MechaTarrasque
Hero
At https://www.sageadvice.eu/2019/01/2...ke-sense-for-the-sidekick-to-be-lvl-11-right/, Jeremy Crawford has a winding conversation about sidekicks. To me the big points were:
"The sidekick rules were popular enough that I'm tinkering with a new version, in which your sidekick's starting level equals your level."
"If a group has anxiety about their NPC companions doing well, I recommend not having NPC companions."
"There is an important distinction between an NPC controlled by the DM and an NPC controlled by the players.
The DM-controlled character/critter is rarely viewed as a party member.
But a player-controlled character/critter is often just as loved as a PC."
In response to "Yes, strong sidekicks can work if player controlled. But they're basically a second character then, more of a hireling or follower from old ad&d, than a non-player character" his answer was "Agreed. You just described the new sidekicks."
"If the players are using the stat block of a character/critter, that's what I mean by player control. Sometimes that turns into co-control with the DM. Either way, they're invested."
I figured the sidekicks might end up in the nautical book (crew as sidekicks, who wants their PC to be swabbing the deck?), but if he is tinkering with it, the sidekicks might show up later.
"The sidekick rules were popular enough that I'm tinkering with a new version, in which your sidekick's starting level equals your level."
"If a group has anxiety about their NPC companions doing well, I recommend not having NPC companions."
"There is an important distinction between an NPC controlled by the DM and an NPC controlled by the players.
The DM-controlled character/critter is rarely viewed as a party member.
But a player-controlled character/critter is often just as loved as a PC."
In response to "Yes, strong sidekicks can work if player controlled. But they're basically a second character then, more of a hireling or follower from old ad&d, than a non-player character" his answer was "Agreed. You just described the new sidekicks."
"If the players are using the stat block of a character/critter, that's what I mean by player control. Sometimes that turns into co-control with the DM. Either way, they're invested."
I figured the sidekicks might end up in the nautical book (crew as sidekicks, who wants their PC to be swabbing the deck?), but if he is tinkering with it, the sidekicks might show up later.