Do player characters count as NPC followers? Because if so, then thats just bad....
How about this system:
The basic idea is that a supermutant merc should count as more followers then weak ones, and players should count as the weakest, so gangs can go hunting or to TCs easyer. I mean...thats the whole point of a transport character with 10 CH right?
(CH-1) = total follower slot count
2 CH = 1 follower slot.
10 CH = 9 follower slots.
1 Player Character = 1 slot.
1 dog/slave = 2 slots.
1 simple merc = 3 slots.
1 strong merc(like supermutant or stronger big gunner merc) = 4 slots.
At 3 CH you CANT have mercs, but have 1 slave, or 2 players.
At 4 CH you can have 1 simple merc, 1 slave+1 player, or 3 players.
At 10 CH, 3 mercs, 2 supermutants+1 player, 4 slaves+1 player, or 9 players(+the transporter obviously) going PK huzzah! \o/
Oh, and merc recruiting should be tied to speech skill, nuff said.
Edit: Magnetic personality would add 1 slot, not follower count.