So, can someone explain gaining a dragon cohort through leadership a little more thoroughly?
When gaining a young dragon as a cohort, the required cohort level is the dragons CR +8.
For example, a young white dragon is CR 6, so you can get one when you cohort level is 14. This requires a leadership score of 20, but also that you are at least level 16, since the cohort must be two levels below yourself. A young red dragon is CR 10, so you'd have to be level 20 to get that.When the dragon (and yourself) gain another level, it gains class levels instead of changing to a larger type of dragon.
Youch, that's a big jump. So, to get a Silver Dragon Wyrmling as a cohort, I'd have to be 16th lv... damn...
It would seem like that, but it is uncertain since they've only stated the cohort level price for young dragons.
Since wyrmlings have fewer attacks and special abilities and no spellcasting, I'd be inclined to say that they are equivalent of a chort level of CR+6 (or even less).In case of the silver wyrmling, only concern I'd have is the paralyzing cone. Paralyzing is lethal, especially a paralyzing multiple opponents at once. But the save DC for the wyrmling is only 14, so at higher levels it won't matter much.
Try talking to your GM about it. What is the wyrmling actually equivalent to? Surely not a level 14 character, but what about 12 or 10...
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Sorry for digging this thread from the grave, but I didn't want to start another one. Anyway...
Leadership rules state that you can enlist a Young Dragon as a cohort, but I'm still not clear on a few things.
Say you want a Young Silver Dragon as a cohort. His cohort level would be 18 (8 + his CR), but the Leadership table goes only as far as level 17. According to the Leadership feat rules the maximum level of a cohort you can enlist is 17 with a 25 or higher leadership score. So what's the deal with this? Does that mean you can't enlist a Young Silver Dragon as a cohort or what?
Also, the rules say that you can only recruit a cohort who is two or more levels lower than yourself. So, basically, you're limited to dragons with CR 9 or lower. Correct?
I'm honestly not certain why they posed this restriction on Dragons. It seems VERY harsh. A CR9 Dragon is nowhere near equal in power to a level 17 Wizard (CR 16) which is perfectly acceptable at level 20. My guess is it's intended to keep the size down but it still seems silly. There are plenty of waits to get Huge, Gargantuan or even Colossal creatures on the battlefield.
I just find it odd, and would be likely to change it in a campaign I run.
Leadership effective level for monster cohorts isn't determined solely by power. It's determined by utility to a standard adventuring party. A unicorn, for example, is very low in CR but gets spell-like abilities commensurate with a higher CR caster. Dragons are similar; they get nifty dragon-only abilities and a breath weapon (often a cone) that has no daily use limit. A young silver dragon is like having a beefier 6th-level blaster wizard whose primary combat spells never run out. And it's still a dragon. That's extremely useful--not powerful compared to a 17+ wizard, but useful.
You cannot argue that a CR9 dragon has anywhere near the combat and non-combat utility of a level 17 (CR16) Wizard. They don't even compare. I agree that there should be an increase in cohort level, but not +8. +2 would be more appropriate, or even +4.
I would rather have a CR 9 dragon in my party than a level 13 wizard any day of the week. : D
Dragons are cool. And cool costs.
Wasn't there a 3.5 feat that lowed the ECL of a dragon cohort by 3? If I remember correctly, it wasn't even a feat tax on top of Leadership, it actually worked AS leadership - sounds like it was acceptable at the time to reduce dragon's ECL's, so I'd just roll with a house rule that instead of CR+8, it's CR+5 (possibly less).
Wasn't there a 3.5 feat that lowed the ECL of a dragon cohort by 3? If I remember correctly, it wasn't even a feat tax on top of Leadership, it actually worked AS leadership - sounds like it was acceptable at the time to reduce dragon's ECL's, so I'd just roll with a house rule that instead of CR+8, it's CR+5 (possibly less).
There's such a feat? Where? I'm building a 3.5 character, was considering leadership, have a spare feat and would like a mount.
Draconomicon: Dragon Cohort
One more res for an old post (don't want to start a new one)
We have a GM that likes long games (looooong) and picked up a dragon cohort that was 24 yrs old. Now it's about to turn 26 and we still have a ways to go before the game ends (and lvl 20)
What happens to the dragon? Does it just fly off?
Or do we just close our eyes and pretend it's still 25, never to age again?
I would have to say that if the dragon ages up and exceeds his leadership capabilities he would lose it as a cohort. It could very easily remain friendly to the group as an NPC (or as a PC :D) but it would seek its own endeavors now and the player will need to seek out a new cohort.
I would have to say that if the dragon ages up and exceeds his leadership capabilities he would lose it as a cohort. It could very easily remain friendly to the group as an NPC (or as a PC :D) but it would seek its own endeavors now and the player will need to seek out a new cohort.
Sounds about what I thought. Thank you.