Sidekicks

{
  "name": "Sidekicks",
  "page": 63,
  "type": "section",
  "__prop": "variantrule",
  "source": "ESK",
  "entries": [
    "On your adventures, the DM might reveal that you've befriended a special character called a sidekick, who joins your party. This appendix presents the game statistics for sidekicks, of which there are three types:",
    "{@b Expert}, an agile and exceedingly helpful jack of all trades",
    "{@b Spellcaster}, a magic-user who can cast spells to harm your foes or heal you and your friends",
    "{@b Warrior}, a martial companion who specializes in striking your foes or defending you and your allies",
    "The DM will either tell you which type of sidekick to use or let you choose one. It's up to you and the DM to decide who controls the sidekick in play.",
    {
      "name": "Sidekick Stat Blocks",
      "type": "section",
      "entries": [
        "A sidekick's game statistics are presented in a box called a stat block, which is essentially a mini character sheet. A stat block contains things like ability scores and hit points, as well as the actions a sidekick is most likely to take in combat. Like any character, a sidekick can use the action options in the combat section of chapter 2.",
        "These stat blocks work with any character race. If you and the DM agree, you may enhance your sidekick with the appropriate racial traits from chapter 1.",
        "For more information on stat blocks, see the \"Creatures\" section.",
        {
          "type": "list",
          "items": [
            "{@creature Spellcaster|ESK}",
            "{@creature Expert|ESK}",
            "{@creature Warrior|ESK}"
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Proficiencies",
      "type": "section",
      "entries": [
        "A sidekick is proficient with any armor, weapons, and tools included in its stat block. In addition, {@b experts} are proficient with simple weapons, rapiers, shortswords, and light armor; {@b spellcasters} are proficient with simple weapons and light armor; and {@b warriors} are proficient with simple and martial weapons, shields, and all armor."
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Sidekick Level",
      "type": "section",
      "entries": [
        "Your sidekick starts as a 1st-level character. As you and your sidekick adventure together, your sidekick gains experience points and reaches new levels the same way a player character does, using the rules in chapter 1.",
        "When a sidekick gains a level, look at the sidekick's table below, and consult the new level's row, which shows the sidekick's new hit point maximum and features.",
        "The DM may start a sidekick at a level higher than 1st, using the hit point maximum for its level on the appropriate table below. Also, give the sidekick the features for its current level and any earlier levels on that table.",
        {
          "rows": [
            [
              "2nd",
              "16 ({@dice 3d8 + 3})",
              {
                "name": "Cunning Action",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "On the expert's turn in combat, it can take the {@action Dash}, Disengage, or {@action Hide} action as a bonus action."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "3rd",
              "22 ({@dice 4d8 + 4})",
              {
                "name": "Expertise",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "Choose two of the expert's skill proficiencies. The proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check the expert makes that uses either of the chosen proficiencies."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "4th",
              "27 ({@dice 5d8 + 5})",
              {
                "name": "Ability Score Improvement",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The expert's Dex. score increases by 2, raising the modifier by 1, so increase the following numbers by 1: the Dex. saving throw bonus; the {@skill Acrobatics}, {@skill Sleight of Hand}, and {@skill Stealth} bonuses; and the bonuses to hit and damage of the expert's weapon attacks."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "5th",
              "33 ({@dice 6d8 + 6})",
              {
                "name": "Proficiency Bonus",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The expert's proficiency bonus increases by 1, so make the following changes in the stat block: increase the bonuses in the Saving Throws and Skills entries by 1, and increase the bonuses to hit of the weapon attacks by 1."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "6th",
              "38 ({@dice 7d8 + 7})",
              {
                "name": "Extra Attack",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The expert can attack twice, instead of once, whenever it takes the {@action Attack} action on its turn."
