*What are your top sidekick picks??* ▶️ One-on-One D&D: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hGtspat-m9fRp6g.html 🌟 Tasha's Cauldron (affiliate): amzn.to/2UCzi3q

I love the idea of using sidekick characters for kids. I have little girls, and they would love being little sprites.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

That would be a great fit!

@O4C209

3 жыл бұрын

I used a sidekick in the Essential Kit for my son. It simplified the game and he enjoyed it.

I love the claw idea. Cutting a PCs hand off as a consequence of action allows you to make the game more dangerous, but giving them their hand back as the claw Makes it an awesome unexpected silver lining

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly! Might take some necromancy first, but that's the idea!

I’m imagining a character who’s best friend is the Boggle that appeared one day when they needed someone to be there for them.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Bingo!

I think I accidently like each of your honorable mentions more than the actual list. But number one was a solid choice.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

(me too)

I used the expert, spell-caster, warrior as the foundation for new adventurers. the character is level-0. once the character has earned 1000 experience, they are able to advance into a character class associated to the level-0 class. along with a re-write of family backgrounds, it truly gives a foundation to long term characters.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Very nice! I did something like this with the backgrounds once, but sidekicks are much more likely to survive than the commoners I went with :P

Oooh that svirfneblin sidekick is a great idea! I never thought of them as good sidekicks!

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

I think they work well too because a lot of people seem to favor humanoid sidekicks (if not something simple like a wolf/bear)

Changelings make great experts, too. In addition to shapechanging, they have 5 skills, 5 languages, multiattack and a good defensive ability.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Hmm, somehow they must have slipped through the craks of my search! They sound great!

@Jah_Coby

3 жыл бұрын

Changling isn't from the listed books, but if your DM let's you use eberron in your setting, it is a great option.

@elementzero3379

3 жыл бұрын

@@Jah_Coby There's a list? What's the list? TCoE lists only "The Monster Manual or another D&D book." As to settings, I'm the DM and Eberron is our setting. 😉

@Jah_Coby

3 жыл бұрын

@@elementzero3379 I meant his list that he mentioned for the video. Whatever other setting book is allowed at the table is up for grabs. Just was trying to explain why he missed it

@elementzero3379

3 жыл бұрын

@@Jah_Coby Gotcha. Makes sense.

I am going to insert a grung expert into mine and my brothers game in Tomb Of Annihilation, with my brothers dwarf cleric, my nephews barbarian and my elf sorcerer. I’m hoping this grung rounds out our party well especially with all the wilderness we have to go through

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

That will be a HUGE help for the wilderness travel!

If you have Curse of Strahd, I suggest borrowing the Barovian Witch. Right off the bat, 3rd-level spellcaster with some rather cool, and nasty, spells (Hence why I wouldn't make it a Spellcaster), proficiency in Arcana and Perception, and Darkvision, which is cool for a human (as most of them are) to have. It's not that good in a stand-up fight (7 strength, 11 dexterity, 13 constitution, 14 intelligence, 11 wisdom, 12 charisma), but I can see it being an Intelligence based sort, although one might want to give them proficiency in Athletics to make up for a low strength score or Deception, to really make use of that Alter Self if trying to pull off a infiltration mission.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Sounds like a GREAT sidekick! :D

@lockwoan01

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder Then there's the Tabaxi Minstrel from Tomb of Annihilation - it has 4 skills (Perception, Stealth, Persuasion, Performance (Expertise on that one actually), and has Inspire, which gives 5 folks 8 temporary hp at the end of a short rest, plus the usual Tabaxi tricks of climbing. Be good for any of the classes actually.

Conceptually the skulk is my favorite here. I would love for people to think one of my PC's is crazy till they see the skulk in the mirror.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Totally, I love the "imaginary friend" theme of that one!

Slaad tadpole that bursts out of your chest and becomes best buddies? I love this! haha. I look forward to making different side kicks for me and perhaps some for the players. I think the Boggle is intriguing as well. I never really thought of sidekicks being other than human. I must think on this. Great video as always Bob!

