D&D General Get A Pet Tiger And Watch It Level Up In Pets & Sidekicks For D&D and A5E

Who doesn't want a pet tiger? Well, I suppose you might choose a dragon wyrmling or a bard sidekick or a really nice dog. But assuming that, of the many, many choices of pets and sidekicks in, well, Pets & Sidekicks, you go for a tiger, this is what it looks like--a companion which levels up as you do! And this applies to foes, too--that kobold who escaped in your raid at 1st level might just turn up a few levels later...

Pets & Sidekicks is coming to Kickstarter very soon--and, as with all EN Publishing crowdfunders, you'll get the PDF the day the crowdfunder ends, and the print version as soon as the laws of physics and geography allow. Make sure you get notified when it launches here.

Of course, the book isn't just pages and pages of pets and sidekicks (though it does have that); there's also player options like subclasses and feats and backgrounds, and new equipment, and a ton of magic items like the collar of disguise, saddle of recall, and awakening gem.

Plus pet tricks, traits and flaws, and loyalty rules, this book brings recurring companions, allies, and foes to your D&D and A5E games in a big way!

So, how does it work? Well, a companion generally levels up at half the rate that you do.

• Like you, as it levels up it gains hit dice, hit points, and proficiency bonuses.
• At every odd level it gets to choose a combat training option like Attack Enhancement, First Blood, New Combat Maneuver, New Innate Spell, or New Spell Slot.
• At levels 1, 4, 8, and 10 it gains heroic features which are listed in the stat block and which are unique to the creature.
• Or it can choose from a menu of about 30 general heroic features like Awe-Inspiring, Dreadful Aspect, Fast Movement, Icky, Thunderous Stomp, and more.

Whether it's a flumph pet, a bard companion, or a goblin nemesis, the creature levels up as you do and remains able to accompany you into battle or to challenge you after a prolonged absence. It even applies to wildshapes and polymorphs, so if you really like being a dire wolf, you can still change into a dire wolf throughout your entire adventuring career.

Pets & Sidekicks is for Dungeons & Dragons and Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition and is coming to Kickstarter very soon.

Follow the project here.

 

[Bolongo]

It even applies to wildshapes

OK, so is this book supposed to replace the wildshape and beastmaster rules in the Adventurer's Guide?

Fingers crossed the answer is "yes".

 

[Morrus]

OK, so is this book supposed to replace the wildshape and beastmaster rules in the Adventurer's Guide?

It doesn't change any rules. It enables you to level up stat blocks, so you don't have to choose a different creature when you get access to higher CR wildshapes or polymorphs etc.

 

[Micah Sweet]

OK, so is this book supposed to replace the wildshape and beastmaster rules in the Adventurer's Guide?

Fingers crossed the answer is "yes".

What's wrong with the existing rules?

 

[Bolongo]

What's wrong with the existing rules?

Well, the subsystems for wildshaping and animal companions in the 2014 PHB suck balls. It's some of the worst stuff in that whole book.
The designers of Level Up clearly understood that there's a problem here, but instead of replacing it completely, they chose to just tweak it a bit to ameliorate the suckage. I was hoping this new supplement would choose a more radical solution, but it looks like further patching instead.
Now, given that choice, letting the stat blocks be modified is probably the best possible patch. If done right, it will at least solve the problem of all the dead levels where there's no good option. Which I applaud.
I'm still not happy with the basic issue of relying on stat blocks from the monster book in the first place, but oh well. I'll take what I can get.

 

[Morrus]

. I was hoping this new supplement would choose a more radical solution, but it looks like further patching instead.

The book isn’t about wildshapes. It just happens that wildshapes (and polymorph, and other things in the game) use monster stat blocks, and this book is about levelling up monster stat blocks. If you’re expecting a book about new wildshape rules, I’m afraid that’s not this book.

 

[lichmaster]

Seems very cool!
Will this also interact with spells that summon creatures (conjure animals, etc)?

 

[Morrus]

Seems very cool!
Will this also interact with spells that summon creatures (conjure animals, etc)?

There's nothing preventing these creatures being summoned or polymorphed into or used in the game just like any other creatures. They're just creatures with rules for leveling them up. A spell normally dictates the CR range or creature types that can be used with it. Conjure animals, IIRC, lets you summon beasts up to CR 2 or so.

 

[lichmaster]

There's nothing preventing these creatures being summoned or polymorphed into or used in the game just like any other creatures. They're just creatures with rules for leveling them up. A spell normally dictates the CR range or creature types that can be used with it. Conjure animals, IIRC, lets you summon beasts up to CR 2 or so.

Awesome, exactly as I hoped!
Can't wait!

 

[Dragonhelm]

What I wonder is if you can take this to help make a beast rider character.

Back in the day, I played a character that used the beast rider kit from the Complete Fighter's Handbook. He rode a white tiger.

I would like to convert this character to 5e, but the beastmaster ranger doesn't quite do it.

So am I able to play a beast rider with this book?