                ]
              }
            ]
          ],
          "type": "table",
          "caption": "Experts Beyond 1st Level",
          "colLabels": [
            "Level",
            "Hit Points",
            "New Features"
          ],
          "colStyles": [
            "col-1 text-center",
            "col-2 text-center",
            "col-9"
          ]
        },
        {
          "rows": [
            [
              "2nd",
              "13 ({@dice 3d8})",
              {
                "name": "Spellcasting",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The spellcaster learns another 1st-level spell: {@spell bless} (healer) or {@spell burning hands} (mage)."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "3rd",
              "18 ({@dice 4d8})",
              {
                "name": "Spellcasting",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The spellcaster gains one 1st-level spell slot. The spellcaster also learns another 1st-level spell: {@spell shield of faith} (healer) or {@spell shield} (mage)."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "4th",
              "22 ({@dice 5d8})",
              {
                "name": "Ability Score Improvement",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The spellcaster's Int. (mage) or Wis. (healer) score increases by 2, raising the modifier by 1, so increase the following numbers by 1: the spellcaster's spell save DC and the bonus to hit of spell attacks, the bonuses in the Skills entry of the mage, the Wisdom saving throw bonus of the healer, and the passive {@skill Perception} of the healer. Spellcasting. The spellcaster learns another cantrip: {@spell resistance} (healer) or {@spell mage hand} (mage)."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "5th",
              "27 ({@dice 6d8})",
              {
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  {
                    "name": "Proficiency Bonus",
                    "type": "entries",
                    "entries": [
                      "The spellcaster's proficiency bonus increases by 1, so make the following changes in the stat block: increase the bonuses in the Saving Throws and Skills entries by 1, and increase the bonuses to hit of its spell and weapon attacks by 1."
                    ]
                  },
                  {
                    "name": "Spellcasting",
                    "type": "entries",
                    "entries": [
                      "The spellcaster gains one 1st-level spell slot and two 2nd-level spell slots. The spellcaster also learns one 2nd-level spell: {@spell aid} (healer) or {@spell invisibility} (mage)"
                    ]
                  }
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "6th",
              "31 ({@dice 7d8})",
              {
                "name": "Potent Cantrips",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The spellcaster can add its spellcasting ability modifier to the damage it deals with any cantrip."
                ]
              }
            ]
          ],
          "type": "table",
          "caption": "Spellcasters Beyond 1st Level",
          "colLabels": [
            "Level",
            "Hit Points",
            "New Features"
          ],
          "colStyles": [
            "col-1 text-center",
            "col-2 text-center",
            "col-9"
          ]
        },
        {
          "rows": [
            [
              "2nd",
              "19 ({@dice 3d8 + 6})",
              {
                "name": "Second Wind",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The warrior can use a bonus action on its turn to regain hit points equal to {@dice 1d10} + its level. If it does so, it can't use this feature again until it finishes a short or long rest."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "3rd",
              "26 ({@dice 4d8 + 8})",
              {
                "name": "Improved Critical",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The warrior's attack rolls now score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the {@dice d20}."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "4th",
              "32 ({@dice 5d8 + 10})",
              {
                "name": "Ability Score Improvement",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The warrior's Str. score increases by 2, raising the modifier by 1, so increase the warrior's {@skill Athletics} bonus by 1, and increase the bonuses to hit and damage of the warrior's melee weapon attack by 1."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "5th",
              "39 ({@dice 6d8 + 12})",
              {
                "name": "Proficiency Bonus",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The warrior's proficiency bonus increases by 1, so make the following changes in the stat block: increase the bonuses in the Saving Throws and Skills entries by 1, increase the passive {@skill Perception} by 1, and increase the bonuses to hit of the weapon attacks by 1."
                ]
              }
            ],
            [
              "6th",
              "45 ({@dice 7d8 + 14})",
              {
                "name": "Extra Attack",
                "type": "entries",
                "entries": [
                  "The warrior can attack twice, instead of once, whenever it takes the {@action Attack} action on its turn."
                ]
              }
            ]
          ],
          "type": "table",
          "caption": "Warriors Beyond 1st Level",
          "colLabels": [
            "Level",
            "Hit Points",
            "New Features"
          ],
          "colStyles": [
            "col-1 text-center",
            "col-2 text-center",
            "col-9"
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}