Leadership! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Leadership! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mr.$mith
09-10-07, 11:22 AM Alright were going from one Eberron campaign to another, oddly enough none of the PC's are transferring. But one of them is a 10th level (5rouge/5assassin) also I guess it doesn't help that this is also the first time I am having a PC have the leadership feat. Now I'm not too worried about his level 1-4 characters mostly because I don't think they will come up that often, but really just his one level 8 character he gets.

Now any other setting I wouldn't mind if the prime cohort was level 8 with a bunch of PC class levels but since its Eberron I was wondering what other people had done with this situation.

Any input would be great! Thanks.
Toloran
09-10-07, 11:52 AM Step 1: Get a Arificer Cohort statted out for efficent crafting.
Step 2: Have the Followers use the Aid Another action to help the artificer with his craft/umd checks.
Step 3: Laugh at the DM as you make powerful magic items at a quarter of the cost.
Step 4: ?????
Step 5: Profit.

Seriously though, a good use of followers is for Aid Another actions. It is only DC 10 and if you have at least a few points in the skills they can make it most of the time. In addition, in combat, you can have them use the Aid Another action to give you a +1 bonus to your AC or attack rolls (each) in combat (rolled against AC 10).
OctaviusIII
09-10-07, 02:01 PM Seriously though, a good use of followers is for Aid Another actions. It is only DC 10 and if you have at least a few points in the skills they can make it most of the time. In addition, in combat, you can have them use the Aid Another action to give you a +1 bonus to your AC or attack rolls (each) in combat (rolled against AC 10).

And then get them all wiped out by a fireball or two. :)

Followers are good for anything that requires a lot of people: a business, say, or a spy network. The cohort is good for filling a niche that otherwise wouldn't get filled in the party, like an artificer, a rogue, or a healer.
Ryoden_Anariavas
09-10-07, 03:33 PM I have to agree with Octavius. Followers are for behind the scenes action.

As far as the cohort is concerned though what I do (when I DM) and what my DM does is if the cohort has mostly NPC levels then it can be one level below the character unlike if it has mostly PC levels where it has to be two levels below your level.
Toloran
09-10-07, 07:56 PM And then get them all wiped out by a fireball or two. :)

Followers are good for anything that requires a lot of people: a business, say, or a spy network. The cohort is good for filling a niche that otherwise wouldn't get filled in the party, like an artificer, a rogue, or a healer.

So? Who says I'm Lawful Good? :devil:
Gurv
09-10-07, 11:32 PM Step 1: Get a Arificer Cohort statted out for efficent crafting.
Step 2: Have the Followers use the Aid Another action to help the artificer with his craft/umd checks.
Step 3: Laugh at the DM as you make powerful magic items at a quarter of the cost.
Step 4: ?????
Step 5: Profit.
I actually have a player who wants to do this in an upcoming game. I'll be directing him to this post so that he better understands why I won't be allowing it.

Seriously, I don't understand the problem. Is it that you feel an 8th level NPC is too powerful for the setting? He won't outshine the PC, if the PC is a well-played 10th level character. Besides, 8th level is just the highest level cohort that the Leadership feat is allowed to grant him, not a minimum.

Also, a cohort does not need to be a humanoid with class levels. It can be something else of equivalent ECL. Using Leadership to get a mount is mentioned on page 200 of the DMG.

If you think an 8th level cohort is too high level for him to have, then give him a lower level cohort. Or tell him he can't have the Leadership feat; there is a reason that it's in the Dungeon Master's Guide rather than the Player's Handbook.
(Psi)SeveredHead
09-12-07, 10:44 PM If the 8th-level character is optimized better, they might be stronger than the 10th-level character.

This could be a big problem at higher levels, if (as an example) a 16th-level barbarian has a 14th-level cleric or wizard following them around.
Mr.$mith
09-19-07, 05:31 PM Hrm, what I don't have a problem with him doing it, hell he went and make her a bard. I was just wondering if anyone had any different thoughts on the feat because its Eberron, you know where 8 PC levels makes you pretty awesome.

But he made a bard for spy contacts and info gathering in Sharn. It will be fun to throw the dark lanterns at him. Oh hes a spy for Auindar or however you spell it.

