Number47 :
Seeing as how it's going to be a little while before we start (I assume), I want to start opening up the floor to speculation. These are not questions for clockworkjoe, just things for players to kibbitz about.
First thing I want to talk about is preparation. From the description, it doesn't seem like we get any preparation time, we're just dropped into the arena. This would be very good for combat machines. The more prep time casters have, the better for them. My guess is, clockworkjoe will drop us into the arena with no prep, but he has already alluded to the size of the arena being huge. So I am guessing we should be able to prep a couple spells before being directly in combat if we so desire.
Next thing I want ask is, what do you think of the different advantages?
Fandom. It's Charisma-tied, so it would be best for Paladin, Bard or Sorceror. Using the bonus to hit and damage is good for a Paladin. Using the bonus to spell DC is good for a Bard or Sorceror. Using the bonus to spell penetration I don't expect to come in handy too much, but you never know. Using it for a skill check...? The only skill I can see using this with is Use Magic Device, what other skill use is better than using the boost to hit and damage? Over all, on a scale of one to five, I rate this advantage a 3.
Artificer. 5,000 extra XP for creation. Unless you have something really, really specific in mind, my opinion is big whoop. Compared to the two cohort-advantages, this seems like small beans. It's upside is that you don't have to have anything special to make use of it. On a scale of one to five, I rate it a 2.
Stand by me. A cohort with 36 point buy and full NPC equipment? Dude! You have to have a 20 Charisma to get a 14th level cohort, but that is easily achievable with a Cloak of Charisma +6. 14th level cohort starts with 45,000gp gear. 13th with 35,000gp. Not a lot of money, but they also have spells, attacks, whatever. The downside is the need for Charisma, having to spend a feat on it and the fact the guy can die or turn on you. Overall, I rate this one a 4 out of 5.
My gawd likes me. This one is just to hazily worded to judge. Minor boon every round sounds like a first or second pumping/healing spell every round. Maybe a teleport out of difficult situations? I didn't take this one, even though it sounded interesting, because there is nothing here that you can truly count on. All things being equal, you cannot be attacked by one-ninth of the outsiders in play. Not knowing what you're really getting, I rate it a 1 out of 5.
Help in the corner. All of the advantages of Stand by me, with one serious drawback removed. The cohort cannot be attacked. You lose a lot of mobility, I assume. This is a great feat for producing a spellcaster with a lot of flaws that would die quickly otherwise. If the cohort can Dispel your opponents, this is the advantage that truly rocks! I score it a 5 out of 5.
Bonus feat. The usefulness of this one all depends on the character, I guess. A non-human who gains no bonus feats has only 6, so this is a 16% increase. A high level human fighter has a gajillion feats, so just one more seems a little fruitless unless you have a really specific concept. I rate it a 3 of 5.
Bonus wealth. A 25% boost to starting wealth. Pretty darn good. Works with all types of characters. Nothing "gee whiz" about it, though. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5.
Word on the street. Have to have a good Gather Information check. That's Charisma, right? So another Charisma-based advantage. The thing that bothers me about this one is that it takes a standard action. When is someone going to have that time to spare? What are you going to learn? I imagine class/classes would be the best/most likely info. I rate this one a 2 out of 5.
Astounding background. I have trouble knowing how good this is. This one is as good as the books you own. I am working from PHB, DMG, MM. That's it. So I can't be sure how nice this would be. I am not rating it.
