What is the best class for a cohort? [Archive] - Wizards Community

What is the best class for a cohort? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Danacyrus
02-06-07, 02:33 AM What do people think that the best class for a cohort is?

I think a druid because they can memorize all Curing, spontaneously summon and eventually wild shape!
:D :D :D
Well i like it
Eric Anondson
02-06-07, 02:58 AM When my high level character got around to taking Leadership, I asked around the tables I played during some conventions. What I heard was mostly, "it depends on what the primary character wants to do".

Generally, I heard that bard/marshal combos, wizards, clerics, and druids were all nice. I statted out a different cohort for my character and settled on choosing a dwarven wizard cohort. He buffs my primary in ways that pump his Str in the first round and then sits back and works as artillery. Nice for a feat. ;)
qstor
02-06-07, 11:27 AM I would say a cleric or a wizard are nice.

Mike
bhale187
02-06-07, 11:30 AM "it depends on what the primary character wants to do".

I would have to agree. If your primary is cleric he/she is less likely to find a weaker cleric backup as helpful as a primary heavy infantry would the same cohort.
Bob_the_Theurge
02-06-07, 11:57 AM I would have to agree. If your primary is cleric he/she is less likely to find a weaker cleric backup as helpful as a primary heavy infantry would the same cohort.

If you're a Wizard or Sorceror who's taken the Cooperative Spell feat (to get into Mage of the Arcane Order) then a backup Wizard Cohort who also has Co-Op Spell can be nice... Sorc's will get a bonus to his level for their high CHA scores, too.
Japangirl
02-06-07, 12:45 PM Depends on what your group needs. I like clerics and bards and marshalls as cohorts, since they can be great back-up and don't have to be on APL to still contribute a lot. Healing and buffing is a lot less level-dependant and gold dependant than doing damage or tanking.
Mortepierre
02-06-07, 01:13 PM Bard/Marshall are best, especially if your team has none so far.

Of course, my main being a wizard, a big hulky bodyguard comes to mind too.. :P
LachlarlanIII
02-06-07, 02:19 PM My character is going to be a Marshal/Hexblade/Dragon Disciple.

Unless someone clarifies what classes are available, his cohort is going to be a Marshal/Hexblade/Dragon Disciple.

Neither is taking Motivate Dex or Motivate Cha.
LGMoses
02-06-07, 02:43 PM i imagine being a wizard with an apprentice would be nice and do very well for the ego
Alpha_Nerd
02-06-07, 02:55 PM I always thought it would be fun as a 12th or 15th level Rogue/Nightsong Infiltrator to pick up a Rogue/Nightsong Infiltrator cohort. Stack up your team sneak attack and move actions to unleash some serious damage on any flankable opponent. If you were a high ranking member in a thieves guild you could use that to keep your leadership score up with a lower charisma.
solbergb
02-07-07, 01:46 AM support oriented clerics and bards are good, with a utility wizard or sorc probably being next best. A rogue reallly tweaked in trapfinding and who can get sneak attack from something the master does is another thing I've seen work. A splash of marshall or nobility domain (cleric) can also make a pretty nice difference.

Bad are melee of any flavor and "blaster" primary casters of any flavor. Support characters play up better and need less equipment/attributes to function. Cohorts are almost always playing up, and they are sometimes playing WAY up (if the master is also playing up). They've got crappy attributes and even worse equipment. So they need a way to reliably contribute that isn't dependent on high ability scores and gear.
solbergb
02-07-07, 01:49 AM support oriented clerics and bards are good, with a utility wizard or sorc probably being next best. A rogue reallly tweaked in trapfinding and who can get sneak attack from something the master does is another thing I've seen work.

Bad are melee of any flavor and "blaster" primary casters of any flavor. Support characters play up better and need less equipment/attributes to function. Cohorts are almost always playing up, and they are sometimes playing WAY up (if the master is also playing up). They've got crappy attributes and even worse equipment. So they need a way to reliably contribute that isn't dependent on high ability scores and gear.

