Squad Leader Archive

It used to be that anybody in your group counted toward your multiplier, but with the recent changes to Squad Leader XP, the member has to be within your range for them to be counted among your group. ...If you can't see their HAM bar, they are too far away.

Do the people / pets in the group have to be near me for me to get XP? For example can I group 3 pets, and leave 2 in town and go out and hunt and get XP for having them all grouped?

Do faction pets and droids count toward the bonus?

Thanks.