Building My Cohort [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building My Cohort [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dalrath
07-16-04, 06:23 PM My party has no frontline fighter and for story reasons my buddy and I are taking leadership. Obviously I will be taking a frontline man. He will be mostly Fighter. I am not much of a Min/Max expert so I came here for help since this guy will be two levels lower than me hes gotta be good. I play 3.0. BTW I don't have CW, sorry.

Here are my main questions:

I'm gonna get Improved Trip and maybe Disarm so what would be a good weapon. I am a Sneak Attack Rogue with Spring Attack so this guy will be my flanking partner.

Other feats to get.

Any help would really be appreciated.
E-Vile
07-16-04, 06:41 PM If your party is good, give the cohort Vow of Poverty and as much levels of monk as you can spare. It's not so much Min/Maxing as convenient, you won't have to spend precious gc on wages.
Dalrath
07-16-04, 06:49 PM I was under the impresion that there was no need to pay cohorts? Besides I can't recruit a monk because I am Chaotic. Thanks though.:D

If you need more info just ask.
ksbsnowowl
07-16-04, 08:10 PM Just to help anyone with ideas for feasible characters, what level is this cohort going to start at?

You're going to want your cohort to wield a spiked chain. That's one of the few weapons that gets a bonus to both trip and disarm. A Ransuer (sp?) and Heavy Flail are the other two that are large (important for disarms).

Here's a repost of a spiked chain disarm build I made a while back for 3.0. He's decent at trip attacks too. The only non-core feat in the build is Knockdown from Sword and Fist, so you can pretty much use it as is:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a real basic idea, I have no idea what, if any, PrC's would go well with it. Maybe add in levels of Dwarven Defender?

Dwarven(?) Fighter13/Wizard (Diviner) 2

Rank attributes in this order: Str, Con/Dex, Int, Wis, Cha.
However, you do need an Int of 13.

Feats:
Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain
Combat Reflexes
(Combat) Expertise
Improved Disarm
Improved Trip
Power Attack
Cleave
Weapon Focus: Spiked Chain
Weapon Spec: Spiked Chain
Knock-down (S&F)

Spells to know:
True Strike
Feather Fall

Get wands of other useful spells that normally have somatic components (Shield, Expeditious Retreat), since wands don't require you to mimic components (I think scrolls might - don't remember).

Some good tactics for this build:
Tripping w/ Knock-down
Disarming (see below)
Casting True Strike (maybe using a lesser rod of Quickening from Tome and Blood) and then dumping all your BAB into damage through power attack.

A great disarm tactic is to use true strike to boost your disarm. Here is a list of all the bonuses to disarm using a spiked chain (@ 20th level - copied from another post of mine):

Disarm attack:
+19 BAB
+20 True Strike
+ 1 Weapon Focus
+ 2 Weapon granted bonus to disarm
+ 4/size difference
+ magical weapon enhancements
+ ability modifier

Defense vs. disarm attack:
+19 BAB
+ 1 Weap. Foc.
+ 2 Weap. bonus
+ 4 Two-handed weapon
+ 4/size difference
+ magical weapon enhancements
+ ability modifier
+ 10 locked gauntlet (if you use one)

Also note that if you disarm unarmed, you end up with the weapon/item in your hand. It's quite useful to cast true strike to relieve the BBEG of his nice powerful weapon or wand/staff. Then you use it against him *

*Remember that wands and staves don't have minimum caster levels. As long as the spell is on your spell list, you can use it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few other options to increase the Tripping ability is to take the Jotunbrud feat from Races of Faerun(?), and Wolf Berzerker from Unapproachable East (though wolf berzerker requires a level of barbarian, and would preclude levels of Dwarven Defender.)

Also, since it is 3.0, with permanent Polymorph Other, you could save a feat and not take Jotunbrud. Just have your party mage polymorph you into a stone giant or a firbolg (MMII).

I would suggest the character starting off as a Fighter 2, followed by one level of Wizard, and then not take the second Wizard level untill some time farther down the road.

Again, it'll help to know what level the cohort will start at.
Dalrath
07-16-04, 10:12 PM Wow, thanks.

