Retainers

Based on Strongholds and Followers by Matt Colville and co

• Must be of a lower level than the PC they are following
• Are not PCs
• Follow the PCs orders, do not take the lead
• Should be easy to run

Basic Mechanics

• Act on their Leader (PCs) initiative
• Don’t have hit points, rather a number of health levels equal to their level
• Regain 1 health level per short rest
• Each die of healing recovers one health level
• When hit instead of taking damage retainer makes a CONSAV DC equal to the average attack damage
  • Succeed: Take no damage
  • Fail: Lose one health level per die of damage
• AC is one of three:
  • Light: 13
  • Medium: 15
  • Heavy: 18
• Has the same gear as a starting PC of their class
• Level up once per two levels their PC levels up
• Maximum of 7th level
• Gain special actions at 5th and 7th level
• Perception, movement and special abilities are determined by Ancestry

Checks and Saves

• Has one primary ability and various skills
• +3 to ability checks
  • additional +1 to primary ability checks
  • additional +2 to proficient skill checks
• Saving Throws
  • default to +3
  • additional +3 to proficient saves
  • Success: lose health levels equal to ½ spell level
  • Fail: lose health levels equal to spell level

Actions

• All the regular actions (move, act, react, bonus, opportunity attacks)
• One signature attack that can be used once per turn
  • If granted extra attacks, signature attack is always used
  • At 7th level retainers can make 2 signature attacks per turn
• Higher level retainers get special actions usable once per 10 minutes and a max number of times per day
• Attacking
  • If the PC hits, the follower hits with their signature attack (even vs different targets)
  • If the PC misses or doesn’t attack, then make an attack roll for the follower
    • For these purposes spells that deal damage or induce a saving throw count as an attack
  • Attacks with +6 to hit (or spell attack)
    • Optional +1 at 5th and 7th level
• Spells and DCs
  • Level 3: DC 13
  • Level 5: DC 14
  • Level 7: DC 15