Party's New Cohort

[whatisitgoodfor]

Ok, IMC the DM has decided to let someone in the party take leadership for a "target" cohort. Since we get to custom design the cohort, I was wondering if you people could take a look at him for me.

This isn't everything, just what I've thought of first. The party is level 11, and every one of us has a +1 Cha modifier. Suggestions are very welcome.

Human Level 9
Monte's Defensive Ranger 5/ Ftr4
Favored Enemy Human +2, Dragon +1

Feats:
Ambidexterity
TWF
Off Hand Parry
Expertise
Shield Expert

Skills:
Tumble 5+ ranks.

Equipment:
Mithril Full Plate
Large Shield (With Spikes)

Special:
A member of the party willing to cast Shield on him whenever necessary.

Unless I'm horribly wrong, this should give him an AC of 40 (assuming a 16 Dex) before we buy him any magic items.

Any ideas on how to make him better?

 

[Crothian]

So, what's the purpose of this guy? Is he just a walking high AC dude?

 

[Targos]

Shield has a range of personal only so you can't have somebody else cast that on you. I assume with Monte's ranger the TWF feats are not the ones limited to light armor. Keep in mind the off-hand parry only gives you an AC bonus when using the full attack action and expertise can only be used when taking an attack action. Mostly I just wanted to point out the shield spell range.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Exactly, Crothian.

The entire party is multi-classed Rogue, so we can all do some impressive damage in a flanking situation, but we don't have the HP to wade into the middle of melee.

Therefore, we need a "target." He plunges into the middle of the combat, can't be hit by anything short of a nat 20 most of the time, and gives everyone else flanking bonuses.

We're also trying to talk the DM into letting us get ahold of some "Armor of Aggravation" that will encourage all of the monsters to attack the target.

Hmmm. You're right we'll have to make it a command word Shield Brooch then.

 

[Crothian]

Cohort or not, I really hope you guys are paying for his ale and women.

You can give him the Feat Superior Expertise. Works like Expoertise by now 5 limit, it's now limited to your BAB.

By Defensive, do you mean your using the Defensive Favored Enemy Bonus from MotW? If not you should be.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Yes, the defensive Favored Enemy variant from MotW.

What book was Superior Expertise in? I remember seeing it, but can't remeber where.

Also, he is going to get a full share of stuff, so that shoudl definitely take care of wine, women, and food expenses.

 

[Limper]

Superior Expertise is in Oriental Adventures a lovely choice for what your doing.

If you could slip in a level of Bard he could sing (giving you all +1 hit and dam) and still fight himself, with enough ranks in perform ACman could give the rest of his skill based comrades other useful bonuses.

 

[bret]

What is he supposed to sing?

Maybe soemthing like:
"Nobody knows the trouble I've seen..."

 

[Limper]

The words are irrelevent to the effect. But Swinging on a Star would be my choice.

 

[Endur]

Defensive Cohort

A couple of comments.

The Human Ranger can't take favored enemy human unless his alignment is evil.

Also, if you really want a defensive character, you are much better off going with one of the prestige classes that was designed for defense. A Dwarven Defender (DMG) or a Devoted Defender (Sword & Fist) both have much better defensive capabilities than your ranger. If you are always fighting humans or giants or something, Tribal Protectors (Sword & Fist) and Foe Hunters (MOTW) also have lots of defensive capabilities.

For me, I think the Dwarven Defender is the most defensive character out there. High AC, high HP, high DR, good saves, etc. General all around durability, and when in a defensive stance practically invulnerable. The DM usually has to roll 20's you.

Feat selection: Normally I stay away from shield expert, two weapon fighting, expertise, etc.

Shield expert is nice, but it takes at least three feats to truly implement it (ambidexterity, two-weapon fighting, etc.) and if you are using those feats, you might not be able to get into the prestige class you want.

Expertise has major drawbacks. The ability to raise your AC is nice, but the BAB is just as important as AC. If you lower your BAB, what are you going to do when you need to hit the enemy? Preventing an enemy grapple may be critical and the main way to prevent a grapple is to strike the enemy with an AOO. If your BAB is reduced, your AOO may not hit the enemy. Likewise, BAB is necessary to win the grapple if your AOO fails to hit. If you are a brute force thug and you can choose between grappling the half-orc barbarian or the effete elven "dude", always pick the elf-- if he is using expertise, you should crush him in a grapple.

Also, don't count on your shield spell to last unless you are a wizard. Any character who is not a wizard should expect his shield spell to be dispelled frequently, since it is likely to have a low caster level and the opposition will always have wizards with higher caster levels to blow away low level enhancement spells on your party.


Tom