Please note that I do not intend to make any changes to the way that entourages work in this game.

However, I have been thinking about how I can make them better in the next game that I run.  For this game, Entourages were intended to give players more ways of Role Playing and becoming involved in the world/campaign elements of the game - and to make it easier for you to run Noble estates, towns, cities etc.   On top of that, entourages were intended to be the 'lesser' nobles of the state that you built.

First question:  Has that worked for you?  Why?  Why not?  etc. :)

If I run another campaign game on here  (I say IF because I will be about 70 years old when this one finishes) it will be based on a different world building scenario, more closely aligned with the way that Tusk has been built up, rather than having a 'Henry' in the background.   Development progress will be slower - managing the campaign rounds for this game has become a major task, as you have probably realized from my posts during the last campaign round.  I want any new game to push people towards co-operative building, rather than develop individual holdings, so there will be less need to have entourages available to manage holdings for you.

Second Question:  Any thoughts on that?

 I truly like the idea of entourages and minor named NPC types doing things on our behalf in a small, low-key way (and yes, I really do need to sit down and work out Vova's at some point) but the level-limit makes it extremely difficult for them to be competent at administrative tasks.
 That said, without them they'd be over-competent at non-administrative tasks and the Golarion NPC examples are all pretty moderate-to-low themselves, so I guess it's just assumes that most everyone gets to take ten a lot. ^_^

In reply to Vova doMedvyed (msg # 2):

Skill Focus, a trait and a class skill can give them +8 for a L1 character.    With the way the campaign round works -  by L3 they should be +10 -  which makes them reasonable useful in running a town :)

If they are lawful, that tends to help as well.

Yeah I have my three entourage members are pretty good at the admins side,

Hargrym has Profession Merchant +12
Tic has Knowledge Local +12
Thaddeus has Diplomacy +11

I gave Sejana all three, 'cause I don't have a ton of entourage, and wasn't sure what else we have in the family.   She packs:

Diplo +12
Prof Merchant +11
Kn Local +10

That's as a 5th level cousin, along with a few other skills I wanted high, like singing and spellcraft.   Lol, I might've done better focusing on one thing. But she's an eccentric, a Chelish immigrant, and not exactly cut out for government.

Aside from a cohort, she's the one enpc I've made.   I felt the rules, as they stand, gave me enough to work with.

Alisa, Sejana and one of my Standard NPCs  (Know Local 5)  have enough to run a small town effectively.

For future games, I am thinking of reducing the number of Entourage Assistants that a PC can take - to encourage more cooperative working.

Yeah, Tobias as a level 4 Expert is a great negotiator and salesman

Bluff +12
Intimidate +13
Perform/Oratory +12
Diplomacy +18

If I ever get a base/town built, I'll probably make him its administrator.

You can start developments once this Candlemere adventure is over.  It might not be June, but you should be able to start building by December at the latest.

If you use Tobias, ask Percy to take the Treasurer role, and Vik as the third member of the stewardship team, they will be able to run a reasonably sized town effectively.

Cool.

I am curious, as not the most mechanic minded player, what feats are you stacking to get a +18 at level 4?

In reply to Alisa Solanus (msg # 9):

Cha 18

Feats:
Voice of the Sybil
Persuasive
Skill focus (Diplomacy)

 Yeah, 4 from Charisma and 4 from Skill ranks, then another 3 from it being a class skill gets you to 11 before you add appropriate feats. Skill Focus is +3 (untyped) and Persuasive is +2 (untyped) so now you're at 16.

 VotS isn't typed either, for another +1. Not sure about the last +1, but that could easily be a trait.

 If you focus hard, pumping one or two skills isn't too difficult.

 I mean Vova has a Diplomacy of 11 and half his feats were to get a peacock familiar and the other half were to make him a better drinker. ^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 02:16, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

Cool beans. Are enpcs allowed to have an 18, now?

I thought there was an ability cap on their scores..

I never heard that one.

Here are the rules for entourage npcs

10 point build
14 = max for any ability
Full HP at first level
30gp starting money
1x trait

Damn did I miss that?

And I tend to do spot checks - rather than a detailed check of everything you guys do :)  Well, at least after a player's first character creation.  On the whole, you are a very trustworthy bunch of players  :P  Although mistakes happen.

I'll talk to Adoven / Tobias, and we'll work something out.

That issue has now been addressed and resolved.

Ugh, sorry, Adoven.  I feel kind of bad now. ;)   But, I did want to know for my own enpcs.

Not a problem. Had to do a little research because of it, but np.