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Ruben! Yeah the original UA sidekicks could be basically anything, then the Essentials Kit kind of pushed the idea that they should be human. Tasha's Cauldron opened it back up!

One thing about the Sidekicks rule is this, one can use it to make tougher foes in a hurry. For instance, say one is playing in a setting where there isn't a whole lot of magical objects. At a certain point, one runs out of creatures that are affected by regular steel blades. Thanks to the Sidekick rules, one can make animals, like bears, wolves, cattle, horses, snakes, and folks like guards, bandits, thugs, soldiers, and so on formidable foes for higher level parties. I mean, let's say you have a level 10 party, and someone gets the bright idea to rob the magic shop. Well, now one can summon a number of Soldiers/Guards on Warhorses/Draft or Riding Horses, and not only are the guys facing the would-be thieves wearing at least Splint armor, and using lances, with the horses wearing decent armor as well, both rider and mount have about 70 and 90 hp, respectively, and if the horse has the Defender Fighting Style, while the rider has the Attacker Fighting Style, good luck hitting the rider, as the horse also lashes out at anyone attacking their rider.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea! Even the sidekick-main character relationship can add flavor to monsters and NPCs!

@lockwoan01

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder Also, there's no rules that say Sidekicks can't use Magic/Special Items. I mean, using the guards and horses mentioned above, the guards could have weapons that are inspired by Flame Tongues, Frost Brands, Dragon Slayer, Corpse Slayer, Giant Slayer, and all them other crazy things from the various books, and the horses, they get horseshoes with abilities based off of the preceding items. Give them both magic armor and the guards magic shields, and soon enough, the guard, and his horse, when asked by the players "What CR are you?" will respond "Someone who decided to redefine CR 1/8 and 1/4." In case you don't get the reference, it's from a webcomic called Goblins, based in a 3.5e world where a group of goblins, sick of attacks by Adventurers, become Adventurers themselves. A member gets caught be the guard in the city, and the rest try to save him. Two (Barbarian and Paladin classes respectively), are down a dead-end alley, with a bunch of guards facing them. Sargent: They are just goblins. A Mere 1/3 CR. Paladin Goblin: We're going to die. Barbarian Goblin: Yeah, we're gonna die. Paladin: (Looks at the Barbarian, who readies himself for a fight.) What are you doing? Barbarian: Redefining 1/3 Challenge Rating. Cue one heck of a fight.

I can imagine a character that has a Peter Pan like living Shadow. I mean, imagine being a rogue or feind/fey pact warlock and getting arrested? Not anymore, why, shadow. Also, have it speak thieve's cant.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Ooh, thieves cant would be a good language for the shadow!

@Randomdudefromtheinternet

2 жыл бұрын

I would RP that as the Shadow speaking in prose or similar.

An Awakened Cat as an Expert Scout is what I used for adventure for my step Grand kids. The Fighter took the Telepathy feat so they could communicate from distance.

My triton samurai befriended a mimic in the last dungeon so that’s fun! Great video man, you gave me some good ideas for npcs!

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Whoa! Triton samurai?? That's literally what my friend is playing in out Frostmaiden campaign! I think he'd like a mimic sidekick...

@STOPITexclamation

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder haha really? That’s crazy, yeah he’s a fun character, he’s kind of become the dad of the group since the other characters are sort of reckless. And yeah I would say from my experience having a mimic is pretty great

That #1 pick was mind-boggling in its perfection.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

lol 😆 for sure!

@mouthlesshater

2 жыл бұрын

pfft

Next to the Pixie, a CR 0 Chwinga from Rime of the Frostmaiden might be the most broken... Evasion, At Will Pass Without a Trace, and 3 cantrips including Guidance... 3 skills at +7 (Acrobatics, Perception, and Stealth); Magical Gifts (1/day) to deal extra d6 cold; or create food/water; or 24 hour Cold Resistance; or Bonus Action Snowballs; or Cast Leomund’s Tiny Hut... all these have 3-5 charges There doesn’t appear to be a limit to the number of charms it can create either so I imagine a PC with a bandolier of trinkets never hungry, always protected during a long rest, and sneaking about with a +10 as needed... CR 0?! Hello Expert (Dex 20) or Spellcaster (Wis/Cha 16; Int 14)

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Just saw your comment on my other video! and I think you're right :D

that shadow sidekick + fey wanderer pc is LITERALLY just peter pan and I love that

Thanks for All your work!! Also thank your sidekick for the Help if you got one!!

