Post/Author/DateTime	Post
_metz_ 09-12-07, 01:29 PM	Ok, A friend of mine has just decided to take a cohort. His character is level 12, and has silly amounts of charisma, so is entitled to a level 10 cohort. This seems simple enough. However, he has an AR cert that grants him access to a Troglodyte cohort. (natural armour for the win) Its a very good favour, as trogs make funky, and useful cohorts. According to the monster manual (where the cert references) the Cohort comes with the following stuff: (From SRD) TROGLODYTE CHARACTERS Troglodyte characters possess the following racial traits. –2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, –2 Intelligence. Medium size. A troglodyte’s base land speed is 30 feet. Darkvision out to 90 feet. Racial Hit Dice: A troglodyte begins with two levels of humanoid, which provide 2d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +1, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +3, Ref +0, and Will +0. Racial Skills: A troglodyte’s humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 5 x (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1). Its class skills are Hide and Listen. Troglodytes have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks (+8 in rocky or underground surroundings). Racial Feats: A troglodyte’s humanoid levels give it one feat. A troglodyte receives Multiattack as a bonus feat. +6 natural armor bonus. Natural Weapons: 2 claws (1d4) and bite (1d4). Special Attacks (see above): Stench. Automatic Languages: Draconic. Bonus Languages: Common, Giant, Goblin, Orc. Favored Class: Cleric. Level adjustment +2. This seems simple enough. Take what it says there, then add 8 class levels. Is that correct? This is what seems to be the correct course of action to me. HOWEVER. The AR specifically states that the level adjustment is ONLY +1 NOT +2. In other words, the AR says use the info from the monster manual, but change the level adjustment down to +1. (it clearly says use the Trolodytes as characters information) Now this is where I got thrown off. Does this mean he takes the stuff from the SRD, and gets to add 9 class levels? If so, this guy is going to have an excellent cohort. (Good for us!) Am I missing something here? its definetly NOT a typo, the AR clearly demonstrates that it is an altered level adjustment.
Mattastrophic 09-12-07, 01:43 PM	The cohort has a max Effective Character Level of 10. The trog starts with two Hit Dice of Humanoid, then a level adjustment of +1, putting him at ECL 3 before adding class levels. He would then get 7 class levels, which would then add to his ECL 3 to make him ECL 10. -Matt
_metz_ 09-12-07, 01:53 PM	I thought it was too good... You may have just put a dint in the benefits of the good old Trog. DO you have to take the Racial levels? The cert says you can construct the Trog how you see fit...
copper_wyrmling 09-12-07, 05:41 PM	Yeah, you always have the racial hit dice, it's part of being a troglodyte, in the same way you can't choose to give up the racial modifers to stats. When you build a troglodyte character, you can construct it as you see fit, but only within the general limitations of building a PC with a level adjustment and racial hit dice. For the rules on this, see the DMG p.172. The most relevant quote is probably, "Add a monster's level adjustment to its Hit Dice and class levels to get the creature's effective character level, or ECL. Effectively, monsters with a level adjustment become multiclass characters when they take class levels. Characters with more than 1 Hit Die because of their race do not get a feat for their first class level as members of the common races do, and they do not multiply the skill points for their first class level by four."
ShinAkuma2 09-12-07, 08:39 PM	DO you have to take the Racial levels? The racial levels were pretty much there from the time the Trog was old enough to adventure. It's just part of growing up a Troglodyte.
jhorred 09-13-07, 02:02 AM	I have access to the same cohort but my character is a dwarven wizard with a famaliar and a single digit cha, so his cohort would not be very high at all. Though I'm kinda tempted to do it at 12th just because it'd be cool.
qstor 12-18-07, 01:08 PM	The racial levels were pretty much there from the time the Trog was old enough to adventure. It's just part of growing up a Troglodyte. Right...its part of its Race. Mike
bitznarf 12-18-07, 01:51 PM	Whoa, major threadomancy.
_metz_ 12-19-07, 08:43 AM	Seconded.