The other thing to remember about cohorts is that by definition they're joining a party that is already understrength. Buffing the other party members often fixes that up nicely.
RLWilde
02-07-07, 02:33 AM What do people think that the best class for a cohort is?
I would ask myself the following questions when designing a cohort for my PC:

1. Is there some basic ability lacking at the tables I'm usually at, which a cohort could fill? (I had Leadership on a character for a while, and made him a wizard to fill the lack of arcane spellcasting and knowledge skills which I often saw at tables)
2. Is there some roleplaying aspect I want to set up between my character and his cohort... mentor, bodyguard, etc.?
3. Is there some class (or combination of classes) that I think would be particularly effective when I'm with my cohort?

Some people might choose to reverse the priorities for #s 2 and 3... but I think #1 should be top priority, if applicable.
Mortepierre
02-07-07, 04:28 AM i imagine being a wizard with an apprentice would be nice and do very well for the ego

Until he dies (having even less hit pts than you have.. which isn't a lot) and you get a penalty for the next cohort.

That said, it can be humorous.

"OK kid, no time to waste. You're like my fifth apprentice this month alone. I zap enemies. You stand behind with cure potions. If a demon appears, you hold him off while I get Expeditious Retreat going. Got it?"
solbergb
02-07-07, 09:34 AM I would ask myself the following questions when designing a cohort for my PC:

1. Is there some basic ability lacking at the tables I'm usually at, which a cohort could fill?

My tables are random but I was sort of thinking this.

Waht I was thinking was "What do I do when mustered at a weak 4-person table (weak because of character mix, or a noncontribuiting player or both). What feat could I possibly take that would really help in this situation."

The answer was leadership, and my approach was a chaacter that could make ANY other character shine. big inspire courage+haste for melee/archer types, ways to boost caster level/dc for spellcasters, invis and silence for scouts and rogues, etc. These things also happen to help my own character, which means I did it right. Most tables my cohort is at are stronger than if we had a 6th player 2 levels higher - not because my cohort is effective on her own, but because she just supercharges everybody else.
Mommy was an Orc
02-07-07, 10:04 AM Yeah, Bards are great cohorts if you yourself use weapons in some way - no one appreciates just how good they are until encounters start dying for no apparent reason.

