Leadership (da feat) question

[Femerus the Gnecro]

Right.

I'm having a disagreement with a friend of mine over the Leadership feat.

He is of the opinion that it allows the taker to attract multiple cohorts (note the use of the word COHORT.. I'm not talking about "followers").

I disagree. To me, the wording isn't really ambiguous at all, and the lack of specific rules regarding multiple cohorts makes me very confident that this is not the case.

Anyone have evidence to support/deny this idea?

Thanks in advance,

-F

edit: I really want evidence here. we've got opinions to spare

 

[Tiberius]

Being the friend in question here, I should probably lay out my argument. Using the SRD wording of the feat (since my PH is at home):

Having this feat enables the character to attract loyal companions and devoted followers, subordinates who assist her.

The feat provides two categories of subordinates, cohorts and followers. Followers are specifically mentioned in the feat description as a separate category from "loyal companions." This means that "loyal companions" must refer to cohorts through elimination, and as it is written in the plural, the feat must allow for multiple cohorts. Any thoughts?

-Tiberius

[EDIT: Before anyone accuses me of it, I am not trying to be some munchie player trying to abuse a feat. I'm trying to get some evidence to stand off against some of my players, who would try such a thing.]

 

[mikebr99]

One cohort and multiple followers per feat.


Just take the feat multiple times for multiple cohorts...

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

One cohort and multiple followers per feat.


Just take the feat multiple times for multiple cohorts...

I agree. However, I would appreciate it if you (or someone else) could offer evidence to support this statement.

My friend and I are both horrible rules lawyers, so evidence is necessary. It's a syndrome, really.

-F

 

[Piratecat]

I remember reading a post from Monte Cook where he explicitly clarified this: want multiple cohorts? Take the feat multiple times.

That was many boards ago, though.

 

[dcollins]

The majority of references in the feat are to cohort in the singular, even when followers are in the plural. For example, from the SRD:

See Table: Leadership for what sort of cohort and how many followers the character can recruit.

 

[mikebr99]

I agree. However, I would appreciate it if you (or someone else) could offer evidence to support this statement.

My friend and I are both horrible rules lawyers, so evidence is necessary. It's a syndrome, really.

-F

Well... Tiberius is quoting the flavour text. The chart specifically says cohort (not plural) at such-and-such a level, and followers (plural) by number and level. it goes on to say...

Cohort Level
The character can attract a cohort up to this level...<snip>

It's all on page 45 in the DMG.

A 20th level fighter with 13 cohorts would be very strong... but he'd need to use 13 feats to do it.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

well...how about the fact that the description never mentions cohorts, specifically, in the plural?

"See Table 2-25: Leadership for what sort of cohort (singular) and how many followers (plural) the character can recruit."

"The character can attract a cohort (singular) of up to his level...can't recruit a cohort (singular) of his level or higher...can still only recruit a cohort (singular) of 5th level or lower..."

even table 2-25 mentions 'cohort level' and 'number of followers', not number of cohorts. even if you could argue multiple cohorts, there is nothing on the chart to say how many...

 

[mikebr99]

If you wanted to house rule... and allow multiple cohorts, I'd still say that their total levels equal the number stated at the leadership level of the character...

 

[Simulacrum]

The Dreadmaster PrC can attract multiple cohorts. Even *special* ones up to a total of 3 cohorts.
(in FR FnP)
At 10th Level as Dreadmaster you can have everything from the Helmed Horror to the Dreaded Deathkiss Beholder!
I ove the Dreadmaster, thats what a Vilian should be like!
Dozens of fanatical men, and a strong core group devoted him!
-
In high level campaigns I allow that the followers can be even made of PC classes to give them a tiny chance of survival.
I mean, whats a warrior good for when 10+ PC's and NPC's run amok?
And its not fun rolling 20 dice just to see how incompetent NPC classes are. Nothing against experts...they rawk, but the warrior class is a joke. they gain absolutely NO feats and have 4 HP...what a joke. In a low magic campaign ok, but not FR.
Just for the sake of the Leadership feat, they should be really tough mercenarys just like real NPC's.