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Haha thank you! Everyone in the community is my sidekick!

Great work! Love your videos! In my new Essentials Kit campaign, my players will be given a Pokemon-esque choice by their Emerald Enclave contact for a companion. The Expert choice is a displacer beast slapped onto a panther statblock, maintaining displacer beast abilities. My players love "the rule of cool." 😎

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

I too love the rule of cool! Haha, that's awesome!

I was literally thinking of the boggle the entire video and then when it was your number one, I started screaming😂

One way to incorporate Sidekicks into the game is to have a Mercenary Guild. Idea is that these fellas at the guild are for hire, in case of a smaller-than-normal party. The group's Patron (there's usually one anyways) makes a deal with the Guild to hire a couple of them (to fill out the needed roles). Mercs' reason to work with the Party - money and reputation - Mercs who get the job done, and bring the clients home alive tend to get better jobs and gear. Party's reason to work with the Mercs - they need someone to do the job, and Parties with reputations for taking care of Mercs tend to have a easier time getting better ones in the future. This goes both ways - Parties that kill off Mercs won't get get to hire more in the future, and Mercs who let the Party die don't get hired in the future.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

I like this!!

@lockwoan01

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder Now the question is, which of the 350+ CR 1/2 or less guys to pick from?

One possible Expert, that would be really great - Changeling from Eberron. Has proficiency in Acrobatics, Deception, Insight, Perception and Persuasion right off the bat. Throw on the extra 5 skills for being an Expert sidekick, and they might have at least +1 on all skill checks, especially if Athletics is one of the skills picked (Strength is an 8 there, normally), along with the other skills powered by wisdom (10 normally), and whatever else one wants. Scout might be another good pick, with 4 skills, but they'd lose access to their shortsword and longbow.

I love the idea of a sprite or pixie as a companion

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Peter Pan, Link, Fairly Odd Parents. I'm sure there's more examples, but faeries are great companions!

I love sidekicks. I have used scruffy bartenders, abnormally streetwise kids, a mildly psychotic clockwork automaton (loosely based on HK-47 from the early Knights of the Old Republic games), and a profoundly lazy, alcoholic, awakened bear.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, "abnormally streetwise kids" sounds awesome

Expert-Mage-Warrior Best-->Worst Also love the rule in general

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks PRT, I definitely agree that spellcasters are the next best sidekick for their ability to be a healer. In the warrior video I'm going to mention that they should really only be used if you desperately want to use a creature that doesn't speak a language (which many people who want wolves/bears will do) or if your small party is just a rogue and wizard or some other combo that lacks a fighter or barbarian

@a.spirit8408

3 жыл бұрын

I'm part of two different games - one with only 1 PC and another with 3 PCs all skirmishers no frontline. So, in both of them the warrior is the best sidekick for us. That leads me to think that in a weird inverted way, the warrior sidekick might see more use *because* it doesn't have many special abilities. That lets the players pick PCs with more tricks (and fewer hit points) up their sleeves. In the end, I guess it just depends on the individual table's needs.

@prtwriter4660

3 жыл бұрын

@@a.spirit8408 I feel like the warrior is just a fighter. Mages can be druids or Wizards. Experts can be Rogues or Rangers. Compared to Essentials kit this is a lot better.

@RyuSpike

3 жыл бұрын

Warrior is the type of sidekick that you give a creature when you don't want the party to cheese through your challenges.

Good video Tashas sounds like a good book, hope I get it for Christmas

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I hope that for you as well, I've really think it has great stuff!

