Let's say a PC has the Leadership feat and a trusty cohort.
Once attaining cohort-have, is the GM responsible for making sure the player finds extra treasure in order to outfit the cohort?
At 11th level, a PC should have about 82,000 gp in gear. If they have found 100,000 gp in loot, but give 50,000 gp of that loot to their cohort, are they right in complaining to the DM that their character is low on gear and that he needs to make with the loot?
This depends on the DM and the group. Some groups balk at the cohort taking a cut of the loot, no matter how useful he is. Many argue that as a single character's "character ability", he should be responsible for outfiitting him from his share (and that the diminished WBL balances the feat).
You should have a clear understanding of the rules, your DM's opinion, and your group's opinion before you take the feat. But, if it was discussed and agreed to, then I think you have every right to grouse a bit, if your personal wealth is lacking as a result.
No.
You are not responsible for how they equip their cohort.
I've played in groups where the PC's get a share, and then that is divided with his cohort, and I've played in groups where cohorts get a full share of treasure. Both are valid.
Now, with that said, I usually allow a cohort to have NPC gear equivalent to their level when they 'hire on' so they don't just show up for adventure with the clothes on their back. (Sometimes, I'll allow PC wealth, if I'm feeling generous)
I'm playing a game where almost everyone has a vamiliar, animal companion, or cohort, so the treasure does get spread kinda thin. (I do put some extra gold in there when figuring treasure based on the APL, so that mitigates the issue a little, but your experiences may vary)
Very Respectfully,
--Bacon
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
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We always play that the cohort shows up with appropriate NPC gear. After that it's up to the player to keep them equipped. I don't increase treasure to compensate, splitting gear amongst more people is part of the price you pay for having an extra body.
That being said, if you want to keep them geared at NPC gear levels it's not too hard. APs in particular often feature numerous NPCs with appropriate gear, after all.
The Leadership feat itself does not presume to dictate distribution of wealth to the party. In my home games, cohorts typically get a half share of treasure, and the last pick (per round of picks) among loot.
I do find it perfectly reasonable to say that the 'Leader' should supply the cohort with gear. Remember, they only start with NPC-gear, not PC-gear, for at least two levels under their Leader. That's not a particularly high burden. It's the PC's choice to take the feat in the first place - if they aren't willing to expend some resources (if the group prefers that), then they probably shouldn't take the feat.
I would generally assure myself they have at least NPC-equivalent WBL. I've yet to see it played much though.
WBL is only a suggestion and the DM is under no obligation to follow those guidelines. The DM is certainly under no obligation to add loot to make up for a cohort's equipment.
the player has NO right to complain to the GM that his "character is low on gear and that he needs to make with the loot".
That's an obtuse statement if I've ever heard one. Of course a player has a right to complain. If the situation merits it.
Also to help you:
Table: Character Wealth by Level lists the amount of treasure each PC is expected to have at a specific level. Note that this table assumes a standard fantasy game. Low-fantasy games might award only half this value, while high-fantasy games might double the value. It is assumed that some of this treasure is consumed in the course of an adventure (such as potions and scrolls), and that some of the less useful items are sold for half value so more useful gear can be purchased.
some of the less useful items are sold for half value so more useful gear can be purchased.
Purchased? Players still purchase magic items sometimes, instead of crafting them? Huh.
I would say no, but it's a GM call.
When I GM, don't even let the player with leadership even see the character sheet of the cohort.
Per the rules of the Leadership feat the cohort comes with wealth appropriate for an NPC of his level. After that the PC has to supply any further wealth to the character to improve their gear.
If the group decides to let the cohort have an equal share of the loot then you're lucky to have duped your friends into an unequal distribution to the loot for players. Just because you spend a feat on a cohort doesn't mean you should get extra gold to play with him. By not enforcing this you make leadership (and a cohort) even more powerful than they already are, and you make other players weaker.
WBL is a guineline to indicate the amount of treasure a PC is expected to have, the game assumes you have found and sold a certain amount and are likely to end up with approximately that mich. It even assumes that a % of gold spent is on consumables and that is worked into the formula.
Ultimately, Assuming the Adventure AP/module/home brew provided the PC with enough treasure to meet WBL and then they give it away to their Cohort that is the Pc's problem to deal with and they should just suck it up.
Really, the cohort is either a part of the charactr, in which case one doesnt care what the total WBL is between the two characters as long as it meets the expected amount for the PC. Or it is a full on NPC of its own and the pc looses all ontrol of it. Even in this situation if the game provided enough treasure thats the PCs problem
More or less, if he feels hes bellow the WBL its an IC issue for him to convince his fellow adventurers to give him a bigger share of the treasure.
As a DM, I basically see it as consequences of a players decisiona nd for the player to solve on his own.
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In generally I assume that if the cohort is with the PCs, it's up to the PCs to equip the cohort. Sometimes my players layer a LOT more gear on the cohort than necessary, and the cohort ends up with a much higher WBL than normal for an NPC of that level. Sometimes, they come out wealth-poor. It depends on the group.
(Indeed, if the cohort is a crafter or a healer, players other than the one who took the feat often find the cohort very, very useful to keep around and upgrade. Most cohorts end up being more like squires and apprentices, however, and are often equipped by cast-offs -- getting a +1 cloak when its master gets a +2 cloak -- and that works fine too.)
OTOH, if a PC uses a cohort to do things like watch over his keep, run a guild, take messages to kings, and other missions that are useful but don't increase the PCs firepower combat-to-combat,l I tend to assume the cohort has enough adventure on such missions to maintain the normal NPC WBL.
Also, do you give Druids/Ranger/Paladins/Cavaliers/etc extra gold to equip their animal companions or mounts? No.
So, why would you give extra gold to equip a companion gained through leadership?
I think I'm gonna petition my GM for extra gold for my eidolon, see how he likes it ... :p