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Yora
2014-05-19, 02:51 PM
Inspired by this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ssk9xf_7U#t=40m27s).

In most editions of D&D and it's many retroclones, characters gain the option of attracting a group of loyal followers who serve them. Happens when you establish a stronghold in AD&D, or if you take the Leadership feat in 3rd Ed./PF.
But getting a bunch of human level 0 NPCs/1st level commoners or warriors isn't actually that exciting. They can clean your stronghold, or maybe stand guard to alert someone who is actually capable of dealing with anything that might come to attack.

Getting some fire giants or hell hounds may seem silly at first. Just out of nowhere they appear and want to serve you? That wouldn't work, but as a GM you could roll for these things and then come up with a mini-adventure and reason how they arrived, however far fetched it might be. And I think these are amazing opportunities to turn something totally stupid into something totally awesome. I personally always run campaigns with limited fantastic elements, but even I really want to make this a part of my game.

With that being said, please add your ideas for followers that could show up to serve a PC of medium level, maybe with a short elaboration on why they could be a great addition to the campaign. Fire giants and hell hounds may be a bit much, but even in 3rd Edition you can get two or three followers of 5th and 6th level with the Leadership feat. And you could also use the same results for paid mercenaries who may not be so entirely loyal.

1d2 wyrmling dragons
1 young dragon
2d6 kobold trapmakers
3d4 worgs. Got any enemy scouts in the area? "Release the worgs!"
1 doppelganger. A great spymaster, but probably always somewhat creepy to have around.
2d4 ogres. Perfect gate guardians.
1 nightmare. The ultimate evil steed.

Red Fel
2014-05-19, 03:02 PM
Are we just throwing out random NPCs? Or do you want more elaborate "how did they show up" or "who are they" type stuff? Because, really, you could just compile a list of some basic player races and be done with it. You could get some more obscure stuff, like Neraphim or Hellbred. Maybe one or two with LA, or a template or two, like Necropolitan or Dragonborn.

Now, if you want to really make it fun, you could add an additional randomized table for why they came to serve you. For example: The follower has amnesia. The follower is an inhabitant of the local region and has decided to throw in his lot with you. The follower is an inhabitant of the local region and has decided to throw in his lot with you. (Secret: He plans to steal from and/or overthrow you.) The follower has been stalking a member of your party for arcane reasons. The follower has been stalking a member of your party for romantic reasons. The follower was dispatched to your service by someone who owed you a favor. The follower is secretly an Outsider.
So, for instance, somebody rolls on the random follower table, and gets 75: Dragonborn (roll again for base creature), then rolls a 23: Elf. He rolls on the random reason table, and gets an 8: Amnesia. So this guy is now "A reptilian-looking Elf with golden scales and no memory of his past has joined your company."

As a bonus, having a "why they joined" table allows you to flesh them out as NPCs, instead of just figures on a table. Lots of parties fall in love with an NPC at random, and it helps to not have to come up with a backstory on the fly.

erikun
2014-05-19, 03:04 PM
I kind of prefer creatures that make thematic sense (ice elementals or ice mephits wanting to work with a mage specialized in cold magic, for example) but if you're looking for random creature ideas, here you go.


1 sentient golem
3d4 alchemists, looking for a sponser to set up a lab
1 bard, prepared to tell your tales in nearby villages
2d6 passive small elementals (any one type), attracted to the area for non-threatening reasons
1 wandering githzerai
1 intelligent magic flying carpet
1 roaming wyvern

The Oni
2014-05-19, 04:16 PM
3d10 1st level adepts (they're all Cthulhu cultists)
1 alcoholic fighter
6 siege engine mechanics
1 friendly but severely malfunctioning adamantine golem
2 vishkanya concubines
1d4 terrible bards and their 5th-level-expert manager
2 minotaur brothers
1d3+1/2 intelligent undead gunslingers
1 awakened housecat

Jay R
2014-05-19, 07:13 PM
One of the things that made the original Bard class overpowered was that they started collecting their followers at level 2.

