My DM emailed me, letting me know that I just reached level 7. As a cleric, I have a half decent CHA modifier (+2) and I nee to pick a feat. I found leadership, and considering that my party has just formed a guild in game and the storyline is shaping up to be apacolypse averting it could be useful. But I would like to get some advice about a possible cohort.
Were a pretty balanced party: I'm the primary healer, we have a wizard evoker, a ranger for skills, a fighter/sorceror and a druid who plays off and on.
First thoughts were a bard or another cleric to focus on healing.
We don't have a rogue but our DM doesn't use a lot of traps. Which I like, so I don't know if I should encourage him.
.... But I would like to get some advice about a possible cohort.
Were a pretty balanced party: I'm the primary healer, we have a wizard evoker, a ranger for skills, a fighter/sorceror and a druid who plays off and on...
You already have 4-5 people. So it doesn't sound like you are in dire need of optimized bodies. Also, running more characters can quickly get complicated and time consuming. I don't like to slow down the action. So I recommend something fairly simple so there are not so many options in a given round.
I'd suggest a big dumb but likable paladin. The dumb makes it believable that he is not contributing to planning sessions. He can usually be a standard body guard for you. Could give him a tower shield to help block for you. Can fight pretty well especially when unleashes the smite. Saves are great if you put a decent amount into charisma, so he is unlikly to be dominated and crunch you. Has some back up healing.
On the other hand if you don't mind complicated and slowing things down more, you could go with a bard to buff you and everyone else.
I like the paladin idea except for the fact that, well, our methods tend to skew towards chaotic. I'm not sure how one would feel about theft from a good temple, stealing jurisdiction from law enforcement, my character contracting something called "dick spoons", outfitting our guild hall with the belongings of someone who betrayed us and doing a favor for a corrupt governor to avoid red tape.
Oracle with curse of languages (or haunting) and life mystery. This allows you to be anything you like as a cleric (you no longer need to be a heal-bot, unless you choose to be) and it's relatively streamlined (the spells are constant, once chosen, like a sorcerer, and thus don't need to be prepared every time).
By ignoring strength, intelligence, and charisma (things the oracle doesn't need), you can ensure a high constitution (hit points), dexterity (AC), and wisdom (the most important, as it controls casting).
With this set-up, the cohort will be an excellent help for you (story-wise, chosen to be blessed/cursed by whatever deity you serve), but won't be a powerful presence (low charisma), and won't be outshining anyone (low intelligence), and certainly won't step on anyone's toes.
NOW: if you like being the primary healer... than this might not be for you. Your choice, really. That's just my first thought.
I like the paladin idea except for the fact that, well, our methods tend to skew towards chaotic...
I see...
Might be doable but might not. Kinda depends on the GM, campaign, local laws, and your religion. Maybe shouldn't chance it.
Then I would probably go with even bigger and dumber fighter meat shield either with a tower shield or a reach weapon to guard you. Though you could mix fighter and cleric to get some of the melee and healer effect. But you would lose the saves and smite.
Again, I try to keep the complexity down on a secondary character.
Playing a paladin with a cleric cohort myself. Took the feat at level 11 (or level 9, I don't rembember). I would not take a cohort that early. Take a nice feat that complements you character.
To get the best cohort (your level-2) possible you need a good charisma score. Everything below this level is not worth it, imo.
Maybe show us what your cleric looks like?
@Tacticslion:
Oracles use Charisma for their spells.
Seconding the Oracle of Life option, they free up a LOT of options for you. You may want to consider getting a monster cohort as well, if your DM allows it.
Oracle of Life would be an excellent choice for a cohort, even if your primary character is a cleric. I run a cleric of Sarenrae going for Radiant Servant PrC in a CotCT campaign and chose an oracle of life as cohort and have to say that this combo is working very well so far.
This constellation offers a lot of options: you can get those nice buffs started much faster as you can cast them simultaneously. My main character (cleric)specializes more on summoning and channel positive energy to destroy/harm undead and evil outsiders, whereas my oracle cohort puts more emphasis on buffing and channeling positive energy to heal the party, effectively acting as combat medic. It is a kind of "division of labor". You could imagine other possibilities as well.
I suggest a monster, better something that you can use as a mount. Taking a PC would be a problem (too many) and will be less amusing (imo).
@Tacticslion:
Oracles use Charisma for their spells.
WOOPS! My bad. That's funny, I thought they were the one spontaneous caster that used wisdom instead.
... one check-the-book later...You're totally right! I was thinking of Inquisitors, apparently. So, in that case...
By ignoring strength, intelligence, and charisma (things the oracle doesn't need), you can ensure a high constitution (hit points), dexterity (AC), and charisma (the most important, as it controls casting, but it can also help you with important checks via Aid Another).
With this set-up, the cohort will be an excellent help for you (story-wise, chosen to be blessed/cursed by whatever deity you serve), but won't outclass your primary score (low wisdom), and won't be outshining anyone (low intelligence), and certainly won't step on anyone's toes.
I choose to remember that as how I said things. Yes. Totally.;p :D
EDIT: two things I forgot to mention
1) I'm glad my idea is so popular!
2) the monster/mount idea isn't a bad one (in fact it's quite nifty with great RP opportunity!), but it must be carefully chosen so that not only does it live up to your needs, but that it lives at all. Choosing the wrong thing can make sure you have a great extra meat shield for your enemies to kill before they get to you (lowering your leadership score by default), OR that you can have a genuinely useful critter that improves with the party. I don't have any specific suggestions, but that's something to keep in mind.
Gnomish Siege mage that has a ballista and clockwork companions to reload for him.
I very much agree with the plan of making a cohort something fairly simple and quick to play. Saving time during combats is important.
My top choices in your situation would be
- Oracle of the same religion as yourself. It builds on your character's existing abilities ratehr than stepping on anyone else's toes or changing your focus.
- Bard, because having bard buffs is always welcome.
- Fighter, because it's durable, and simple to play (if you build it that way).
- Rogue with an alternate class feature like Thug or Swashbuckler that replaces Trapfinding with some extra combat ability.