I'm also very fond of a Rogue 1/Cleric 4/Divine Prankster X build where it tanks charisma for Int/Wis/Con.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Danacyrus 02-06-07, 02:33 AM	What do people think that the best class for a cohort is? I think a druid because they can memorize all Curing, spontaneously summon and eventually wild shape! :D :D :D Well i like it
Eric Anondson 02-06-07, 02:58 AM	When my high level character got around to taking Leadership, I asked around the tables I played during some conventions. What I heard was mostly, "it depends on what the primary character wants to do". Generally, I heard that bard/marshal combos, wizards, clerics, and druids were all nice. I statted out a different cohort for my character and settled on choosing a dwarven wizard cohort. He buffs my primary in ways that pump his Str in the first round and then sits back and works as artillery. Nice for a feat. ;)
qstor 02-06-07, 11:27 AM	I would say a cleric or a wizard are nice. Mike
bhale187 02-06-07, 11:30 AM	"it depends on what the primary character wants to do". I would have to agree. If your primary is cleric he/she is less likely to find a weaker cleric backup as helpful as a primary heavy infantry would the same cohort.
Bob_the_Theurge 02-06-07, 11:57 AM	I would have to agree. If your primary is cleric he/she is less likely to find a weaker cleric backup as helpful as a primary heavy infantry would the same cohort. If you're a Wizard or Sorceror who's taken the Cooperative Spell feat (to get into Mage of the Arcane Order) then a backup Wizard Cohort who also has Co-Op Spell can be nice... Sorc's will get a bonus to his level for their high CHA scores, too.
Japangirl 02-06-07, 12:45 PM	Depends on what your group needs. I like clerics and bards and marshalls as cohorts, since they can be great back-up and don't have to be on APL to still contribute a lot. Healing and buffing is a lot less level-dependant and gold dependant than doing damage or tanking.
Mortepierre 02-06-07, 01:13 PM	Bard/Marshall are best, especially if your team has none so far. Of course, my main being a wizard, a big hulky bodyguard comes to mind too.. :P
LachlarlanIII 02-06-07, 02:19 PM	My character is going to be a Marshal/Hexblade/Dragon Disciple. Unless someone clarifies what classes are available, his cohort is going to be a Marshal/Hexblade/Dragon Disciple. Neither is taking Motivate Dex or Motivate Cha.
LGMoses 02-06-07, 02:43 PM	i imagine being a wizard with an apprentice would be nice and do very well for the ego
Alpha_Nerd 02-06-07, 02:55 PM	I always thought it would be fun as a 12th or 15th level Rogue/Nightsong Infiltrator to pick up a Rogue/Nightsong Infiltrator cohort. Stack up your team sneak attack and move actions to unleash some serious damage on any flankable opponent. If you were a high ranking member in a thieves guild you could use that to keep your leadership score up with a lower charisma.
solbergb 02-07-07, 01:46 AM	support oriented clerics and bards are good, with a utility wizard or sorc probably being next best. A rogue reallly tweaked in trapfinding and who can get sneak attack from something the master does is another thing I've seen work. A splash of marshall or nobility domain (cleric) can also make a pretty nice difference. Bad are melee of any flavor and "blaster" primary casters of any flavor. Support characters play up better and need less equipment/attributes to function. Cohorts are almost always playing up, and they are sometimes playing WAY up (if the master is also playing up). They've got crappy attributes and even worse equipment. So they need a way to reliably contribute that isn't dependent on high ability scores and gear.
solbergb 02-07-07, 01:49 AM	support oriented clerics and bards are good, with a utility wizard or sorc probably being next best. A rogue reallly tweaked in trapfinding and who can get sneak attack from something the master does is another thing I've seen work. Bad are melee of any flavor and "blaster" primary casters of any flavor. Support characters play up better and need less equipment/attributes to function. Cohorts are almost always playing up, and they are sometimes playing WAY up (if the master is also playing up). They've got crappy attributes and even worse equipment. So they need a way to reliably contribute that isn't dependent on high ability scores and gear. The other thing to remember about cohorts is that by definition they're joining a party that is already understrength. Buffing the other party members often fixes that up nicely.
RLWilde 02-07-07, 02:33 AM	What do people think that the best class for a cohort is? I would ask myself the following questions when designing a cohort for my PC: 1. Is there some basic ability lacking at the tables I'm usually at, which a cohort could fill? (I had Leadership on a character for a while, and made him a wizard to fill the lack of arcane spellcasting and knowledge skills which I often saw at tables) 2. Is there some roleplaying aspect I want to set up between my character and his cohort... mentor, bodyguard, etc.? 3. Is there some class (or combination of classes) that I think would be particularly effective when I'm with my cohort? Some people might choose to reverse the priorities for #s 2 and 3... but I think #1 should be top priority, if applicable.
Mortepierre 02-07-07, 04:28 AM	i imagine being a wizard with an apprentice would be nice and do very well for the ego Until he dies (having even less hit pts than you have.. which isn't a lot) and you get a penalty for the next cohort. That said, it can be humorous. "OK kid, no time to waste. You're like my fifth apprentice this month alone. I zap enemies. You stand behind with cure potions. If a demon appears, you hold him off while I get Expeditious Retreat going. Got it?"
solbergb 02-07-07, 09:34 AM	I would ask myself the following questions when designing a cohort for my PC: 1. Is there some basic ability lacking at the tables I'm usually at, which a cohort could fill? My tables are random but I was sort of thinking this. Waht I was thinking was "What do I do when mustered at a weak 4-person table (weak because of character mix, or a noncontribuiting player or both). What feat could I possibly take that would really help in this situation." The answer was leadership, and my approach was a chaacter that could make ANY other character shine. big inspire courage+haste for melee/archer types, ways to boost caster level/dc for spellcasters, invis and silence for scouts and rogues, etc. These things also happen to help my own character, which means I did it right. Most tables my cohort is at are stronger than if we had a 6th player 2 levels higher - not because my cohort is effective on her own, but because she just supercharges everybody else.
Mommy was an Orc 02-07-07, 10:04 AM	Yeah, Bards are great cohorts if you yourself use weapons in some way - no one appreciates just how good they are until encounters start dying for no apparent reason. I'm also very fond of a Rogue 1/Cleric 4/Divine Prankster X build where it tanks charisma for Int/Wis/Con.