APL with cohort

[Vaahama]

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

I know that cohort are not counted in for splitting xp among party member but they still represent more sword/spells/heals on the player side.

I know one would not be that bad but let say a groupe of 5 players each have a cohort following... now we have a party of 10!

[Serisan]

Vaahama wrote:

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

I know that cohort are not counted in for splitting xp among party member but they still represent more sword/spells/heals on the player side.

I know one would not be that bad but let say a groupe of 5 players each have a cohort following... now we have a party of 10!

I challenge you to find a GM who is willing to deal with a party of 5 where everyone takes Leadership at 7.

Seriously.

[mdt]

Serisan wrote:

Vaahama wrote:

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

I know that cohort are not counted in for splitting xp among party member but they still represent more sword/spells/heals on the player side.

I know one would not be that bad but let say a groupe of 5 players each have a cohort following... now we have a party of 10!

I challenge you to find a GM who is willing to deal with a party of 5 where everyone takes Leadership at 7.

Seriously.

Druid + Animal Companion

Wizard + Improved Familiar
Paladin + Mount
Rogue + Cohort
Summoner + Eidelon

5 PCs, 5 NPCs. Party of 10.

As to the OP, that's up to the GM. You don't count companions. Cohorts, I think I might count every 2 towards the APL (IE: 2 cohorts = 1 PC).

[Nigrescence]

Vaahama wrote:

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

I know that cohort are not counted in for splitting xp among party member but they still represent more sword/spells/heals on the player side.

I know one would not be that bad but let say a groupe of 5 players each have a cohort following... now we have a party of 10!

Cohorts are their own characters. You do not control them, nor are they a part of your character. Your Leadership feat allows you to attract a Cohort who will follow you and assist you, but it is not under your control (unless you Dominate them, but that's problematic in other ways). At any time, the Cohort may leave you and your group if they are repulsed for some reason (like you trying to Dominate them).

Their wealth is their own, just as they are their own character. It's not a part of your wealth.

[Stubs McKenzie]

That's what extended lesser geas/geas is for right? :)
Can you permanency geas? That would be great.

[james maissen]

Vaahama wrote:

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

APL is a silly thing and has been misused in many OP campaigns, I would suggest that you simply not use it.

For example you have a group of four 10th level PCs. Great they are APL10!

Now you add a 2nd level PC.

They are now APL 8!

If you wanted make the guy 7th level instead and they've still lowered their APL to 9.

I recall being asked to join an OP table to lower the APL of the party! That's the problem with it.

It's also doesn't gauge much of anything well.

-James

[Red Wullf]

It's the age-old problem, isn't it? Make the encounter too soft, and the party waltzes over it, and the players will eventually get bored. Too strong, and they face doom. Finding the butter zone for encounter strength is a delicate art. Only a competent GM who knows the party's strengths and weaknesses can really gauge a good encounter strength. I recommend using the encounter building rules in Pathfinder as a rough guideline, then use what you know about the party, your past experience with them, and go from there.

As mentioned, a lower level cohort may actually decrease the APL, even though more bodies are added. Even though the rules allow for an increase in APL for more than 5 PCs, it's the only increase (one step, regardless of headcount). Whether it's a party of 6 or 60, the APL will remain the same if you stick to this system. Check the following disclaimer on pg. 397 of the PCR, "Note that these encounter creation guidelines assume a group of four or five PCs." You can already see you're going to be "winging it" outside of those bounds.

Know your party and players, trust your instincts, and "adjust" encounters on the fly if you need to.

[Howie23]

james maissen wrote:

Vaahama wrote:

Are cohort taken into acount for determining the APL?

APL is a silly thing and has been misused in many OP campaigns, I would suggest that you simply not use it.

For example you have a group of four 10th level PCs. Great they are APL10!

Now you add a 2nd level PC.

They are now APL 8!

And at greater risk for a PC dying. One particular PC. :)

Seriously, your point is taken.

Humor for the Math Minded:

Two statisticians are hunting. After a long day, they see a stag framed between a split-trunked tree. The first defers to the second to take the shot. #2 takes aim, *bang*, misses 2 feet to the right, hitting a tree trunk. The deer doesn't move. He takes aim again, *bang*, misses 2 feet to the left, hitting the other trunk. Stats #1 jumps up and yells, "You got him! You got him!

[james maissen]

Howie23 wrote:

And at greater risk for a PC dying. One particular PC. :)

Seriously, your point is taken.

** spoiler omitted **

I'm more the guy who doesn't drink coffee because I might wind up with a soggy donut and broken china in my mouth.

-James