Alright, character concept time: Twins, conjoined in the womb. During gestation, one of the siblings physically absorbed the other into its body but did not kill the sibling. This left one body that had a soul already and another soul destined for the same vessel but with no room to fit. The second soul then binds with the shadow of its own body as some way of connecting. Upon birth the baby is discovered to exhibit magical powers that match those of a shadow soul sorcerer. Additionally it's shadow occasionally seems to act independently of its owner but never by much. One day, when the child is roughly 8 years old, they fall down a flight of stairs and break their legs. The child is discovered by its parent not long after with the sight of the shadow looming over its own body and trying to gently move it to safety. Upon seeing this, the mother faints. Events like this happen more often until a priest is brought in to exorcise the spirit clinging to their child. Then it is discovered that the Shadow is the child's sibling, with this it gets a name and starts to interact more with their family. Mother refuses to abide by such an 'abomination' and leaves. Eventually child and shadow are full grown and venture out into the wild world to try and find a way to recorporialise the shadow sibling. Meeting adventure and friends along the way. Bit of a rush job but it came to me as I saw the shadow on the list. Any ideas if it would be a viable thing to run?
In my games, the warrior sidekick is the one used most often. Definitely have to balance it so that the players get to make the KOs, at least most of the time.
Well, depending on the situation, could say that the Warrior gets the job of defending the Spellcaster that's making a BIG Spell or something. That or have them focus on the minions while the players take on the BBEG.
My first sidekick in my solo-(homebrew in Calimshan) campaign was a camel. It saved my from certain death of a constrictor snake, by stampede'ing it! (I was lvl. 2) I had to return it though (only rented it), and hire a human warrior in Memnon, to travel with me all the way to the Anauroch desert... (Bad dice-rolls resulted in the camel-owner didn't wanna sell me the camel...) :D
Quick note on the Skulk, its invisiblity is just regular invisibility but weaker because of those three extra ways to circumvent it. Other senses such as truesight actually do allow it to be seen.
One issue with a few of your picks: the rule that sidekicks must be a character's friend - or befriend a character - to join the party. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to convince non-sentient creatures, like oozes, forex, that they should join a party. In fact, the MM specifically says "an ooze lacks the intelligence to ally itself with other creatures."
Great video, the Warrior is a great one cause it opens the game up to allow players to make friends with anyone/thing they encounter and permanently bring it into the game. It's a bit frustrating to see this in the same book as a beast master rework, but whatever.
I think one of the best warrior sidekick is Rock Gnome Recluse from DoIP. It has three spellslots, because it is a second level wizard of some sort. But it gets shield, mage armor, and magic missile, everything a melee fighter might need, so it will basically be an eldritch knight sidekick. And if you are running the adventure, you meet the gnomes in the starting quests, so it is a nice way to have an adventurous gnome join the party.
Not a bad one, but I think that they'd be better as an expert, as they lack any really good physical abilities. Funny enough, as I look it, and other spellcaster sorts, over (along with races who have innate spellcasting that could be slotted in as Generic NPCs), one thing that came to me was this - Don't Damage-Dealing Cantrips scale up in damage according to the character's level?
happy they added rules for sidekicks, they've allways been a thing for my group and these rules are close to wut i had tried to do in the past. in our current IWD game the party adopted Trex from the termalaine quest lol, now that he's been persuaded to stick around i'll have to adapt some of these good ideas! thxz for the video Bob ^.^ stay awesome out there!
My party rescued Droop from the bugbears in Tresendar Manor (LMoP) and he's been with us ever since. Sidekicks are my favorite part of TCoE because I finally had official (vice homebrew) rules for leveling him up.
A great warrior sidekick would be a Frontline Medic. It comes wearing Plate Armor, and has healing spells, among others. Useful if you don't have a dedicated healer and also need a tank.
@@BobWorldBuilder More Life Domain Cleric-esque, at least initially, as it comes with a spear instead of a sword - it's in the Ravnica book under the section for Boros NPCs. Overall though, when making a sidekick, I'd look at the stats, and equipment, and any spells that those who are already a spellcaster (and I'm not talking about innate spellcasters). If it is a spellcaster of second level or higher, it's automatically going into the Expert or Warrior categories, so that it doesn't lose those spells (Of course, innate spellcasting is a different story as they can become a Spellcaster without losing those spells - Pixies keep Polymorph.). If they are armed with a Martial Weapon, and/or use Medium or Heavy Armor, or Shields, Warrior (Also I'd look at their Strength and Dexterity to figure out what to equip them with). If they use Simple Weapons, and wear Light or No Armor, I might go Expert or Spellcaster. As for what kind of Spellcaster (Mage, Healer, Prodigy), I'd check the mental stats. Sometime you get some unexpecting results - Changeling would be good for any of them - Dexterity-based Warrior, Expert with proficiency in TEN skills, and Spellcaster of either the Mage or Prodigy paths. Overall, lots of crazy possibilities. Oh, and don't forget, you can also apply these templates to monsters, NPCs, and animals the party is fighting against. Useful if the 10th level party decides to do something outrageous in a city and you don't want to bring out a Champion or Blackguard type to stop them, at least initially, when a couple of Leveled-Up Guards and Leveled-Up Draft Horses seem to be a more logical choice to act as the people patrolling the street, and delay said party long enough for the Champion or Blackguard to get to the fray on fancier horses, like Pegisi or Nightmares, or whatever.
