Quick Question: Cohorts

[ellestar]

A cohort taken with the leadership feat; does it count as an NPC or Character when determining what table to look at when choosing gear for it? (NPC wealth by level is some lower)

The cohort should be equipped with gear appropriate for its
level.

 

[Necrohazard]

From the DMG pg 106, under "Attracting Cohorts".
The DM determines the details of the cohort. The cohort has gear as an NPC (see Table 4-23: NPC Gear Value, page 127).

 

[rrealm]

Do you get XP for killing a cohort? I know you don't get XP for killing a summoned creature (like summon monster n) or familiars but I don't remember about cohorts and I am unable to find the book/page which tells me.

 

[dvvega]

I asked a similar question a while back. From my understanding of the answers:

1. a cohort is an NPC
2. they do not count as part of the party for determining XP gained
3. they gain XP in ratio to their master (cohort level / master level) * master XP gained

Now from this information it would seem logical that the cohort does not give XP to someone who defeats the cohort as part of an encounter, much like a summoned creature.

Of course this is my interpretation.

 

[Necrohazard]

Do you get XP for killing a cohort? I know you don't get XP for killing a summoned creature (like summon monster n) or familiars but I don't remember about cohorts and I am unable to find the book/page which tells me.

In my campaign I would say yes.

From the DMG pg 106: Be sure to consider the effect of a PC having a cohort. A cohort is effectively another PC in the party under that player's control, one whose share of XP, treasure, and spotlight time is bound to take something away from the other players' characters.

Also remember a cohort that is mistreated can become disloyal and eventually leave or even seek revenge against their employers. Loyal cohorts become trusted friends and long-time helpers.

It is true that they dont take away from the pool of XP like the others but they do grow in power, and they do or can take a half-share of all the treasure that the group would have had otherwise, so that if you have 4 people in your group and a cohort and you all came upon treasure that was around 10,000gp in worth the cohort would get 1,250gp for him/her self and the 4 non-cohorts would devide what was left given each of them 2,187 gp and 5 sp;

 

[Evilhalfling]

The Party I run just added its first cohort, a squire to watch the knights horses and help with armor, really 60% style 40% substance- which is normal for that player. I expect since he will only be in fights if they cant avoid it the squire will be paid a share of his masters loot and occasionaly give cast off magic items -
" so the guy we just killed had another amulet of NAC +1 and cloak of reistance +1? give'um to the squire. That druid will sell to anyone won't she?"

 

[schnee]

Do you get XP for killing a cohort?

You mean your own, or the cohort of an encounter with NPCs?

By the rules, the DMG CR table shows if you add another creature to an encounter, the CR goes up... so in that case, if the cohort is high enough level to affect CR, yes.

I'd say it requires a judgment call sometimes, since the opponent has to blow a feat to get the cohort. If an enemy sorcerer gives up, say, Energy Substitution to get that cohort, that's a pretty big hit in power. If the NPC also has a low leadership score - and a cohort that's 4 or more levels lower - then the cohort can be more of a nuisance than a threat.

 

[frankthedm]

no more XP for someone with a feat based cohort than defeating one with some other feat.