n00b cohort questions

[Kashell]

Our party consists of 5 characters right now...

Level 6 wizard/1 rogue gnome
Level 1 fighter/5 ranger/1 sorc/1 arcane archer
Level 8 Fighter
Level 8 Monk(me)
level 6 bard


The bard is my cohort, and I was wondering what some general advise about cohorts( and followers) would be?

What are some good ways to use followers and your cohort to your advantage?


Just a quick sum of of what's happened so far...

Currently, we're in a crypt near the city of Waith trying to steal a book from a secret cult of Vecna.

There are 3 copies of the book. We have just finished getting the first copy(which was in Calthon's Point, the largest city in the world) and we used a boat in a box to come to Waith(3rd largest city).

We've purchesed a home base in Waith and now I also have 5 followers(who happen to be sailors that travel to and from Waith, he did not specify what character classes they were.)

We're searching for these books so a certain Lich will hand over information about the Blight Bowl...an artifact that when brought to a certain place(with all the stones in it) allows the wielder to turn into the avatar of Krok(god of aborations).

Also, as a side-question, from the time we traveled to Calton's Point, my character(Kashell the monk) and his cohort(Karen the bard) have been putting on performances. So far(if I remember correctly) we've had 5 perform checks of 30+ and 3 perform checks of 40+. We've never had a perform check lower than 25. From what we know, during one of the 40+ perform checks, Olidimaria allowed Kashell to see him for an instant, but besides that, nothing but popularity.

If we continued to make perform checks that the above, what generally would you say might happen god wise?


Thanks for reading(and hopefully answering )

-Kash

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I'm going to snip some of your post here...

Level 8 Monk(me)
level 6 bard
Also, as a side-question, from the time we traveled to Calton's Point, my character(Kashell the monk) and his cohort(Karen the bard) have been putting on performances. So far(if I remember correctly) we've had 5 perform checks of 30+ and 3 perform checks of 40+. We've never had a perform check lower than 25. From what we know, during one of the 40+ perform checks, Olidimaria allowed Kashell to see him for an instant, but besides that, nothing but popularity.

If we continued to make perform checks that the above, what generally would you say might happen god wise?

How was an 8th level monk able to get a 40+ skill check? Just curious.

My group uses cohorts very rarely. One guy had a psudodragon that helped out a little in combat. He'd send the little critter after any small foe or summoned monster. The rest was just fun roleplay.

 

[Felix]

Cohorts are generally best in support roles where their 2-level deficit is not as much a liability. Your bard will do well in this situation, as they're best in a multi-lateral support role.

Followers need to stay someplace safe and do something not dangerous. Heh, meaning get lots of experts crafting, writing, building... something out of harm's way.

Re: Perform & gods

A perform check of 40+ is going to "catch the attention of an extraplanar creature". This could mean that Grxyyyl the Red Slaad, who is in charge of Humanoid Resources at Olidimarra Talent Incorporated, notices people enjoyed your performance and marks your name down as a future prospect.

Grxyyyl's note might eventually lead to Olidimarra revealing himself (much as some CEOs greet incoming middle-management), but not sooner than 20th level I shouldn't think. He is a god, and there are a lot of important things for him to be doing and paying attention to on other planes of existance, you know.

 

[Halivar]

BiggusGeekus, I think he means he rolled a 20+20=40 (+20 is VERY doable for a level 8 character*). At least, that's what I was intimated from his DM.

Kashell, bard is a great choice for a cohort. Focus on buffing spells, and always use inspire courage first round of combat. Use him to enhance your monk; don't use him as a separate character. That means keep him in the back, away from the fighting. For feats, go with Lingering Song (I believe you have Song & Silence, don't you?), and the rest as defense feats (IW, GF, LR, dodge, combat casting, etc.) For skills, concentration, spellcraft (never know when you'll be able to counterspell), perform (of course), and be sure to get your 5 ranks of tumble for perform synergy.

Basically, build him specifically to enhance your monk. Come by the apartment later if you really want him munchkin'ed out.

*I was told he had a bard inspiring competence, and it went somewhat like this: 20 + 11 ranks + 5 Cha mod + 2 tumble synergy + 2 inspire competence bonus.... what a sec... perform is cross-class for monks! Bad Kashell! No cookie!

 

[jmucchiello]

what a sec... perform is cross-class for monks!

Since when? Perform is a class skill for bards, rogues and monks.

 

[Halivar]

Since when? Perform is a class skill for bards, rogues and monks.

I stand corrected (I was at work and didn't have my books). As I said earlier, a 40 on a perform check is no prob for an 8th level monk.