So like the title, is it possible for a pet or familiar to grow in levels? Like a pet wolf who fights alongside its owner. A wizard's familiar with whom the wizard can channel their spells through? Or do they stay at their base stats?
Up to the DM, but by default, no, they don't gain experience. If a DM wanted to allow that, using the sidekick rules would probably be better than taking something out of the monster manual.
Up to the DM, but by default, no, they don't gain experience. If a DM wanted to allow that, using the sidekick rules would probably be better than taking something out of the monster manual.
Ah. Ok. That would make things easier Will I have to the pet on a separate character sheet if I do that?
You should be able to add sidekicks to your character sheet on D&D Beyond in the "Extras" tab. The stat blocks are all for humanoids, but it's probably easy enough to ignore whatever doesn't make sense. There may be a way to create custom sidekick stat blocks that could be beasts/fiends/whatevers, but I'd need to tag someone else in to confirm/explain, haha.
There are some good animal companion character sheets on DMs Guild, like this one that easily be used for non-ranger pets. I'm sure there are others that are free if you don't want to spend the dollar. And just a normal player character sheet can work if you can't find anything else, it just has... a bunch of stuff that it doesn't need, haha.
There are some good animal companion character sheets on DMs Guild, like this one that easily be used for non-ranger pets. I'm sure there are others that are free if you don't want to spend the dollar. And just a normal player character sheet can work if you can't find anything else, it just has... a bunch of stuff that it doesn't need, haha.
There was also a Unearthed Arcana quite a bit back that had sidekicks in it and included a way to level them. It was a lot more robust than what made it into the essentials kit. I made a pretty easy excel form to use for it myself that worked well. I linked the UA below for reference.
Notes: Please don't link directly to the PDF - link to the page on the Wizards of the Coast site
I feel like the stuff in the Essentials kit was more of a guidance specifically for the built-in Icespire adventure than it was intended to be a rule across the board. For one thing, advancement stops at level 6, it says it's for "one DM, one player" games, and it say you are meant to pick from the list of sidekicks they provide. I feel like the UA sidekicks are a better guidance for general use than the examples in the Essentials kit.
Revised ranger companion levels with the character & can get quite beefy.
To my knowledge, other than this one exception, 5e doesn't have any official way of leveling up any npcs- animals, familliars, farmers daughters...
If your DM wants to use an old system though, (as I sometimes do in my games,) 1e recommended 1/10th xp that PCs gain be granted to accompanying NPCs. 5e Monster manual p.7 gives HD by size, and you can use the default PC XP chart for leveling & PB, but any features gained as your pet turtle levels up is up to the DM.
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So like the title, is it possible for a pet or familiar to grow in levels? Like a pet wolf who fights alongside its owner. A wizard's familiar with whom the wizard can channel their spells through? Or do they stay at their base stats?
Up to the DM, but by default, no, they don't gain experience. If a DM wanted to allow that, using the sidekick rules would probably be better than taking something out of the monster manual.
Ah. Ok. That would make things easier Will I have to the pet on a separate character sheet if I do that?
You should be able to add sidekicks to your character sheet on D&D Beyond in the "Extras" tab. The stat blocks are all for humanoids, but it's probably easy enough to ignore whatever doesn't make sense. There may be a way to create custom sidekick stat blocks that could be beasts/fiends/whatevers, but I'd need to tag someone else in to confirm/explain, haha.
Ah what would you suggest for physical character sheets?
There are some good animal companion character sheets on DMs Guild, like this one that easily be used for non-ranger pets. I'm sure there are others that are free if you don't want to spend the dollar. And just a normal player character sheet can work if you can't find anything else, it just has... a bunch of stuff that it doesn't need, haha.
Actually this is exactly what I need. Thank you.
There was also a Unearthed Arcana quite a bit back that had sidekicks in it and included a way to level them. It was a lot more robust than what made it into the essentials kit. I made a pretty easy excel form to use for it myself that worked well. I linked the UA below for reference.
I feel like the stuff in the Essentials kit was more of a guidance specifically for the built-in Icespire adventure than it was intended to be a rule across the board. For one thing, advancement stops at level 6, it says it's for "one DM, one player" games, and it say you are meant to pick from the list of sidekicks they provide. I feel like the UA sidekicks are a better guidance for general use than the examples in the Essentials kit.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Revised ranger companion levels with the character & can get quite beefy.
To my knowledge, other than this one exception, 5e doesn't have any official way of leveling up any npcs- animals, familliars, farmers daughters...
If your DM wants to use an old system though, (as I sometimes do in my games,) 1e recommended 1/10th xp that PCs gain be granted to accompanying NPCs. 5e Monster manual p.7 gives HD by size, and you can use the default PC XP chart for leveling & PB, but any features gained as your pet turtle levels up is up to the DM.