A 2nd level bard had two first level followers. They also reached 2nd level at 1,000 xps.

This could lead to the ludicrous situation in which 3 players started with a fighter, a magic-user, and a bard. At 1,000 xps, the fighter is still a 1st level fighter, the magic-user is still a 1st level MU, and the bard is a 2nd level Bard with a 1st level fighter and a 1st level MU as followers.

Socksy
2014-05-21, 03:26 AM
A kobold warrior who is constantly napping

A warrior who is determined to kill all members of group X, where X is a race or class already extinct

2d4 hill giants who refer to themselves as titans

2d4 dual-wielder rangers determined to kill all the hill giants

Storm_Of_Snow
2014-05-21, 11:13 AM
Old fighter who's looking to retire and thinks they could be employed as captain of the guard

Rookie of whatever class who wants to apprentice themselves to the PC because of their fame

Thief who's trying to ingratiate themselves into the PC's inner circle, so they can steal their most valuable items (possibly extended to a team)

A priest of the PC's deity, who has been told by their deity to set up a new temple as part of the PC's holdings.

The bard who wants to follow the PC because he's sure he'll make for a good tale.

An assassin looking for a job as someone's chief of security/intelligence (possibly cursed with an alignment change).

Ranger who's native to an area of the PC's new domain, and wants the PC to support their mission to clean out said area of whatever hostile group/wildlife is there.

Friends, family and employees of the civilians in the PC's employ.

Yora
2014-05-21, 11:44 AM
A talking cat.

Socksy
2014-05-21, 01:11 PM
A talking cat.

A large group of Awakened rats!

Eldan
2014-05-21, 01:14 PM
An intelligent Boccob's Blessed Book. Gave that to a party once, they had a lot of fun together, especially beccause it had the highest knowledge skills in the group.

A swarm of tiny, perpetually hungry fey. (Think the hellboy movie).

The dwarven smith who made the fighter's adamantium armour and now wants to make sure his masterwork is always well cared for and kept in pristine condition.

Yora
2014-05-21, 01:47 PM
An intelligent Boccob's Blessed Book. Gave that to a party once, they had a lot of fun together, especially beccause it had the highest knowledge skills in the group.
What? Grimoire Weiss? :smallbiggrin:


A large group of Awakened rats!

"I don't know how he's doing it, but he seems to have eyes and ears everywhere in the castle."

toapat
2014-05-21, 01:51 PM
100: 1d3 Tarrasque. Fanatic, Hungry

Red Fel
2014-05-21, 02:03 PM
A tressym. Oddly enough, it hates fish. Three orcs, very sturdy but incredibly clumsy, who insist on helping with every task they encounter. They inevitably fail and become unhinged and violent. A dryad who suffers from repressed pyromania. A pyromaniac who suffers from dry skin. An awakened skeleton who doesn't suffer from dry skin. Ew. A dwarf craftsman specializing in wooden weapons, such as staves and bows. An elf smith specializing in rare metal armors and hammers. A human craftsman specializing in making things that don't work. At all. He's not actually a craftsman, he just hits things with a hammer. Humans aren't very bright. A Beguiler Beguiler. A Beguiler that has suffered serious Int damage, and is now barely smarter than an animal, but is totally adorable. An orc that has suffered serious Int damage, and is now barely smarter than an animal, but thinks that it's totally adorable.

The Oni
2014-05-21, 03:23 PM
A dryad who suffers from repressed pyromania.

Gentlemen, do you hear that? I believe that's the mating call of a wild PLOT HOOK

arcane_asp
2014-05-22, 07:15 AM
A devious merchant wants to henceforth supply all the PC's food & sundry items for a 'fair price'

An ex-torturer looking to reform his ways and re-train with renowned heroes

A babbling, overly talkative nun who becomes obsessed with one individual and follows them at all times

A talented Orc bongo player who loves stories of adventure, which he tries to work into his drum rythyms

Eldan
2014-05-22, 07:21 AM
A grumpy retired army sergeant who sees it as his duty to organize the players' other camp followers into proper order.

