but a good little helper if you are running with a party of two :)

could make a good sidekick with the new sidekick unearthed arcana rules

Correction of this:

Spellcasting. The acolyte is a 1st-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). The acolyte has following cleric spells prepared:

They are a SECOND level Spellcaster; a First Level Spellcaster would only get 2 Spell Slots. The other Hint at this is that their HP is ((2d8)+(0*2)) which is consistently their Level regularly in every Monster listing, no matter which Book. Proficiency is set by CR, but everything else follows this simple format, the Monsters follow the same rules as the players.

I'm new here. Why do they need to follow the same rules as players? 

Quote from Lordmadhammer >>

I'm new here. Why do they need to follow the same rules as players? 

 they don't need to specifically, they just do. If you look at the various Monsters, Creatures, and Enemies, you'll start seeing the pattern after a while. For example, all monsters have their Con Mod * their Number of Hit Dice.

They’re cool party followers if you edit the ability scores, spells, and make a character sheet.

 I am in a party of three.

the bard that doesn't heal or support and fights like a barbarian.

the monk that just wants to kill me and the bard.

me. the rogue/necromancer who has ended up the most morally decent person in our party.

so i went and hired two of acolytes using "hireling rules" from the players handbook and they act as semi decent support characters for our party. so they are kinda decent for a 6th level party of three.

You are correct in saying that they are second level,however i believe that refers to the level of spell they are able to cast not their actual level. Saying they are Second level spell casters would mean they can cast second level spells which these cannot.

Good, but could use improvement. 

There awesome as meat Shields 

I disagree tiffany. acolytes are useful for a lot more then meat sheilds. i have a full entourage of 8 guards, 3 acolytes, and 2 zombies (i am a necromancer) and the acolytes are actually decent support. i love getting them to use sanctuary and then just walking around through hostiles without attacking them and they can't attack back either. use something else as meat sheilds. there is such things as peasants. now those are decent meat sheilds (largely because of how cheap they are (2sp per day as opposed to 2 or more gp per day per meat sheild)).

If you read the cleric rules for 5e, there are additions you get as a player (life clerics heal additional health, grave clerics can case spare the dying at a range of 30 ft, etc), but I don't see this here in the acolyte monster vignette. If you want to customize your acolyte, should you add those extra features or just change out spells?

Quote from km1dash6 >>

If you read the cleric rules for 5e, there are additions you get as a player (life clerics heal additional health, grave clerics can case spare the dying at a range of 30 ft, etc), but I don't see this here in the acolyte monster vignette. If you want to customize your acolyte, should you add those extra features or just change out spells?

Short answer, depends on the acolyte.

The average acolyte is weaker than a true Cleric, and usually doesn’t get anything beyond the basic spellcasting trait.  If they even have a Domain, it just means you have the option switch change out their Spells for Domain spells.

However, their exceptions.  A more heroic Acolyte may some or all the features of a 1st or 2nd Level Cleric.  This can mess with their CR a little bit, especially if you improve their equipment, but it’s perfectly “by-the-book.”  For example, Erky Timbers (an NPC in the Sunless Citadel) is an acolyte who can Turn Undead.

i feel it would be better if the enimes had a sacrafice function. like each death of an acc would increase the priests reg stat by a resonable amount.

Quote from Melborne_The_Gravedigger >>

i feel it would be better if the enimes had a sacrafice function. like each death of an acc would increase the priests reg stat by a resonable amount.

 An interesting trait concept.

Perhaps a +1 bonus to all rolls for each creature sacrificed.  Or, maybe a number of temporary hit points equal to the maximum hit points of the sacrificed creature.

Splooge

splooge?

I new here can someone tell me how to go on adventures

Quote from carter_carter >>

I new here can someone tell me how to go on adventures

Check out the “New Players” tab on the top bar, then see if you can find the “Basic Rules” link from there.

If you are interested in more in-depth or personalized help, check out the “Forums” tab.

Quote from FordPrefect4 >>

You are correct in saying that they are second level,however i believe that refers to the level of spell they are able to cast not their actual level. Saying they are Second level spell casters would mean they can cast second level spells which these cannot.

 ...I don't believe there's any Class that can cast 2nd Level spells when they reach 2nd Level. Spellcasters usually get access to 2nd Level spells at 3rd Level. Spell tiers and Level numbers scale separately.