If my memory serves me correctly a cohort must be two levels lower than your character mine will be fourth level. I will definetly use some of your ideas. I was thinking off using the heavy flail so I didn't need exotic weapon proficency. Also I may consider switching the wizard levels for Rogue levels and using Use Magic Device.

Also by doing a little searching I found a description of Knockdown:
Whenever you deal 10 or more points of damage to your opponent in melee, you make a trip attack as a free action against the same target.

Is that correct?
Blade2718
07-17-04, 01:29 AM Yup.

For a fourth level, I would look at...Half-Orc or Dwarf Fighter 2/Barbarian 2 with feats and weapons designed for either tripping or disarming. Barbarian is good for the Str boost in tripping and in combat, and for the +10' move. Half-Orc gives you Str boost, Dwarf gives you Con boost, both good for melee tankers.
Dalrath
07-17-04, 02:49 PM Thanks. Should I take Rogue levels, if so how many? Again if you need more info just ask.
DragonWorldOrder
07-22-04, 09:37 PM Hey Dalrath

I've made a character thats along the same lines as well, though he's a golden desart fire elf, 3 lev Elf Paragon UA, 1 lev Illustionist wizard specialist (also with UA vareaints).
Basicly besides my spells like your back stab my character is not good at combat, how ever since I intend to hide him behide illustions I toke a diffrent road with my hireling.
Since this is only 4th level characters I wanted a way to make mouny, besides advenchering and looting a dungeon clean of every possible valueble item thats not nailed down.
Solution, (since I don't have leadership feat) my hireling is the quiet some what inexspenive craftsman. So while were advenctering he's crafting, or leave him in town for a while and let him craft. When we get back he'll have made the things we might want or need.
Also he's useful for holding the horses while you go down in to the underdark, or watching the wagon till you get back with the goodies. Its a less active role then your trying for, but he's only one level lower then my character, thats the up side.
Useing 3.0 rules its possible to stack him up easly with AC to do the fighting and distracting. I'd subjest Ring of Mage Armor from Sowrd & Fist, Bracers of Armor +1, Neckleace of Natural Armor +1, add in there a decent dex and some nice armor and shield. And you'll have a alright combatint and meat shield to let you work your magic (hee hee) on anyone you want.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dalrath 07-16-04, 06:23 PM	My party has no frontline fighter and for story reasons my buddy and I are taking leadership. Obviously I will be taking a frontline man. He will be mostly Fighter. I am not much of a Min/Max expert so I came here for help since this guy will be two levels lower than me hes gotta be good. I play 3.0. BTW I don't have CW, sorry. Here are my main questions: I'm gonna get Improved Trip and maybe Disarm so what would be a good weapon. I am a Sneak Attack Rogue with Spring Attack so this guy will be my flanking partner. Other feats to get. Any help would really be appreciated.
E-Vile 07-16-04, 06:41 PM	If your party is good, give the cohort Vow of Poverty and as much levels of monk as you can spare. It's not so much Min/Maxing as convenient, you won't have to spend precious gc on wages.
Dalrath 07-16-04, 06:49 PM	I was under the impresion that there was no need to pay cohorts? Besides I can't recruit a monk because I am Chaotic. Thanks though.:D If you need more info just ask.
ksbsnowowl 07-16-04, 08:10 PM	Just to help anyone with ideas for feasible characters, what level is this cohort going to start at? You're going to want your cohort to wield a spiked chain. That's one of the few weapons that gets a bonus to both trip and disarm. A Ransuer (sp?) and Heavy Flail are the other two that are large (important for disarms). Here's a repost of a spiked chain disarm build I made a while back for 3.0. He's decent at trip attacks too. The only non-core feat in the build is Knockdown from Sword and Fist, so you can pretty much use it as is: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is a real basic idea, I have no idea what, if any, PrC's would go well with it. Maybe add in levels of Dwarven Defender? Dwarven(?) Fighter13/Wizard (Diviner) 2 Rank attributes in this order: Str, Con/Dex, Int, Wis, Cha. However, you do need an Int of 13. Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Spiked Chain Combat Reflexes (Combat) Expertise Improved Disarm Improved Trip Power Attack Cleave Weapon Focus: Spiked Chain Weapon Spec: Spiked Chain Knock-down (S&F) Spells to know: True Strike Feather Fall Get wands of other useful spells that normally have somatic components (Shield, Expeditious Retreat), since wands don't require you to mimic components (I think scrolls might - don't remember). Some good tactics for this build: Tripping w/ Knock-down Disarming (see below) Casting True Strike (maybe using a lesser rod of Quickening from Tome and Blood) and then dumping all your BAB into damage through power attack. A great disarm tactic is to use true strike to boost your disarm. Here is a list of all the bonuses to disarm using a spiked chain (@ 20th level - copied from another post of mine): Disarm attack: +19 BAB +20 True Strike + 1 Weapon Focus + 2 Weapon granted bonus to disarm + 4/size difference + magical weapon enhancements + ability modifier Defense vs. disarm attack: +19 BAB + 1 Weap. Foc. + 2 Weap. bonus + 4 Two-handed weapon + 4/size difference + magical weapon enhancements + ability modifier + 10 locked gauntlet (if you use one) Also note that if you disarm unarmed, you end up with the weapon/item in your hand. It's quite useful to cast true strike to relieve the BBEG of his nice powerful weapon or wand/staff. Then you use it against him * *Remember that wands and staves don't have minimum caster levels. As long as the spell is on your spell list, you can use it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A few other options to increase the Tripping ability is to take the Jotunbrud feat from Races of Faerun(?), and Wolf Berzerker from Unapproachable East (though wolf berzerker requires a level of barbarian, and would preclude levels of Dwarven Defender.) Also, since it is 3.0, with permanent Polymorph Other, you could save a feat and not take Jotunbrud. Just have your party mage polymorph you into a stone giant or a firbolg (MMII). I would suggest the character starting off as a Fighter 2, followed by one level of Wizard, and then not take the second Wizard level untill some time farther down the road. Again, it'll help to know what level the cohort will start at.
Dalrath 07-16-04, 10:12 PM	Wow, thanks. If my memory serves me correctly a cohort must be two levels lower than your character mine will be fourth level. I will definetly use some of your ideas. I was thinking off using the heavy flail so I didn't need exotic weapon proficency. Also I may consider switching the wizard levels for Rogue levels and using Use Magic Device. Also by doing a little searching I found a description of Knockdown: Whenever you deal 10 or more points of damage to your opponent in melee, you make a trip attack as a free action against the same target. Is that correct?
Blade2718 07-17-04, 01:29 AM	Yup. For a fourth level, I would look at...Half-Orc or Dwarf Fighter 2/Barbarian 2 with feats and weapons designed for either tripping or disarming. Barbarian is good for the Str boost in tripping and in combat, and for the +10' move. Half-Orc gives you Str boost, Dwarf gives you Con boost, both good for melee tankers.
Dalrath 07-17-04, 02:49 PM	Thanks. Should I take Rogue levels, if so how many? Again if you need more info just ask.
DragonWorldOrder 07-22-04, 09:37 PM	Hey Dalrath I've made a character thats along the same lines as well, though he's a golden desart fire elf, 3 lev Elf Paragon UA, 1 lev Illustionist wizard specialist (also with UA vareaints). Basicly besides my spells like your back stab my character is not good at combat, how ever since I intend to hide him behide illustions I toke a diffrent road with my hireling. Since this is only 4th level characters I wanted a way to make mouny, besides advenchering and looting a dungeon clean of every possible valueble item thats not nailed down. Solution, (since I don't have leadership feat) my hireling is the quiet some what inexspenive craftsman. So while were advenctering he's crafting, or leave him in town for a while and let him craft. When we get back he'll have made the things we might want or need. Also he's useful for holding the horses while you go down in to the underdark, or watching the wagon till you get back with the goodies. Its a less active role then your trying for, but he's only one level lower then my character, thats the up side. Useing 3.0 rules its possible to stack him up easly with AC to do the fighting and distracting. I'd subjest Ring of Mage Armor from Sowrd & Fist, Bracers of Armor +1, Neckleace of Natural Armor +1, add in there a decent dex and some nice armor and shield. And you'll have a alright combatint and meat shield to let you work your magic (hee hee) on anyone you want.