Monster Cohorts

[Lord Lupus the Grey]

Hello!

Do we need to apply rules about maximum "levels" when recruiting a monster cohorts? Because wording says, that we need to have just "enough leadership score".

I have noticed, that monster cohorts, that can be recruited by a PC, are far more weaker, than just NPCs. Stone giant in place of 17th level wizard? No, thanks.

So, what about the situation: I want to recruit an incubus cohort, but my character is 11th level with 21 leadership score. Can I do it ir not, and if yes - from what point it would progress in rogue levels, for example?

[Bob Bob Bob]

I'm not sure if you've noticed but the various monstrous cohorts all have "Effective Cohort Level", not "Leadership Score Required". The requirement that your cohort be 2 levels below you still applies. The Incubus is a 14th level cohort, you can't have it until level 16. It could add rogue levels when it received enough experience to level up (and you were at least level 17).

[Wheldrake]

Leadership feat wrote:

Regardless of your Leadership score, you can only recruit a cohort who is two or more levels lower than yourself.

According to the table, an incubus cohort is treated as being the equivalent of a 14th level normal cohort. Applying the abive rule would mean your character would have to be at least 16th level to get this kind of pal.

Why would the incubus ever progress in rogue levels?

I suppose a generous DM might allow it to gain rogue levels equal to your character's advancement past level 16.

Seems to me that the best way to achieve your goal earlier would be to use the rules on summoning and binding demons, rather than the leadership feat.

[Milo v3]

The "effective cohort level" for monsters is ridiculous and nearly always larger than it should be. I normally recalculate it if my players ever pick a monster cohort.

Wheldrake wrote:

Why would the incubus ever progress in rogue levels?

There are rules for it sorta.... I mean.... Incubus is a bad example since it is in the wrong "monster role" (monster role determines what classes it should probably take).

[Noir le Lotus]

I agree with Milo v3 !!

The main problem with Monster Cohorts is that their Effective Cohort Level is most often way too high !!

A Bralani (6 HD) has an ECL of 11, so if you take one as a cohort, you will have a 6-HD cohort in a level 13 party ...

I can understand that some monsters really need a high ECL (like Avoral or Erinyes whose True Seeing SLA is a potential game breaker) but they are exceptions ...

I think that using the higher between HD or CR would be a more appropriate ECL for lots of monster cohorts ...

[Anarchy_Kanya]

We just use CR.

[Azten]

Poor, poor pseudodragon cohorts....