Clarification on Cohort Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Clarification on Cohort Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Morgan the Bold
02-01-06, 10:42 PM On page 41, in the second paragraph under cohort advancement, it states if a cohort currently has more gold than listed for his level in the DMG he loses any extra.

If the cohort has spent all of his gold on permanent magic items before increasing in level, can he keep those magic items? If not, can he pick which magic items get removed from his MIL?
jboerj
02-02-06, 12:01 PM I think the previous sentence to the one you're reading already answers this.

"the total gp value of the cohort can not be greater than ..."

I believe that Permanent Magic Items are included in total gp value.

Personally, I'd like to see that rule change but I don't see it happening.
Timlagor
02-06-06, 07:21 AM The second sentence clearly states what to do about having an excessive gp value and it doesn't make any mention of a need to sell anything. This should indeed be clarified one way or the other: both interpretations are currently in use!
TheMagus
02-06-06, 12:20 PM The second sentence clearly states what to do about having an excessive gp value and it doesn't make any mention of a need to sell anything. This should indeed be clarified one way or the other: both interpretations are currently in use!

You mean some people are only knocking off gold on the AR over the allowed total and not couting items on the MIL? :eek: That is messed up.
Timlagor
02-06-06, 08:15 PM You mean some people are only knocking off gold on the AR over the allowed total and not couting items on the MIL? :eek: That is messed up.

I've read the rules and that is all that they explicitly require.
I don't know anyone that's done so personally but I have read posts by people saying they've done it that way.

Personally I have no objection to it -they earned that gold- but I would like the rules to be clear.
TheMagus
02-07-06, 12:48 PM Yeah, but if that is a legal interpretation, my cohort wants about 30k of his equipment back. He leveled up half a dozen times in his career and lost at least 3-8k in equipment every time.

:weep:
Timlagor
02-09-06, 04:38 PM Yeah, but if that is a legal interpretation, my cohort wants about 30k of his equipment back. He leveled up half a dozen times in his career and lost at least 3-8k in equipment every time.

:weep:

Well that's why it needs clarifying -one way of the other.
vvincent
02-09-06, 04:55 PM Well that's why it needs clarifying -one way of the other.

Actually, I believe the intent of the rules is quite clear

From the LGCS 5.0 Draft:
"The cohorts new gp total is set to the appropriate amount per Table 4-23: NPC Gear Value found on page 127 of the DMG minus all equipment currently owned (the total gp value of the cohort cannot be greater than the amount of Table 4-23)..If the cohort currently has more gold than listed for his level in the DMG then he loses any extra."
(emphasis mine)

It seems very clear that the intent of the wording is to limit the total value of a cohort's possessions to the appropriate values based on Table 4-23.

We all know that the LGCS is not written by professional writers - it's written by volunteers. It's unreasonable to expect volunteers, however dedicated they may be, to have perfecting wording for every rule or guideline. In this case, the intent of the Circle in writing this rule seems clear: the total value of a cohort's equipment cannot be greater than table 4-23. To interpret it otherwise gives the appearance of cheesing your cohort out.

In a similar vein, while the rules do not explicitly state that equipment is sold, the alternative is that your equipment simply vanishes - since the rule states that the cohorts loses any extra gold.

Note that if I am incorrect in my interpretation, then everyone benefits. If you are incorrect - then everyone looses. My personal philisophy is to always go with the most conservative interpretation of a rule - that way, I am never disappointed to be proven wrong.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Morgan the Bold 02-01-06, 10:42 PM	On page 41, in the second paragraph under cohort advancement, it states if a cohort currently has more gold than listed for his level in the DMG he loses any extra. If the cohort has spent all of his gold on permanent magic items before increasing in level, can he keep those magic items? If not, can he pick which magic items get removed from his MIL?
jboerj 02-02-06, 12:01 PM	I think the previous sentence to the one you're reading already answers this. "the total gp value of the cohort can not be greater than ..." I believe that Permanent Magic Items are included in total gp value. Personally, I'd like to see that rule change but I don't see it happening.
Timlagor 02-06-06, 07:21 AM	The second sentence clearly states what to do about having an excessive gp value and it doesn't make any mention of a need to sell anything. This should indeed be clarified one way or the other: both interpretations are currently in use!
TheMagus 02-06-06, 12:20 PM	The second sentence clearly states what to do about having an excessive gp value and it doesn't make any mention of a need to sell anything. This should indeed be clarified one way or the other: both interpretations are currently in use! You mean some people are only knocking off gold on the AR over the allowed total and not couting items on the MIL? :eek: That is messed up.
Timlagor 02-06-06, 08:15 PM	You mean some people are only knocking off gold on the AR over the allowed total and not couting items on the MIL? :eek: That is messed up. I've read the rules and that is all that they explicitly require. I don't know anyone that's done so personally but I have read posts by people saying they've done it that way. Personally I have no objection to it -they earned that gold- but I would like the rules to be clear.
TheMagus 02-07-06, 12:48 PM	Yeah, but if that is a legal interpretation, my cohort wants about 30k of his equipment back. He leveled up half a dozen times in his career and lost at least 3-8k in equipment every time. :weep:
Timlagor 02-09-06, 04:38 PM	Yeah, but if that is a legal interpretation, my cohort wants about 30k of his equipment back. He leveled up half a dozen times in his career and lost at least 3-8k in equipment every time. :weep: Well that's why it needs clarifying -one way of the other.
vvincent 02-09-06, 04:55 PM	Well that's why it needs clarifying -one way of the other. Actually, I believe the intent of the rules is quite clear From the LGCS 5.0 Draft: "The cohorts new gp total is set to the appropriate amount per Table 4-23: NPC Gear Value found on page 127 of the DMG minus all equipment currently owned (the total gp value of the cohort cannot be greater than the amount of Table 4-23)..If the cohort currently has more gold than listed for his level in the DMG then he loses any extra." (emphasis mine) It seems very clear that the intent of the wording is to limit the total value of a cohort's possessions to the appropriate values based on Table 4-23. We all know that the LGCS is not written by professional writers - it's written by volunteers. It's unreasonable to expect volunteers, however dedicated they may be, to have perfecting wording for every rule or guideline. In this case, the intent of the Circle in writing this rule seems clear: the total value of a cohort's equipment cannot be greater than table 4-23. To interpret it otherwise gives the appearance of cheesing your cohort out. In a similar vein, while the rules do not explicitly state that equipment is sold, the alternative is that your equipment simply vanishes - since the rule states that the cohorts loses any extra gold. Note that if I am incorrect in my interpretation, then everyone benefits. If you are incorrect - then everyone looses. My personal philisophy is to always go with the most conservative interpretation of a rule - that way, I am never disappointed to be proven wrong.