I have a Celestial Sorcerer{Aristocrat}(CG) approaching 10th level. I plan on getting Monster Summoning V and specifically summoning Hound Archons(LG), maybe Celestial Griffons(CG). I would like to use this in some way to eventually gain a cohort with my 11th level Feat: Leadership.
The cohorts section says you may not have a cohort against your alignment lawful vs. chaotic, good vs. evil, but then goes on to say IF YOU DO... it's a -1 leadership score. That part confuses me a bit as NO MEANS NO, not maybe kinda sorta I guess ok just take a penalty, but I'm guessing the wording means a non-opposed, different alignment. It's a bit complicated alignment-wise for "buying" a friend. (page 90, Pathfinder Beta)
That and my DM wishes to RP the situation, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that and I don't want the Bard provided/suggested by the AP. (CotCT) I can't see soaking a feat on a pre-gen NPC that my character would likely have not a lot in common with OTHER than alignment, but I could be wrong.
Should I start summoning Hound Archons for 1 minute at a time, 4 times a day, until one of them deems me worthy enough to come back and help our cause? Or just go with a Celestial Griffon and watch as it becomes useless indoors, underground, etc. Maybe another CG-aligned suggestion? Anyone?
The cohorts section says you may not have a cohort against your alignment lawful vs. chaotic, good vs. evil, but then goes on to say IF YOU DO... it's a -1 leadership score. That part confuses me a bit as NO MEANS NO, not maybe kinda sorta I guess ok just take a penalty, but I'm guessing the wording means a non-opposed, different alignment. It's a bit complicated alignment-wise for "buying" a friend. (page 90, Pathfinder Beta)
Nah it's pretty clear.
You can recruit;
CG - 0 mod. OR CN/N/NG all at -1.
This specific question is rather moot - a Hound Archon is 6 HD + 5 LA = 11th level. You can't get a Hound archon Cohort at 11th level.
Glancing around, I don't see any better options though - maybe take Leadership at 13th. I think a Celestial Sorcerer, CG vs. LG or not, should probably manage to gain the aid of a Hound Archon.
Unfortunately Ghaele and Avorals do not have LA's (and Devas are much too high).
You might suggest a celestial or half-celestial (X) instead. Celestial is LA +2, half is +4 (funny how that works).
Edit: Ah, I found the chart I was looking for - DMG p.199
Avorals count as 15th level (no luck), but Bralani are 11th level, CG, and decent spell-like abilities:
Spell-Like Abilities
At will— blur, charm person (DC 13), gust of wind (DC 14), mirror image, wind wall;
2/day—lightning bolt (DC 15), cure serious wounds (DC 15). Caster level 6th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.
Bralani can be summoned with Summon Monster VI by the way, or alternatively a Lesser Planar Binding (5th level), which can also be the means by which it comes to serve you permanently. You'd have to wait a bit longer, or have another cohort in the meantime.
Also a Celestial Unicorn (maidens only), or half-celestial Pegasus would both be 10th level equivalent.
Thank you for the suggestions/ruling clarifications.
Our Cleric has decided to do the Leadership thing(he took over the Bard NPC) and was able to do it slightly earlier due to a house rule, after watching 6 of 8 followers literally go up in smoke,(CR13 red dragon) I have decided not to bother. I was trying to avoid the Large cohorts(unicorns, griffon, etc.) as most cannot enter dungeons/buildings and still be effective. As a whole it seems extremely over complicated for very little gain.
I've also decided to drop the Summon Monster V spell as the best "attack" on the list that I saw was +11... I attack at a +11(+12 within 30'). I could spend a round casting Truestrike instead of summoning something to run up and get slaughtered ineffectively. The character is built on Range Attack and Force spells, so I will stick with what he does best.
I could spend a round casting Truestrike instead of summoning something to run up and get slaughtered ineffectively.
But... that's what summoned creatures do best! :)
For the record, I thought the idea was brilliant.
But... that's what summoned creatures do best! :)
For the record, I thought the idea was brilliant.
Thanks, I did as well(assuming you mean a celestial sorcerer attempting to find a celestial cohort), but the execution lacks quite a bit and the character isn't geared towards conjuration/summoning so deciding to pick up a "summon" spell at 10th level falls flat pretty quickly.
I'm under the opinion that whomever created the monster summoning lists is a masochist and most likely should be kicked straight in the junk REPEATEDLY. Followed by the guy(s) who assigned Level Adjustments and Challenge Ratings to the monsters.
Neat idea on the surface.
Evidently this is what you want to do, which is cool. RP often drives us to make decisions that are mechanically unsound within the game system.
Cohorts are cannot fodder. They die awfully easily (did someone mention 6 out of 8 going up in smoke in one dragon encounter?).
In any RP setting, when you keep grinding up your cohorts, it's a matter of a very short time before word gets out that hiring on to be your cohort is a very bad idea, and suddenly you can't find any more cohorts.
Side note: why was this never a problem for Sith in the Star Wars universe? Kill em, choke em, send them on suicide missions, no matter what those Sith did, there were always new guys in line to sign up for the same deaths. Very odd...
Another reason against this idea is how much time these cohorts take up during battle. Especially since their attacks are generally weak and often miss, or have so little effect that it's questionable whether it's worth your time, and everyone else's, to run them around the battlemat and roll their dice.
If you're dead set (no pun intended) on trying this, then my advice would be to look for cohorts who have substantial non-combat utility. Healers, artificers, enchanters, spies, scouts, transporters, merchants, and guys who generally just take care of your home when you're away.
This way you're not tying up every combat with Move... Miss... Move... Miss... Move... Hit for puny damage... Move... Miss... and this way you're not likely to lose too many cohorts along the way.
Just a thought.
And no, I'm not one of the 4e "Economy of Actions" groupies. I'm all for getting extra actions. I'm just not at all supportive of getting extra (nearly) useless actions which mostly just amount to wasting everyone's time.
Neat idea on the surface.
Evidently this is what you want to do, which is cool. RP often drives us to make decisions that are mechanically unsound within the game system.
Thanks. Yea, that WAS the intention. :)
I'm just not at all supportive of getting extra (nearly) useless actions which mostly just amount to wasting everyone's time.
Neither am I, which is part of the large group of reasons that I'm just going to stick with what the character knows... Ranged Attacks: Spells, Bows(seeking & dispelling), or Wands/Rods.
I'm under the opinion that whomever created the monster summoning lists is a masochist and most likely should be kicked straight in the junk REPEATEDLY. Followed by the guy(s) who assigned Level Adjustments and Challenge Ratings to the monsters.
No, no, you've got it all wrong. Besides, masochists like getting kicked in the junk. Google it if you don't believe me...
No, whomever created the monster summoning lists is a sadist who is even now sitting back in his plush divan and laughing at all us poor conjurers as we weep in sorrow, frustration, and rage at our general incompetence.