I'm leaning toward a Warmage, since that seems to be appropriate as a cohort (assuming that works out ok). Otherwise, I'm open to playing anything and might even serve the goals of this experiment better if someone else dictated to me what I should play, thus removing any chance that I could do any pre-optimizing.

Any thoughts? If not, then now that my weekend's D&D game session is out of the way I can focus on generating this guy.

-- Castellan

I'm a bit torn.  I'd like to min/max a bit, but I'll pass on using the strongest cheese in my arsenal.  I'll play a haughty human marshal, armed with a polearm and Improved Trip...

I'd love to have a warmage cohort.

Quote from: Sir Wulf;597281I'm a bit torn.  I'd like to min/max a bit, but I'll pass on using the strongest cheese in my arsenal.  I'll play a haughty human marshal, armed with a polearm and Improved Trip...

I'd love to have a warmage cohort.

Warmage it is then, sir! I'm looking at a frost shortspear +1.

I'm avoiding too much optimization, too, but I'm going for a few.

Justin, I'm assuming that per your directive, it's ok to take a Reserve Feat from Complete Mage? I'm looking at "Fiery Burst" to get a once-per-round 5-foot-radius fireball. Is that OK?

I just have to say, if all these new folks are truly from Justin's blog and enjoy playing 3e, I am extremely glad to see them here.  Even though 3e is not my preferred edition, it will be nice to see 3e fans here who aren't....well...like the other crop who migrated here a couple months ago.

I like TSR era D&D so I fit here well, but it would be nice to see other folks' opinions on other editions that are reasonable.  It can only help this site, I think.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;597286Even though 3e is not my preferred edition, it will be nice to see 3e fans here who aren't....well...like the other crop who migrated here a couple months ago.

I've never been accused of being like any other "crop"... I hope that's a good thing.  

Quote from: Sacrosanct;597286I like TSR era D&D so I fit here well, but it would be nice to see other folks' opinions on other editions that are reasonable.  It can only help this site, I think.

Pathfinder is my system of choice these days, but I first played D&D in 1977, when I was a mere lad.  I came late to 3rd edition, as I was perfectly satisfied with my old AD&D rules (which had some 2nd Edition mixed in).

I'm afraid that I haven't much love for 4e (If they flat-out TRIED to make a system that wasn't for me, they couldn't have done worse), but I recognize that some of my frustration with that system was due to the folks with whom I played it.

There is no set of rules so perfect that a group of chowderheads can't make it a chore to play.

Quote from: Sir Wulf;597290Pathfinder is my system of choice these days, but I first played D&D in 1977, when I was a mere lad.  .

That was when I started playing too. I still remember staying up late, struggling with the Blue Box rules, Dad asking what I was working so hard on.

I did a decent enough job of it, the only thing I messed up was reading the starting gold as 3d6 x 100.

Well, since Foxtrot is taking leadership as well, I believe that means I'm in as a cohort? Unless I missed something, the range/sneak type role is still open. I'm thinking of doing some sort of scout or ranger - my mighty leader's reliable tracker.  If that fits with the party, I'll roll something up tomorrow.  

Whose cohort would I be? I thin I was second on the cohort list, and foxtrot was second to say he'd take leadership, so would that make me his cohort? I want to make sure my personality somewhat meshes with his.

Lady Jastian Wyvernstongue, haughty defender of the established order, and her spirited dapple-grey charger, "Paladin"...

Lady Jastian

(She was built assuming that her cohort's gear wasn't coming out of her budget.  If it is, her equipment will be much humbler.  Of course, she'll be more arrogant than ever...)

Winthrop Porter: Butler, Guide, and Gentleman

My character sheet, thus far, can be found http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=466140

I went with a scout, so that I can have lots of skill points, and because I wanted a ranged character.  But a scout with a bow is so dull and normal.  My scout throws axes at things!  I took Far Shot (and thus point blank shot) so that I'm not constantly taking range increment penalties, because the throwing axe is actually quite terrible.

The main skills I took were Survival (because he's a hunter/wilderness guide), hide/move silently (the image of the invisible butler popping out of nowhere) and listen (a good skill for any servant to have).  I also saw that Speak Language is apparently a class skill for the scout, which seemed fun.  Spending 6 points there, plus his intelligence, lets him know all the major racial languages, plus draconic.  He is fluent in over 8 forms of communication!

For feats, I took two "shot" feats, plus tracking of course.  For my fourth feat, I really wanted to take Brachiation (Move through wooded areas at normal speed by swinging from tree to tree) because it's hilarious, and also terrible.  However, I really don't think it fits with the reserved, butler type character I had envisioned.  I currently have taken Stealthy instead, but if the thought of Brachiation amuses me enough, or someone can come up with a good justification for me having it, I may switch back to it.

I am curious how wealth works for cohorts as well.  If I'm just using wbl for a level 5, I'd have 9000g.  Which is enough to afford that shiny +1 returning throwing axe I've had my eyes on (seriously, I think it's hard to be less optimized than throwing weapons).  If my gear has to come out of my employer's pocket, however, I'll just buy a bunch of normal throwing axes and collect them after the battles.

Sorry for the late response. I was up partying until 4 AM last night. (I regret nothing.)

First, important character creation information: Cohorts and followers use the standard elite array for ability scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, and the NPC Gear Value table (DMG, pg. 127).

