D&D 5E Anyone using the Sidekick rules for PCs in their games?

[Randomthoughts]

EDIT: deleted response since mine was unresponsive.

 

[TwoSix]

I briefly ran a game using Beyond the Wall playbooks, and then translating the results into the sidekick classes (got sidetracked by COVID after 2 sessions). Worked well.

I like using simpler, generic classes for games with more of a "You're all friends looking for adventure" with a classic setting, rather than the "Mos Eisley in a magic city" type setting I normally run.

 

[Stormonu]

I've seen two uses of it so far -

1) I had a noble character with three assistants where the DM let me use the sidekick rules for them - that turned out to be a bit overpowered, but worked well for our small group.

2) In a one-shot for Ravenloft, half-way through the adventure I had the players switch to some NPC sidekicks (Ravenloft "survivors") that had been travelling with the group. They worked fairly well and their lowish hit points (they were lower level) greatly enhanced the fear factor, as the sidekicks had skills where they were competent, but could be easily killed if things went sideways. At the end of the adventure the climatic fight had sidekicks + PCs working together. Much fun was had by all.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

I did. Ran ToA, made Undril Silvertusk an Acolyte Sidekick, it was a good time.

 

[toucanbuzz]

Yes, had a new player joining near the end of a Dark Sun campaign. To make things easy and get him right into the action, I gave him a thri-kreen NPC using Sidekick rules.

It'd probably be good for very new players wanting something simple to get into the role-play part immediately, or our specific scenario, because you don't have to learn a whole lot. The sidekick doesn't have a dizzying array of options.

 

[overgeeked]

Does anyone here use the Sidekick rules (from the Essentials Kit and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything) for player characters in their games? If so, how well does it work in practice? Does it work well with parties that also include the main classes? And has anyone used it to run monstrous PCs?

I'd love to use the Sidekick and even Survivor rules from Van Richten's, but alas, no players have been interested in playing weaker characters.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

When the PC team was captured and out of service for an interdemined time, their missions were transfered to the B team, made of NPC that had been built, as NPC, with quirks and personnality as collegues of the PC, but not as ineffective. Think of, say, Bernardo instead of Zorro. So I had the players select of few of these NPCs built using the Sidekick rules to play as (and continue out of necessity the main characters quest [and free the main characters over a few sessions]). The players didn't complain about the equal-levelled sidekick during this period (and had fun). I also gave each sidekick a ribbon power based on their personnality to help differentiate between similar sidekick classes.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I have used them in my games, and the characters have said "Wow, these guys feel more effective than we are", and the Sidekicks were of a lower level. I think it had to do with the fact that the Sidekicks are actually focused on what they do, and do it well.

That is a good observation. In my post earlier I said "simpler" in quotes for that reason--perhaps "more focused" would have been a better concept to convey.

 

[Cruentus]

I'd love to use the Sidekick and even Survivor rules from Van Richten's, but alas, no players have been interested in playing weaker characters.

Yes!. I looked at the Survivors too. Would make a great "level zero" character that then grows into the "Sidekick". I assume the Survivor "class" selection would then key into the Sidekick? Ie. Squires -> Warriors?

I would love to play in that kind of game! (I really like lower level characters and the challenges therein).

 

[JEB]

I use them a lot as references to build my simpler classes for 5e.

Your "simpler classes" concept intrigues me.