Mono Vertigo
2014-05-22, 08:46 AM
A... Warforged? Human? No idea, he(?) always wears a helmet and clothes all over his body.
He's mute... or not very talkative... or maybe he uses a very strange language?
All we know is, he's great at what he does, and he's called the Gits.
Also got quite a reputation going, composed of the first things that pop up in the PC's mind. If you don't end up quickly with contradictory silly "facts", you're doing it wrong.


(Inspired by a demotivator of mine, itself inspired by oh come on.)

Jay R
2014-05-22, 03:53 PM
A common medieval theme is the old soldier who does not wish to fight any more, and joins the church.

In AD&D, this would be modeled as a mid-range Fighter who just dual-classed to cleric. He has the hit points, but can't use any other Fighter skills.

Zweisteine
2014-05-22, 04:01 PM
A psion who turned himself into a sandwich (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-109072.html), then realized that he couldn't use powers without a brain. He is on a quest to find another manifester strong enough to help him. And you have to keep the other followers from accidentally eating him! And he can't talk (he can respond to telepathy, despite his lack of brain).

nedz
2014-05-22, 07:07 PM
A low level Fighter with a magic intelligent, but insane, sword
An Artificer who likes making flying sofas
A Dryad with a potted bonsai
An awakened talking Horse
A VoP Kender Rogue, who is always discarding other peoples stuff
A Pyromanic Troll

Arutha
2014-05-22, 08:26 PM
A group of clerics who's alignment is the opposite of yours, who are trying to convert you.

ghendrickson
2014-05-23, 08:45 AM
Three orcs, very sturdy but incredibly clumsy, who insist on helping with every task they encounter. They inevitably fail and become unhinged and violent.[/I].

Sounds like the Stooges

GPuzzle
2014-05-23, 10:52 AM
*5 Warforged Artificers that aren't actually finished, and they're building eachother.

nedz
2014-05-23, 11:48 AM
A Narcissistic Nymph who is so obsessed with her own beauty she insists on blinding everyone, repeatedly.

Yora
2014-05-23, 11:58 AM
This is increasingly shifting towards crazy villains instead of cool minions. :smallamused:

toapat
2014-05-23, 12:12 PM
A single Midgard dwarf who has completely forsworn alcohol

Lord Torath
2014-05-26, 10:42 AM
2d4 Blink Dogs
1d3 weretigresses
a neutral medusa with a talent for sculpting very lifelike figurines. She wears ruby glasses to keep her gaze from stoning everyone (shamelessly stolen from SSaDT :smallbiggrin:)
1d3 harpies
a flock of gargoyles. Excellent surprise defense for your keep.
a herd of centaurs
a roc
An otyugh to keep people from sneaking in through your sewer system. Although maybe the Neo-otyugh would be better, as it might actually be intelligent enough to swear fealty to you...

erikun
2014-05-26, 11:00 AM
A pet roc with a pet rock.
It won't do anything for you unless you ensure that the pet rock is kept safe and secure.

Jormengand
2014-05-27, 06:20 AM
1d100
Followers


1
1d2 Wrymling Red (if evil) or Gold (if Good/neutral) dragons


2
1 Young Red (if evil) or Gold (If Good/neutral) dragon


3
2d6 Kobolds with 4 ranks in Craft (Trapmaking)


4
3d6 worgs


5
1 Doppelganger


6
2d4 ogres


7
1 nightmare


8
1 Iron Golem


9
3d4 1st-level human wizards with 4 ranks in craft (Alchemy)


10
1 4th-level bard


11
2d6 small elementals (your choice of earth, air, fire or water)


12
1 Githzerai


13
1 Intelligent item - flying carpet sized for you.


14
1 Wyvern


15
3d10 1st-level adepts who worship Cthulhu


16
1 5th-level fighter with the drunk simple template.


17
6 2nd-level experts with 5 ranks in each of craft (siege engine) and profession (siege engineer).


18
1 Adamantine golem who is always considered confused while in combat.


