The Reverse Cohort Leadership VariantWhile it is true that strong leaders usually attract followers weaker than themselves, another very common practice is for the leader to have a champion.
The leader has the will and the goal; and is often weaker than those that would lend their might to his or her service.
This variant allows your PC to have a different kind of relationship with his cohort. Be the young prince/princess on a quest under the king's most valiant knight.
Have a Bronn to your Tyrion or a mountain to your Cercei.
Variant:Under this leadership variant, everything remains the same except that the PC's character level is reduced by 2 and he gains a cohort of his original character level. The PC then remains 2 character levels under his cohort and the cohort gains experience instead.
Your effective character level is unchanged (treat it as a level adjustment of 2 that cannot be bought off).
This variant removes the feats' requirement for as long as your effective character level is at least 6.
This does not improve the wealth-by-level the cohort has access to when recruited.
Use your effective character level for all matters relating to followers and determining your leadership score.
Any additional cohorts you may gain use your effective character level as well instead of your character level.
Improved Cohort: Your character level becomes one level under your cohort instead of 2.