D&D 5E Henchmen

[Anth]

I miss some rules for henchmen and need advice what to.

Example:

A dragon can become a wizard (DMG p283).
A monster gain HD depending on its size, not its class.
A monster-NPC and party member gain its full share of xp (DMG p92).

So the adventurers meet this really nice silver dragon wyrmling who agrees to join the party, she also is interested in learning magic from the partys wizard.

When does the wyrmling gain her first wizard level? And how many xp does she need until she becomes a second level wizard?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I would say: when you see fit

share xp with the henchman, and assume it levels up at about the same rate as the PCs.

 

[Anth]

I would say: when you see fit

share xp with the henchman, and assume it levels up at about the same rate as the PCs.

Not exactly the answer I wanted.
Normally every PC in my group are different level and level up att different time.

One easy solution would be to use the old level adjustment.
The silver dragon wyrmling is CR 2, equal to level 2 and so she start with 900 xp, and she become a 1st level wizard when she gain 2700 xp.

 

[Joe Liker]

Normally, class levels aren't substituted in for CR -- they just add to it. Starting her at level 2 doesn't seem quite right to me.

I would say she immediately learns one cantrip. She becomes level 1 after her first combat (or other XP-gaining event), and then gains XP at the same rate as everyone else.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

This is a very good solution.

 

[Dausuul]

I miss some rules for henchmen and need advice what to.

Example:

A dragon can become a wizard (DMG p283).
A monster gain HD depending on its size, not its class.
A monster-NPC and party member gain its full share of xp (DMG p92).

So the adventurers meet this really nice silver dragon wyrmling who agrees to join the party, she also is interested in learning magic from the partys wizard.

When does the wyrmling gain her first wizard level? And how many xp does she need until she becomes a second level wizard?

Hmm, that's an interesting question. The approach I would use is to calculate the dragon's CR, including her class levels, and treat that as her level. She starts out at CR 2 (base CR for a silver dragon wyrmling) with 300 XP. When she reaches 900 XP, she gains enough wizard levels to reach CR 3. When she reaches 2700 XP, she gains enough wizard levels to reach CR 4, and so on.

I know the DMG has rules for adding class levels to monsters, but I don't offhand recall how detailed they are. If they don't offer enough detail, I'd follow 3E's guidelines: Classes that stack well with your native abilities give +1 CR per level. Classes that don't, give +1/2 CR per level until your level in the class equals your base CR, and +1 thereafter. Wizard would fall into the latter category, so:

300 XP: Starting point (CR 2).
900 XP: Level 2 wizard (CR 3).
2700 XP: Level 3 wizard (CR 4).
6500 XP: Level 4 wizard (CR 5).

Et cetera. To smooth out the progression and avoid the jump from level 0 to level 2, you could allow her to become a level 1 wizard at 600 XP.

 

[Roger]

Hrm. At a quick glance I'd probably give her 6 levels of 'dragon', so another 9Kxp to become a real wizard.

 

[jrowland]

Off Topic: Please join me in requiring the word Minion to replace Henchman. That is all.

 

[TheGogmagog]

Seems like a level adjustment is due for the dragon.

I'm curious how this affects other companions.
Will our horses get a share of xp? What about the squire I hired to help me put on platemail and tend to the horses?

My draconic ranger captured one of the ambush drakes from the kobolds, does it get a share of xp?

I don't have the dmg yet, sorry if this is covered.

 

[Antz7766]

I believe any other creature traveling with the party only gains exp if they contributed substantially during that specific combat.