19
1d4 1st-level bards with no ranks in any perform skills, and a 5th-level expert with 8 ranks in at least one perform skill.


20
2 minotaurs


21
1d3+1 1st-level lich gunslingers.


22
1 awakened housecat.


23
1 6th-level kobold fighter who becomes fatigued if he stays awake for more than one hour.


24
1 5th-level human ranger whose favoured enemies are all already-extinct races.


25
2d4 hill giants. They insist on being called titans.


26
2d4 3rd-level human rangers on the two-weapon path. They are determined to kill all hill giants.


27
A human fighter 4/marshal 1.


28
A 3rd level character whose build is exactly the same as the character's was at third level.


29
A 5th-level rogue who tries to steal a magic item every day until he is caught in the act, in which case he stops.


30
A 4th-level cleric of the character's deity (or a similar philosophical concept if the character has none) who immediately sets up a church.


31
A rogue 5/assassin 1


32
A 5th-level ranger who is more concerned about his homeland than the character's interests.


33
1 1st-level commoner for each person in the character's employ with an NPC class. There is a 10% chance for each person that they are a random different NPC class instead.


34
4d6 awakened rats.


35
An intelligent item: Blessed book. The book can levitate with a fly speed of 10 ft (perfect), and can cast all the 0-level spells therein as at-will spell-like abilities.


36
2d6 fey. They eat ten times as much as normal.


37
A 4th-level dwarf expert with 7 ranks in at least three different craft skills.


38
A tressym. Oddly enough, it hates fish.


39
3 3rd-level orc warriors who use the Aid Another action on each other whenever they can.


40
A 4th-level dryad sorceress who knows at least three different evocation (fire) spells.


41
A 4th-level human sorcerer who only ever casts evocation (fire) spells, and suffers from dry skin.


42
A skeleton.


43
A 4th-level dwarf expert with 7 ranks in craft (bowmaking) but no other ranks in craft skills.


44
A 4th-level elf expert with 7 ranks in craft (weaponsmithing) and (Armoursmithing) but no other ranks in craft skills.


45
A 4th-level human expert with no ranks in craft skills, but who only ever crafts things.


46
A 3rd-level beguiler beguiler.


47
A beguiler, but with -6 INT and +6 CHA


48
A 6th-level orc warrior, but with an extra -4 INT and CHA.


49
A merchant who can supply any item known to man instantly, but at 125% of the normal market price.


50
A 4th-level Neutral Good inquisitor, who is only actually neutral good due to his constantly-equipped Helm of Opposite Alignment.


51
A 4th-level female human cleric who follows you wherever you go.


52
A 4th-level orc bard, only with +2 CHA


53
A 5th-level human marshal who sees it as his duty to organise your army.


54
A 4th-level warforged fighter who inspires random in-jokes in those who see him. A creature who sees him for the first time must take a DC 15 will save or think of something stupid and laugh, as Tasha's Hideous Laughter, for one round.


55
A human warrior 3/cleric 2 who refuses to fight.


56
A 5th-level psion who is actually an inanimate object.


57
A 2nd-level true neutral fighter who wields an intelligent, chaotic evil adamantine vorpal longsword +5. The sword refuses to be wielded by anyone else.


58
A 5th-level artificer who spends his time making the most insane magic items he can. May be responsible for the above sword.


59
A dryad with a potted bonsai, which she will make sure is protected before seeing to your interests.


60
An awakened horse, who speaks every language in existence.


61
A 4th-level kender rogue with the vow of poverty.


62
A 1st-level troll sorcerer who only ever casts evocation (fire) spells.


63
2d6 1st-level clerics whose alignment is opposite to yours. They wish to convert you to their religion.


64
5 3rd-level warforged artificers who are actually in the process of building each other, and won't be ready for 3d4 days.


65
A nymph who attempts to blind as many people as possible at every opportunity.


66
A 5th-level dwarf cleric who never drinks alcohol.


67
2d4 blink dogs


68
1d3 female weretigers.


