Where's my HR manager? or "How Leadership nerfs Power Attack"

[The Souljourner]

Ok, so leadership doesn't really having anything to do with power attack. And in fact, this thread has almost nothing to do with rules at all, except that most people will realize what the feat Leadership does and what it can potentially mean to a character.

My character (fightery type) recently got named Captain of the Guard of a reasonably large city. The bard of our campaign became the lord of the city, another fighter type is leading the city's army, another is the court wizard, etc. You get the picture. We're the bigwigs. We're all around level 10, so we're definitely pretty powerful compared to the level 2-4 people we're leading (a few of the generals in the army are as high as level 7), but level means very little when what you're trying to do is keep a city's economy rolling, the people happy, and eventually save the world (it wouldn't be D&D if we weren't saving the world).

So... I'll be honest, most of my experience has been with typical hack and slash D&D. Sure, we roleplayed between fights, but I never had to plan guard rotations, benefits packages, or worry about how I can make sure the people guarding my bed aren't going to stab me in the back, or more likely, be drunk in a bar while someone else stabs me in the back.

So here's some thoughts - I have leadership (or rather will soon), these guys are by definition, pretty loyal to me, right? So I should be able to count on them to at least not turn on me without some hefty arm twisting. However, followers are like, vastly low level. I don't know that having 100 Level 1 guards around the palace is going to stop any kind of force from getting in, unless they physically pile their bodies in front of attackers.

I can hire higher level guys, but then they're not followers, and therefore only as loyal as money and the DM make them. My character's a fighter, not a paladin with 25 charisma (he does have 14 charisma, thankfully)... so how do I attract and keep loyal guardsmen?

Any and all suggestions welcome... I hope this is an interesting departure from the usual 4e speculation or rules lawyering thread.

-Nate

 

[Bayushi Seikuro]

Well, the big thing to look at are the modifiers for how you treat your soldiers.

If someone with leadership, etc, goes out of his way to get his men healed, or Raised if needed, etc, they'll stay pretty loyal.

And, I agree about 100 low level people not making a difference, but if that's your goal, I'd focus on combined-arms training - have squads with reach weapons that protect archers, etc. Yes, it won't totally cover them against dragons, but when you drill constantly with the same people and do the same routines, it instills the band-of-brothers feel.

Look at the story of Sun Tsu and the palace courteseans being drilled into an effective unit.

Nuff rambling

 

[delericho]

When selecting your cohort, don't go for the 'standard' back-up Fighter or (my personal favourite) Cleric. Instead, get a Bard, Paladin, or Expert with maxed Charisma.

Then delegate.

 

[Victim]

Your low level followers can have PC class levels now, IIRC, so creating a mixed force can make them more effective. Sure, they'll still be a bunch of low level guys, but they can buffers and healers and wizards. While they still will have tons of trouble against level guys, a custom tailored mix should be able to chew up and spit up superior numbers of low level warriors.

 

[Son_of_Thunder]

Monster Type

Well, doesn't DM's Guide II say that your 100 level 1 followers are a swarm or herd or whatever it is now? Even my high level players have much to fear from many low level npc's.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Leadership gives you a cohort (== high level buddy you can trust with your life) and followers (which could represent lieutenants/seargents/corporals in your army, or members of your court, or new guild members or whatever - not the kind of people you'd take on adventures, but the kind of people who staff things and keep things running properly while you're not there)

Cheers

 

[Tigerbunny]

You could also ask about using the Affiliation rules from PHBII to model your City Guards (and the other PC's various groups). Then you can use Violence Checks to manage the big abstract level and have "boss fights" with your PC and his cohort and a few rank-n-file.

 

[Zaruthustran]

... so how do I attract and keep loyal guardsmen?

-Nate

What you need is a plentiful onyx mine, a well-stocked graveyard, and a wizard or cleric with Animate Dead.

If you want living followers, well... I don't think there are rules for loyalty, so it's up to you and your DM to work that out. Classic techniques: make them fear you, make them love you, or inspire in them a fanatical sense of duty.

-z

 

[Wycen]

Your low level followers can have PC class levels now, IIRC, so creating a mixed force can make them more effective. Sure, they'll still be a bunch of low level guys, but they can buffers and healers and wizards. While they still will have tons of trouble against level guys, a custom tailored mix should be able to chew up and spit up superior numbers of low level warriors.

I'm not sure if they can have PC classes, but they are no longer limited to the commoner, warrior and expert NPC classes. Meaning you can have adept and aristocrat followers. Doesn't seem to state the specifics in the DMG anymore. Not that I could find.

 

[Kmart Kommando]

Leadership is worth +2 for flanking, and +2 for Aid Other, so you can Power Attack for 4 more than usual.