Some key points:
1. I want to get the leadership feat.
2. I do not want to extract benefits from the feat, just use if for roleplaying purposes.
3. Following point 2, my cohort will not travel with me but stay at the base of operations, keeping the reins of my little "guild".
4. Following point 2, my cohort will not craft (possible exception for low level consumables, such as wands of cure light wounds: his contribution still have to be negligible).
That said, the idea is to get as many followers as I can.
My leadership score:
I'm playing a soon 11 level catfolk ranger, guide archetype (no animal companion). CHA is 10: +0. We do have a base of operation, +2. I mean to liberate a lot of catfolk slaves and to give them freedom, allowing those who want to stay at my group's place: since catfolk are usually enslaved in the only town of this setting, and since there is a smallpox epidemic in town, I suspect many will agree. My GM may interpret this as a sign of generosity, +1 (just maybe: my PC is in fact LN, with a sort of blue and orange morality, which though could be typical for catfolks, GM's call here). I discussed with my GM and we decided that we move a lot but I'm not sure: we rarely go out of town, since the main stuff happens there. Let's say for now that I get to skip the -1.
This gives me a leadership score of 14, which means level 9 cohort, 15 level 1 followers and 1 level 2 follower. Not impressive, really. Since we have our base in the catacombs of the town, which are reasonably still dangerous even after we eradicated the vampires that used to inhabit the place, I'd like to have a group a bit more consistent.
My requests to the community:
1. What constitutes a "special power"? I suspect casting spells does not, since this is part of being high level PCs. For what matters, I will be casting 3rd level spells by then.
2. Are there other ways to increase my leadership score? I think that CHA headband would work (very expensive for no benefit though). I also know about the battle herald PrC, but I do not expect to go past level 13-14 with the campaign so this one is out. Other ideas?
3. Are there options to decrease the level of the cohort, trading it with an increased leadership score for the purposes of followers?
4. Am I missing something critical?
Let's see if you can help me, thanks guys
EDIT: almost forgot some key stuff...
5. What stats should the cohort and the followers use, given that we use 20pb?
6. should followers and cohort be of PC or NPC's classes (like, rangers or experts? fighters or warriors? commoners?)
7. Should I equip them or should they have their gear when I get them? How much wealth?
8. Suppose I free a full family. Two adults, male and female, two kids and one old catfolk (still alive only because the slavers forgot about him). Suppose that only the two adults have class levels, let's say level 1 ranger and level 1 bard, and they all five come to stay in my group's base: do they count as 5 followers?
Your level 9 cohort can take leadership, gaining him a level 7 cohort and more followers in your evil pyramid of doom. So can his level 7 cohort. give them both good cha scores, and enjoy a shared following.
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Your level 9 cohort can take leadership, gaining him a level 7 cohort and more followers in your evil pyramid of doom. So can his level 7 cohort. give them both good cha scores, and enjoy a shared following.
Good luck finding a GM that will allow that particular pyramid scheme. Hell, just finding one that will allow the Leadership feat withouot any pyramid shenanigans is pretty hit-and-miss (and rightfully so, in my less-than-humble opinion).
Your level 9 cohort can take leadership, gaining him a level 7 cohort and more followers in your evil pyramid of doom. So can his level 7 cohort. give them both good cha scores, and enjoy a shared following.
I thought about that, but this seems a bit cheesy. Even if I did, it would still be difficult to get followers with more than 1 level (of course it would be nice to get that level 7 and 5 cohorts).
I'm doing all of this with a non-competitive spirit with my GM: this is the kind of things that tends to get people pissed: it's probably worth mentioning but I'm expecting the "no leadership for cohorts" rule.
Based on his intentions of gaining no mechanical benefit from the feat, as a GM I'd have no issue with it. but everyone has their own less-than-humble opinions.
Anything else?
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Based on his intentions of gaining no mechanical benefit from the feat, as a GM I'd have no issue with it. but everyone has their own less-than-humble opinions.
Of course, if another character DOES decide to build a leadership pyramid, and makes it his own personal army instead, the GM would have less ground to stand on for a refusal if he's already allowed this guy to build a leadership pyramid.
There is a trait to increase the leadership score. So you could take it via the additional traits feat.
And there is a feat that gives you something similar to a cohort (Taldan knight I think it was) which you could take in addition to leadership.
It would actually lower your leadership score (for having a cohort) but you'd have one more higher level guy with you.
In addition you could just give the followers decent equip and buy them some combat trained dogs to protect them.
Then there are traps and other stuff to keep dangerous elements out.