What monster cohort level would you give a psuedodragon?
I read through some very old threads that suggested a LVL 4 cohort.
Most of the advice given was referenced from old 3.5 material.
4 is a bit high, honestly. They can't get a cohort prior to level 7, which means the PC already have access to flight. A wizard can take one as a familiar at level 7, but, don't let that fool you. The pseudodragon familiar will have more HP, better saves, etc than a normal pseudodragon due to how familiar's work.
I personally would suggest just using the basic rules in the back of the book for monstrous PCs. So a pseudodragon cohort should be a 1st level cohort, meaning if the PC was 7th level, and got a 5th level cohort, then you add 4 class levels to the cohort and be done. I would NOT advance the cohort via racial hit dice. So, for example, a pseudodragon 4th level sorcerer would be a 5th level cohort. They are kind of squishy, and while flight is powerful, a 5th level wziard human cohort would have access to flight as well via spells.
4 is a bit high, honestly. They can't get a cohort prior to level 7, which means the PC already have access to flight. A wizard can take one as a familiar at level 7, but, don't let that fool you. The pseudodragon familiar will have more HP, better saves, etc than a normal pseudodragon due to how familiar's work.
I personally would suggest just using the basic rules in the back of the book for monstrous PCs. So a pseudodragon cohort should be a 1st level cohort, meaning if the PC was 7th level, and got a 5th level cohort, then you add 4 class levels to the cohort and be done. I would NOT advance the cohort via racial hit dice. So, for example, a pseudodragon 4th level sorcerer would be a 5th level cohort. They are kind of squishy, and while flight is powerful, a 5th level wziard human cohort would have access to flight as well via spells.
Thanks you! The info you gave me is of great help. I was feeling overwhelmed with the multitude of options beforehand. I will definetly stay away from advancing the cohort via racial hit dice.
Reason Why:
In my group, I have a 9th lvl gunslinger PC who has a psuedodragon ally under contract agreement. Never bothered to advance him since he was used sparringly in combat. Now the 9th lvl thief/wizard PC has an imp familiar. It seems destined both monsters will fight each other, following the racial hostility theme of the Crimson Throne Adventure Path. I need to buff up the cohort to be mostly balanced in a fight against the imp. Already have the cohort drinking holy water and sharpening attacks with silver to overcome DR.