I am currently looking at the Night Blade from Descent into Avernus. They have an ability called 'Aura of Murder' that reads: 'As long as the night blade is not incapacitated, hostile creatures within 5 feet of it gain vullnerability to piercing damage unless they have reistance or immunity to such damage.' ANY hostile creature next to it gains Vulnerability. And it's not just piercing damage from the night blade itself. If you are playing a rogue or another class using a spear, rapier or even a bow or crossbow. Any creature next to your Night Blade will take double damage from your weapons. Also, why I'd recommend Warrior over Expert for this guy is because the Nightblade already has expertise in stealth. As a Warrior you gain proficiency in martial weapons, meaning you can give this guy a rapier, doubling his damage die. Soon enough he also get's improved critical, so he crits on a 19. at level 4 you can pick up the piercer feat, boosting your crits further. And it only gets better and better. Soon you get multi attack, meaning potentially 2d8+6x2 damage per round. And for your rogue PC. All your sneak attack damage gets doubled striking whoever is next to your sidekick.
Maybe you have a necromancer and they teach (or more likely, ask the martial to teach) one of their zombies how to properly fight (zombies are said to be able to wield weapons), it does make sense to try teach one of your zombies and turn it into a bodyguard.
Hey Bob, any chance you can share the moonbow you made? I've got a similar story going on in my rime campaign and am unsure how to incorporate the moonbow.
Boggle * Advantage on grapple checks, though admittedly poor Str, lacks Athletics proficiency and is small * Advantage to escape bonds, etc... * Can climb surfaces, including upside down * A bit of control via its Oil Puddle * mobility or utility via Dimensional Rift These guys would probably make better experts, as I look at them, but they could definitely be fun Dex Warriors. They offer lots of utility via their tricks.
@@BobWorldBuilder I started thinking, "I can't recall, but i bet Bob already talked about these guys in an earlier video." I enjoyed the Shadow suggestion. It really does offer some potentially great RP fodder in addition to the good mechanics. A PC from whose literal shadow emerges an animate shadow to help when needed? That's pretty cool.
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Alright, character concept time:
Twins, conjoined in the womb. During gestation, one of the siblings physically absorbed the other into its body but did not kill the sibling. This left one body that had a soul already and another soul destined for the same vessel but with no room to fit. The second soul then binds with the shadow of its own body as some way of connecting.
Upon birth the baby is discovered to exhibit magical powers that match those of a shadow soul sorcerer. Additionally it's shadow occasionally seems to act independently of its owner but never by much.
One day, when the child is roughly 8 years old, they fall down a flight of stairs and break their legs. The child is discovered by its parent not long after with the sight of the shadow looming over its own body and trying to gently move it to safety. Upon seeing this, the mother faints.
Events like this happen more often until a priest is brought in to exorcise the spirit clinging to their child. Then it is discovered that the Shadow is the child's sibling, with this it gets a name and starts to interact more with their family. Mother refuses to abide by such an 'abomination' and leaves.
Eventually child and shadow are full grown and venture out into the wild world to try and find a way to recorporialise the shadow sibling. Meeting adventure and friends along the way.
Bit of a rush job but it came to me as I saw the shadow on the list.
Any ideas if it would be a viable thing to run?
This is an amazing idea, can I steal please?
@@hollowcat6756 sure. I like creating character ideas and if someone actually wants to use it then go right ahead.
reminds me a bit like villitch the curseling from warhammer fantasy
In my games, the warrior sidekick is the one used most often. Definitely have to balance it so that the players get to make the KOs, at least most of the time.
Yeah, a simple rule could be that sidekicks just never get the knock out, or when they do, a PC can flavorfully get the final blow
Well, depending on the situation, could say that the Warrior gets the job of defending the Spellcaster that's making a BIG Spell or something. That or have them focus on the minions while the players take on the BBEG.