The problem with Jackalweres are that they are Chaotic Evil. Of course, you can change this, or make it an outcast from the Jackalwere, but a Chaotic Evil sidekick might be a problem. I think the general populace would fear them as well.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I thought about excluding evil creatures, but didn't want to rule out evil characters who need a sidekick!

@educationaldm4700

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder I suppose that's fair in a way, but it might be hard to imagine when a chaotic evil sidekick staying as a sidekick for long without either betraying the party or running off when things get tough or some other nasty thing. They are both chaotic and evil, after all.

@pablohammerly448

2 жыл бұрын

​@@educationaldm4700 The problem with Jackalweres is* (not "are" since the subject, "problem" is singular; "Jackalweres" is plural, but that word isn't the subject.) Note that I used to be a proofreader a long time ago. 🤔

@davidstratton696

Жыл бұрын

@@educationaldm4700 Chaotic Evil doesn’t mean Chaotic jerk tho. They can be nice but still chaotic evil just like how a lawful good character can be a huge jerk and still be lawful good. As long as u don’t give it a reason to betray u it shouldn’t betray u. I mean if u were able to befriend it in the first place it’s clearly not a total jerk.

Thank you for you hard work on this topic

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching!! :D

Very nice video, thanks for all the research, was fun !

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Really helpful, Thanks!

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome!

Bruh, each of your honorable mentions are the type of ideas id want to build whole 1 on 1 campaigns around~

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Do it!! :D

I love owls, favourite thing about these sidekicks is that now I get one for a mount

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

do it!

Came here because I'm about to be in a campaign with two other players and we need a sidekick. After watching this, I realize My Character is a sidekick and we need another hero.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Hahah make a new character and make your current PC the sidekick!

@pablohammerly448

2 жыл бұрын

Orion Foresee: You reminded me of one of my AD&D (now known as 1e) campaigns in which my Dwarf fighter -thief was basically the sidekick to the other PC: an impulsive Elf who was always biting off more than he could chew. I remember muttering how I had to yet again rescue the silly Elf for the umpteenth time! 😂

I understand your reasoning. But I'll always stand by the half elf because of my brilliant character where I played a UA Expert: Broderick the Bastard

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah these videos are mostly going to be about non-humanoid options :P

@DemonMankeyMan

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder Wait, you actually remember that discussion?

5:20 "Hey! Listen!" No! Shut up, Navi! Just shut up!

Can you increase the pool of available sidekicks if you Awaken them?

I feel like it'd be cool to run or play a one shot where the PCs play with sidekick class

@Bob World Builder You want some skill expertise in a sidekick, build a Scout and then tell me if you think it's not as good as a regular class build.

My fiance's sidekick is a talking giant rat. He's not very smart but he's roguish and can pick locks

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

If it wasn't giant, I would ask if it's also a good cook and hides under the PC's hat :)

Great video. Doesn't everything in Tasha's require bucket loads of research...

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Yes it does!

How many sidekick are suggested to be used in case of 1 player? 1, 2? Im not sure.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

One is easier to manage, but two can really round out the party's skills :)

@eliabriverareyes6858

3 жыл бұрын

@@BobWorldBuilder how did u manage the cr of the encounters? That's the tricky part for me. I do not know how to put it in a way that its not veeeery easy or too deadly. Btw, I began watching you series of Icepire peak. Love it so far. Im about to start that campaing with my wife.

Excellent video, as always! Got two more ideas for you: The fact that D&D has existed for roughly 45 years & was created by Gygax & Arneson, not Critical Role. In addition, party names has been of iconic importance since the beginning.

@BobWorldBuilder

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Funny enough, I'm working on ideas for video about the important things to know/expect about D&D in the modern day-- specifically how online tools can affect the game, and how the general public (aka potential players) think about D&D

Is CR really relevant though ? I really have difficulty to understand the logic behind it.

@davidstratton696

Жыл бұрын

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense on what creatures get what CR but yes it’s very relevant. Their is a reason it’s there. If u just allowed any CR it would far outshine all the PC’s (which is not what u want).