game somehow.

The player runs the cohort - but with my input - typically asking something like "is it okay if I have [X] do [Y]? Do you think he would do that?"

QFT. I agree completely with this post except that we do use leadership in our games. But cohorts always come through RP with NPCs. A player cannot simply "invent" a cohort they want. If the player wants a cohort, typically they talk to the DM and the DM tries to create a few NPCs that the character might enjoy interacting with. This process usually occurs over the span of a few levels before the "friendships" form enough to take the cohort officially. That is part of why I think the cohort should be ultiamtely controlled by the DM with the understanding that the cohort is nearly always going to agree and support the PC.

 

[Nifft]

One of the PCs in my game got a cohort recently. He's a Wiz 7 / Loremaster 7, and he wanted a cohort who was "a thud". His Charisma isn't that great, so he wouldn't have qualified for anything spectacular, so I gave him a choice: your regular cohort with a regular cohort reason, or a mystery cohort ("behind door #2...") with some flaws & drawbacks and a mysterious background, but two levels higher than he's technically qualified to have.

He chose mystery door #2, and got a Warforged which we both worked out the mechanical details for, and it ended up being a Ftr 6 / Exotic Weapon Master 1 / Occult Slayer 5 spiked-chain trip monkey.

The player named the cohort Cypher. It's a good name.

As to his personality...
1/ He addresses you as "Archmage".
2/ He addresses you in Draconic.
3/ He appeared in Urbois one day, covered in seaweed, walking straight
towards your location, demanding passage (in Draconic) through
whatever structures were in his way, telling startled citizens that he
needs to get through, to get to "the Archmage". With his elite
anti-magic skills, he might have killed a cocky wizard or two on his way.
4/ He has a permanent "Discern Location" with you as its target.

Cypher was the first Warforged ever seen on Earth.
More are starting to appear in the service of certain enemies.
It's a bit of a mystery.

So, Cypher's origin, loyalty and motives are a mystery, but the player controls it in combat. He gets his thud, and I get an adamantine-laced plot hook.

-- N

 

[Nonlethal Force]

He's a Wiz 7 / Loremaster 7, and he wanted a cohort who was "a thud" ...

<snip>

...and got a Warforged which ... ended up being a Ftr 6 / Exotic Weapon Master 1 / Occult Slayer 5 spiked-chain trip monkey.

Please don't take this as criticism, because I'm always a fan of the "if you're having fun -cool" scenario and anything that gives plot hooks that wide open are good for a game. So this is not criticism at all, just honest curiosity. But this kind of thing makes me feel like player abuse of a feat. What exactly would a wizard be doing with a warrior "machine" that hates arcanists (Occult Slayer from CW, I'm assuming) but is dramatically loyal to the PC?

I mean, sure the occult slayer must have some knowledge of the arcane, but most occult slayers would rather get rid of arcanists than befriend them, no? Like I said, not a criticism - just a general question.

 

[lukelightning]

What exactly would a wizard be doing with a warrior "machine" that hates arcanists (Occult Slayer from CW, I'm assuming) but is dramatically loyal to the PC?

Occult slayers don't have to hate arcanists, they are just very good at killing 'em, just as a ranger with favored enemy (humans) doesn't have to hate humans, he just is skilled at fighting them.

 

[Nifft]

Please don't take this as criticism, because I'm always a fan of the "if you're having fun -cool" scenario and anything that gives plot hooks that wide open are good for a game. So this is not criticism at all, just honest curiosity. But this kind of thing makes me feel like player abuse of a feat. What exactly would a wizard be doing with a warrior "machine" that hates arcanists (Occult Slayer from CW, I'm assuming) but is dramatically loyal to the PC?

I mean, sure the occult slayer must have some knowledge of the arcane, but most occult slayers would rather get rid of arcanists than befriend them, no? Like I said, not a criticism - just a general question.

Hates all arcanists? I didn't say that! I don't think there's anything in CW that precludes an Occult Slayer from being friends with or working with a Wizard -- they're not Forsakers.

Occult Slayer works as a foe of Arcanists and Divine casters, so why do you think this one would particularly hate Wizards?

-- N

Edit: I see lukelightning has beaten me to the punchline... I was looking up the CW rules. Yeah, that's my excuse.

 

[Glyfair]

While I'm just getting ready to handle my first cohort, my approach is going to be between 2 and 3. I plan on allowing the player handle the character in combat and while adventuring, with my having the option to veto it.

However, all roleplaying of the cohort will be me (which will account for probably most of the times I'll overrule the player on the cohort's actions).

 

[lukelightning]

Of course the problem with the warforged occult slayer whatchamacallit is that I think it's a bad idea to have a cohort that is more interesting or complicated than the main character. Or at least, a cohort that will draw so much attention (the only warforged in the world? That's gotta get a lot of attention).

Anyhoo, as a DM I just think it's easiest on me if I just let the PC run the cohort. I've already got a jillion NPCs to run.

 

[Nifft]

Of course the problem with the warforged occult slayer whatchamacallit is that I think it's a bad idea to have a cohort that is more interesting or complicated than the main character. Or at least, a cohort that will draw so much attention (the only warforged in the world? That's gotta get a lot of attention).

NOTHING is more complicated to run than a Wizard. This is my experience.
More interesting? That's going to vary among individuals.

As to drawing attention, most people think it's a defective (medium-size) Shield Guardian.

-- N

 

[Sejs]

I voted for the fourth option, but there are a pair of footnotes.


First, the cohort is created by the player, with imput from the DM. Player says 'I want such and such for a cohort', DM replies with 'okay, cool, let's work together to make that in a way that fits with the campaign'.


Second, the cohort is not run by the player that has the feat. Another player who agrees to take up the duty runs the cohort. Your cohort is a seperate person from the PC. They are an individual unto themselves that one has to deal and interact with as normal. Their loyalty is to you, but the two do not share a single mind. Having someone else run the cohort ensures that any One-Person-In-Two-Bodies issues are avoided.