My first sidekick in my solo-(homebrew in Calimshan) campaign was a camel. It saved my from certain death of a constrictor snake, by stampede'ing it! (I was lvl. 2)
I had to return it though (only rented it), and hire a human warrior in Memnon, to travel with me all the way to the Anauroch desert... (Bad dice-rolls resulted in the camel-owner didn't wanna sell me the camel...) :D
Haha that's awesome! Don't hear much about the Anauroch desert in 5e
Quick note on the Skulk, its invisiblity is just regular invisibility but weaker because of those three extra ways to circumvent it. Other senses such as truesight actually do allow it to be seen.
One issue with a few of your picks: the rule that sidekicks must be a character's friend - or befriend a character - to join the party. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to convince non-sentient creatures, like oozes, forex, that they should join a party. In fact, the MM specifically says "an ooze lacks the intelligence to ally itself with other creatures."
Great video, the Warrior is a great one cause it opens the game up to allow players to make friends with anyone/thing they encounter and permanently bring it into the game. It's a bit frustrating to see this in the same book as a beast master rework, but whatever.
I think one of the best warrior sidekick is Rock Gnome Recluse from DoIP. It has three spellslots, because it is a second level wizard of some sort. But it gets shield, mage armor, and magic missile, everything a melee fighter might need, so it will basically be an eldritch knight sidekick. And if you are running the adventure, you meet the gnomes in the starting quests, so it is a nice way to have an adventurous gnome join the party.
That's a great tip! Rock gnomes were on my top 5 for the expert, but they would be pretty great for any of the types!
Not a bad one, but I think that they'd be better as an expert, as they lack any really good physical abilities.
Funny enough, as I look it, and other spellcaster sorts, over (along with races who have innate spellcasting that could be slotted in as Generic NPCs), one thing that came to me was this - Don't Damage-Dealing Cantrips scale up in damage according to the character's level?
happy they added rules for sidekicks, they've allways been a thing for my group and these rules are close to wut i had tried to do in the past. in our current IWD game the party adopted Trex from the termalaine quest lol, now that he's been persuaded to stick around i'll have to adapt some of these good ideas! thxz for the video Bob ^.^ stay awesome out there!
My party rescued Droop from the bugbears in Tresendar Manor (LMoP) and he's been with us ever since. Sidekicks are my favorite part of TCoE because I finally had official (vice homebrew) rules for leveling him up.
Saved the little guy in my group too. Made him a Level 1 rogue in a spin-off campaign - rest of us were Level 3.
Warrior sidekicks are great for "squishy" parties. I love the idea of a shadow as a sidekick.
How do you calculate HP for say a level 5 shadow sidekick? 3d8+3 times 5? 16hp x 5?
If I remember right the rules for sidekicks say to add another hit dice that is listed on the stat sheet. So add 1D8+3 per level.
A great warrior sidekick would be a Frontline Medic. It comes wearing Plate Armor, and has healing spells, among others. Useful if you don't have a dedicated healer and also need a tank.
Ahh, like a paladin-esque sidekick!
@@BobWorldBuilder More Life Domain Cleric-esque, at least initially, as it comes with a spear instead of a sword - it's in the Ravnica book under the section for Boros NPCs.
Overall though, when making a sidekick, I'd look at the stats, and equipment, and any spells that those who are already a spellcaster (and I'm not talking about innate spellcasters). If it is a spellcaster of second level or higher, it's automatically going into the Expert or Warrior categories, so that it doesn't lose those spells (Of course, innate spellcasting is a different story as they can become a Spellcaster without losing those spells - Pixies keep Polymorph.). If they are armed with a Martial Weapon, and/or use Medium or Heavy Armor, or Shields, Warrior (Also I'd look at their Strength and Dexterity to figure out what to equip them with). If they use Simple Weapons, and wear Light or No Armor, I might go Expert or Spellcaster. As for what kind of Spellcaster (Mage, Healer, Prodigy), I'd check the mental stats.
Sometime you get some unexpecting results - Changeling would be good for any of them - Dexterity-based Warrior, Expert with proficiency in TEN skills, and Spellcaster of either the Mage or Prodigy paths.
Overall, lots of crazy possibilities.
Oh, and don't forget, you can also apply these templates to monsters, NPCs, and animals the party is fighting against. Useful if the 10th level party decides to do something outrageous in a city and you don't want to bring out a Champion or Blackguard type to stop them, at least initially, when a couple of Leveled-Up Guards and Leveled-Up Draft Horses seem to be a more logical choice to act as the people patrolling the street, and delay said party long enough for the Champion or Blackguard to get to the fray on fancier horses, like Pegisi or Nightmares, or whatever.
