follower advancement

[messy]

once again got no response at enworld, so trying here instead...

the followers that can be acquired through feats and class features such as animal companion (including a paladin's mount), cohort (including squire and torchbearer), and eidolon all seem to become less powerful in relation to the pc as the pc advances in levels. familiars are an exception, presumably because they function more as companions than guardians. also, these followers often have unusual methods for advancement (like the mathematical formula used for cohorts).

why are followers handled this way? wouldn't it be simpler just to have a general rule, such as "all followers gain no experience points and remain four levels below their masters," or something?

[Dave Justus]

Animal Companions much like familiars have their own advancement track. As do Eidolons. Cohorts obtained with leadership advance as the primary character advances, remaining a couple levels behind.

Followers don't advance, but as your leadership score increases you gain more, including some of higher level.

[Matthew Downie]

messy wrote:

wouldn't it be simpler just to have a general rule

Simplicity was never a big design priority in Pathfinder.

[Gauss]

This isn't really a rules question, it is more of a design philosophy question so would probably be better put in the general Pathfinder discussion forum.

[Bob Bob Bob]

The cohort gained through Leadership is done poorly. The rules have them gain exp but regardless of how far behind they start they will eventually catch up to their cap, two levels below their master. It's really just best to have them start and stay there.

Animal companions are done how they are because they're not the animals they represent. A t-rex is gargantuan, the animal companion version never gets above large. In 3.5 leveling as a druid allowed you to attract new animal companions that were just taken straight from the bestiary. In Pathfinder you can just start with the animal companion you want and it will automatically power up or down based on your level and be (in theory) balanced against other choices at the same level. I think this is a great way to do it, honestly. Animal companion is essentially a class you slap on over a base form.

Eidolons have no set advancement. They're like astral contructs, a do-it-yourself monster. What would an eidolon 4 levels below its master look like? They may be changing this in Unchained? Unleashed? whatever the new book people keep talking about is, but if they do it's probably gonna be by turning them into animal companions with base forms. It's a decent way to do it but loses the customization flavor.

[wraithstrike]

Each "follower" is not designed to do the same thing so they need different rules.

Other than having leadership as a feat they do well, except for the eidolon which I think should be rewritten.