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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rune" data-source="post: 5866076" data-attributes="member: 67">The answer to this question lies in another question:  How much game-time during combat do you want to dominate?  If the answer is "as little as possible," (as it probably ought to be), do not build it as a full PC.  All NPC/monsters have 1 healing surge per tier, although most can't use them.  No Monster has a second wind. I am firmly of the "no fudging dice rolls" school of DMing, but that doesn't mean you should not try to keep the NPC healer from dying.  After all, his/her continued survival increases the PCs' chances of survival, as well.I believe the rules for creating companion characters is in the DMG 2, however, I gave my copy to a friend, so I'll just give you an alternate (and, probably very similar) method that should suit your needs just as well.Essentially, you're building a monster.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it a role--for a warlord, probably soldier (leader).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it defenses appropriate to role and level (for a soldier, that would be AC = 16 + 1/level, Other defenses = 12+1/level (you could drop one by a couple of points and add a couple to another, if you like).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it hit points appropriate to role and level (for a soldier, that would be 24 + 8/level).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it racial abilities (but only the ones that will come up--don't forget the dragonborn bonus to surge value, though!).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it class features (although, if these take the form of powers, I'd limit it to one--and, in the case of a leader, that one should be your healing power!  On the other hand, make sure you include the fun abilities that help the PCs out, like the Action Point bonus and the initiative bonus!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it 1 of each type of class power--that is, 1 warlord At-will, 1 warlord Encounter, 1 warlord Daily, and 1 warlord Utility.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Do not bother with Ability Scores.  All single-target melee attacks should be at a flat bonus of 5 + 1/level to hit.  Attacks that target defenses other than AC should be at 3 + 1/level to hit.  Add +1/level damage anytime a power would indicate you add an ability score bonus.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">In order to speed things up and give more play time to your players, seriously consider giving each attack option a set damage, instead of a damage roll.  For single-target At-will attacks, this should be 8 + 1/level.  For Encounter powers, increase this by 25%.  For Dailies, increase by 50%.  If the attack targets multiple opponents, decrease the damage by 25%.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Give it 1 healing surge.</li> </ul>I think you'll find that a companion character designed this way will run as simply and effectively as possible, while not overshadowing the PCs.</blockquote>

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