Should be fun. Also hes really not the kind of guy to abuse leadership, and I really don't let my PCs use rules exploits, just kind of stare them down and say "come on really?" but I guess I'm lucky that they all have good dose of common sense.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mr.$mith 09-10-07, 11:22 AM	Alright were going from one Eberron campaign to another, oddly enough none of the PC's are transferring. But one of them is a 10th level (5rouge/5assassin) also I guess it doesn't help that this is also the first time I am having a PC have the leadership feat. Now I'm not too worried about his level 1-4 characters mostly because I don't think they will come up that often, but really just his one level 8 character he gets. Now any other setting I wouldn't mind if the prime cohort was level 8 with a bunch of PC class levels but since its Eberron I was wondering what other people had done with this situation. Any input would be great! Thanks.
Toloran 09-10-07, 11:52 AM	Step 1: Get a Arificer Cohort statted out for efficent crafting. Step 2: Have the Followers use the Aid Another action to help the artificer with his craft/umd checks. Step 3: Laugh at the DM as you make powerful magic items at a quarter of the cost. Step 4: ????? Step 5: Profit. Seriously though, a good use of followers is for Aid Another actions. It is only DC 10 and if you have at least a few points in the skills they can make it most of the time. In addition, in combat, you can have them use the Aid Another action to give you a +1 bonus to your AC or attack rolls (each) in combat (rolled against AC 10).
OctaviusIII 09-10-07, 02:01 PM	Seriously though, a good use of followers is for Aid Another actions. It is only DC 10 and if you have at least a few points in the skills they can make it most of the time. In addition, in combat, you can have them use the Aid Another action to give you a +1 bonus to your AC or attack rolls (each) in combat (rolled against AC 10). And then get them all wiped out by a fireball or two. :) Followers are good for anything that requires a lot of people: a business, say, or a spy network. The cohort is good for filling a niche that otherwise wouldn't get filled in the party, like an artificer, a rogue, or a healer.
Ryoden_Anariavas 09-10-07, 03:33 PM	I have to agree with Octavius. Followers are for behind the scenes action. As far as the cohort is concerned though what I do (when I DM) and what my DM does is if the cohort has mostly NPC levels then it can be one level below the character unlike if it has mostly PC levels where it has to be two levels below your level.
Toloran 09-10-07, 07:56 PM	And then get them all wiped out by a fireball or two. :) Followers are good for anything that requires a lot of people: a business, say, or a spy network. The cohort is good for filling a niche that otherwise wouldn't get filled in the party, like an artificer, a rogue, or a healer. So? Who says I'm Lawful Good? :devil:
Gurv 09-10-07, 11:32 PM	Step 1: Get a Arificer Cohort statted out for efficent crafting. Step 2: Have the Followers use the Aid Another action to help the artificer with his craft/umd checks. Step 3: Laugh at the DM as you make powerful magic items at a quarter of the cost. Step 4: ????? Step 5: Profit. I actually have a player who wants to do this in an upcoming game. I'll be directing him to this post so that he better understands why I won't be allowing it. Seriously, I don't understand the problem. Is it that you feel an 8th level NPC is too powerful for the setting? He won't outshine the PC, if the PC is a well-played 10th level character. Besides, 8th level is just the highest level cohort that the Leadership feat is allowed to grant him, not a minimum. Also, a cohort does not need to be a humanoid with class levels. It can be something else of equivalent ECL. Using Leadership to get a mount is mentioned on page 200 of the DMG. If you think an 8th level cohort is too high level for him to have, then give him a lower level cohort. Or tell him he can't have the Leadership feat; there is a reason that it's in the Dungeon Master's Guide rather than the Player's Handbook.
(Psi)SeveredHead 09-12-07, 10:44 PM	If the 8th-level character is optimized better, they might be stronger than the 10th-level character. This could be a big problem at higher levels, if (as an example) a 16th-level barbarian has a 14th-level cleric or wizard following them around.
Mr.$mith 09-19-07, 05:31 PM	Hrm, what I don't have a problem with him doing it, hell he went and make her a bard. I was just wondering if anyone had any different thoughts on the feat because its Eberron, you know where 8 PC levels makes you pretty awesome. But he made a bard for spy contacts and info gathering in Sharn. It will be fun to throw the dark lanterns at him. Oh hes a spy for Auindar or however you spell it. Should be fun. Also hes really not the kind of guy to abuse leadership, and I really don't let my PCs use rules exploits, just kind of stare them down and say "come on really?" but I guess I'm lucky that they all have good dose of common sense.