Cohort suggestions

[Jagael]

My group is currently playing Kingmaker with 3 players. Our GM is allowing 2 characters per player (only 1 character at a time can be brought on an adventure) and granting Leadership for free. So in a couple levels I'm going to have 2 cohorts to build. I've been playing around with a couple different classes to see what would complement my main characters thematically and mechanically, but I just can't decide. So I come to you wonderful folks for opinions and thoughts.

I know one of the standard cohort gotos is a crafter, but the other two players are already planning on bringing in crafting companions (not that you can really ever have enough).

So here are my thoughts:

Main Character 1 is a Half-Elf Ranger (Archery). His cohort may already be chosen depending on how the GM feels as my character actually helped rehabilitate a certain bandit leader early on and put her under his protection. Otherwise, I've had a run of good luck when it comes to bosses with him (he one-shot crit the first mini-boss in the surprise round and had a clutch shot against the boss at the end of book one) so I thought a bard might work well -- someone to sing his praises. Could a bard work well if they're going to be 2ish levels behind the party for most of the game?

Main Character 2 is an Aasimar Goliath Druid. She actually hasn't debuted in the campaign yet, but she comes from the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and is not very civilized. I was thinking a good cohort for her would be something militarily minded to help her get used to the organization of a kingdom or maybe just a dedicated bodyguard. The closest I came to being satisfied with a build was using the Path of War Warder, but I don't know if I could convince the GM to approve all of the Path of War elements needed for the Warder.

Anyway, thoughts from y'all? Should I just build some other crafters or are there some good support options I haven't thought of?

[Java Man]

A lower level bard would still be useful, in addition to adventuring stuff they'd be a perfecf fit for PR.

Maybe something like the Ulfen Guard PrC for the second? In concept if not the actual class. Lorewarden, or some cavalier archetype/order combo maybe?

[Meirril]

A bard cohort is great. The performance ability helps the entire party and being 2 levels behind really doesn't hurt unless there is another bard in the party. Even with another bard, they can do different performances to give 2 different effects.

That said, why not a bard with a few crafting feats? Pick up Spellcraft, 1 crafting feat and Cooperative Crafting. If both cohorts do this they can team up to make magic items in half of the normal time. Saving time on big ticket items should be worth the extra effort. Especially if you are taking advantage of Downtime rules to make magic resources for cheap crafting ingredients.

A melee based cohort is a bit of a problem. They are always going to be behind on BAB which isn't really possible to make up for. Spells, as long as they get good equipment a full spell caster is only denied 1 tier of spells and 1 feat. A Magic missile from a cohort usually hurts just as much as from a player.

How about the druid attracts a very euradite Spell Sage (wizard) who admires the druid but wants to 'civilize' her into a better ruler? He believes she is a diamond in the rough and he is the proper person to polish her to brilliance.

[avr]

The battle herald PrC is pretty military-minded. Several varieties of skald can be too, or there's an exemplar brawler.

If those overlap too much with the first cohort then a cleric can be a decent bodyguard by way of having the healing spells to make up for any deficiencies in stopping attackers. A cryptic investigator may be overlooked, which is handy for dealing with assassins and thieves. A fighter with the mobile bulwark style line can provide more defence to their leader than most.

[Cevah]

I second the bard as a cohort. The inspiration definitely helps. As an alternate, consider the Evangelist Cleric who can also inspire and provide more healing, especially condition removal.

For the druid, the leadership feat also allows Magical Beast Cohorts. Or even an Intelligent Item as a cohort. Alternatively, consider a Witch. They are often linked to the wilderness and to nature, so would be thematically a good fit. They are great debuffers, but suffer from being squishy. Still, they are good support, and offer a mix of arcane and divine type spells, and hexes are great.

/cevah

[Dogfax]

I have used two cohorts before, one in kingmaker was a human lady who was a crafting queen, who owned a shop in the city as cover.. also brought in a bit of gold ref her profession skill (well that was until another party member shut her down with bureaucracy lol!)
She was amazing at her job, crafting, well a bit too good as she got nerfed quite a bit.
Feats were, Craft Wonderous Items, Arcane Builder, Skill Focus-Spellcraft, Magical Aptitude.. all help craft, as did Hedge Mage and Arcane Student.

But there is also the option, if the DM allows to create a Monster cohort. I had a Saurian Druid with one of these and a familiar.. when I shape changed we were a triple Dinobot destruction team... great fun. If this is allowed you could even maybe take the cohort as a battle mount or just a regular monster/fighter. Remeber that even though the cohort is a Monster it still goes up in levels too, so will continue to get better as well.