69
A true neutral medusa who has full ranks in craft (sculpture) and wears ruby glasses to prevent her gaze attack from actually hurting anyone.


70
1d3 harpies


71
2d4 gargoyles


72
2d4 centaurs


73
An otyugh


74
A pet roc with a pet rock. It will ensure that its rock is safe before attending to your needs.


75
A 4th-level awakened rabbit paladin of freedom. It cannot speak, but can read, write and understand whatever languages a creature of its intelligence normally could.


76
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99
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100
1d3 tarrasques.

toapat
2014-05-27, 09:10 AM
An awakened Rabbit, with Paladin of Freedom levels. It has to scratch into dirt to communicate in non-chirps

zinycor
2014-05-27, 11:17 PM
On the AD&D game am currently playing my fighter dwarf got an army of 60 dwarven soldiers, a lvl 5 dwarven fighter and 15 gryphon riders, that was a goood day

holywhippet
2014-05-28, 12:31 AM
This reminds me of the Suikoden games. In each of those you had to try to assemble the 108 stars which were different people who could serve you in different ways.

GorinichSerpant
2014-05-28, 06:02 PM
A completely innocent rogue who secretly wants to find your dark secrets, so she can black mail you.

A cleric who acts as everyone's mom.

1d4 vagabonds who just hang around because they like ruckus.

A master chef who wants to try everything in the world. He will take all the monsters you slay and cook them in various ways.

A family of adventures consisting of a father, a mother and 1d4 children. They join to "settle down" and have the children group up in an actual community while still living on the road.

1d4 fans of the PCs, they are all commoners or level 1 characters , and each wants to become the apprentices of one of the PCs. For example one wants to train under the rogue, another under the wizard, and the third wants to be a Paladin just like [character].

Socksy
2014-05-29, 01:15 AM
Someone under the effects of an Invisible True Resurrection spell. It looks like someone carelessly left his corpse in his square at the start of each turn.

(By the way, first-level liches aren't possible, and you would probably need ridiculous cheese to get one at fifth level, the lowest level possible (I think) given XP cost of 4800 to craft the phylactery.
From the srd:

Each lich must make its own phylactery, which requires the Craft Wondrous Item feat. The character must be able to cast spells and have a caster level of 11th or higher.)

toapat
2014-05-30, 11:10 PM
Someone under the effects of an Invisible True Resurrection spell. It looks like someone carelessly left his corpse in his square at the start of each turn.

(By the way, first-level liches aren't possible, and you would probably need ridiculous cheese to get one at fifth level, the lowest level possible (I think) given XP cost of 4800 to craft the phylactery.
From the srd:
)

Min lvl of 7 If you are cheesing out a Kobold

GPuzzle
2014-05-31, 06:19 AM
*1 Chaotic Good Bard that has a puppet.
*1 Chaotic Greedy Rogue that is dating the Bard.
*1 Lawful Good Fighter with an Intelligence at the same level of his Strength.
*1 Chaotic Evil Halfling Ranger/Barbarian that has no fuse whatsoever.
*1 Lawful Neutral Elf that scares dragons whenever he walks.
*1 Lawful Evil Vampire Dwarf that pretends to be the old Lawful Good Dwarf he was.

Jay R
2014-06-01, 10:51 AM
*1 Chaotic Good Bard that has a puppet.
*1 Chaotic Greedy Rogue that is dating the Bard.
*1 Lawful Good Fighter with an Intelligence at the same level of his Strength.
*1 Chaotic Evil Halfling Ranger/Barbarian that has no fuse whatsoever.
*1 Lawful Neutral Elf that scares dragons whenever he walks.
*1 Lawful Evil Vampire Dwarf that pretends to be the old Lawful Good Dwarf he was.

Now you're just being silly. Nobody would run a party like that.

You need a cat, a talking raven, and an allosaur polymorphed into a lizard.

The Oni
2014-06-01, 05:01 PM
Now you're just being silly. Nobody would run a party like that.

You need a cat, a talking raven, and an allosaur polymorphed into a lizard.

And even so, it would be a giant disaster.