Action Points for Cohorts? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Action Points for Cohorts? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Salla
09-23-05, 04:44 PM Something I just thought about ... would the cohort of a PC be considered enough of a PC to warrant action points? The cohort is generally under the control of the player (making a sort of PC), though he's generally subservient to the player's main character (making him more of a supportive aka NPC role). Thoughts?
DragonWatcher
09-23-05, 04:51 PM Something I just thought about ... would the cohort of a PC be considered enough of a PC to warrant action points? The cohort is generally under the control of the player (making a sort of PC), though he's generally subservient to the player's main character (making him more of a supportive aka NPC role). Thoughts?

My best guess, no, a cohort would not get action points by default. My reasoning: Action Points are really intended to set the main Heroes and Villians apart from their lackeys in Eberron. A cohort may be controlled by a player, but the cohort is not one of the main heroes, he's still a support character.

That said, I could certainly see letting a cohort take the feat that would grant them a small number of action points. I forget what it's called at the moment, but it's in the ECS.
ekomega
09-23-05, 08:51 PM I find that cohorts are already a little underpowered if you pull them directly from the NPCs section of the DMG. If you don't give them some action points, they will be even further behind everyone. I'd recommend giving them 3 action points every level, or something. Maybe half as many as a PC gets. Not enough to make them PCs or anything, but enough to help them out and make them more fit to survive in the world.
Hair Wax
09-23-05, 09:21 PM It's a typical rubbish answer but it's up to the DM.

I usually let the character choose their cohort classes and PrCs. I have a point buy system peculiar to me and let the cohorts use that as well as the PCs which means they're quite formidable (I give BBEG a few more points and play them horribly and intelligently).

Giving cohorts action points as well would, without taking Heroic Spirit, in my campaign, make the leadership feat really overpowered.

But in your campaign in might not so do what feels right for you in terms of your PC power levels.
Lup1n3
09-23-05, 09:48 PM My own ruling, which would apply at my own table I DM, is that yes, I will allow it. However, that point is coming from the PC that the cohort is attached to. To me, it keeps with the idea of every so often, anyone can do that little bit extra, reach that little bit farther, and run just a little bit faster,...etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Salla 09-23-05, 04:44 PM	Something I just thought about ... would the cohort of a PC be considered enough of a PC to warrant action points? The cohort is generally under the control of the player (making a sort of PC), though he's generally subservient to the player's main character (making him more of a supportive aka NPC role). Thoughts?
DragonWatcher 09-23-05, 04:51 PM	Something I just thought about ... would the cohort of a PC be considered enough of a PC to warrant action points? The cohort is generally under the control of the player (making a sort of PC), though he's generally subservient to the player's main character (making him more of a supportive aka NPC role). Thoughts? My best guess, no, a cohort would not get action points by default. My reasoning: Action Points are really intended to set the main Heroes and Villians apart from their lackeys in Eberron. A cohort may be controlled by a player, but the cohort is not one of the main heroes, he's still a support character. That said, I could certainly see letting a cohort take the feat that would grant them a small number of action points. I forget what it's called at the moment, but it's in the ECS.
ekomega 09-23-05, 08:51 PM	I find that cohorts are already a little underpowered if you pull them directly from the NPCs section of the DMG. If you don't give them some action points, they will be even further behind everyone. I'd recommend giving them 3 action points every level, or something. Maybe half as many as a PC gets. Not enough to make them PCs or anything, but enough to help them out and make them more fit to survive in the world.
Hair Wax 09-23-05, 09:21 PM	It's a typical rubbish answer but it's up to the DM. I usually let the character choose their cohort classes and PrCs. I have a point buy system peculiar to me and let the cohorts use that as well as the PCs which means they're quite formidable (I give BBEG a few more points and play them horribly and intelligently). Giving cohorts action points as well would, without taking Heroic Spirit, in my campaign, make the leadership feat really overpowered. But in your campaign in might not so do what feels right for you in terms of your PC power levels.
Lup1n3 09-23-05, 09:48 PM	My own ruling, which would apply at my own table I DM, is that yes, I will allow it. However, that point is coming from the PC that the cohort is attached to. To me, it keeps with the idea of every so often, anyone can do that little bit extra, reach that little bit farther, and run just a little bit faster,...etc.