Quote from: Sir Wulf;597165I'll take Leadership.

Tom: That's you playing Sir Wulf's cohort. Sir Wulf's Leadership score will be 10 or 11, which means a 7th level cohort.

Quote from: Foxtrot;597264I'm happy to take leadership.

Josh: That gives you a slot as Foxtrot's cohort.

Quote from: castellan;597284Justin, I'm assuming that per your directive, it's ok to take a Reserve Feat from Complete Mage? I'm looking at "Fiery Burst" to get a once-per-round 5-foot-radius fireball. Is that OK?

That would be fine. Although, please note, that proceeding in the order of sign-up I don't actually have a cohort slot for you yet. (I'm fine swapping who's cohort for whom, of course.)

Quote from: Tanthius;597226Much like many others, I wandered over here from Justin's blog. I've only been playing low level pathfinder recently, but if there's need for another cohort or if anyone drops out I'd love to join in the fun.

I'm adding a list of current players and a waiting list to the first post in this thread.

Quote from: StormBringer;597174I am using PCGen to cause the least amount of problems whipping this guy up, but here is the preliminary; I still have some tweaking to do, and the sheet is barely usable, but that is the output from the software.

Looks good. Am I reading the PCGen output correctly that you have 4857 gp in unspent cash?

Quote from: Sir Wulf;597311Lady Jastian

There's something wrong with your ability scores.  Unless I'm missing something, right now you've got an initial array of 16/14/14/14/6/15 (which is 34 points) and then the +1 adjustment at 4th level. I think you need to drop it to 15/14/14/14/6/15 and then apply the +1 adjustment.

Everything else looks good under my quick eyeballing.

Quote from: Sir Wulf;597311(She was built assuming that her cohort's gear wasn't coming out of her budget.  If it is, her equipment will be much humbler.  Of course, she'll be more arrogant than ever...)

That's correct. Cohort gear is on a separate budget.

Quote from: Josh;597366Winthrop Porter: Butler, Guide, and Gentleman

My character sheet, thus far, can be found http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=466140

As you've probably already guessed, I'll need you to revise around the standard elite array to keep your cohort by-the-book. (Remember to do the +1 ability adjustment for 4th level, though.)

You may also be adding a couple levels, depending on what Foxtrot's Leadership score ends up being.

Those still on the waiting list: I'm temporarily holding off on the decision whether or not to include 1st level followers. I'm going to see what things look like once we firm up all the PCs and cohorts and then make a judgment call based on the logistics of a forum-based campaign.

Quote from: Doom;597300I did a decent enough job of it, the only thing I messed up was reading the starting gold as 3d6 x 100.

My favorite blooper as a new player was reading the "Ability Score Bonuses and Penalties" table to mean that you supposed to adjust the actual ability score. So, for example, that table listed a +3 adjustment for a score of 18. And I interpreted that as "if you roll 18, you add +3 and get a score of 21". So all of the munchkin PCs I "rolled" in 5th grade had ability scores maxed out at 21 instead of 18.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;597286I just have to say, if all these new folks are truly from Justin's blog and enjoy playing 3e, I am extremely glad to see them here.  Even though 3e is not my preferred edition, it will be nice to see 3e fans here who aren't....well...like the other crop who migrated here a couple months ago.

I like TSR era D&D so I fit here well, but it would be nice to see other folks' opinions on other editions that are reasonable.  It can only help this site, I think.

Word to that! Welcome everyone here, and I hope you enjoy your stay

Winthrop is updated with the standard array and appropriate wealth.  I spent most of his money on a bag of holding - being able to lug his employer's stuff around seems useful.  It's actually pretty hard to stay within a light load (needed for my skirmish) when you're hauling a half dozen weapons around with you.  If he actually carries the bag of holding, he's within 2 lbs of a medium load - pick up a lantern and he's officially encumbered.  Like many I seldom bother with encumbrance rules, but since we're trying to stay by the book I figured it's best to track it.  

I took an assortment of axes, masterwork, cold iron, and silvered.  A good butler must always be prepared!

Doesn't the leadership feat state that a cohort can never be higher than 2 levels below his leader?  In that case, we'd be stuck at 5th level.  We could theoretically be lower, if our master has a bad charisma (please don't have a terrible charisma, Foxtrot).

Quote from: Josh;597454Doesn't the leadership feat state that a cohort can never be higher than 2 levels below his leader?  In that case, we'd be stuck at 5th level.

You are correct.

Eyeballing of Winthrop looks good. I'd recommend picking some miscellaneous mundane stuff to represent the eclectic collection that usually happens with actual PCs and/or the "always be prepared" motto. But whatever works for you.

Here's Gileus Darfin, 5th level Expert: character sheet

He is essentially Giles or Daniel Jackson.  He seeks out new knowledge and discoveries.  He is full of helpful information and advice, probably more than needed.

I kinda wish we were higher level, so he could be a caddie to the inevitable golf bag of weapons.  "Salamanders, my lady.  Resistant to fire.  Very nasty.  Might I recommend the +2 frost glaive?"

I had spent some gold stuffing my Bag with all manner of adventuring gear, but apparently those changes didn't save.  Praise be to google chrome for recovering them.  I agree that my character needs basically any adventuring gear you could wish for, including a ladder, 10 foot pole, and a spade.  Just in case.