or PCAQ for short...
So there is a character that is considering taking hte Leadership feat and acquiring a pseudodragon as a cohort. Presuming that said PC is a druid, and given the pseudodragon's ability scores, what class would you recommend the pseudodragon advance in to be an effective cohort? One last caveat; everything has to be Core.
My ideas included sorceror (with eschew materials) or possibly wizard with his "spellbook" a series of tattoos on his body (or something similar). Both of those are quickly defeated by the average ability scores.
Next I thought of rogue, with the high dex and hide skill. Similalry, if the pseudodragon will be in combat, why not ranger? But being tiny, said cohort will provoke attacks of opportunity every time he moves to attack. Could this be solved by him taking ranks in tumble? Can a flying creature "tumble" in DnD terms?
I could always have him also go druid, but am uncertain about this, plus having a summoner with an animal companion and a cohort who can also summon... might be a little much.
The idea is a cohort that will be useful in a fairly wide range of tactical applications. I already see the potential for scouting and spying, but the battlefield can be pretty rough in this campaign. Any suggestions?
Tiny creatures provoke AoO's? Where did you see that?
From the SRD:
A Fine, Diminutive, or Tiny creature can move into or through an occupied square. The creature provokes attacks of opportunity when doing so.
And since a tiny creature has no reach, it has to enter an opponent's square to attack. :(
I like the idea of Dragon Shaman, as well as a few other supplemental classes, but unfortunately I have to have the cohort's class restricted to CORE classes only. Can I make a tactically-effective cohort, or should I just come up with a "regular" cohort? Thanks.
Technically a pseudodragon has a reach of 5 feet with its tail sting (the primary attack). So it doesn't have to move into the targets square to attack with the sting.
It would have to move into the target's square if using the bite attack however.
Technically a pseudodragon has a reach of 5 feet with its tail sting (the primary attack). So it doesn't have to move into the targets square to attack with the sting.
It would have to move into the target's square if using the bite attack however.
I overlooked that! Neat! Thanks for pointing that out.
You're welcome. It was no problem. As far as classes, I would suggest against spellcasters.
Since you are already playing a one spellcaster, it might be better to have a simpler cohort that you could run more easily. I don't think it is desirable to have to choose two spells per round to cast.
Barbarian: Has a good deal of hit points to avoid the cohort dieing in combat and the rage gives a boost in damage. However the rage inhibits several of the cohorts skills.
Fighter: A lot of feats to spread around and reasonable number of hit points. A problem here is that since the cohort wont be wearing significant armor, a shield, or any weapons, those profieciencies sort of go to waste.
Rogue: Good skills and extra damage dice. I would say the problem with this is the lower hit points when you are planning to send your cohort into melee.
If you really want to play a Sorcerer or another spellcaster I would really suggest against picking any "complicated" spells. Spells that I would call complicated include summons, web, and any other spell that you might find difficult to completely memorize at least for spells you will use during battles (I don't think I could remember the checks and DCs for the two functions of grease without looking them up to be certain. Same for animate rope and pyrotechnics. Looking up spells eats up a lot of time in my experience, avoiding that would be the best for a cohort.
Out of curiosity, how many skill points should a standard pseudodragon have? According to the SRD, they receive six points per HD, and having two hit dice, that should yield a total of 30. But for some reason, I keep coming up with 36, with many skills having six ranks. Anyone know anything about the apparent discrepancy?
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The skills are wrong, by the RAW. Should be Diplomacy +2, Hide +19*, Listen +8, Search +5, Sense Motive +6, Spot +8, Survival +1 (+3 vs. tracks) and 5 other unaccounted skill points. Move Silently +7, perhaps.
Otherwise, Pseudodragon Sorcerer XX-4 sounds about right to me, for ECL XX. He can pose as the familiar of whatever character he's serving as cohort to. "Uhh, I just direct the spells. He casts them." *points at the poor sap who calls him cohort*
So there is a character that is considering taking hte Leadership feat and acquiring a pseudodragon as a cohort. Presuming that said PC is a druid, and given the pseudodragon's ability scores, what class would you recommend the pseudodragon advance in to be an effective cohort? One last caveat; everything has to be Core.
<SNIP>
The idea is a cohort that will be useful in a fairly wide range of tactical applications. I already see the potential for scouting and spying, but the battlefield can be pretty rough in this campaign. Any suggestions?
If survivability on the battlefield is an issue I'd suggest taking a class with at least light armour proficiency and then get exotic light barding for a tiny creature (a pseudodragon can fly with a load/armour weighing no more than 10lb, assuming no strength boosts). You'd be able to layer on up to +5 AC with Mithral chainmail barding (if affordable). Also taking Dodge and Improved Natural Armour feats would help.
Alternatively, you could ask your DM if it would be possible to find a set of Bracers of Armour to fit your pseudodragon. A Ring of Protection would be a bit more believable perhaps, and would work with either build.
Personally I'd go with Rogue class and boost the Dex as much as possible - combat effective and a good scout. I think you just wont get full use of the Ranger's abilities.
Next I thought of rogue, with the high dex and hide skill. Similalry, if the pseudodragon will be in combat, why not ranger? But being tiny, said cohort will provoke attacks of opportunity every time he moves to attack. Could this be solved by him taking ranks in tumble? Can a flying creature "tumble" in DnD terms?
Put me down for saying yes on the tumble. Think of it like WWII aerial dogfights.
I'd recommend sorcerer. First, flavor-wise, it makes a lot of sense: "Descended from dragons? Hello? I am a dragon!" Plus, you can RP his "acquiring" of various dragon skills through spells like a little wanna-be. Imagine that he decides to ascend to a "right-sized" brass dragon. Burning hands and the various sleeps for the mini-breath weapon. Suggestion and endure elements both work as well. Polymorph self eventually completes the transformation.
Plus, sorcerers are really low-maintenance.
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I really want to suggest paladin just to invoke the image of a psudodragon on a mount, Timon and Pumba style. however, realistically I'd have to recommend a rogue. the added maneuvrability skills and whatnot that make a rogue a great tumbler would really add to it to create a decent bodyguard type thing for the druid. or at least, that's how I can see it in my mind. It just seems to me that the best counterpart to a spellcaster (which is what i classify druid as) is a fighter (or in this case a rogue), though it really matters more how you built your druid. if your druid is the more up close and physical kind (which is not how I usually play them), then a spellcaster would be a good counterpart and sorceror would add the most flavour. given that it's a dragon and all.
Thanks for the suggestions all. My DM, worried about my tactical genius (in my mind, at least), decided the issue for me (as DMs should). He opted for a variant of the pseudodragon, something he called a forest dragon. It's a little larger than a pseudodragon and does not have the poison sting - I laughed with him about taking away my instant solution for enemy mages. However, the dragon can assume the form of a halfling/elf-child and has an ability to become invisible to a single creatuer (by concentration, wisely eating up a standard action). He also built it as a fey-type dragon, adding DR/cold iron to the SR, making him much more survivable. And finally, he is advancing as a rogue.
In response to my druid's build, he is not a melee type unless absolutely forced to be. ALthough upon seeing our party;s line-up, I realized I was the second fighter, behind the barbarian - we joke the barbarian is our party, and we just work to make sure the barbarian survives. In the introduction to the cohort, my druid actually went hand-to-hand against some kua-toa, inadvertantly providing flanking to the little feller, and thus started what promises to be a good partnership. This was also an opportunity for us to see just how slow we could make a battle - imagine combining plant growth, fog cloud, and sleet storm. It was like fighting in molasses, at least for the non-woodland stride folk...