So, in 3.5e rule, once a cohort lost a level, never catches up?

[irdeggman]

No. But I asked about this to my friends who are native speakers of English and they said in tihs case your argument is wrong.

Because those dictionary definitions and examples are not covering actual use of the word "lose" in dally conversation or in writings.

They are incorrect.

Daily use of lose in the context of a cohort (or an item) does not mean the same as in "lose your temper". You cannot voluntarily "lose" an object or possesion. You can "give it away" or "dismiss" (in relation to a person or lving creature under your authority) but you can not voluntarily "lose" it.

An example of how "lose" is used when it does not correlate the situation at hand.

You can "lose" your shield, but that basically means that you "unequip" it, not that you can't find it anymore.

You can "lose" a tail but that but that means to have the person following you no longer be able to locate your trail.

Are they native speaker of the US version? I know this sounds silly but there are vast differences in how the same word is used in the US or Britain or even Australia. All speak English, but each has different "slang" and common speach. Not to mention that the US is very conservative in its use of the letter "u" - "color" versus "colour", "armor" versus "armour".

 

[Shin Okada]

Are they native speaker of the US version? I know this sounds silly but there are vast differences in how the same word is used in the US or Britain or even Australia. All speak English, but each has different "slang" and common speach. Not to mention that the US is very conservative in its use of the letter "u" - "color" versus "colour", "armor" versus "armour".

They are Americans and long-time role playing gamers.

 

[Jhaelen]

You can "lose" your shield, but that basically means that you "unequip" it, not that you can't find it anymore.

Wouldn't that be 'loose'? (I'm not a native English speaker, so I'm just guessing...)

 

[Old_school_overlord]

Since you can't dismiss your Cohort then, it seems the only morale course of action is a helm of opposite allignment, followed by the "londsword retirement plan" as being the way of aquiring a new Cohort without loss of Leadership.

 

[Storme]

All debating and incredibly bad advice aside (dang guys...the Leader losses a level too?!?!):


Treat it logically. I'm sure the rules as intended didn't mean for this to be a major issue. I'd be willing to bet if you submitted this question to WotC you would get a similar answer.

Simply treat the cohort as you would any character who loses a level. He gets bonus xp till he catches up (for the same reason anyone gains this bonus). After calculating his share of the xp, apply the bonus. He will eventually catch up and all is well, but, true to the level loss WORST THING TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE INCLUDING DYING, he will certainly be impaired, and by extenstion the party, for quite a while.

KISS: Keep it Strictly Simple

 

[Hypersmurf]

He gets bonus xp till he catches up (for the same reason anyone gains this bonus).

Nobody gets 'bonus XP'.

PCs of lower level gain more XP for equivalent challenges than PCs of higher level; this results in a PC below the average party level gaining more XP than his compatriots. The lower the level of the PC, the more XP he gains when the same challenge is overcome.

Cohorts gain XP based on what the PC gains, as a ratio of his level to the PC's level. The lower the level of the cohort, the less XP he gains when the same challenge is overcome, because his ratio is lower.

You're introducing a concept that doesn't exist - 'bonus XP' - and saying we should apply the concept that doesn't exist to everyone equally.

-Hyp.

 

[Blackberry]

Wouldn't that be 'loose'? (I'm not a native English speaker, so I'm just guessing...)

Same effect, different word.

"Loose the shield" would be like "loosen", ie to unstrap.

"Lose the shield" is like "lose the shirt", ie slang for "take off the shirt". It doesn't refer to actually intentionally forgetting where you placed the shirt.