My players in my Kingmaker group are one member short of a full group, so I've been letting them have a swappable NPC companion roam with them to fill out a full party, choosable from any NPC they get up to helpful disposition that feels like traveling with them for a while (although only ever one at a time). I'm leveling these NPCs up with the party to remain relevant, but building them weaker to avoid stealing their spotlight: the real PCs are 20pt buy, the NPCs are 15pt buy (or for non-standard races, like the captured centaur or Garuum the boggard, the usual "add pc levels to the race with a level adjustment of the CR" and the +4, +4, +2, 0, -2 stat adjustment from the bestiary), the PCs have three traits, the upgradable NPCs will only have two, and the NPCs will only have heroic NPC gear instead of PC gear.
So far it's mostly been Mikmek (whom I've made a bolt ace) and Jhod will be available when they reach his level, as they just finished his temple quest and made him quite happy. But the PCs made friends with Tyg and Perlivash, and upon seeing his picture and learning about how he liked to sit in hats and do loops in the air, etc, the party oracle (and future Baroness, and girlfriend of the party's de facto leader) squealed and said she "totally wants one!" Needless to say, I'm thinking Mikmek might take a hike for Perlivash soon.
I'm wondering how I should advance him. The ideas are either draconic or fey or crossblooded both sorcerer, or increasing racial HD.
The rules for adding class levels are pretty simple to understand, and from what I can understand by reading Nyressia's stat blocks in book 6, it seems class levels add to natural spellcasting, so I am guessing a level of sorcerer would make him a 4th level caster, given his three racial HD, and otherwise have the effects of a first level sorcerer in regard to bloodline, etc. (Please let me know if I'm wrong about that.)
Alternatively, and preferably if it works like I think, I would add racial HD. It wouldn't come with the attribute bonuses adding class levels does, or simplicity, but I'm wondering if it will increase his basic abilities. The problems with that are a) I don't want to increase his size. It ruins his cuteness. The bestiary rules do say you can ignore that side effect. b) The HD increasing rules don't say it affects your spellcasting. If it doesn't, I'd like to stick with class levels for him, but if it does, I think this option is better. c) Does it affect the formula for his breath weapon DC? I think it's a nice ability, but the usefulness will drop with level if it doesn't scale. Most similar abilities go off of HD or 1/2 HD, but his entry only specifies that it is Con based.
I know as the GM I could hand-wave all of this, but I'm trying to make it a specific power level...worthy of joining them, but not outshining. (All his spells, for example, will probably remain nonlethal deterrent type stuff to remain part of his personality and theme).
If anyone can help answer these questions or offer suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
I'm also tagging this in the Kingmaker section in case that is more appropriate.
Bippity, boppity - BUMP!
I've always just picked a class most appropriate to the race and thrown that on.
It's easy, and they won't overshadow the party unless you build them to.
As for abilities that are CON based, I've always used 1/2 racial hit dice+10+CON bonus, so class levels wouldn't help...
Well, the rules for adding class levels to monsters say to add +4/4/2/2/0/-2 to their attributes as you see fit, which makes for a pretty powerful character compared to the PCs.
Especially when the "monsters as PCs" section says to keep them balanced even with non-monstrous PCs to use the CR as a level adjustment and remove one LA every three levels...considering all three of his racial HD add to his spellcasting, and he's only actually a CR, a single level of sorcerer makes for a "level 3 equivalent" character with 4th level casting ability, over 20 in two attributes, tiny size, and natural flight double the PC average speed. At 4th level sorcerer he'd be a "level 6 equivalent" with 8th level casting. At 7th sorcerer, "8th equivalent" with 11th...see the problem?
Somehow that doesn't seem like a NPC party member. That seems like a Mary Sue GMPC, and while my party doesn't mind GMPCs, nobody wants one outshining the rest.
I like the idea of using 1/2 HD for the breath weapon basis. I think it even fits the math, though I'm not in a position to check right now.
I WAS thinking about advancing his HD without giving him size bonuses...but... Dragon racial HD are extremely powerful, with the full BAB, d12 hit dice, and perfect saves...continued spellcasting (at least for the faerie Dragon that seems to be the case)
I figured it would balance with the fact that 1) there's no attribute change, like with class levels, 2) no bloodline abilities whatsoever - not arcana, not bonus spells, bloodline feats, or bloodline powers 3) the only thing that gets better besides spellcasting is the breath weapon DC, which goes up by 1 every 2 HD.
Does that seem more balanced? More...fair? Should I still use CR as effective level? It's almost invariably 1 below HD, which seems off for a caster, but not as much a spontaneous.
Imagine if this were a PC proposal, if that helps. I want these floating NPCs to be viable options for the players to choose if a PC dies and can't get rezzed but wants a character ingrained in the story instead of a new stranger.