Fantastic video as always. Just got my copy of Tasha's and a warrior sidekick may be just what the doctor ordered for my PCs.
You have such a soothing voice, and I always learn something from your videos! Thanks for covering this topic
Thank you very much! I'm glad you found this one useful, and thanks for subscribing! :)
The warrior sidekick makes the paladin's "find steed" spell useful, as well as fitting the spell's flavour text.
Love this top 5. Exactly what I needed for my campaign! And that money tree looks thirsty.
I am currently looking at the Night Blade from Descent into Avernus. They have an ability called 'Aura of Murder' that reads:
'As long as the night blade is not incapacitated, hostile creatures within 5 feet of it gain vullnerability to piercing damage unless they have reistance or immunity to such damage.'
ANY hostile creature next to it gains Vulnerability. And it's not just piercing damage from the night blade itself. If you are playing a rogue or another class using a spear, rapier or even a bow or crossbow. Any creature next to your Night Blade will take double damage from your weapons.
Also, why I'd recommend Warrior over Expert for this guy is because the Nightblade already has expertise in stealth. As a Warrior you gain proficiency in martial weapons, meaning you can give this guy a rapier, doubling his damage die. Soon enough he also get's improved critical, so he crits on a 19. at level 4 you can pick up the piercer feat, boosting your crits further. And it only gets better and better. Soon you get multi attack, meaning potentially 2d8+6x2 damage per round.
And for your rogue PC. All your sneak attack damage gets doubled striking whoever is next to your sidekick.
Maybe you have a necromancer and they teach (or more likely, ask the martial to teach) one of their zombies how to properly fight (zombies are said to be able to wield weapons), it does make sense to try teach one of your zombies and turn it into a bodyguard.
The Flying Sword Sidekick reminds me of the Disney version of Dyrnwyn in the Black Cauldron
This is a great channel
No you're great!
So since the Skulk gets armor proficiencies, would the armor its wearing be visible?
Flying sword seems really powerful sidekick
Never thought of these
Hey Bob, any chance you can share the moonbow you made? I've got a similar story going on in my rime campaign and am unsure how to incorporate the moonbow.
Personal I love playing as an Adult Myconid.
Not sure about the constrictor snake being a mount. They might be large but they are still only 12" around (give or take)
Right, it's more of a rules-as-written thing than a practical mount, but I feel like it could work for small characters at least!
@@BobWorldBuilder Rule of cool trumps everything imo. But both points are valid.
The saddle is clearly just two spots for your feet! Snake Surfing!
If possible I like the idea of a Gnoll!
Oh so can you use animal sidekicks as mounts
First! MUAHAHA... sorry. Nice vid btw my players don’t use sidekicks except for one of my parties
Hahah well done! Maybe one of these cool creatures will catch their eye! :)
@@BobWorldBuilder one of em definitely will!
How do you calculate HP for say a level 5 shadow sidekick? 3d8+3 times 5? 16hp x 5?
it’s “(Level x Size) + CON” so by level 5, they’re 45
Surprised worg ain't on here given how chonky & bitey they are
Remember: If your player has a wolf/dire wolf warrior, you must give it proficiency with swords.
The best sidekick is just to have player characters use the side kick classes
That works too!
I could see it as soft form of multiclassing
Give the warrior sidekick to the beastmaster's companion. You just make a better phb beastmaster than the tasha's
Boggle
* Advantage on grapple checks, though admittedly poor Str, lacks Athletics proficiency and is small
* Advantage to escape bonds, etc...
* Can climb surfaces, including upside down
* A bit of control via its Oil Puddle
* mobility or utility via Dimensional Rift
These guys would probably make better experts, as I look at them, but they could definitely be fun Dex Warriors. They offer lots of utility via their tricks.
Yeah they were my number one in the expert video, but they are pretty great for any of the three types!
@@BobWorldBuilder I started thinking, "I can't recall, but i bet Bob already talked about these guys in an earlier video."
I enjoyed the Shadow suggestion. It really does offer some potentially great RP fodder in addition to the good mechanics. A PC from whose literal shadow emerges an animate shadow to help when needed? That's pretty cool.
a gnome wizard riding a mastiff warrior sidekick.
This sidekick has been neglected at our table she just exist. We prefer the Kobold expert over elf warrior.
kobold expert definitely sounds more fun!
@@BobWorldBuilder He does so much for the party. He outperformed the bard
Maybe for a villan campaign, most of your selections are evil creatures, I guess you could reskin them as fey creatures.
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Thanks for commenting! :)
Satyr
Ahh, I liked Satyr for spellcaster sidekicks, but I suppose they are pretty tough too!
wears darkmantle as a hat